Pyong Hwa Do
The history of Pyong Hwa Do begins in the mid-19th century in Okinawa. A man from Fujian, China named Lau Leong (known as Ahnan or Ahn in Okinawan) had traveled to Okinawa for a stay of a few years. He mainly stayed near the fishing village of Tomari. Like any martial artist, he was determined to teach what he knew. Lau Leong, being a Daoist, also took the path of least resistance - he modified his martial art to be more like the harder styles that the Okinawans were used to. He did this to keep his teachings more in line with what the Okinawans were used to, since he was only planning on being there for a limited time. After several years, Lau Leong eventually returned to Fujian, but he kept in touch with some of his Okinawan students.
As time went on, Leong's students taught what they had learned to others in Okinawa. One of Leong's students, Matsumura, taught Itosu Anko. One of Itosu's students was a young man named Kushubi. Kushubi also had several other teachers in Okinawan, one of the primary ones being Kanryo Hiagonna (who was also known as "Toono").
Eventually, Kushubi decided to travel to China and find the original Chinese art that was the root of what he had been learning. In China, using his familial ties (his father had married Lau Leong's daughter), Kushubi found Lau Leong himself. From Leong, Kushubi began learning the Chinese art that Leong had taught, won hop loong chuan.
When Kushubi came to America years later, he taught A.F. Walker the Okinawan art he learned in addition to teaching him the Chinese art. Kushubi taught it as one complete system, with the Okinawan portion forming the introductory material and the Chinese portion forming the more advanced curriculum. Pyong Hwa Do is the name that A.F. Walker chose to represent the introductory curriculum.
As time went on, Leong's students taught what they had learned to others in Okinawa. One of Leong's students, Matsumura, taught Itosu Anko. One of Itosu's students was a young man named Kushubi. Kushubi also had several other teachers in Okinawan, one of the primary ones being Kanryo Hiagonna (who was also known as "Toono").
Eventually, Kushubi decided to travel to China and find the original Chinese art that was the root of what he had been learning. In China, using his familial ties (his father had married Lau Leong's daughter), Kushubi found Lau Leong himself. From Leong, Kushubi began learning the Chinese art that Leong had taught, won hop loong chuan.
When Kushubi came to America years later, he taught A.F. Walker the Okinawan art he learned in addition to teaching him the Chinese art. Kushubi taught it as one complete system, with the Okinawan portion forming the introductory material and the Chinese portion forming the more advanced curriculum. Pyong Hwa Do is the name that A.F. Walker chose to represent the introductory curriculum.