White Crane Online

Leung's White Crane Lion & Dragon Dance School which gives instruction in the White Crane style of the martial arts was founded by the Leung brothers, Kuen Leung, Kwan Leung, and Allen Leung in 1971. The Leung brothers, collectively known as Liang-shih san-chieh, have a life long devotion and interest since childhood in the Lion Dance.

In a banquet celebration, one of the brothers related in a speech that as children they were most resourceful in fashioning a lion costume out of a large bamboo-woven basket and tying a blanket to it. They would perform the Lion Dance accompanied by the rhythmic beating on an empty kerosene can.

Afterwards, when the three brothers went to Hong Kong, they sought instruction in the White Crane style of martial arts under Master Kwong Bên-fu. In addition they sought out the great exponent of the Lion Dance in Hong Kong, the White Crane style Master, Not only are they martial arts masters but also great proficient and bone-fide master in the Lion Dance.

With great devotion, energy and enthusiasm they coach and train their performers in the newest and latest development in the Lion Dance. In addition, they are both leaders and contributors in the development and interpretation of new skills and techniques in the Lion Dance.

Services Offered

The Golden Dragon –

A 30 man team stretching over 108ft operates this Golden Dragon. Its huge presence exudes mystical energies as it chases the pearl across the air.

Small Body Acrobatic Dragon –

The agile and more acrobatic dragon can move with greater speeds and shift into many forms. The small dragon can be performed during the heat of the afternoon to even the darkest hours of the night. With the ability to illuminate under black lights, this luminous dragon show only begins to shine on the 11^th hour.

Drum Set

Thundering beats of oxen leather lined drums; clangs of cymbals, and striking gongs collaborate to create blaring sounds known to scare evil spirits away. Our percussion can team can promote and aid to grand openings gathering larger crowds and attracting attention.

A great showcase of Southern Lion Dancing is our backbone. With props including crabs, scorpions, water pots, benches, and staggering tall wooden beams, the dancing lion comes alive to overcome these obstacles.

The most modern and advanced movements in this art can be seen in this act. Clambering over obstacles, leaping through the air and stepping across danger, this lion dance act is a must see.

Northern Lion Dance

Also known as the “Buk See” or northern lion, this dog-like dancing lion performs life like movements including acrobatic steps and jumps.

Kei Lun “Unicorn” Dance
Also known as the Unicorn, the Kei Lun is another mythical animal common in Chinese Folklore. Although not often seen in the public western world, White Crane can perform this special act.

Fireworks show

Licensed pyrotechnics are available for your pyrotechnical needs complementing the lion dance with glitzy displays of fireworks and firecrackers crackling through the air.

The White Crane hand form can be seen through our students performing a number of set demonstrations. We also provide group sets and group weapons demonstrations.

The true origin of White Crane form (Lions Roar, Lama Pai, Hop Gar) cannot be determined in any absolute certainty. The most celebrated story involves a young scholar witnessing two animals during a scuffle:

“Circa 1420’s somewhere in northern territory of then Ming China, a boy named Adatuo was born to a migrating tribe that lived up and down the frontier. The boy, like most men in the tribe, received instruction in Martial Arts. In his teenage years, Adatuo decided to become a hermit, and retreated up in the mountains. Seeking a tranquil place of meditation, he found a cave to which he could follow the dharma. During one of his meditations a commotion distracted him. It was a crane attacking an ape.

That fight between the ape and the crane inspired Adatuo. Adatuo devised a style that incorporated both the ape's powerful swinging motions and the crane's evasiveness and precision strikes to vulnerable points.”

The popular story of the crane and the ape might just be allegories that have been passed down as oral history. Nevertheless what is certain is the form itself, which has a distinct Northern style of fighting.

Today much of the modern form of White Crane owes its style to the influences of Southern Guandong Style Boxing. Yet it cannot be mistaken for the Fujian Style of White Crane, which owes its origin from the original Shaolin. Guangdong in the 1640s to the 1900s can be considered the renaissance of Chinese Martial Arts, especially around Canton, of which the Ten Tigers lay claim as home. One of these Tigers is Wang Yan-Lam who is credited for much of the structure of White Crane. Another Tiger of note is Wong Kei-Ying master of Hung Kuen, who legendary son Wong Fei-Hung is still revered to this day. The Ten Tigers of Canton individually had a distinctive style and form. Yet they all shared traits of which has been passed on to us today.

White Crane today is evolving; many practitioners often make what is given to them their own. This is true for the three brothers as well, as they received their original instruction from Master K'uang Pên-fu. Later on they further their education when they sought out the great exponent of the Lion Dance in Hong Kong, the White Crane Style Master, Lu Chih-fu studying under his tutelage for years.