After graduating from high school, the Wah Yan College
in Kowloon, Hong Kong, Dr. Brendan Lai came to the U.S. in 1961, and studied
for several years at the Napa Junior College, and the San Jose State University.
At the same time, he researched deep into the Gong Fu system he had learned
in Hong Kong, under the tutorship of Master Hon- Fan Wong, the leader of the
Northern Praying- Mantis Gong Fu System. In 1967, he began teaching Gong Fu
part time while working as a computer programmer. In 1972, he set up a martial
arts supply company, the Brendan Lai Supply Company, and began devoting his
full time teaching Kung Fu in his new school, the Northern Praying-Mantis
Kung Fu Academy. Since then, he performed many times all over the U. S., served
as a judge in many tournaments for which he designed all the prestigious ceremonies
and served as their Master of Ceremony.
Dr. Lai was three times inducted into the "Hall of Fame", first
by "Inside Gong Fu Magazine" in 1982 as "Gong Fu Instructor
of The Year"; then by "Black Belt Magazine" in 1984 as "Gong
Fu Artist of The Year"; and again by "Inside Gong Fu Fu Magazine"
in 1990, as "The Man of The Year".
He
graced the covers of these two magazines many times, as well as those from
Europe, England, Brazil, Hong Kong and China. All counted, over a hundred
magazines from around the world had articles about Dr. Lai and also on his
Gong Fu system. That makes him one of the most well know Gong F Fu stylist
in the world in our present time, together with other famous martial artists
such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
In 1985, Dr. Lai was commissioned as as "Kentucky Colonel" by the
Governor of Kentucky for his vast work of bringing a better physical health
to the needed, He was one of the few Americans, such as famous Presidents
and scientists, who were given such na honor.
Since 1989, Prof. Lai has been retained as a faculty member in the PE Department
of San Francisco State University, teaching na accredited course in the Art
of Chin- Na. He was one of the first who brought Chinese Kung Fu into the
American university program.
In 1990, the "Eurotechnical Research University" conferred a Ph.
D. Degree on Professor Lai, based on the examination of his expertise on Gong
Fu and his vast contributions in the promotion of martial arts, thus making
him the first person ever to receive a degree on Gong Fu. The University also
retained Prof. Lai as the Dean of Chinese Studies at the College of Martial
Arts, thus making him the first person in the American history to be sitting
in that important position.
In 1991, both the Shandong Yantai International Praying-Mantis Association
and the Shandong Liu-Her Tan-Lang Association retained Prof. Lai as their
Hon. Chairman. In 1992, the Shandong Qun-Shan Wushu Academy, headed by the
famous Praying-Mantis Master Zheng Bin-Dau, also retained Prof. Lai as his
advisor, indicating how much Prof. Lai is respected and honored.
In 1994, Prof. Lai resigned from the San Francisco State University, but spent
his time travelling around the world teaching seminars. His goal is to teach
the people to have a better understanding of the Chinese martial arts and
culture.
In 1999, 2000 and 2001, Dr. Lai was invited to teach the Praying Mantis System
in Brazil at 1st, 2nd and 3rd International Northern Praying-Mantis Gong Fu
Seminar. He inaugurated Brendan Lai Gong Fu Institute in Campinas, San Paulo
together your brazilian student Samuel Mendonça.
In 2002, september 23rd Dr. Lai passed away in San Francisco, California.
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