Waiting....
Gee, how disappointing, I've been waiting to hear what people think the differences are, but not much to be said.
Pak Mei as we know it today started in Guangzhou with Cheung Lai Cheun, and at the end of WWII, as part of the flight from the Red Guard, many Chinese fled to Hong Kong, including many kung fu masters, including Cheung Lai Cheun and many of his students. I know of a notable Student that went to Vietnam as well. Another went to South America, I believe. I'm told Malaysia too. And of course, a number went to Taiwan as they were fighting on that side at the time.
Sometime later, CLC and cohorts re-established Pak Mei in Hong Kong (or Kowloon, not sure exactly, same diff) but being well over 60, the next generation really took the reins.
Not being part of HK Pak Mei, its not appropriate to really say any more than that about them.
Back in Guangzhou, those that remained stepped up and kept the art alive. Being a "forbidden old way", they had to keep it quiet, and they dissolved into the darkness. Fortunately, Guangzhou is one of the toughest cities in China, and there is lots of darkness to dissolve into. One of CLC's students also started a branch in Futsan as well.
I know my SiGung was imprisoned by the Red Guard for 8 years. They couldn't really go public until the late 70's.
Mind you, this is historical, not stylistic. And just an overview of the lineages, which have now spread around the world.
Also, I am not addressing all the fabricated Pak Mei lineages coming from some American shonks.
So, I think its fair to say, Gunagzhou Pak Mei is a little less formal than HK.
Its certainly less commercial than HK.
I think you would probably find it impossible to actually locate Guangzhou Pak Mei if you were there, lets not forget, it is still a closed style.
VERY superficially speaking:
They have the same core forms.
They have different forms, notably those created by successive generations within their own lineages.
They have the same core principles, and they have stylistic differences.
The have better and worse within each branch.
If you know pak mei, you can recognise it in others. If you don't know it yourself, its impossible to tell good from bad, but its very entertaining to watch people try.
Last edited by Yum Cha; 10-17-2008 at 05:13 PM.
Guangzhou Pak Mei Kung Fu School, Sydney Australia,
Sifu Leung, Yuk Seng
Established 1989, Glebe Australia