Background

Parallel with attaining a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Human Science Cultural Anthropology (2004) and a Master's Degree in Sociology (1997), both at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ / IFCS) Brazil, since 1995 Marcelo Vidaurre Archanjo is a dedicated Chinese Martial Arts practitioner (Fei Hok Phai Hung Tao Choi Mei Gar - Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan), having achieved a 1st Degree Black Belt ('Si Tai' 1990), a 2nd Degree Black Belt ('Si Hing' 2008) and have over 20 years teaching experience.
 

Marcelo Vidaurre Archanjo has a deep interest in connecting these two disciplines: academic and corporeal.
The notions of 'embodiment' and 'body techniques' are the main tolls to realize this.


 Marcelo Vidaurre Archanjo started training  FEI HOK PHAI (Hung Tao Choi Mei Gar) with Sifu Valdemir Machado in 1985.

Marcelo received his FEI HOK PHAI 1st Degree Black Sash (Si Tai) in 1990 and his 2nd Degree Black Sash (Si Hing) in 2008.

FEI HOK PHAI (Hung Tao Choi Mei Gar) is a southern style of Chinese martial art, created in Brazil (Santo Andre city at Sao Paulo State) by the Chinese immigrant Chiu Ping Lok (“Grand Master Lope”, 1938 – 2009).






 














Valdemir Machado is one of the 10 Masters or Sifu (3rd Degree Black Belt) of the FEI HOK PHAI, nominated by Grand Master Lope to represent his style.


STYLE _______________________________________________

FEI HOK PHAI (The Flying Crane Style) was created in 1968 in Sao Paulo/Brazil, by a Chinese immigrant called Chiu Ping Lok (1938 – 2009). The style arose from the union of the various styles of Chinese martial arts learned by him (Hun Gar; Choi Gar; Mo Gar; Tai Chi Chuan).
SiGung Chiu Ping Lok is also known as Master Lope, an affectionate nickname gave him by his students.

Born on May 15, 1938, in the village of Chao Chun Tung, Taishan (Tai Sam), Guangdong (Kwangtung) Province, in southern China, he began his training of Chinese martial art with the age of 5 years.

His first teacher was his uncle, Sifu Chan Mun, who taught him a form of Kung Fu named HUNG TAO CHOI MEI GAR (Hung headand Choi tail), which is a compilation of two traditional styles of kung fu: Hung Gar and Choi Gar.

He also learned from a friend of his uncle, Sifu Man Sim, the MO GAR and HUNG GAR. It was said that the Sifu Man Sim, who was blind, hadan extrasensory sensitivity.

At fifteen years old Master Lope moved with his family to Hong Kong, where he continued to train MO GAR (under the guidance of Sifu Hui MiuSin), and HUNG GAR (under the guidance of Sifu Lan Fei Hung, better known as Hung Tao Teet – i.e., "Hung, the head of Iron ", because of his public demonstrations in which he warped and straightening three irons bar with his head).

Later, in Kowloon, Master Lope met the old Sifu Si Pak, who taught him TAI CHI CHUAN, YOGA, CHI KUNG exercises, techniques of NOI GAR (called "Kung Fu Divine”, by emphasizing internal energy in carrying out movements), techniques of SI MEI KWAN ("Bat Tail Rat" - a long pole, with about 3 feet long and has one end thinner than the other), and PA KUA CHAUN.

His martial training has also been enriched by a friend of education and training whose father worked at a local film industry in Hong Kong. There, Master Lope had the opportunity to gain experience in various styles and methods of warfare, as well as training to act as an extra in several Chinese movies.

Later Master Lope also made a quick passage through New York (USA) where he studied TAI CHI CHUAN with Sifu Cheng Man Ching.

Chiu Ping Lok went to Brazil in 1961 with the intention to continue his journey to the United States, where his parents and other family members lived a long time. Master Lope was twenty-four years old and, arriving in Brazil, had only the support of an uncle. Graduallyhe learned the Portuguese language with the help of a friend. The year 1963 began giving his first lessons in Kung Fu over the weekend, at the Chinese Social Center of Santo Andre (Sao Paulo) where he taught HUNG GAR and MO GAR. During this period only Chinese immigrants settled in Brazil participated in the drills.

In 1969, he founded his own gym, called “Academy Tai Chi, Yoga and Kung Fu", acknowledged as the first Chinese martial arts academy in Brazil. Together with two other Chinese immigrants, Wong Sun Keung (who arrived in Brazil in 1959) and Chan Kowk  Wai (who arrived in Brazil in 1960 - Northern Shaolin Style Master and founder of Sino Brazilian Association of Kung Fu), Master Lope was an early master of Chinese martial art to settle down and teach in Brazil.

Master Lope died in Sao Paulo (2009), Brazil, at the age of 71. There are ten "Sifu" of the FEI HOK PHAI directed certified by Master Lope. They are: Lee Wai Yin (died in 2009), Jair Melo Lima, Cintia Yan, Maria Luiza Horneaux, Valdemir Machado, Mario Kunio Masuno, Benedito de Barros Filho, Guilherme Eduardo Stamato, Valter Tadeu Ribeiro and Aparecido Marrera.
 
FEI HOK PHAI’s  GENEALOGY _______________________________________

   Sifu  [Style]  / Place
  1. Chan Mun [Hung Tao Choi Mei Gar (Hung Gar + Choi Gar)] / Canton
  2. Man Sim [Hung Gar + Mo Gar] / Canton
  3. Hui Mil Sin [Mo Gar] / Hong Kong
  4. Lan Fei Hung 'Teet Tao Hung' [Hung Gar] / Hong Kong
  5. Si Pak [Noi Gar Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Kung, Yoga, Pa Kua] / Hong Kong
  6. Chen Man Ching [Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style] / New York (USA)