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FOREWORD

The duties of the police

Law enforcement officers must uphold public order, protect society, and promote the people’s welfare. As defenders of the law, the police have the important responsibility to be teachers of right and wrong, and can be said to be the “guardian of the people.” In pursuit of their noble cause, prospective police officers must have determination and be willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of justice. Most are young with high ideals, courage, and a true desire to move ever forward to improve themselves.

Self-improvement through serious endeavor

In this day and age, people are likely to embrace what is wrong and reject what is good. Many covet what they do not deserve, with no desire to attain goals through honest work. Some join gangs, use illegal drugs, and are thoroughly ensconced in laziness and decadence. They are involved in theft, robbery, and extortion, walking on the wrong side of the law without any fear of legal retribution. These people and their crimes are all threats to social order and stability. Police strive to fight crime, defend law-abiding citizens, and continually struggle against those who would break the law for their own selfish pleasures.

The primary tool of the police is martial skills, which they must develop through persistent practice. They must continually seek to improve their abilities, constantly cultivating the essential qualities of prudence, ferocity, courage, and correct judgment. Even after years of learning, one can achieve only a superficial level.

Continuous practice to hone skills to perfection; complacency leads to deterioration of skill.

Fighting techniques must be continuously practiced and refined. The police officer must develop martial skills through constant combat practice and body conditioning. Whether training involves contact sparring or choreographed drills, the ultimate goal is to develop skills capable of overwhelming the most ferocious opponent. For when the day comes that he must actually use these skills in a real situation, the police officer must have a simple but effective repertoire of techniques that he can call upon naturally and instinctively. In combat, one must grasp four principles: fighting time, fighting position, fighting distance, and correct use of surroundings. The goal of combat training is to hone these tools, so that when facing a criminal, the officer will know the best time and place to attack, without having to panic and rush. When the officer attacks, he must act with power, confidence, and speed so as to intimidate the criminal into submission. Only in readiness can his fighting spirit be expressed.

Rectifying wrongs over time, to elevate the position of the police

The analogous ideas of “using laws to govern society” and “using technique to control an opponent” are different approaches to achieving the same goals. However, while “laws” are set through the cooperation of a representative body, martial skills are “passed down” from teacher to student, and further refined through practice. Laymen without such skill cannot contribute to the learning process, and the concept of “passing down” from master to student must be honored with the deepest sincerity.

The police officer must train continuously, endeavoring to develop abilities to achieve a state of perfection. Through the practice of superior martial techniques, he may rectify the wrongs of this world, and help to elevate the police in the public eye.

Continuous practice, strength through unity

Master Lo Man Kam is a true practitioner of Wing Chun, directly inheriting the tradition from Grandmaster Yip Man. He is one of the most advanced in martial arts circles, having already attained a profound level of achievement. Since receiving the honor of teaching the Peace Preservation Corps, Master Lo has shared everything with his students, without reservation. He is truly a model coach. His book Police Kung Fu embodies the essence of martial techniques.

This said, I have the honor of expressing my deepest appreciation and gratitude toward Master Lo for the publication of this book. I would like to stress the importance of continuous practice in an attempt to reach perfection, and hope that the reader will always remind himself of this fact. If all law enforcement officers can grasp the essentials of this book, the dregs of our society will tremble at our name. Righteousness must triumph over evil.

Lu Yu-sheng

Ministry of Interior, Police Chief

July 30, 1993