The Camarillo Kung Fu and Lion Dance Association

In January 1982, Kee Ling established the Camarillo Kung Fu Association, located in Camarillo, CA (a small city between LA and Santa Barbara in Southern Ca.). The association teaches its members the Northern Shaolin kung fu system called Mi Zong Lo Han (or My Jong Law Horn in the Cantonese dialect), the Way of the Lost Monk or the lost track buddha. Its origin is from the Shaolin Temple in Northern China.

Kung Fu

Kung fu training includes hand, feet, weapons and self-defense techniques. It enhances a person’s self-confidence, fitness, and teaches discipline, humility and respect for all. Traditional forms, philosophy, and ideas are passed on to the students as it was taught many generations ago. However, the association is very progressive in its ideals and practice. Its open-minded and open door policy have attracted and welcomed many martial arts practitioner from all walks of life. It requires a sense of dedication and devotion to learn this intricate system of kung fu.

The students of the Camarillo Kung Fu Association are major medal winners in the numerous tournaments they have competed in over the years. At the 1996 USA Wushu Kung Fu Federation National and International Tournament in San Francisco, it’s 9 member team won 16 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals including the gold medal in the advanced team weapons competition. Its members also compete locally and in major southern California karate tournaments, and have consistently been a major medal winners in various categories including numerous 1st place winners in the past at Ed Parker International Karate tournament, Southern California Karate Classics and Ventura County Open Karate Championships. In the 2000 Southern California Karate Classics tournament, our Junior Assistant Instructor, Justin Ling, won the grand championship in the black belt division for 17 years old and under. He also took first place in showmanship. Other members also came away with 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in forms and sparring in various divisions. More recently, in the Tempt One Martial Arts Championship, the students have come away as winners in many different categories including forms, sparring and weapons in each of every year for the past 6 years.

Southern Lion Dance

Southern lion dancing is also taught at the Association, originally in conjunction with the Ventura County Chinese-American Association (VCCAA), its original sponsor in 1982. VCCAA was formed  and  incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1976. Donations received from lion dancing goes towards replacement of the expensive equipment and scholarships for college bound students, as all its members are volunteers.

The paper mache “lion” is a few thousand years old Chinese tradition representing the belief that the lion will drive away evil spirits and bad omens, and bring with it good fortune, wealth, health, blessings and prosperity. These performances were carried out during the Chinese New Year and other happy occasions including weddings, anniversaries, parades and other official/formal events. The lion dancers have participated in many parades and won in many tournaments they have entered annually throughout Southern California. Business organizations including Santa Barbara Museum of Art, World Affairs Council, Civic groups, colleges/universities and Chinese restaurants from Santa Barbara and Ventura County to Riverside County invites them to perform for various occasions, every year.

The organization pride itself as the largest lion dance group in the tri-counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo in Southern California who can perform the pedestal (“jong”) routine in accordance with the International lion dancing standards, besides its brother group in L.A. Chinatown, East Wind Lion Dance Youth Foundation.