by Andreas Mandelos


“Yi, er, san…” echoes from Sifu Akers traditional Kung Fu San Soo class located Tarpon Springs, Florida.  Sifu Akers has been teaching at Spartan Martial Arts Academy (formerly known as Elite Martial Arts Academy) to a dedicated group of students for over twelve years and is still going strong.
Sifu Akers is known as old Square Mind of Kung Fu—a name given to him because of his fierce loyalty to his teacher ,Lo Sifu Chin Sui Dek, and his resistance to changing any part of the traditional martial of Tsoi Li Fut Hung Ga.    Lo Sifu and the art are often referred to as Jimmy Woo and San Soo Kung Fu.  However, Sifu Akers uses the traditional terminology and nomenclature, insisting that his students do the same.
His classes stress the traditional way of training—“the Old Way”. In other words, long strenuous classes emphasizing hard work and repetition with little flair or flowery movements and antics.  Sifu often quotes Lo Sifu by saying “Real fighting not pretty!” Likewise, any combat sport activity is absent.  The art is designed for self-defense, health benefits, and character development—no trophies are coveted or distributed.
Meiyou genji --meiyou gongfu –a mantra that roughly translates to no basics…no Kung Fu, is one of Sifu Aker’s most commonly used phrases.  Traditional training consists of endless horse stance postures and movements known as Wu Lun Ma—wheeling the horse, San Da--  striking basics, Tan Leui—forms ,Qi Gong-- iron body training, and  San Chin-- three treasure basics.  All of these concepts detail and promote rooting, alignment, proper mechanics, and breathing for the purpose of maximizing power and leverage.
The art has its roots in Toisan, China and was brought to this country by Chin Sui Dek. The original school was created in El Monte, California in 1961.  It was there that Sifu Akers met Lo Sifu and began his lifelong pursuit of learning, teaching, and currently, trying to preserve a martial art treasure.
Sifu Akers draws on his rich experiences from his training and from the time he spent with Lo Sifu discussing the art.  It has lately become troublesome to Sifu Akers that Lo Sifu premonitions are manifesting into reality.   Lo Sifu feared that the art would die with him, not to be preserved and passed on to future generations. “Most Kung Fu already forgotten “ Lo Sifu would often say, referring to the vast amount of knowledge lost because it was not documented properly or preserved for reasons of secrecy which reflect the climate of a gone-by era.
Sifu Akers is doing what he can to preserve Tsoi Li Fut Hung Ga.  He has created the Hing Dai Wai or Brotherhood Society for the purpose of preserving and promoting the art.  Sifu’s research has extended to China and he was fortunate enough to locate a man who trained with LoSifu in his childhood.  Other finds include: martial art schools, a museum and local friends and relatives which have confirmed many of the stories and traditions which Lo Sifu and S ifu Akers often discussed
Currently, Sifu Akers is working on developing his Rushidizi program.  This is a series of traditional training concepts mostly overlooked by modern trends designed for his dedicated students.  These are classes which document the richness and complexity of the art.  However, make no mistake; there are no secrets, no magic, nothing that only the anointed or select few are privy to.  On the contrary, all who wish to participate are welcome.  It is simply a matter of physics and the application of scientific principles—not mysticism, the use of proper Chinese terms, and a strict adherence to basic training.
Sifu Akers is developing series recordings of these lessons which he hopes will help others who wish to improve their health and their training through traditional training. 

This is more than a form of fighting and cult hobby. It is a history, a philosophy, a physical culture, and a personal character evaluation.  It is complex because it is simple. It is cerebral and spiritual because it is gruelingly physical. It is rich because it is steeped in history and tradition.  It is practical because it is of peasant stock.  It is known as Kung Fu San Soo.