KunTao Silat Thouars Lineage

[Chas]

In response to a number of requests, here is the lineage of KunLun Pai
KunTao Silat in the words of the founder; Willem 'Uncle Bill' de
Thouars.
In deepest Hormat and gratitude to the entire Family de Thouars,
Chas Clements, guru tiga
Pukulan Silat Kilap Betawi Thouars

THIS IS A COPY OF A DOCUMENT WRITTEN BY GURU BESAR HAI-DENG SIFU WILLEM
DETHOUARS FOR HIS STUDENTS IN ABOUT 1978. IT PRESENTS HIS LINEAGE IN
EACH STYLE IN PREPARATION FOR HIS EXAMINATION; BEFORE GRANDMASTERS
ASSEMBLED, FOR ACCREDITATION OF HIS STYLE, KUN LUN PAI KUNTAO SILAT, AS
A RECOGNIZED & UNIQUE MARTIAL ART.
_____________________________________________________________________________
This document is only written for the serious and dedicated martial arts
practitioners who are presently studying or already have accomplished in
the studies of the main objectives in Kun Lun Pai.
To begin with: "What is Kun Lun Pai?"
In order for us to answer the question we do have to understand the
source first. Because there are many forms and in various ways of Kun
Lun Shao Lin Kung Fu practiced by many founders and practitioners in
Mainland China, Shanghai, South East Asia and especially in Indonesia.

Kun Lun is a mountainous region in the Hukkien state in Mainland China
where many hard battles have been fought between the practitioners from
the different styles. Some of the boxers lost their lives in combat and
the winners out of those matches declared their styles, referring to the
brand name of Kun Lun Shao lin or Sil lum.

Kun Lun Pai then is a special system. This system has many other
systems within the system designated to all my Grandteachers and
teachers, whom in my 40 years of martial arts training have contributed
so much to my skills as a teacher, boxer, practitioner and also how I
have become a much better man toward my fellow men. And my goal in life
most of all is to set a lifes' rules: to be a good example to all of my
dedicated disciples and to guide them in the right direction of the
martial arts! Where my Guides have left off is the part that I am going
to finish is to pass on my knowlege, to be sincere with one and each
other and to teach a family tradititon that started in 1875, long before
we were born and it came from 1,500 sea miles away.

The build up of KunLun Pai
The Father art is Chuan Chu I-Hsing-Ie. To be pronounced as Tjuan Tze
Ie Sing Ie. The grandteacher of the art was Lama Darmin and the name he
used to hide his identity was Liem Ping Wan. Greatgrandmaster Liem Ping
Wan introduced Chuan Chu I-Hsing-Ie in West Java in 1900. This Internal
system and fluid, agile movements influenced KunLun Pai for 55%. Liem
Ping Wan was killed by the Japanese Kempai Tai (Gestapo) toward the end
of 1942.

The main branch of Kung Fu in KunLun Pai is the QueMoi Shantung System
of Kun Tao. (Kun Tao is a term for Kung Fu used in the Hukkien dialect,
Kuen Tao in Fuekkien dialect.). The style is a seven animal system and
blended in with northern and southern forms. Sifu Tan Tong Liong, Oei
Tjong Han and Professor Go Yap Min were responsible for introducing this
Shaolin system over three main islands in Indonesia; Java, Sumatra and
Celebes in 1920. The late Tan Tong Liong was my sifu for seven years,
1945 to 1952. Professor Go is the only one who is still alive and well
from the three masters and who is presently residing in the city of
Sukabumi in West-Java. He is now nearing 90 years old.

Hukkien, Shantung and Fuekkien Kun Tao are three specifically speaking
styles of Kung Fu that blended Northern and Southern techniques without
separation together. Widely practiced in Indonesia! Shantung with the
extreme hard and powerful with wide and long extended techniques.
Hukkien powerful, light and agile movements of the monkey and Fuekkien
wide open, inviting and very heartless attacking motions. All three
styles are based on: offence and defense are the same. The teachers of
educating me in the styles were Sifu Broerie Ong of Padalarang, Ottom de
Thouars (grandfather) and Oei Tja Sahidji. All three masters has long
past the way!

Kwantung Kun Tao is a specific style of Chinese Boxing from the Kwantung
region of Mainland China. Widely practiced in Sumatra and Java. The
style is based very strong horse stances with quick and agile counters.
The system is quite often practiced by tall and heavy set people, who
based everything on power rather than speed. Teachers were Wim Chang
from the city of Bondowose, in East Java who was 6'4" tall and weighed
250 lbs. Because of his strength and power, he remained undefeated
until his sudden death in 1957. And from Carl A Deerns (father-in-law).

Imoa Shantung Kun Tao for power and strength is also a great influence
in KunLun Pai. The founder Sifu Otto van der Groen past the way in a
fatal accident in Oakland,Northern California.

Pentjak Silat Padang (Sumatran Silat) and the traditional Shantung Moh
Dar Kun Tao as it was taught to me by Great Grandmaster Edgar van der
Groen. is still taught in the traditional way with the blending of
KunLun Pai. Mr. Edgar van der Groen still resides in Hawaii today!

Se Kwitang Silat, actually a Hukkien Kun Tao style, but introduced as an
Indonesian art, is widely practiced mainly in the Djakarta region, is
the basic underground of Pentjak Kendang Silat. Kendang Silat is a
monkey system and its' quick and powerful but mostly hard hitting
offensive actions are one of the major elements in KunLun Pai. Raden
Patti Atmo and Raden Sardjono are the two main teachers in the system.
Mas Atjo Buwono was the founder of the system in 1825. Three others and
I are the only exponents who have the inheritage of the whole lineage in
Kendang Silat. The four of us are the only ones alive today.

The following systems of Pentjak Silat are family styles and in which I
observed and studied the principles; Pentjak Serak, TjiMande, TjiKalong,
Ganyung, Randai, Sigar and TjiBuniut Pantjar. The Great Grandteachers
and teachers were: Mas Djoet, Jan de Vries (grandfather) John de Vries
(uncle) Ferdi de Vries (uncle, Paul, Maurice and Victor (three
brothers), Carl Deerns (father-in-law), Hadji Raden Saleh Djuragan and
Hadji Raden Moekil. Paul, Maurice and Victor de Thouars and Ferdi de
Vries are the only four teachers who are still living. Maurice lives in
Holland and so is Ferdi de Vries. Paul and Victor are living in
Colorado and in California.

Pentjak Silat Pamur, a widely practiced system in East Java and the
Island of Madura is an asset with its tricky legwork of a sandy coastal
area. The teacher responsible for teaching me was Mas Soendjoto from
the city of Soerabaia in East-Java. No one knows his where-abouts!

In addition my special thanks for three martial arts brothers, friends
and teachers who in later years have been my associates and fellow
martial arts practititoners in deed. To Mr. George Hamilton, a great
English boxing teacher who taught me the value of corrective punching.
Sifu Wayne Welsh who taught me the principles of Chinese Kempo and with
whom I delightfuly worked out for almost 10 years until he moved to
California and Mr. Earl Alston who showed me the principles of
Okinawate, my deep appreciation for his efforts.

ALL THE STYLES MENTIONED ARE THE BLENDING OF KUN LUN PAI AND ALL THE
TEACHERS AND GREAT GRANDTEACHERS MENTIONED HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ALL MY
KNOWLEGE OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS! TO ALL WHOM I OWN MY SINCERE THANKS
AND TO YOU ALL TO WHOM I WILL PASS ON THAT KNOWLEGE.
TO ALL MY DEDICATED DISCIPLES TO WHOM I DEDICATE THIS DOCUMENT!
Sincerely,
Willem De Thouars.
Guru and Founder of the Kun Lun Pai
KunTao Silat
system of Chinese-Indonesian Kung
Fu.
Copied from original undated (about 1979) by Chas
Clements, 23 JUN 93