Grandmaster Doo Wai has been a pivotal figure in martial arts, particularly as the sixth-generation inheritor of the Bak Fu Pai (White Tiger Kung Fu) lineage. His decision to begin sharing his art through video transformed how this traditionally secretive art has been practiced and learned. Let’s dive deeply into when and why Grandmaster Doo Wai made videos, unpacking his martial heritage, historical context, and the vehicle these recordings represented for spreading Bak Fu Pai to a global student base.
1. Heritage and Secrecy—Why Grandmaster Doo Wai Made the Art Public
For centuries, the Doo family preserved Bak Fu Pai (White Tiger System) in near-complete secrecy, transmitting the art only within the family lineage. This unique martial tradition traces back to 1644 A.D., when the Doo family received the art from Fung Do Duk, making Grandmaster Doo Wai the sixth-generation family inheritor
It wasn’t until the 1970s that Doo Wai broke centuries of solitude by making the art available publicly. This marked a turning point not only in his career but for the tradition itself—opening up the possibility of video documentation and broader dissemination
2. Transition Into Media—Early Video Contributions and Industry Links
Once Bak Fu Pai became public, Grandmaster Doo Wai leveraged his martial arts prestige and scholarly background in Chinese history to engage with external media. He became a technical advisor on martial arts for feature films, served as Grand Juror of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and was featured on the covers of magazines such as Inside Kung Fu and Karate Kung Fu Illustrated
While these roles are not direct video teachings, they laid the groundwork for using visual media to represent his art—including television, documentaries, and eventually instructional videos. His involvement in entertainment began in the late 1960s, signaling a move toward broader visibility
3. YouTube and Online Video Presence—Earliest Known Public Footage
The earliest publicly uploaded videos of Grandmaster Doo Wai appear on YouTube, though the timeline spans years:
-
One of the oldest available videos is “Kung Fu Training – Level 4 Coconut Break by Grand Master Doo Wai”, posted roughly 11 years ago (circa 2014)
-
Another demonstration of the White Tiger Kung Fu system was also posted around 11 years ago, showing the early use of online video as a sharing medium
-
More recent uploads (ranging between 3 to 4 years ago) include:
-
Grandmaster Doo Wai Demo (approx. 3.8 years ago)
-
System lineage explanations (approx. 3.9 years ago)
-
Qigong for back pain video (approx. 3.5 years ago)
-
-
Vintage-style footage, such as an 8mm-era sample titled “Master Doo Wai – White Tiger Kung Fu”, was posted about 2.5 years ago
These videos showcase a clear timeline: although video presentations began at least a decade ago, YouTube uploads likely began between 2013 and 2014, aligning with that early “coconut break” video.
4. Why the Video Medium Was Significant for Bak Fu Pai
Before video, Bak Fu Pai traditions were transmitted through intimate, private instruction. The move to video had several important consequences:
-
It documented rare forms and meditations, some of which may no longer be taught widely.
-
It enabled remote students—who could not access private instruction in person—to learn foundational movements and Qigong sequences.
-
It created a commercial model for disseminating advanced meditations, such as the “690 AD method” and the “Golden Lotus Flying Phoenix,” which commanded substantial fees
A post on TheDaoBums Forum recounts that some students paid up to $30,000 for video recordings of specific Qigong forms—indicating their perceived value and scarcity
5. Controversy, Access, and Community Response
The high cost and controlled access to video recordings generated debate among practitioners. On discussion forums, users express skepticism about the quantity, quality, and transparency of available material:
“Some of the Doo Wai students were charged $30,000 for Doo Wai to make them a video of a certain qigong form.”
— forum post highlighting extreme exclusivity
Moreover, the guild-like secrecy, variability of teachings among instructors, and lack of public demonstration of all content raised concerns:
-
Many questioned whether instructors had access to the full system.
-
Some speculated about editorial manipulation in video demonstrations
This controversy underscores that while video marked major progress in sharing Bak Fu Pai, it also brought challenges—creating tensions between preservation, authenticity, and commercialization.
6. Summary Timeline—From Secrecy to Digital Dissemination
Let’s map out a coherent timeline of key developments:
| Period / Year | Event & Significance |
|---|---|
| 1644 A.D. | Foundation of Bak Fu Pai; first transmission from Fung Do Duk to Doo family |
| 1970s | Grandmaster Doo Wai opens art to the public and begins media contributions |
| Late 1960s onward | Enters entertainment industry as advisor and festival juror |
| Circa 2013–2014 | Earliest YouTube videos appear: demonstrations and forms |
| ~3–4 years ago | Broader video uploads on lineage, Qigong, and demos |
| Ongoing | Controversy and community engagement around video access and value |
Final Thoughts
Grandmaster Doo Wai’s journey into video began with his decision in the 1970s to share a family’s centuries-old martial art publicly. Though he engaged with media earlier, digitized video content—particularly on YouTube—marks the first accessible, visual records of his teachings, starting roughly a decade ago.
While this shift ensured Bak Fu Pai could reach global audiences, it also introduced tension related to secrecy, commercialization, and lineage authenticity. Still, without these videos, much of this rare art might have remained inaccessible.
