Northern Arts Kung Fu

01/24/2026

An excellent approach to forms/kuen/kata. Understandably, there are non-traditional martial artists who might disagree, but only in the sense of the pre-arranged practice form. However, I think many experienced martial artists would agree that repetitive practice of technique(s) is necessary for honing one’s skills in our respective arts.

Once a kata has been learned, it must be practised repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a kata in karate is useless.

-Gichin Funakoshi

01/24/2026

Here is the unedited footage of the "Master's" Demonstration at the July 29th, 2023 tournament in Redwood City, CA. Some of you may have seen a highly-edited version of this. My former instructor, Benson Lee, is on the left as the defender-I'm on the right as the attacker. And no, unfortunately, Benson's falls were not planned-they were mistakes.
Note to instructors and future instructors: When you do a demo with your student of 33 years, and they offer to go through the demo beforehand since it may have been 15 years since you worked with them, say "YES" instead of "no."

01/19/2026

Kung Fu, and Eagle Claw in particular, improves all aspects of your life by building strength, flexibility, confidence, and overall excellent fitness. Even Goth Go-Go Dancing! My wife of 14 years, (“Simo” to my students), Blix Bunny Birkenbeul-Hesse, still practices Eagle Claw Kung Fu.
She started In 2010 at my school in Sacramento and continues here in Portland. Here she is getting ready tonight for her volunteer shift for Go-Go dancing at Church of Hive PDX, Star Theater, here in Portland, OR.

10/12/2025

10/12/2025

08/20/2025

Lan Su Garden Chinese New Year's demonstration 2023: Freestyle locking with student Yuki Sugahara

08/03/2025

As of today, myself and my school, Northern Arts Kung Fu, are fortunately no longer affiliated with Benson Lee or the YJP Association. I have chosen to disassociate myself and my school from my former instructor, Benson Lee, due to his long-standing and continued pattern of unethical behavior which I can no longer endorse.
Please note that this is in no way reflective of negative behavior on the part of the YJP Association, with the exception of Benson Lee, who is a member of the six-person YJP Association Board.
This will in no way affects the high ethical standards of Northern Arts Kung Fu and the quality of its instruction I endeavor to provide to all students. I will continue providing classes with personalized instruction coupled with high standards regardless of any affiliation with Benson Lee.

Thank you,
Wolfram Birkenbeul-Hesse, Sifu

08/03/2025

Unfortunately in the martial arts, we have many small-minded, greedy, dishonest, and narcissistic people In the positions of instructors. Oftentimes, this doesn’t rear its ugly head until these egoists get older. This becomes particularly bad when that instructor has begun to show signs of dementia-sometimes due to their bad health habits.
Advice? Give people the benefit of the doubt and try to help others, but don’t allow yourself to be abused, stolen from, lied to, manipulated by, or influenced by those same toxic people. Life is too short to have these types of people try and negatively influence and control your life. Make the most out of life!

07/09/2025

Been practicing Kyūdō (traditional Japanese archery) now in earnest for the past two months. Even this budget Yugake (glove) is quite an upgrade from my homemade one though! Although, it worked surprisingly well in a pinch 😁

07/05/2025

It is with deep regret and sadness that my Sigung, Grandmaster Shum Leung of the Eagle Claw System, has passed away. I have no sole photos digitally of him, so I'll post these, left to right:
1) After Sigung's visit to the Sacramento school, outside New Canton Restaurant, Sacramento, CA, 1998;
2) NYC Family Gathering, YJP NYC, NYC, NY, 2011 (left to right: Wolfram Birkenbeul-Hesse, Grandmaster Shum Leung);
3) Photo of visiting students of my school in Sacramento, CA, 2011: Front Row, left to right-Sifu Delroy Miller; Front Row, B. Lee; Grandmaster Shum Leung; Sifu Wolfram Birkenbeul-Hesse; Back Row, right to left: Blix Bunny Birkenbeul-Hesse).

07/03/2025

An Eagle Claw self-defense application example from one of our system's core forms-Hong Kuen ("Walking Fist"): Block, backfist strike to head, claw off, and elbow lock/break while bucking the opponent's knee.