Many styles began as an effort to defend one's self or to overcome physical inadequacies, while others merged and became a new combined style. Temple styles such as Shao Lin (Ng Yin Ga) were developed from breathing and meditation exercises and the study of animals living in their natural habitat. The Shao Lin Temple style (Ng Yin Ga), was refined over the centuries by the Shao Lin Monks and earned wide spread fame throughout China. The original 72 forms were enlarged to 170 forms, which were subdivided into five styles. These highly sophisticated styles were called the Five Formed Fist (Tung Wu Ch'uan Fa), they were designed after the five animals; the Tiger, the Leopard, the Crane, the Snake, and the Dragon.

From the Tiger they learned strength and staying power; from the Leopard they learned speed and patience; and from the Crane they learned grace and self control. The Snake gave them suppleness and endurance; and from the Dragon they learned spiritual calmness.

The Shao Lin Temple style was taught only to those worthy of receiving such knowledge and for many generations its secrets remained within the walls of the temple. During the 17th century when China was conquered by the Ching Dynasty, officials and supporters of the overthrown Ming Dynasty sought refuge in the Shao Lin Temple. They were plotting a revolution when the temple was invaded and destroyed by forces of the Ching Dynasty. It was during this period that a few monks escaped, and the secret Shao Lin Temple arts were disclosed to the outside world.

Shao Lin Kung Fu's effectiveness through the centuries became legendary and many great teachers and styles emerged. One of these teachers was Grandmaster Li Nung-Ti Grandmaster Li Nung-Ti was born in Ta Ku China in the year of 1796. He entered the temple around the early 1800's about the time when the Shao Lin Temples were resuming activity after being closed down by the Ching Dynasty. There he studied the Shao Lin style of Tung Wu Chuan or Five Formed Animal Fists. In 1830 he developed the Lung Shou Pai system of Kung Fu. He had two major disciples. The first was his brother, Master Li Tan-Foy who had previously studied Tai Chi. The other was Master Ling Chang-Wu who was actually the nephew of the two brothers. Grandmaster Li Nung-Ti died in 1870 and his brother Tan-Foy died in 1875

There is little known about Master Li Tan-Foy except that he was taught Lung Shou Pai by his brother, and was also a student of Tai Chi Chuan.

Grandmaster Ling Chang-Wu moved to Canton in 1896 to be safe from the boxer rebellion. However, he returned shortly thereafter to the Society of the Fist of Righteous Harmony. During the rebellion he lost his right hand, and continued the fight; afterwards he gained the nickname of Ti Sha Shou or, Left Hand of the Devil, due to the fierceness of his technique. He was eventually killed in 1901 near Peking, but not before teaching his only son Ling Kat Klung who had been born in 1876.

Grandmaster Ling Kat Klung was said to have trained seven hours a day everyday of the week to improve his Kung Fu as well as training with other masters ,in secrecy, due to the revolutionary state of China at the time.After his father's death, Grandmaster Ling came to the United States to start a new life. He lived in California with his cousin for a while before moving to New Orleans, Louisiana. He had two sons that he taught the art to, Robert Kuan Ling and Norman Pedlahore.

Master Robert Kuan Ling and his wife were tragically killed in 1961, in an automobile accident. They had two children, Charles Robert Ling (1945- ), and Cindy Li Ling (1947- ).

Charles and Cindy Ling studied the family art of Lung Shou Pai in the same classical manner as the generations before them. Charles was the link that would cause the art to be passed on to a person not of Asian descent.

Norman John Pedelahore was born in New Orleans, La. on 8/7/45. He was introduced to Grandmaster Ling Kat-Klung when he was seven years old by his close friend Charles Ling. Because he wanted to test his grandson's ability, Grandmaster Ling allowed the outsider to study the family art of Lung Shou Pai, not knowing at the time that one day the student he called New Boy, would become his son and carry on his precious family art.

Norman studied directly under the supervision of Grandmaster Ling for ten years, learning the techniques and principles of the family art. In 1959, he was adopted into the family by the Pai Shi Tea Ceremony and became Grandmaster Ling Kat-Klung's second son. In 1962, Norman and his family moved to Slidell, La. a city about 30 miles from New Orleans. Because of his health and age, in 1965, Grandmaster Ling retired from teaching and named Norman John Pedelahore his successor to the art of Lung Shou Pai. The responsibility of teaching and perpetuating Lung Shou Pai's values and principles were now placed squarely on his shoulders.
n 1966, Grandmaster Pedelahore allowed the style to be taught to the public for the first time. He opened his first school of Lung Shou Pai, and called it Kat Do Kung Fu Academy. The word "Do" means "the way of" and "Kat" was the first name of Grandmaster Ling Kat Klung. Later schools opened under the name of Lung Shou Pai Kung Fu Academy.
n 1967, Grandmaster Pedelahore was married to Patricia Ann Strickland (1950- ). They have three children: John Andrew Pedelahore (1968- ), Joel Randall Pedelahore (1970- ), and J'Aimee Li Pedelahore (1976- ).

See the Grandmaster's Page to find out more about him