ORLANDO, FL – The Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple, a cornerstone of the Central Florida martial arts community for nearly five decades, officially marked a generational transition on July 19, 2026. During a formal ceremony at the Orlando headquarters, Sifu Mimi Chan was inaugurated as the new Grandmaster of the Wah Lum System, succeeding her father, Grandmaster Pui Chan, the system’s founder and pioneer in the United States.
The succession ceremony was a traditional, sacred event attended by senior instructors, long-time students, and distinguished guests from across the globe. The transition signifies a new chapter for the organization, which was established in 1980 by now Great Grandmaster Pui Chan to preserve and promote the traditional Kung Fu and Tai Chi lineage.
In assuming her new role, Grandmaster Mimi Chan expressed a commitment to honoring her father’s foundation of discipline, heritage, and community while evolving the system’s teachings for future generations of practitioners. Founder Great Grandmaster Pui Chan is retired but retains emeritus status in the system.
About the Wah Lum Kung Fu System Founded in the United States in 1970 by Great Grandmaster Pui Chan. In 1980, he built the first kung fu temple in America, the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple in Orlando, Florida. The Wah Lum Temple serves as the international headquarters for the Wah Lum System. The organization is dedicated to the authentic preservation of Wah Lum Tam Tai Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Tai Chi, offering comprehensive training programs, cultural exhibitions, and community outreach. Under the leadership of Grandmaster Mimi Chan, the temple continues to be a center for martial arts education and traditional Chinese lion and dragon dance performances.
