Kung Fu San Soo - Master Jack Sera

Instructor: Master Jack Sera

Master Jack Sera was born in El Monte, California in September, 1941. He then entered the U.S. Army and served with the 25th Infantry Division and was honorably discharged in 1962.

It was purely by chance or perhaps fate that Jack’s brother, Harry Sera, came across a Chinese Master who was teaching Karate Kung Fu out of a very small studio in El Monte, California. The Master’s name was Jimmy H. Woo. Harry went home and said to his younger brother, "You have to come with me, I want to show you something." This was in 1963, and was the beginning of young Jack Sera’s journey into Kung Fu San Soo, which continues to this day, 43 years later.

Jack Sera, now a respected Master, began his journey into Kung Fu San Soo as we all did, as White Belts. Working his way upward from these humble beginnings, he mastered the art and eventually received his Black Belt in July 1967. Shortly there-after, Black Belt brothers Harry and Jack Sera opened their own Kung Fu studio in San Gabriel, California.

Their studio was successful for about 3 years, but ever-increasing lease rates and low student enrollment forced them to close their doors in 1970. But what then seemed like a curse to Harry and Jack eventually proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Master Jimmy H. Woo requested that once a student received his black belt, he should open his own studio. But by doing this, a Black-Belt student limited their amount of personal instruction time with Master Woo to only one night a week. By closing the doors to their studio, Jack and Harry now had enough free time to study under Master Woo every day. This allowed Jack’s knowledge and understanding of the Art to grow & blossom. This unusual amount of direct instruction from Master Woo, combined with Jack Sera’s dedication & talent, allowed Jack to gain a great deal of information & personal insight from Jimmy during this Period.

In 1972, two of Master Woo’s students, Jack Sera and another Black Belt, had the honor of participating in the first year of the television series Kung Fu, staring David Carradine. In 1976 Harry Sera and Jack Sera were the First of Master Woo’s many Black Belts to receive their Master’s Degree in Kung Fu San Soo.

In December of 1983, after awarding hundreds of Black Belts and many Master Certificates, Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo retired. He asked Master Jack Sera if he would take over the El Monte studio from him and run it. Master Jack Sera was deeply honored by this passing of the torch, and gladly answered, "Yes!"

Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo passed away on February 14, 1991. His death shook the Kung Fu San Soo world. Because of Grand Master Woo’s unique way of understanding human character, body mechanics, leverage and fighting psychology, the art of Kung Fu San Soo was developed and taught throughout the U.S.A and will continue to be taught forever.

History Of Kung Fu San Soo
Chinese systematic warfare predates the arrival of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma who is thought to be the founder of Kung-Fu. Pre-defined combat techniques were developed thousands of years ago by various cultures and were passed down through oration and pictograph.

Kung Fu San Soo is a direct result of the refinement, organization and documentation of this ancient knowledge by the monks of the Kwan-Yin Monastery in the village of Pon Hong, Guang Dong Province of Southern China.

Jimmy's Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Chin Moon Don, was an orphan raised at the Kwan-Yin monastery. In his early 30's, he decided to leave the monastery and take with him two of the Buddhist training texts which probably date back to the late 1500's. These two books have been in the Chin family for five generations, and are the source of all forms and techniques taught too and by Jimmy H. Woo.

In the 1930's, Jimmy left mainland China under the pass port of Jimmy H. Woo and lived in Chinatown, Los Angeles during his earlier years. Among many odd jobs, he acted as protection, and enforcer for residents and business owners of the area. He then started teaching privately to close relatives and friends, and later became the instructor at a local social/ recreational organization called the Cousin Club.

In 1959 Jimmy H. Woo opened the head studio in El Monte, California. Retiring in 1984, he sold Master Jack Sera the rights to the main studio. Jimmy became Grandmaster, when his Grandson, J.P. King, earned his black belt in 1984. Jimmy continued to teach an instructor's class on the first and third Saturday of each month until his passing on February 14, 1991.

Training Location

Directions To This Location

Kung Fu San Soo
414 W. Foothill Blvd.
Monrovia, CA 91016-2026

Phone: 626-625-2884

Email:

Main Website: http://www.sansookungfu.com

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