EXPLORE THE UNTOLD STORY

The Mo Lum of San Francisco Chinatown is a documentary project exploring the history and living culture of traditional Chinese martial arts—Gung Fu—in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
The film is informed by conversations with practitioners and teachers connected to the martial arts community that developed in Chinatown through the mid-20th century. It explores the cultural, personal, and philosophical dimensions of preserving a tradition across generations.
San Francisco’s Chinatown was one of the early centers for the development of traditional Gung Fu in America. From pioneering Sifu such as Lau Bun and Wong Jack Man, to training halls operating above storefronts and within tightly connected communities, martial arts became part of a broader cultural life rooted in identity, discipline, and mutual support.
The film explores what drew individuals to Gung Fu, how they chose their teachers and systems, and how those teachings shaped their lives. It also looks at the role of community gatherings such as lion dances, festivals, and public demonstrations in sustaining that culture.
As Chinatown continues to evolve, the film follows how practitioners today continue to teach, preserve, and adapt these traditions. It is a reflection on lineage, change, and continuity within a living martial culture.