Bok Fu Do, meaning "the System of the White Tiger," is a complete Chinese martial arts system founded in 1967 by Senior Grandmaster Richard Lee. It blends techniques from many fighting arts, including Chinese Kenpo, Jujitsu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, American boxing, Tien Shan Pai, and Seven Star Praying Mantis, together with traditional Chinese weapons. It is one of the few complete systems founded in the West to earn international recognition, through both its content and its results in world competition.
The International Bok Fu Do Association (IBFDA) is the governing body for the Bok Fu Do system. It sets the standards for the art, certifies its instructors, maintains the ranking structure, and sanctions the member schools and tournaments that carry the system forward. More than fifty certified instructors teach across its member schools. It is led today by Grandmaster John Buckley.
Yes. Bok Fu Do is a documented system with a formal governing body, a defined ranking and certification structure, and a record at national and international Kuo Shu tournaments. When Senior Grandmaster Richard Lee formalized the system as "Bok Fu Do" in 1994, the step was endorsed by senior figures in the martial arts world, including Grandmaster Al Tracy, General Wu Hong-Chang (Vice President of the International Chinese Kuoshu Federation), and Grandmaster Huang Chien-Liang.
Bok Fu Do was founded in 1967 by Senior Grandmaster Richard Lee (1942 to 2025). He developed the system over decades of training, teaching, and international research. He chose Grandmaster John Buckley as his first disciple in 2000, and in June 2025 promoted him to 10th degree black belt, the highest rank in traditional martial arts. Grandmaster Buckley leads the system today.
Grandmaster John Buckley is the head of the Bok Fu Do system and leads the IBFDA. He began training under Senior Grandmaster Richard Lee in 1986 and, in 1989, became the first of Lee's students to commit to Bok Fu Do as his life's work. He is Lee's first disciple, holds a 10th degree black belt earned in 2025, and has served eight times as head coach of the United States National Lei Tai team.
The IBFDA's member schools are Richard Lee's East West Kung Fu, with locations in Alamo, San Ramon, and Lafayette, California; John Ozuna's KO Kung Fu in San Jose, California; and The Training Mat in Moreno Valley, California.
IBFDA instructors earn certification through the association's ranking and testing system, including rank intensives and certification weekends, which hold every member school and every instructor to the same standard. This shared standard is what keeps the quality of Bok Fu Do consistent across every location.
Bok Fu Do's motto represents the four virtues that guide training on and off the mat: Zhi (Wisdom), learning from experience, even difficult experience; Yong (Courage), believing in yourself and facing fear; Cheng (Honesty); and Ren (Kindness).
Bok Fu Do practitioners compete under the United States Kuo Shu Federation and The World Kuo Shu Federation, where the system's leaders also hold federation offices. Its students have earned team and individual honors at national and international Kuo Shu championships over many years.
Bok Fu Do is taught at the IBFDA's member schools: Richard Lee's East West Kung Fu in Alamo, San Ramon, and Lafayette, California; John Ozuna's KO Kung Fu in San Jose, California; and The Training Mat in Moreno Valley, California.