The Japanese invaded Mainland China in 1932. However, they did not take over the southern provinces at this time. Chin Siu Hung was 73 when they took over his beloved province. In 1942, he was forced, against his will, to answer a challenge to fight the regimental karate champion of the Japanese army. The fight was to the death of one of the fighters. This was to be a public display of the power of the Japanese conquerors in front of the "poor villagers". Under threat of the death of his people if he did not comply, Hung fought and defeated the Japanese champion in less than 20 seconds. He and most of his students were then killed by machine gun fire. This basically ended Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung in Mainland China.

Fortunately, in 1935, at the age of 21, Chin Siu Dek had left Mainland China under the passport name Kun Haw Woo2, and sailed for the United States on a steamship. There is much speculation as to the reason Dek used an assumed name, but we know from his memorial tape that he was not an American citizen and had to buy a passport in order to enter the United States. Had he not left, he would have suffered the same fate as his Great Uncle and his fellow students. The Japanese invaders could not allow any possible resistance force to remain alive. Dek carried the art of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung to America and kept it alive while many of the other fighting systems were destroyed by the Japanese. Mao Tsi Tung later eradicated many of the other martial arts styles, training books and monasteries when the Communist Chinese took over power from the Japanese at the end of WWII.

Jimmy remained in Los Angeles' Chinatown after landing in the Port of Los Angeles. He worked a variety of jobs as he became acclimated to his new home in Chinatown, but he still found time to teach the art of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung to close relatives and friends. Later, he became an instructor at the Sing Kang, "cousin club", a social/recreational organization. He also served as security for the residents and businesses in the area and sometimes acted as a bodyguard.

In December 1962, Jimmy opened his martial arts studio at the Midway Shopping Center in El Monte, California. In the early years, he called it "Karate-Kung Fu" because no one knew what kung fu was at the time. He also opened up his studio to non-Asian students. He was the first Si Fu, Master, to teach American students. He went by the name Jimmy to these American students, and referred to the art of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung as Kung-Fu San Soo. He used the term San Soo to reinforce the combat style of his art. Kung Fu San Soo has an emphasis in fighting, not the spiritual or healing aspects found in other martial arts.

In January 1984, Jimmy H. Woo became Lo Si Fu, Grand Master, when his grandson, J.P. King, earned his black belt. J.P. marks the seventh generation of San Soo practitioners in Jimmy's family. He achieved the level of San Soo Master in January 1993.

Destiny brought Chin Siu Dek to America as Jimmy H. Woo to preserve the ancient art of Choy (Ga Kuhn How) Li (Ga Ma) Ho (Ga) Fut Hung (Ga). He taught his classes two Saturdays a month until 1991, for 46 years of Kung Fu teaching in America.

Lo Si Fu knew that in order to keep the art of San Soo true, you cannot mix other styles of fighting in with San Soo. To add or take away from the art is to alter the very essence of Kung Fu San Soo. To alter San Soo is to say it was not complete to begin with, and anyone who saw Lo Si Fu teach and demonstrate it, could not make this claim. In his memory, the art must be preserved in its' original form.

1 In Lo Si Fu's dialect, Tsoisonese, it is Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung. The common Cantonese pronunciation is Choy Li Ho Fut Hung.

2 Later changed to Jimmy H. Woo at the request of an American teacher.