Rafael de Paula
Founder & Technical Director of Lian Fai Kung Fu
MEET SIFU RAFAEL DE PAULA
The convergence between strategy and martial discipline
Rafael de Paula's journey represents the point where corporate strategy and the discipline of martial arts meet. With more than twenty years dedicated simultaneously to management and Kung Fu, he has transformed his experience in leadership, focus, and self-improvement into his own method of human development — the essence of Lian Fai Kung Fu.
Martial roots: a life of dedication and purpose
His path began in childhood, with judo, but it was at age 12 when Kung Fu sparked a passion that would stay with him forever. In 2003, he began his practice in the Fei Hok Phai style, under the direct lineage of Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok, whom he met personally and from whom he inherited the principles that would guide his entire training. He became an instructor in 2006 and, over the years, consolidated his training under the guidance of Master Alex Pereira, deepening his understanding of the technical and philosophical aspects of the style. In 2015, he achieved the Black Belt, recognized by the Central Association Fei Hok Phai Kung Fu Wushu of Brazil, and that same year won the bronze medal in the national festival, in the Three Stars category. Two years later, he received the Blue Crane, a symbol of postgraduate status within the system, crowning more than a decade of dedication. In addition to traditional Kung Fu, he trained as a Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing) Instructor at the Wudang Institute and began practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, thus completing his vision of real combat with a technical and strategic foundation.
The strategist's mind: 20 years in the corporate world
Parallel to his martial path, Rafael built a solid career at large companies such as Zurich, Generali, Itaú, and Allianz. He held leadership positions in Commercial Strategy and Sales Operations, leading transformation, training, and restructuring projects with a direct impact on organizational efficiency and culture. These experiences shaped a unique vision: the ability to unite martial discipline, strategic thinking, and human sensitivity, fundamental pillars of the Lian Fai Kung Fu philosophy.
Lian Fai Kung Fu: where technique, philosophy, and strategy meet
The founding of Lian Fai Kung Fu in Madrid represents the natural convergence of these two paths. The school was born with the purpose of offering a comprehensive experience of body, mind, and spirit, where each student learns to fight... and also to know themselves. At Lian Fai, every training session is a journey. Every movement, a meditation in action. Every class, an exercise in balance between focus, energy, and self-knowledge.
Main Qualifications
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Black Belt 2nd Degree Professor (Blue Crane) — Fei Hok Phai Kung Fu (Central Association)
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Instructor — Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing – Wudang Institute)
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Practitioner — Tai Chi Chuan
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+20 years of corporate experience in Commercial Strategy, Sales Ops & Sales Enablement
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Degree in Multimedia Production (UX & Digital Design) – FIAP
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Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration – FIR
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Certifications in Process Mapping, Leadership, Negotiation, and UX Design
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Wushu Referee Certificates (Traditional Taolu, Sanda, and Internal Taolu) – FPKF.
Our Martial Genealogy
At Lian Fai Kung Fu, we honor our roots, which trace back to the great masters of southern China. Our Fei Hok Phai (飛鶴派) style, "The School of the Flying Crane," was created in 1961 in Brazil by Grand Master Chiu Ping Lok (趙炳樂), after his arrival in the country in 1960.
During his first year in Brazil, he taught a set of techniques he had learned throughout his life, primarily from Hung Gar (洪家), and from that foundation, he systematized his experience into his own method: Fei Hok Phai. In this process, he had the support of his brother, Master Lee Way Yin, consolidating a system that balances the power of the tiger and the elegance of the crane.
Masters who influenced the development of GM Chiu Ping Lok:
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Chian Mun (his uncle) — Hung Tao Tchoy Mei Ka: technical foundation of strength, speed and precision.
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Lam Fei Hung — Hung Gar: structure, power and roots of southern China.
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Chen Man Qin — Tai Chi Chuan (Yang style): softness, center and internal work.
From that synthesis, Fei Hok Phai integrated forms (Taolus), combat (Sanda), joint control (Chin Na) and energy work (Chi Kung and Tai Chi), becoming a complete, traditional and living art.
Thus, the complete genealogical lineage of Lian Fai Kung Fu traces a direct line that begins with Grand Master Chiu Ping lok, founder of Fei Hok Phai.
It passes through the first graduate Master and co-founder, Master Lee Way Yin; then it reaches the first Brazilian graduate Master, Jair Lima, who led the first generation of masters alongside Master Lee.
Jair Lima was one of the great architects of the spread of the style in southern Brazil, also representing it in international events and competitions.
The tradition continues with Alex Pereira, a second-generation master and disciple of Master Jair Lima, an expert in combat techniques, who has participated in and won medals in numerous major Sanda (combat) events.
And finally, this legacy reaches Professor Rafael, a postgraduate black belt from the Central Fei Hok Phai Association and trained directly by Master Alex Pereira.
Chiu Ping Lok
Lee Way Yin
Jair Lima
Alex Pereira
Rafael de Paula
Kung Fu: The Wisdom of Movement
The terms Wushu (武术) and Kung Fu (功夫) are often used interchangeably, but in reality they express different nuances of the same tradition.
Wushu literally means “martial art” — the set of techniques and styles created in China over thousands of years.
Kung Fu , on the other hand, is not limited to combat: its original meaning is "mastery obtained through constant practice" or "excellence achieved through effort and time dedicated."
That's why, at Lian Fai Kung Fu, we prefer the term Kung Fu:
Because it represents not only a martial art, but also a path of personal development, a process of continuous self-improvement that encompasses body, mind, and spirit. Practicing Kung Fu is a commitment to constant improvement, both on and off the mat.
Kung Fu (功夫) is much more than a fighting technique — it is a philosophy of life that has accompanied humankind for thousands of years.
Its origins can be traced back to ancient China, where the earliest records of martial arts date back more than four millennia. At that time, Kung Fu was a discipline reserved for imperial armies, used to train body, mind, and spirit in times of war.
Over time, these practices transcended the military sphere and found a new purpose in Buddhist and Taoist monasteries, where they transformed into a path of self-knowledge and inner balance. There, the movement became meditation in action.
In the modern era, Kung Fu has evolved into a comprehensive tool for human development. Today it combines:
Physical health, through strength, flexibility and coordination;
Mental well-being, through mindfulness, breathing and emotional control;
Universal values, such as discipline, respect, humility, and perseverance.
At its core, Kung Fu is the pursuit of self-mastery. It's not just about learning to fight, but about learning to live in balance.
At Lian Fai Kung Fu, this ancient tradition is kept alive, adapted to the challenges of today's world: an art that strengthens the body, calms the mind, and uplifts the spirit.
The History of Fei Hok Phai
Fei Hok Phai is a Kung Fu style with a rich and deeply rooted history. The name Fei Hok Phai means "School of the Flying Crane," and its technical foundation is based primarily on the five great styles of Southern China (南拳五家 / Nánquán Wǔjiā), traditionally known as:
Hung Gar (洪家拳) – Hung Family
Li Gar (李家拳) – Li Family
Lau Gar (劉家拳) – Lau Family
Mok Gar (莫家拳) – Mok Family
Choy Gar (蔡家拳) – Choy Family
Thus characterizing itself as one of the traditional styles of Hung Tao Choy Mei Gar, commonly found in Southern China. Hung Tao Choy Mei Gar is a term attributed to various southern styles and means something like:
Hung Tao = Head or beginning in Hung
Choy Mei = Tail or end in Choy Gar = Family
That is: a Kung Fu family that works the styles from Hung to Choy.
To better understand the origin of Fei Hok Phai, it is essential to talk about its founder. Born in China, Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok began his martial arts journey at the age of four, under the guidance of his uncle Chan Mun, who passed on the fundamentals of Hung Tao Choy Mei Gar to him. Throughout his training, he studied with renowned masters who profoundly influenced his development, among them, the main ones: Chin Man Sin (錢萬賢), Lam Fei Hung (林飛鴻), Hui Sil Sin (許士臣), and Si Pak (師伯), perfecting his technical and philosophical knowledge. Furthermore, he perfected his practice of Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) under the guidance of the legendary Master Chen Man Qin (陳曼欽) — a direct disciple of Yang Chengfu (楊澄甫) —, whose teaching of the Yang form and deep understanding of the balance between mind and body decisively influenced the development of Fei Hok Phai, thus creating a complete system that balances strength and softness, technique and philosophy.
In 1960, Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok arrived in Brazil, where he began teaching Kung Fu. In his early years, his teaching consisted of a compilation of techniques, especially from the Hung Gar style. However, in 1961, he formally created the Fei Hok Phai style. In 1969, he founded the first registered Kung Fu academy in Brazil, and in 1977, he established the Central Association Fei Hok Phai de Kung Fu Wushu, with the aim of organizing, promoting, and preserving the teaching of the style.
Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok was also a pioneer in spreading the Lion Dance (舞獅) in Brazil, leaving a cultural and martial legacy of great importance.
It is fundamental to recognize Lee Way Yin (李偉賢) as the co-founder and first master of the Fei Hok Phai style. Born in 1946, his collaboration with Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok was decisive from the early years. Both worked as true martial brothers, sharing responsibility for the technical and philosophical development of the style. Lee Way Yin dedicated his life to Fei Hok Phai, helping to lay the foundations that continue to guide the system's practice today.
Legacy and Continuity
Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok passed away on August 22, 2009, leaving an invaluable legacy for Brazilian Kung Fu. His martial brother and co-founder of the style, Master Lee Way Yin, also passed away that same year, approximately one month later. Both left a spiritual and technical heritage that lives on in every Fei Hok Phai practitioner.
Masters of the First Generation of Fei Hok Phai
(Trained directly by Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok):
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Lee Way Yin
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Jair Melo Lima
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Cintia Yan Sue
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Benedito de Barros Filho
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Guilherme Eduardo Stamato
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Maria Luiza Horneaux Affonso
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Mario Kunio Masuno
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Valter Tadeu Ribeiro
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Waldemir Machado
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Aparecido Marreira
Following the passing of Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok, the first-generation masters continued to spread the style's teachings, forming councils of masters within their own institutions for the preparation of new generations. Today, there are numerous second-generation masters, trained by the Grandmaster's direct disciples, each with their own teaching and ranking system, but all preserving the essence of Fei Hok Phai. Among them, the most influential for Lian Fai Kung Fu are: Jair Melo Lima, the first Brazilian to graduate as a master of the style, and his disciple, Alex Pereira, a second-generation master and Shifu to professor Rafael de Paula.
Lian Fai Kung Fu
Meaning
Lian Fai (蓮輝) means "radiant union" — an image of energy rising and illuminating. A poetic alternative: "radiant lotus," a symbol of purity that blooms even in challenging waters.
Founded in Madrid by professor Rafael de Paula, Lian Fai was born as a modern school, inspired by the traditional lineage of Fei Hok Phai and guided by the universal values of Kung Fu: discipline, respect, perseverance, humility, and balance.
Technical Methodology
In our method, the modules are divided by levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. It is an original, modern, and unique method created by Lian Fai, which constantly evolves to respond to the needs of the student and the contemporary world. Our methodology combines modern combat techniques, such as Sanda, with traditional techniques, like Chin Na (grappling and joint locks), and internal energy cultivation practices (Chi Kung/氣功). This allows us a realistic and complete view of combat and self-defense, accessing all dimensions of an encounter: the Heaven, Human, and Earth distances. The forms (Taolu/套路) preserve movements like true books of knowledge: they contain techniques, applications, and principles. Furthermore, they function as comprehensive physical training and a meditation in motion, strengthening the body, sharpening focus, and balancing breathing. Thanks to this vision, the training sessions are adapted to different profiles: from those seeking demanding physical practice to those who desire balance, concentration, well-being, and health. The result is a balanced system, accessible and adapted to modern life.
Vision
More than a martial arts school, Lian Fai is a life concept, connecting millennia-old Eastern philosophy and ethics with the needs of the contemporary world. Each class is an opportunity for the student to develop strength, body awareness, and self-confidence, learning to face challenges with calm and clarity, both on and off the mat.
Lian Fai Kung Fu in one sentence
Kung Fu beyond fighting, a way of life.