The White Crane school begins
Kuen, Kwan and Allen Leung opened their school in Oakland. Its own historical account records an initial class of four students.
Historical source ↗San Francisco · Strength, rhythm & heritageMartial Arts
Martial Arts
& Lion Dance
武術傳承 · 醒獅精神
The movement of the lion. The discipline of kung fu. A San Francisco story carried forward through family, friendship and community service.
Explore our local connections ↓
Lions above the streets of Chinatown
Leung’s White Crane performers in San Francisco Chinatown, from the school’s official website. A living expression of the local lion dance tradition.
Source: Leung’s White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance AssociationView original source ↗Two groups. One commitment to community.
Clifton Leung is the current president of both Leung’s White Crane and San Francisco Chee Kung Tong. White Crane teaches our Chee Kung Tong members martial arts and lion dance, sharing skills, discipline and cultural traditions across generations.
White Crane and Chee Kung Tong work together to serve the community and welcome people of all ages. Together, we offer martial arts and lion dance learning opportunities free of charge, helping people build confidence, form friendships and stay connected to Chinese culture.
The photographs below identify Leung’s White Crane and other documented San Francisco events. White Crane is a distinct organization; its founding dates, teams and competition achievements are credited to the school.
Join our community programs →
Generations gathered together
The school’s 48th-anniversary gathering in San Francisco Chinatown. The banner identifies the occasion; 2019 follows from its documented 1971 founding.
Source: Leung’s White Crane official website; photographer not identifiedView original source ↗A documented local history · 歷史足跡1971 1973 1990–2001 1992 2010 2023 2025–2026
From the early school to today
A home in San Francisco Chinatown
The school relocated to San Francisco and established itself at 32 St. Louis Alley. Its history describes martial arts as the central focus during the 1970s.
Historical source ↗Martial arts schools in the lodge archive
UC Berkeley’s catalogue for the San Francisco lodge ledger A5-7-7 lists 柔功門, 梁坤國術館 and 白鶴國術館 among the organizations named in the volume. This is an archival reference to the schools, rather than proof that they were operated by the lodge.
Historical source ↗An international stage
White Crane records second place at the 1992 Hong Kong Urban Council World Lion Dance Tournament.
Historical source ↗Clifton’s continuing role
World Arts West’s festival program identifies Clifton as managing White Crane’s operations, Daniel as its martial arts headmaster and Jimmy as its advanced lion dance coach. This is a historical account of their roles at that time.
Historical source ↗Kung Fu Day on Grant Avenue
On June 3, Chinatown hosted demonstrations by numerous martial arts schools, including Leung’s White Crane. The event brought traditional practice into the neighborhood’s public streets.
Historical source ↗Shared service, shared celebrations
Reporting documents Supreme Lodge representatives at the 2025 sports-meet torch ceremony and White Crane’s 2026 anniversary, connecting the lodge with today’s lion dance community.
Historical source ↗The skills behind the celebration
White Crane’s own description places kung fu foundations alongside lion and dragon dance. Its students begin with empty-hand forms before progressing to weapon forms, while lion dance demands coordination and careful training.
Kung fu foundations
Stance, balance and coordinated movement form the foundation of the school’s practice. The tradition joins physical discipline with respect for teachers and fellow students.
Two dancers, one lion
A head dancer and a tail dancer work together to give the lion its character. World Arts West’s festival account describes the dance’s close relationship with martial arts training.
Rhythm and teamwork
Musicians and dancers create a shared performance. From traditional ground routines to White Crane’s high-pole displays, timing and balance turn individual skill into collective expression.
Authentic photographs · 真實影像
Our community in motion
Real people, local events and named sources. Dates refer to the photographed occasion where established; captions explain each event’s connection to the lodge or to San Francisco’s wider martial arts community.
Kung fu returns to Grant Avenue
Demonstrations and participants at Chinatown Kung Fu Day. Leung’s White Crane is listed among participating schools. This collage documents the wider event; the individual performers are not identified as Chee Kung Tong members.
Source: KungFuMagazine.com, Gene Ching’s June 11, 2023 reportView original source ↗
Lion dance opens a community tradition
Leung’s White Crane performs at the Chinese sports meet torch ceremony at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The report names lodge president 梁國緯 and 盟長趙炳賢 among the participants.
Photo supplied by the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco / 僑新聞 OCAC NewsView original source ↗
Honoring the next generation
New-lion eye-dotting at the anniversary celebration. Sing Tao identifies 梁國緯 as White Crane’s president and names him, 趙炳賢 and 陳龍贊 as Supreme Lodge representatives attending the celebration. The event included a Chinatown procession and a South San Francisco banquet.
Photo: 馬紅兵 / Sing Tao, published August 20, 2026View original source ↗Carry the tradition forward
Our shared martial arts and lion dance programs welcome people of all ages, free of charge. Whether you are a Chee Kung Tong member or part of the wider community, contact the San Francisco chapter to learn how to take part.
Contact the chapter for current class schedules and participation details.
Inquire with the San Francisco chapter →Sources & photograph credits
- Leung’s White Crane — historical account ↗
- Leung’s White Crane — official school website ↗
- World Arts West — 2010 festival program ↗
- KungFuMagazine.com — June 2023 Chinatown Kung Fu Day ↗
- 僑新聞 OCAC News — May 2025 torch ceremony ↗
- Sing Tao — August 2026 White Crane anniversary ↗
- UC Berkeley — San Francisco lodge ledger, 1990–2001 (A5-7-7) ↗
Reviewed September 26, 2026. Photographs remain credited to their original sources. No stock or AI-generated images are used on this page. Earlier photographs of a separately identified Chee Kung Tong lion troupe have not been verified for this collection.
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