Han Bai Kung Fu was founded in the early part of the 20th century in North Vietnam by a Vietnamese martial artist, Mr. Le Bai , also reverently known as Han Bai, Honarable Member of the National Academy of Martial Arts. Widely recognized as the foremost Vietnamese martial artist of his time, Master Han Bai mysteriously died at the very young age of 39. He left only a few disciples, among whom, Master Vu Ba Oai , who brought Han Bai martial arts to the South of Vietnam in the 1920s. Messrs. Mai van Khue, Do Du Anh, Truong Minh Lam, Huynh van Mi, Nguyen Anh Tai, Vuong Quang Ba were Master Oai's earliest students. After the closing of The Han Bai Dojo (1950-1962), Master Huynh van Mi continued to pass on his skills to some students at his own home. In 1983, a new Han Bai Martial Arts school was opened in Saigon by Master Mi's students: Bang, Luan, Loc and Quang. Han Bai Kung Fu began taking roots in the U.S. since 1993, after Master Nguyen V. Bang moved to Maryland, U.S. and began teaching at the Y.M.C.A. in Silver Spring and later at the Casey Community Center in Gaithersburg, MD.