Mario Lam, from Burnaby, British Columbia, is a seasoned martial artist with around 60 years of experience. He began his martial arts journey at the age of 7 or 8, dabbled in Weng Chun (永春) under the guidance of his uncles. Over the decades, he has explored various martial arts like judo and karate, plus various styles of Taijiquan (太極拳), ultimately settling down on Liuhebafa (LHBF 六合八法) as his primary / home discipline.
In addition to his martial arts expertise, Mario is a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified coach and has taught Liuhebafa to adults, teens and children for over forty years. He has integrated the method of gymnastics training into martial arts, enhancing the physical capabilities of his students. His contributions to sports have been recognized with the Sport BC President’s Award in 1999 and 2002. Mario has introduced the MartialGym program to regions including British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta.
The MartialGym program, developed by Mario, combines the principles of martial arts and scientific approach of gymnastics training to prepare individuals for various life challenges. He fully adopted the Sports for Life principles within MartialGym. The program offers classes for children aged 5 and above, focusing on purposeful activities that make training enjoyable while building a broad vocabulary of motion. This foundation aims to instill ability, confidence and knowledge in participants, enabling them to enjoy diverse physical activities.
For the last 10+ years, Mario has tailored his MartialGym approach to address common issues faced by seniors, such as a high risk of falling and chronic pain in areas like the neck, shoulders, knees, and lower back. His specialized programs, “Functional Fitness 55+,” and “Senior’s Self Defense” are specifically designed to help seniors manage these challenges effectively. Classes are held at various community centers in Burnaby, BC.
Beyond his teaching endeavors, Mario shares his insights and experiences on his blogs,
– “Liuhebafa MartialGym and more,” where he discusses topics related to martial arts, gymnastics, technology, and gadgets.
- Functional Fitness – Preparations for falling down
- Senior Self Defense – For seniors to understand that there are lots that they can do non-aggressively even though the aggressor can be faster and stronger.
- “Liuhebafa Martial Gym and more” – a blog for martial artists where a lot of concepts and thoughts are shared. At one point, this blog was used to drive the weekly assignments.
Through his innovative programs and community involvement, Mario Lam continues to make significant contributions to the martial arts community and beyond.
Below is the only public performance that Mario Lam did back in 1984.