Historically, pupils had been handpicked at a young age by a teacher (or sifu) and trained for a period of seven to ten years, on contract from their parents.
Corporal punishment was commonplace and it was not uncommon for the entire group to be beaten with bamboo canes if one student made a mistake during a performance.
[citation needed] The school also produced a number of stunt performers and actors, most notably Lam Ching Ying, Josephine Siao and Hsiao Hou of Shaw Brothers fame.
Other notable students included Chin Kar-lok, Chung Fat, John Lone, and Connie Chan Po-chu.
A similar school in Taipei, Taiwan was attended by another group of people who subsequently worked in the Hong Kong film industry.