Why is Lineage important?

Many martial art styles such as Taekwondo are regulated by governing bodies who ensure that the instructors of their style are properly qualified and certified in their organization. They would even be able to take legal action against someone who falsely claims authenticity. Therefore, prospective students of a certified school can be sure that they are getting the real art.

This is not the case with Chinese Martial Arts in general. Although there are various sanctioning bodies, there is little or nothing to prevent someone who is not qualified from opening a school and charging a premium for tuition. The only practical (and safe) way to verify if someone is teaching authentic material is to look at their lineage. Traditional masters are very careful about who they choose to carry on their teachings and typically only give a certificate to those whom they see fit.