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107-460: Cheung Ah-yim ( 張炎 - 張鴻勝 ); b. 1824– d. 1893) a.k.a. Jeung Yim , Cheung Yim, Cheung Hung-sing, Jeong Hung-sing, Jeong Hong-sing, Zhang Yan, Zhang Hongsheng; is recognized as an important contributor (co-founder) to the expansion of Choy Lee Fut - a Southern Chinese martial arts system, and was the most famous of Chan Heung's disciple to emerge from the Choy Lee Fut System. Cheung Yim

214-532: A Biu Gee, or thrusting fingers to the eyes. Cheung Hung-sing evaded the strike and hit the student with a palm strike to the torso and sent him flying. When Leung Jan learned what happened, he was highly upset and challenged Cheung Hung-sing to a closed doors Staff Duel. No one knew about the outcome, but in the end, Cheung was definitely allowed to open his school in Fut San. With a deeper look into China's history, one will know that Cheung Yim's Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon

321-467: A boxer from the Qingyun temple near Dinghu Mountain started teaching him Fut Gar , literally "Buddha Family," which specializes in palm techniques. Chan Yuen Woo had received his training from Du Zhang Monk. When Chan Heung was fifteen, Chan Yuen-Wu took him to Li Yau-San (Chinese: 李友山 ), Chan Yuen-Wu's senior classmate. Li Yau San had trained under Zhi Shan Monk (Chinese: 独杖禅师 ). Chan Heung spent

428-457: A boxer from the Qingyun temple near Dinghu Mountain who had trained under Du Zhang Monk (独杖禅师), who began teaching him the Fut Gar (佛家) style of Chinese martial arts when he was seven years old. When Chan Heung was fifteen, Chan Yuen-wu took him to Li Yau-san (李友山), Chan Yuen-wu's senior classmate. Li Yau-san had trained under Zhi Shan Monk (至善禅师). Under Li Yau-san's instruction, Chan Heung spent

535-437: A disciple of Chan Cheong-mo 陳長毛. With his teacher Chan Cheong-mo's 陳長毛 permission, he continued his studies from Chan Yen, the chief instructor of King Mui Village's Hung Sing School. Chan Yen learned Choy Li Fut from his father, Chan Yau-kau, who was a student of Chan Heung. In 1949, the communists took over mainland China. Before Wong Gong 黄江 moved to Hong Kong, both of his teachers told him to continue teaching in order to keep

642-444: A handyman/caretaker. Cheung Yim loved Kung Fu and couldn't help but memorize what Chan Heung was teaching to his students as he was doing his daily chores. At night, he would practice his stolen Choy Lee Fut while everyone slept. He was caught one night when Chan Heung was taking a walk around the village. He confronted Cheung Yim who admitted to what he did. But, Chan Heung saw the potential in this young boy who never properly learned

749-640: A secret Triad historical account, it revealed Ching Cho's real name was Fong Dai Hung and killed Ma Chut during their escape. After their escape, Ching Cho 青草 went into hiding and lived somewhere near the Zhajian Temple on Mt. Pak Pai (Bapai) in Bapaishan, in Guangxi Province. Ching Cho 青草 is also known as the Green Grass Monk . Erroneously most disciples of Choy Lee Fut believed that Ching Cho (Green Grass)

856-430: A student, but only to study Buddhism . One morning, when Chan Heung was practicing his martial arts, Choy Fook pointed to a heavy rock and told him to kick it into the air. Chan Heung exerted all of his strength as his foot crashed against the rock, sending it twelve feet (3.7 m) away. Instead of being complimented, he watched as Choy Fook placed his own foot under the heavy rock and effortlessly propelled it through

963-418: A wide range of weapons as part of its curriculum. It contains a wide variety of techniques, including long and short range punches, kicks, sweeps and take downs, pressure point attacks, joint locks, and grappling. According to Bruce Lee : Choy Li Fut is the most effective system that I've seen for fighting more than one person. [It] is one of the most difficult styles to attack and defend against. Choy Li Fut

1070-634: Is a rank and position usually reserved for masters of the Martial Arts with a role more like an Army General. In 1849, Monk Ching Cho Wo Sheung completed Cheung Yim's gung fu training. Since he had plans for Cheung Yim, he instructed him to go to Fut San to contact the Triad Society leaders there and offer to help train the revolutionary fighters who were preparing for the Tai Ping Rebellion in 1851. One final thing Monk Ching Cho had to give Cheung Yim

1177-425: Is evidence of some misinformation: Chan Heung was impressed with Cheung Yim's Li Gar skills and wanted to teach him Choy Lee Fut, but found himself too busy perfecting and standardizing his newly created Choy Li Fut system to train fighters for the anti-Qing revolutionaries (that information has never been told in regards to history, ever). After a few years of doing maintenance work for Chan Heung, when Jeong Yim

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1284-464: Is exclusive to Choy Li Fut is the Nine-Dragon Trident created by the founder, Chan Heung. This weapon was designed to shred any part of the opponent with which it might come into contact. The many hooks and blades can seize an opponent's weapon and, with one twist, rip it from his hands. The Nine-Dragon Trident (Gau Lung Dai Chah, 九龍大叉) is known as the "King" of all weapons. Chan Heung 陳享 set up

1391-512: Is from Chan Heung is due solely to the fact that Cheung Yim and his disciples were very active in the revolutionary movement during his lifetime. They could not afford to be found with any literature or connection to the Hung Mun secret society (which indeed they were) because they were in fear of having their heads decapitated on the spot, a mandate handed down from the Qing Empire because the Hung Mun

1498-579: Is internationally recognized as the first founder of the Choy Lee Fut martial arts system, with Cheung Hung Sing as being the co-founder. According to legend, the monk Gee Sin Sim See 至善禪師 is said to have been one of the legendary Five Elders ; Ng Mui 五梅大師, Fung Doe Duk 馮道德, Miu Hin 苗顯 and Bak Mei 白眉道人; who survived the destruction of the Shaolin Temple during the late Qing dynasty . The founders of

1605-523: Is some speculation that Choy Fook also studied under Choy Gau Yee (Chinese: 蔡九儀 ), the founder of Choy Gar . Choy Fook lived as a recluse on Lou Fu mountain and no longer wished to teach martial arts. Chan Heung set out to Lau Fu mountain to find him. Choy Fook, had been seriously burned and his head had healed with scars. This gave him the nickname "Monk with the Wounded Head" (Chinese: 爛頭和尙 ). Using that description, Chan Heung eventually located

1712-519: Is the date of 1867, and Chan Heung sent him to Fut San to become the successor of Chan Din Foon. The real truth is Cheung Yim opened his own Hung Sing Kwoon in Fut San in the year of 1851 (Historically recognized by the Fut San government), and it was forced to close down after end of the Tai Ping Rebellion (1864) because of Cheung Yim's involvement in the revolution. Cheung Yim and Chan Heung both fled to Hong Kong in 1864 to avoid being captured and murdered at

1819-733: Is the only style [of kung fu] that traveled to Thailand to fight the Thai boxers and hadn't lost. Chan Heung (陳享), also known as Din Ying (典英), Daht Ting (逹庭), Chen Xianggong, and Chen Xiang (both in Mandarin), was born on August 23, 1806, or July 10, 1806 of the lunar calendar, in King Mui 京梅 (Ging Mui), a village in the San Woi 新會 (Xin Hui) district of Jiangmen, Guangdong province of China. Chan Heung's uncle Chan Yuen-wu (陳遠護),

1926-454: Is unique to the Choy Li Fut style is sometimes termed "whipping", where the practitioner's upper torso twists to generate more power in executing hand and arm techniques. In other martial art styles, the upper body is less dynamic, placing more emphasis in stability and generation of static power. Other differences include how the practitioner's stance should be while facing their opponent. In

2033-499: Is where they reunited for a solid three years. It is here that Cheung Yim shared the Green Grass Monk's Fut Gar Kuen with Chan Heung as a form or repayment for all the generosity and hospitality he was shown. At this point, Chan Heung viewed Cheung Yim more as a brother than a former disciple. Together they came up with new techniques and included them into Chan Heung's Choy Lee Fut. This was the point of Cheung Hung Sing's returned to

2140-812: The Manchu Qing dynasty had contributed to China's defeat in the war. Between 1847 and 1850 many Chinese leaders formed secret societies to overthrow the Qing. In 1850, under the leadership of Hong Xiuquan , the Taiping Rebellion broke out in Guangxi , and the movement would maintain control of large areas of southern China under the banner of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom until its collapse in 1864. During this era of rebellion and dissent, Chan Heung left his home in King Mui with his wife and two children, and seized

2247-527: The 5th generation of the King Mui lineage, they are; Chan Yong-fa and Niel Willcott. In 1898, Chan Cheong-mo 陳長毛 founded the Sei Yup (four counties) Hung Sing School in Kong Chow 岡州 City now called Jiangmen. He learned Choy Li Fut from Chan Heung when he was a child. After Chan Heung died, he continued to study from Chan Heung's eldest son, Chan On Pak 陳安伯. He invited Chan On-pak's younger brother Chan Koon-pak to be

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2354-615: The Buk Sing Choy Li Fut Branch. The mainline transmission is referred to as King Mui (京梅), because the founder's family came from the King Mui village, and it is where Chan Heung 陳享 officially started teaching Choy Li Fut in 1836. Today, Chan family descendants prefer to use the term, "Chan Family" tradition, because the modern-day successor (Keeper of the Style) was Chan Yiu-chi 陳耀墀, the son of Chan Koon-pak, and grandson of Chan Heung. Notable none Chan family student of Chan Yi-chi

2461-562: The Chinese character Hung 鴻 meaning “goose” to Hung 雄 meaning "strong." From that time on, Choy Li Fut schools in Koon-pak's King Mui area designated themselves with the slogan Hung Sing 雄勝, meaning "Strong Victory," while Cheung Hung Sing's schools kept their "Goose Victory" Hung Sing 鴻勝 motto. Foshan was a hot bed of political activities. There was a strong Manchu presence in Foshan, and battles between

2568-533: The Choy Lee Fut family. The year 1856: According to the Hong Kong Chan Heung Memorial Association of 1972, Cheung Yim defeated a local bully by the name of Zhao Juan, who knew Cheung Yim was the best student of Chan Heung and wanted any excuse to challenge him. He was also the owner of the ferry business, and used this incident to do so. The story claimed Cheung Yim and Zhao Juan fought many rounds and were pretty much tied. Chan Heung

2675-433: The Choy Lee Fut system, so he decided to privately teach him as long as their secret can be kept a secret. One day in 1841, Chan Heung was away on business and his students started bullying Cheung Yim, who, tried his best not to fight back. But he lost his cool and gave Chan Heung's students a good thrashing. They reported what happened to their parents, who, then complained to Chan Heung, demanding he ask Cheung Yim to leave

2782-471: The Choy Li Fut system alive. In Hong Kong, Wong Gong 黄江 is still actively involved in teaching Choy Li Fut. Chew Kam-wing 赵锦荣 now is in his mid-80s, and he and his classmates had a meeting, and all agreed that he should pass on his Keeper's position to Wong Gong 黄江. All the senior members of Chan Cheong-mo's 陳長毛 students believed Wong Gong 黄江 had achieved the greatest success in the teaching of Choy Li Fut. On February 16, 2006, Chew Kam-wing 赵锦荣 officially signed

2889-404: The Choy Li Fut system spread, different schools and branches added other martial arts masters to their curriculum, adding new forms or modifying some form techniques. This dissemination and evolution of Choy Li Fut resulted in the variations of forms and practices we see between schools and branches. The Cheung Hung Sing branch of Choy Lee Fut does not practice the same forms as passed down within

2996-1047: The Choy Li Fut system. Chan Heung 陳享 recorded his discoveries and knowledge onto paper for his future students to follow and eventually recorded over 250 forms and techniques. The Choy Li Fut system has over 150 various single person, multiple person, weapon, and training apparatus forms, e.g. the Ching jong , the Sui Sau Jong, and the Ma Jong. Since Chan Heung was a student of three highly skilled Shaolin masters, each teacher had many traditional forms. Chan Heung also developed many training and fighting forms from his own experience and years of training. There are even specialized forms for various students who had different physical shapes and abilities. These forms have been recorded into scripts which have been handed down to his closed-door students. Initially, Ng Lun Ma 五輪馬 (Five Wheel Stance Form) and Ng Lun Chui 五輪搥 (Five Wheel Striking Form ) were created as

3103-517: The Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon was dormant, and information coming from the source was not available until recent years. Once the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon re-opened in 2001, Choy Lee Fut disciples were privy to new information about Cheung Yim and his life, more than what was previously known. As a young boy, Cheung Yim was learning the Lee Gar system under Lee Yau San. But, at the time, he was under

3210-509: The Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon. According to various sources, Cheung Yim parents were killed when he was very young (most likely due to revolutionary fighting) and was placed under the care of his uncle, Jeong Kwan. When Cheung Yim was 7 or 8 years old he was a student of Li Yau-san. When Cheung Yim was 12 years old (1836), his uncle became unable to care of him, so he asked Li Yau-san's top senior student Chan Heung who had just returned from studying with Choy Fook 蔡褔, to take him in. Chan Heung

3317-459: The Hung Gar and Wing Chun styles, practitioners hold their torso perpendicular to an opponent, to allow the full use of both arms. In contrast, Choy Li Fut holds the torso at an angle to the opponent to reduce the target area exposed to him, and to allow the practitioner more reach. Front stances in Choy Li Fut have the front bent leg angled in to protect the groin, while other martial arts systems have

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3424-597: The Hung Sing Studio (Great Sage 洪聖舘 Hung Sing Kwoon) in Fut San (modern day FoShan), which was established in 1848 by Chan Din Yao and Chan Din Fune, two of Chan Heung's first students. Monk Ching Cho Wo Sheung was the one who sent Cheung Yim to Fut San in 1849. Monk Ching Cho sent him there because Fut San was a major location for the Hung Mun headquarters. Cheung Yim's purpose in Fut San was to train Hung Mun revolutionary fighters for

3531-635: The King Mui Village. But, Chan Heung didn't want to just end Cheung Yim's training just like that. So, he instructed the now 17 year old Cheung Yim to go to the Pak Pai Mountains near Guangxie and find an elusive monk by the name of Ching Cho and tell him why he was sent to look for this monk. In 1841 Cheung Yim arrived at the Pak Pai Mountain and found the Monk with the name of Ching Cho. But, Ching Cho

3638-579: The King Mui 京梅 area. Historically all Choy Li Fut schools ultimately have the same origins, but because of the anti-Manchu government revolutions of the mid-19th century and the ensuing chaotic political situations that existed in China, various name changes and changes in leadership created the belief that there were two completely separate Hung Sing Choy Li Fut schools. The Hung Moon 洪門 Secret Society represented all revolutionary factions, including all Choy Li Fut representatives. Choy Li Fut schools chose to write

3745-508: The Manchu government and the Hung Mun members were bloody and frequent. The Foshan Choy Li Fut School opened in 1848 under Chan Din-foon 陳典桓 utilized the name "Hung Sing Kwoon 洪聖舘" (Meaning Great Saint Hung) to avoid associating themselves with the Hung Moon 洪門 Secret Society and to protect themselves from government persecution. The Foshan Hung Sing 佛山鴻勝舘 branch was extremely popular and this worried

3852-443: The Manchu government supporters as well as created intense rivalries between martial arts schools. Rumors and gossip of the school being affiliated with the Hung Mun 洪門 Secret Society created even more tension between the Manchu controlled local government and the school. Originally, The Hung Sing Kwoon (Great Saint Hung 洪聖舘 - different to that of Cheung Hung Sing's Goose Victory Hung Sing Kwoon 鴻勝舘) started by Chan Din-foon around 1848,

3959-551: The Qing Empire to restore the Ming Dynasty back to power" . This was the last we hear of Monk Ching Cho Wo Sheung who most likely passed away shortly after this. The newly named Cheung Hung-sing arrived in the City of Fut San, and immediately made contact with the Triad leaders and was ready to start training the fighters. But before he could do that respectfully, he needed to make contact with

4066-502: The Qing dynasty for the atrocity of burning down the Southern Shaolin Temple, and murder most of the monks. The monk Ching Cho was a co-founder of the Hung Mun 洪門 and by giving Cheung Yim this name of Hung Sing (洪勝 Hung Victory)was meant as a reminder of the struggle, and quest in honor of the slaughtered monks. Misinformation #2 The birth of CHEUNG YIM: While Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon was closed down in 1949, no one else around

4173-406: The age of 12 years old. However, long ago, dates for Jeong Yim were not very clear. This is where the controversy began. Misinformation #1 The origin of Cheung Yim's Hung Victory 洪勝 name: Because of Cheung Yim's successful business and his famous name, many kung fu masters became jealous and challenged him to matches. Cheung Yim defeated all the challengers making him even more famous. At the time,

4280-438: The air. Chan Heung was awestruck by this demonstration. Again he begged Choy Fook to teach him his martial arts. This time the monk agreed, and for nine years, Choy Fook taught Chan Heung both the way of Buddhism and the way of martial arts. When he was twenty-eight, Chan Heung left Choy Fook and returned to King Mui village in 1834, where he revised and refined all that he had learned. In 1836, Choy Fook gave Chan Heung advice in

4387-573: The anti-Qing revolutionaries (that information has never been told in regards to history, ever)" is pure misinformation. This was never part of Cheung Yim's history at all. The truth is Cheung Yim basically stole the Choy Lee Fut system by memorizing the techniques that Chan Heung taught in each lesson and practiced them in the middle of the night while everyone was sleeping. One night Chan Heung caught him practicing his stolen Choy Lee Fut. But, since Cheung Yim showed great skill while lacking proper instruction, he decided to teach Cheung Yim secretly since it

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4494-432: The basic training forms that beginners must master to learn the basic foundation of stances, movement, and hand techniques. Present day schools and branches may use different teaching and training forms as well as their own curriculum and methodologies to teach Choy Li Fut. Because of the massive number of forms in the Choy Li Fut system as a whole, it is not required to learn every form to complete training in Choy Li Fut. As

4601-417: The battle against the Qing troops. Plans were made to escape if the temple fell. A traitor monk named Ma Chut ( also known as Ma Ning-Yee or Ma Yee Fuk ), who was banished from the temple, told the Qing troops about the escape plan and the vulnerability of the temple. With that knowledge the Qing was able to successfully set the temple on fire. Many monks were killed. As the temple burned, 18 monks prayed in

4708-458: The care of his uncle because allegedly his parents were killed by the Qing Empire. One day, his uncle had to leave China for business and would now be returning to China and couldn't bring his nephew with him. He hoped his friend by the name of Chan Heung would be able to look after his 12 year old nephew, so they went to King Mui to ask him. At first Chan Heung had to deny any care for the boy, but after much pleading, Chan Heung took Cheung Yim on as

4815-623: The certificate of Jeong Moon-yen to Wong Gong 黄江 as the new keeper of the Sei Yup Hung Sing Kwoon (Four Counties Hung Sing school). The Kong Chow lineage of Choy Li Fut was created by Wong Gong in 1989. Wong Gong 黄江 named his lineage "Kong Chow 岡州" (Gangzhou) because before the Republic of China, the district of Choy Li Fut's hometown Xin Hui 新会 and Jiangmen were known as Kong Chow 岡州. Chan Heung Chan Heung (23 August 1806 — 20 August 1875)

4922-477: The collapse of the Fut San (Foshan) Hung Sing school in 1848, and the death of Chan Din-Foon 陳典桓. For the next 10 years he trained under Chan Heung's Choy Li Fut system. Cheung Yim was a student of Chan Heung in 1836 and trained under him until 1841 (12-17 yrs old), he was in fact part of the most earliest groups of students of Chan Heung. Monk Ching Cho was the individual who instructed Cheung Yim to go to Fut San in 1849. It wasn't to take over anyone's school. It

5029-527: The destruction of the Shaolin Temple sometime during the late Qing Dynasty. The founders of the five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts; Hung Gar , Choy Gar, Mok Gar , Li Gar and Lau Gar, were respectively, Hung Hei-gun (洪熙官), Choy Gau-yee (蔡九儀), Mok Da-si (Mok Ching-kiu, 莫清矯), Li Yau-san (李友山), and Lau Sam-ngan (劉三眼); and all are said to have been students of Jee Sin Sim See. Choy Fook had learned his martial arts from Choy Gau-yee (蔡九儀),

5136-577: The eighteen who escaped only five monks survived and were known as the Ng Jing Wo Seung. They were Wu Dak Dai, Choy Dak Jung, Lei Sik Hoi, Fong Dai Hung*, and Ma Chiu Hing. These are also the same Triad Five Elders of the Tian di hui/Hung Mun Secret Society. Sifu Frank McCarthy goes into greater detail about the Green Grass Monk in his up-and-coming book on the American Hung Sing Kwoon Once

5243-609: The first Choy Li Fut martial arts school at the local family temple of his village. As his reputation spread, hundreds of people from nearby villages came to learn Choy Li Fut. Shortly after Chan Heung established his new school, the First Opium War broke out in China. Chan Heung joined the army in Canton to fight against the British invaders. After China's defeat in 1842, he returned home to his family in King Mui. Political corruption within

5350-439: The five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts; Hung Ga , Choy Gar , Mok Gar , Li Gar and Lau Gar, were respectively, Hung Hei-Gun 洪熙官, Choy Gau Yee 蔡九儀, Mok Da Si (Mok Ching-Kiu) 莫清矯, Li Yau-San 李友山 student of Li Sik Hoi, and Lau Sam-Ngan 劉三眼; and all are said to have been students of Gee Sin Sim See 至善禪師. Choy Fook 蔡褔 had learned his martial arts from Choy Gau Yee 蔡九儀, the founder of Choy Gar . The following

5457-1196: The form of a special poem known as a double couplet, as follows: In 1836, Chan Heung formally established the Choy Li Fut system, named to honor his 3 teachers: that Buddhist monk, Choy Fook, who taught him Choy Gar, and Li Yau-san who taught him Li Gar, plus his uncle Chan Yuen-woo 陳遠護, who taught him Fut Gar, and developed to honor the Buddha and the Shaolin Kung Fu roots of the system. Chan Heung 陳享 revised and refined all that he had learned from his teachers and with his disciples, established standardized hand and leg techniques. Choy Li Fut's hand techniques contain 10 elements 十訣: Kam 擒 slapping or pressing palm deflection, Na 拿 shooting arm bridge, Gwa 掛 back fist, Sou 掃 sweeping, Caap 插 yin/yang knuckle strike, Paau 拋 upward power shot, Jong 撞 small upward power shot, Jaau 爪 claw, Bin 鞭 swinging power shot, Pek 劈 chopping, and Leui Yam 擂陰 yin/yang fist. Choy Li Fut's leg techniques contain 6 elements: Chaang 撐 bracing, Ding 釘 nailing, Liu Tek 撩踢 kicking, Sou 掃 sweeping, Jit 截 blocking, Au 勾 hooking, and Daan 彈 springing. There are 8 techniques of how

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5564-417: The founder of Choy Gar. Choy Fook had trained under five teachers, over a period of many years. His teachers were Jue Yuan Monk (觉远上人), Yi Guan Monk (一贯禅师), Li Sou (李叟), Bai Yu-feng (白玉峰), and Cai Jiu-yi (蔡九仪). At the time Chan Heung sought him out, he had lived as a recluse on Lau Fu mountain (羅浮山) and no longer wished to teach martial arts. Chan Heung set out to Lau Fu mountain to find him. When Choy Fook

5671-410: The front bent leg facing forward. During revolutionary battles between anti-Qing and government forces (1850–1877) , whoever belonged to the Choy Li Fut system would identify themselves by crying out "yak" when striking with the palm, "wak" when thrusting with a tiger claw hand, "ha" when striking with the fist, "hok" when using a crane beak strike, and "dik" when kicking. These sounds are unique to

5778-432: The hand and leg techniques are applied. They are: Yam 陰 negative, Yeung 陽 positive, Gong 剛 hard, Yau 柔 soft, Heui 虛 false, Sat 實 real, Tau 偷 stealing, and Lau 溜 sneaking. The stances of Choy Li Fut are similar in height to other martial arts styles, such as Hung Gar , but not as high as those of Wing Chun . This allows the practitioner to move quickly during combat without sacrificing stability and power generation. What

5885-427: The hands of the Qing Empire. In 1867, they both returned to their respective cities to pick up where the left off. Misinformation #7 Lack of Historical Documentation: Because of the lack of written documentation and physical evidence, it is difficult to ascertain the true history of Cheung Yim, and his life and contributions are still debated today. The lack of written historical information by Cheung Yim like there

5992-483: The head instructor and assisted in teaching Choy Li Fut at the school. Some of Chan On-pak's other students were Yuen Jic, Mun Leung, and Mak Seih-guan. In 1906, Chan Koon-pak went to Canton (Guangzhou) and Chan Cheong-mo 陳長毛 officially took over the school and became the head instructor of the Jiangmen Hung Sing School. Before Chan Cheong-mo 陳長毛 died in 1953, his adopted son and successor Chew Kam-wing 赵锦荣

6099-469: The heated discussions regarding the history of Choy Li Fut. Choy Li Fut schools can trace their lineage from the schools started by the original 18 disciples whom Chan Heung sent out in 1848. Many schools can easily trace their origins from these four main branches: the King Mui / Chan Family Choy Li Fut Branch, the Fut San / Hung Sing Choy Li Fut Branch, the Jiangmen 江門 or Kong Chow 岡州 Choy Li Fut Branch, and

6206-562: The largest and longest running school of southern Chinese Martial Arts. Cheung Yim aka Cheung Hung-sing was one of the most famous figures to emerge from the Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu legacy. He was born in 1824 and died in 1893. He was a native of Sanshui Dong Ling Village where they all possessed the Cheung 張 surname. His birth year was calculated from his age of death and the year he died by counting backward from his death date. Prior to 1998,

6313-412: The leading martial art authority in Fut San which at the time was Wing Chun's Leung Jan and get permission to open a school in the area. According to the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon's history, when Cheung Hung-sing arrived at Leung Jan's home, he was met by Leung Jan's disciple who was offering him some tea. As Cheung Hung-sing went to accept the tea, Leung Jan's student suddenly attacked Cheung Hung Sing with

6420-673: The lineages of Chan Heung. The Major forms taught by Cheung Hung-sing was the In and Out (Internal and External) Bagua Kuen which contained 1080 moves in it. This form was passed down to Cheung Hung-sing by Monk Ching Cho, and later was broken up into three forms by Chan Ngau-sing. Those forms are Cheung Kuen, Ping Kuen, and Kau Da Kuen as passed down by Chan Ngau-sing. Other forms of the Fut San Great Victory (Hung Sing) were Ga Ji Kuen, Che Kuen, Lin Wan Kuen, and more. However, Cheung Hung Sing's branch

6527-466: The main temple for salvation. When the main temple started burning and collapsing, a large curtain fell upon them. The Qing troops believing that they had successfully destroyed both the temple and the monks left in victory. The eighteen monks were protected from the fire by the curtain that fell upon them. Choy Dak Jung kicked a hole in the wall of the temple and 18 monks escaped. Unfortunately, most eventually died from smoke inhalation and burns. Out of

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6634-502: The martial arts techniques from various Northern and Southern Chinese kung-fu systems; the powerful arm and hand techniques from the Shaolin animal forms from the South, combined with the extended, circular movements, twisting body, and agile footwork that characterizes Northern China's martial arts. It is considered an external style, combining soft and hard techniques, as well as incorporating

6741-510: The monk Cheung Yim was looking for and for the next 8 years he started training him in the art of Fut Gar Kuen. In those 8 years Cheung Yim mastered all Monk Ching Cho to teach which included Chinese Medicine in addition to mentoring Cheung Yim in the art of Revolution. Also since he was a co-founder of the Hung Mun and known as the father of the Sam Hop Hui, he had the power to make Cheung Yim a 426 Red Pole Enforcer known as Hung Kwun ( 紅棍 ). This

6848-438: The monk and handed him a letter of recommendation from Li Yau-San. However, Chan Heung was disappointed when Choy Fook turned him down. After much begging Choy Fook agreed to take the young man as a student, but only to study Buddhism . One morning, when Chan Heung was practicing his kung fu , Choy Fook pointed to a heavy rock and told him to kick it into the air. Chan Heung exerted all of his strength as his foot crashed against

6955-437: The motto as their secret passwords “Hung Sing 洪勝” which meant "Hung Society Victory" but because that was too close to the outlawed Hung Mun Secret Society, so they changed the Chinese characters which sounds similar to Hung Sing 洪勝 but replaced the first character Hung 洪 to Hung 鴻 and named it Hung Sing 鴻勝, but when written in literal translation the name Hung Sing 鴻勝 means "Goose Victory". Chan Heung 陳享 son, Koon-pak 官伯, changed

7062-479: The name of their schools in various ways to hide their affiliation with the outlawed Hung Mun 洪門 Secret Society and to protect themselves from government persecution. Many Choy Li Fut schools had a secret slogan during these times: "Hung 洪 Ying 英 Ji 至 Sing 聖 ; Ying 英 Hung 雄 Wing 永 Sing 勝. " This translates as: "Heroes of the Hung Party are superior; Heroes always win." Chan Heung's 陳享 followers adopted two words of

7169-1099: The new kung fu system were: Chan Din-yao 陳典尤 in Nan Hai 南海; Chan Dai-yup 陳大揖 in Guangzhou 廣州; Chan Din-sing 陳典承 in Zhongshan 中山; Chan Mau-jong 陳謀莊 in Panyu 番禺; Chan Din-bong 陳典邦 in Dong Guan 東莞; Chan Din-wai 陳典惠 in Kaiping 開平; Chan Din-jen 陳典珍 in Taishan 台山; Chan Sun-dong 陳孫棟 in Enping 恩平; Chan Din-dak 陳典德 at Heshan 鶴山; Chan Dai-wai 陳大威 in Zhaoqing 肇慶; Chan Sing-hin 陳承顯 in Xinhuicheng 新會城; Chan Yin-yu 陳燕瑜at Jiangmen 江門. And admirable tasks were performed by Chan Dai-sing 陳大成, Chan Din-seng 陳典勝, Chan Mau-wing 陳謀榮, and Chan Din-gung 陳典拱, who taught Choy Li Fut in twenty-six villages in

7276-595: The next four years learning the Li Gar style under Li Yau-San's instruction. Impressed with Chan Heung's martial arts abilities Li Yau-San suggested he then train with a Shaolin monk called Choy Fook (Chinese: 蔡褔 ) to learn Choy Gar , a northern Shaolin style, as well as Chinese medicine and other Shaolin techniques. Choy Fook had learned his martial arts from Jue Yuan Monk (Chinese: 李友山 ), Yi Guan Monk (Chinese: 一贯禅师 ), Li Sou (Chinese: 李叟 ), Bai Yu Feng (Chinese: 白玉峰 ) and Cai Jiu Yi (Chinese: 蔡九仪 ). There

7383-576: The next four years learning the Li Gar style. Impressed with Chan Heung's martial arts abilities, Li Yau-san suggested that he train with a Shaolin monk called Choy Fook (Cài Fú, 蔡褔) to learn Choy Gar, a Southern Shaolin style of wushu 武术, as well as Chinese medicine and other Shaolin techniques. According to legend, the monk Jee Sin Sim See (至善禪師) is said to have been one of the legendary Five Elders – along with Ng Mui (五梅大師), Fung Doe-duk (馮道德), Miu Hin (苗顯) and Bak Mei (白眉道人) – who survived

7490-541: The number of forms he taught to just a handful. Enough to provide the students with all the proper techniques, including a few weapon forms. This ensured the survival of the school. Because Jeong Yim concentrated on teaching combat skills, some of the best Choy Li Fut fighters came from the Foshan Hung Sing branch. As the school became more established, Jeong Yim 張炎 would further educate his students with more advanced forms and techniques. Because of early combat training and

7597-574: The opportunity to set up many Choy Li Fut schools in Southern China to help spread revolutionary ideas against the Manchu government. Chan Heung had 18 original Choy Li Fut disciples, known as the eighteen Luohan (十八羅漢). They were named to honor the Bodhidharma , who is traditionally considered to have taught the Shaolin monks the methods of the original Eighteen Lohan hands, in 527 CE, which some consider

7704-626: The people only knew Cheung Yim's family name of Cheung and the school name of Hung Sing; therefore the people in Fut San thought his name was Cheung Hung Sing. The true birth of the Hung Sing (洪勝 Hung Victory) name given to Cheung Yim by the Green Grass Monk has its roots deeply set in the Secret Society of the Hung Mun 洪門. It is found on the flags of the Hung Mun Secret Society as it is a condensed version of their ultimate goal, to overthrow

7811-411: The places, there is really nothing to verify the validity of the story. No one has ever read the book in mention. However it can be found online now. The history has always been orally transmitted and when compared to information from other Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon lineages we all seemed to share the same basic information. It never came from that book in mention. In regards to the belief that Cheung Yim

7918-485: The predecessor of Shaolin martial arts. In 1848, the original eighteen started branching out to teach Choy Li Fut throughout Southern China. The first disciple to teach Choy Li Fut outside of King Mui was Lung Ji-choi 龍子才, who opened a school in the town of Xunzhou in Guangxi . Soon after, Chan Din-foon 陳典桓 initiated the first Hung Sing (Great Saint 洪聖舘) in Foshan . Some of the other original eighteen disciples who promoted

8025-554: The reputation Jeong Yim 張炎 gained for reopening the school, the Foshan Hung Sing Choy Li Fut school soon became known as the Jeong Hung Sing school of Choy Li Fut. The Choy Li Fut martial arts system has spread throughout the globe, with schools on almost every continent. All are recognized as an important part of the Choy Li Fut family because they are the pioneers that helped spread the art of Choy Li Fut throughout

8132-412: The rock, sending it twelve feet away. Instead of being complimented, Choy Fook placed his own foot under the heavy rock and effortlessly propelled it through the air. Chan Heung was awestruck by this demonstration. Again he begged Choy Fook to teach him his martial arts. This time the monk agreed, and for nine years Choy Fook taught Chan Heung both the way of Buddhism and the way of martial arts. When he

8239-484: The school flourished up to the time of his death. In 1867, Chan Heung 陳享 and Jeong Yim 張炎, left Hong Kong to return to their respective cities. Chan Heung returned to King Mui to re-open his Great Saint Hung School (Hung Sing - 洪聖舘) and Cheung Hung-sing returned to Fut San to re-open the Hung Sing Kwoon (Goose Victory 鴻勝舘) that he established in 1851. This was documented by Chan Heung, but he never said that Cheung Hung

8346-569: The time Chan Heung and Cheung Yim spent in Hong Kong, Cheung Yim gave Chan Heung some of the Fut Gar Kuen he learned from the Monk Ching Cho. Together they added in new techniques into the Choy Lee Fut system, and that is where the idea of Cheung Yim's contribution to the further advancement of the Choy Lee Fut making him a co-founder of sorts. The Fut San Hung Sing 佛山鴻勝舘 (Hung/Great Victory) Kwoon

8453-500: The up-and-coming Tai Ping Rebellion , not to spread the style of Choy Lee Fut. Virtually all over Fut San were Cheung Yim's Hung Sing Kwoon's setting up to train as many people as they could to fight in the revolution. Misinformation #6 When Did Cheung Yim first go to Fut San?: According to the Chan Family History Book , the only historically documented fact showing a relationship between Chan Heung 陳享 and Cheung Yim 張炎

8560-404: The world had a way of discovering the truth about the history and were left to their own devices. Some people came up with dates and information that ended up false information. Certain Choy Lee Fut factions believed Cheung Yim was ambushed, or even poisoned to death at a young age (some believed he died at 33 yrs old). Misinformation death #3 The Cause of Cheung Yim's death: How Cheung Yim died

8667-403: The world. Over time, in addition to the development of new techniques and other martial-arts styles, as with many martial arts, Choy Li Fut has developed into several lineages that may differ in training and style, and even differences in historic perspectives. It is these developments that caused differences in forms and the application of techniques between branches and schools and contribute to

8774-456: Was 17, Chan Heung sent him out to locate and study under Choy Fook's successor (Choy Fook has nothing to do with monk Green Grass), Ching Cho 青草 to learn the art of Fut Gar and the philosophical ways of Buddhism. TRUTH: The quote " Chan Heung was impressed with Cheung Yim's Li Gar skills and wanted to teach him Choy Lee Fut, but found himself too busy perfecting and standardizing his newly created Choy Li Fut system to train fighters for

8881-432: Was Hu Yuen-chou 胡雲綽, instructor of famous Choy Li Fut master Doc-Fai Wong 黄德輝 considered by many as a 5th generation successor and inheritor of the King Mui lineage. After Chan Yiu-chi 陳耀墀 his son Chan Sun-chiu became the inheritor and Keeper of the style. Following the passing on April 22, 2013, of Chan Sun-chiu (Keeper of King Mui Choy Li Fut)陈燊樵, all the descendants and known students become his current successors of

8988-409: Was Nim Fut San Yen. He wrote a fictional storybook about the Fut San's Hung Sing Studio. After that book was published, all the Hung Sing students in Fut San treated the book as though it were the history of their kung fu system. This book also lead them to believe that Cheung Yim and Chan Heung were the co-founders of the Choy Li Fut system. However, as there are no dates nor are there correct names of

9095-500: Was a Red Pole (426) aka Hung Kwun within the Hung Mun Secret Society. This means he held a position of what can be considered as a General of an army within the secret society. During and after the Tai Ping Rebellion was over(1851-1864), Cheung Yim and the students of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon (great Victory School)were on the run all the while opening multiple other Hung Sing Kwoons in various locations. Between 1864 and 1867 Cheung Hung Sing and Chan Heung were both in Hong Kong and this

9202-544: Was a Shaolin Temple given name. According to the research performed by Sifu Frank McCarthy, the root of the Ching Cho(Green Grass)name was found within the Triad Society and had nothing to do with the Shaolin Temple. The origins of Cheung Yim's Hung Sing (洪勝 Hung Victory) name, birth, and death dates sparked controversy. The one undisputed truth (agreed by all lineages)was Cheung Yim started as Chan Heung's student at

9309-479: Was a co-founder to the Choy Lee Fut system, the idea did not come from a book. It came about by examining the history under a microscope. According to the Fut San version of the history, Cheung Yim reunited in Hong Kong. It is even written that Cheung Yim and Chan Heung instructed an alleged member of the Chan Family Association from San Francisco and shared with him the Choy Lee Fut secret codes to use. In

9416-487: Was a new name. He changed his first name of Yim 炎 and replaced it with "Hung Victory" pronounced as Hung-sing 洪勝. This was a name that had its roots deeply embedded in the Hung Mun secret Society and was even used by various tongs, and even a triad gang in Hong Kong, and found on the flags of the Hung Mun's various tongs. The meaning behind "Hung Victory" is it is a shortened version of the greater meaning of "The 'Hung - 洪' will be 'Victorious' - 勝 in its mission to over throw

9523-626: Was a wanted fugitive for being a co-founder of the Hung Mun(洪門), and knew his life was in danger so he needed to be as discreet as he could, and be aware of strangers. So, when the young Cheung Yim showed up asking questions, Ching Cho needed to know if what he stated was true or whether or not this was a government assassin sent to kill him. He then asked Cheung Yim to demonstrate his martial arts for him. Once Cheung Yim started his form, Ching Cho immediately recognized Cheung Yim's gung fu as authentic Shaolin martial arts. Monk Ching Cho then admitted to being

9630-532: Was against the rules of the Chan Village in King Mui. Cheung Yim's Choy Lee Fut training stopped when he got into a fight with some of Chan Heung's senior students that were bullying him. He fought and defeated Chan Heung's students who then complained to their parents who in return complained to Chan Heung and forced him to make Cheung Yim leave the King Mui village. According to legend and Hung Mun Triad history, Monk Ching Cho or Ching Cho Wo Sheung 青草和尚 (Qingcao)

9737-625: Was an orphan, came from a broken family, a student of martial art masters such as Lee Yau-san (Chan Heung's teacher), Chan Heung, and the Monk Ching Cho Wo Sheung (Green Grass Monk 青草和尚), co-founder to the Choy Lee Fut system, founder of the Great Victory School (Hung Sing Kwoon - 鴻勝舘) and the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system 鴻勝蔡李佛拳, a notable revolutionary, accomplished fighter, a Hung Mun Red Pole (426 Enforcer), and father of

9844-474: Was appointed to be the keeper and head instructor of the Hung Sing School in Jiangmen city. Chew Kam-wing 赵锦荣 taught in the Jiangmen Hung Sing School until the Chinese government banned traditional kung fu teaching. All of his students eventually stopped practicing and no longer taught Choy Li Fut. Chew Kam-wing 赵锦荣 taught his sons Choy Li Fut privately; unfortunately his sons were not up to the standard that

9951-409: Was at the Shaolin temple, he had been seriously burned, and his head had healed with scars. This gave him the nickname "Monk with the Wounded Head" (爛頭和尙). Using that description, Chan Heung eventually located the monk and handed him a letter of recommendation from Li Yau-san. However, Chan Heung was disappointed when Choy Fook turned him down. After much begging, Choy Fook agreed to take the young man as

10058-474: Was formally established in 1851 using these characters 佛山洪勝舘, in perfect timing with the Tai Ping Rebellion. Cheung Hung Sing was ordered ( by Monk Ching Cho - NOT by Chan Heung ) to go to Fut San once his gung fu training was complete under the Monk Ching Cho (Green Grass). The sole purpose of Cheung Hung Sing being in Fut San was aid in the Tai Rebellion and train the revolutionary fighters for war. Cheung Yim

10165-528: Was going to be Chan Din-foon's 陳典桓 successor. Regardless of the year, Cheung Hung-sing took over his school and replaced the schools name of Great Saint School (Hung Sing - 洪聖舘) with his own Goose Victory (Hung Sing 鴻勝舘) name. The Manchu government quickly sent soldiers to try to shut down the school. Because the survival of the Fut San Hung Sing Choy Li Fut school depended on training fighters quickly and efficiently, initially Jeong Yim 張炎 limited

10272-416: Was in the audience and as they prepared earlier, Chan Heung would applause when he sees an opening for Cheung Yim to defeat the bully. Chan Heung began applauding and Cheung Yim knew it was time to use the "Continuous Lightning cutting palms" which turned out to be the end of Zhao Juan, whose students left him and joined Cheung Yim's school. The years 1864-1867 Choy Lee Fut The system combines

10379-400: Was known as the fighting branch as Cheung Hung Sing was steadily training revolutionary fighters. Having both Northern and Southern Chinese influences gives Choy Li Fut a wide variety of weapons in its arsenal. Originally, there were 40 weapons in the system of Choy Li Fut. After many years of teaching, some past masters added different forms and other weapons into the system. One weapon that

10486-445: Was not a smart idea for members of the Hung Sing Kwoon. As a result, their history had to be passed down orally until the 1950s with Premier Zhou En Lai's (also a Hung Sing Disciple)personal instructions for Chen Yilin of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon (Student of Chan Ngau-sing) to officially document their history and was even given permission to mention Monk Ching Cho Wo Sheung in what is called "100 years, from Beginning To End,History of

10593-604: Was one of the Ng Jing Wo Seung, (Five Book Monks) who took over the Jiulianshan Shaolin Temple, located in Putian County, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, after Gee Sin Sim See 至善禪師 left and went into hiding. At that time, Qing forces attacked the southern Shaolin temple and burned it down at the orders of the Qing Emperor. The temple made sure that head monk Gee Sim safely escaped, and left Ching Cho in charge to continue

10700-418: Was required for passing down the traditional teaching. Only few of the senior students of Chan Cheong-mo 陳長毛 are still alive in China. In Hong Kong, Wong Gong 黄江 is the last one. In Jiangmen city, there are Wong Kan-fu 黄勤富, Lui Sieh-gen 吕社根, and the old keeper Chew Kam-wing 赵锦荣. Wong Gong 黄江 was born in 1928, and he is a native of Jiangmen city. He studied kung fu with his father as a child and later became

10807-484: Was the founder of the Choy Li Fut martial arts system. Chan was born on August 23, 1806 (corresponding to the 10th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar ), in King Mui (Jing Mei), a village in the San Woi ( Xinhui District ) district of Guangdong province in China. He is also known as Din Ying (Chinese: 典英 ) and Daht Ting (Chinese: 逹庭 ). At age seven, Chan Heung's uncle Chan Yuen-Wu (Chinese: 陳遠護 ),

10914-434: Was the most despised and feared Chinese Secret Society. Misinformation #8 Nim Fut San Yen Book: Back to the old days, the Chinese respected the teacher and it was not appropriate to question your teacher's background or the history of the kung fu system. After a time, the students thought their teacher, "Cheung Hung Sing", was the founder of the Hung Sing Studio. In Canton, there was a kung fu storybook writer whose pen name

11021-416: Was the new name originating in 1867) proving he wasn't there to be Chan Din Foon or anyone's successor. NOTE: Cheung Yim did not come back and train with Heung for ten years. According to the history, the most time Cheung Yim trained under Chan Heung was for 5 years (1836-1841). Misinformation #5 1867: After a few years of learning Choy Lee Fut, in 1867 , Chan Heung appointed him (Cheung Yim) to take over

11128-408: Was to open his own school to train Hung Mun revolutionary fighters and train them in preparation for the Tai Ping Rebellion. Then Cheung Yim officially opened his Hung Sing Kwoon ( 洪勝舘 )in the year of 1851. Additionally, Cheung Yim did take down Chan Din Foon's school name (Great Sage 洪聖舘 Hung Sing Kwoon) regardless of the date and replaced it with his own schools name Hung Sing Kwoon name 洪勝舘/鴻勝舘 (鴻勝舘

11235-518: Was twenty-eight, Chan Heung left Choy Fook and returned to King Mui village in 1834, where he revised and refined all that he had learned. In 1835 Choy Fook gave Chan Heung advice in the form of a special poem known as a double couplet. In 1836, he formally established the Choy Li Fut system, named to honor the Buddhist monk Choy Fook who taught him Choy Gar , Li Yau-San who taught him Li Gar , and his uncle Chan Yuen-Woo who taught him Fut Gar , to honor

11342-664: Was unclear for a long time. Some have written that he was poisoned. Other have claimed he was ambushed at 33 years old and died from his injuries. Misinformation #4 Who sent Cheung Yim to Fut San? : Cheung Yim was the last batch of Chan Heung's students who was sent to Fut San by Chan Heung to take over Chan Din Foon's school and be his successor. The problem with this is there are two dates certain Choy Lee Fut factions give as dates for this situation. Those dates are 1848 and 1875. Upon Cheung Yim's return to Chan Heung in King Mui after studying with Ching Cho for 8 years, increasing battles between anti-Qing government forces resulted in

11449-471: Was well known to the Chinese Government for being a revolutionary martial arts school. This school was known to be part of the Hung Mun, the most despised Secret Society in the eyes of the Qing Empire, and capture suffered mandated instant beheadings (No Trial at all)for anyone connected to the Hung Mun Secret Society. Therefore, possessing any documentation or literature that could end your life instantly

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