CHOY LEE FUT KUNG FU

Chan Heung, Founder of Choy Lee Fut

(1806 1875) Choy Lee Fut () as a distinct kung fu style has a colourful history of more than 170 years since its creation by Chan Heung Gung () , in 1836, in Southern China. As a revolutionary who fought during the Opium Wars and the Taiping Rebellion, Chan Heung created Choy Lee Fut as an effective fighting style for use by revolutionaries in the battlefield. The name Choy Lee Fut was chosen by Chan Heung in honour of two of his three mentors, one a Shaolin master by the name of Lee Yau Shan ( ), the other, a Shaolin monk who survived the destruction of the Shaolin Monastery by the name of Choy Fook (

). Chan Heung added the word Fut () meaning Buddha or Buddhist, in reference to
the legacy of the Buddhist teachings of the Shaolin Monastery.

Alan Yee all rights reserved

The history of Choy Lee Fut, particularly in the first one hundred years of its founding, parallels the chaotic period in Chinas history from the revolutionary anti -Ching Dynasty movements to the founding of the Republic of China through to the Japanese invasion of China. Chan Heung Gungs second son Chan Koon Bak (), inherited the leadership of the Choy Lee Fut clan following the death of his elder brother Chan Onn Bak ().

2nd Generation Great Grand Master Chan Koon Bak

(1857 1916) Chan Koon Bak was responsible for setting up a large following in the Jiang Mern City and Guangzhou City, where he established the Choy Lee Fut Hung Sing Ancestral School (

). Some of his famous disciples included Chan Cheung Mo, Ngan Yiu Ting,
Choy Bak Tat, Choy Bak Hung, Fong Yuk Shu, Leung Kwei, Wong Fook Wing and Tam Ging Fu. Chan Koon Bak taught his son, Chan Yiu Chi (), who in turn taught his own son Chan Wan Hon ( ) and adopted son and protg Li Iu Ling () at the Choy Lee Fut Hung Sing Ancestral School () in Guangzhou ().

Alan Yee all rights reserved

3rd Generation Great Grand Master Chan Yiu Chi

(1892 1965) Chan Yiu Chi s kung fu was characterised by his lightning-fast footwork and his mastery of the hard and soft. Chan Yiu Chis style was not showy but subtle, deceptively soft but incredibly powerful, ever changing like a dragon and fast as a cobra. The Choy Lee Fut lineage of the Li Iu Ling Martial Arts Alumni is that of Great Grand Master Chan Yiu Chi (), passed on by his most illustrious Golden Disciple (), Grand Master Li Iu Ling.

Photo of Great Grand Master Chan Yiu Chi with his family, son Grand Master Chan Wan Hon (in black to his left) and adopted son, Grand Master Li Iu Ling (in white to Chan Wan Hons left).

In accordance with the tradition laid down by my Shigung, Chan Yiu Chi, and in his memory, we call our lineage Hung Sing (Sages/Heros Victory) Choy Lee Fut ().
Alan Yee all rights reserved