Although Gee Sim Sim Si and Hung Hei Goon have been passed down orally as the founders of Hung Ga Kuen, there is a lack of evidence of their existence. While we recognize them, our site will display only information that can be verified.

Luk Ah Choi

Luk Ah Choi was the son of a Manchu that was stationed in Gwongdung. After his parents died, Luk Ah Ch Choi was brought up by his uncle. Because his uncle abused him, Luk Ah Choi ran away when he was 12 years old. He met a monk named Lei Baak Fu, a master in the Southern Fa Kuen style (Flower style), and became his student.

After 7 years of training, Lei Baak Fu sent him to the southern Siu lum Temple in Fukien Province. There Luk Ah Choi became a student of Abbot Gee Sim Sim Si.

After the destruction of the Sil Lum temple, Luk Ah Choi went back to Guangdung, where he devoted himself to martial arts and Chinese medicine.

Luk Ah Choy died at the age of 68.

Wong Kei Ying

Wong Kei Ying was born in Sai Chiu village in the county of Naam hoi in Guangdung Province, at the beginning of the 19th century. As a young boy he earned a living as a street performer. One day he was noticed by Southern Siu lam kung fu master Luk Ah Choy, and became his disciple.

However, another story tells that Wong Kei Ying learned from his father Wong Taai, who was a student of Luk Ah Choy. Later, Wong Kei Ying was sent to Luk Ah Choy to continue his study under Luk Ah Choy's guidance. Wong Kei Ying later became the martial arts instructor of the general of Guangdong's infantry regiment.

Wong Kei Ying was one of Southern China's famous "Ten Tigers of Guangdung" (Guangdung Sup Fu). Wong Kei Ying also exchanged a lot of knowledge with other kung fu masters, such as Wong Yan lum, a "Lion's Roar" gung fu master and also a member of the Ten Tigers.

Wong Kei Ying died in 1886.

Wong Fei Hung (1850-1933)

The life of this most charismatic figure has been portrayed in over one hundred movies, starring such greats as Kwan Tak Hing, who just recently passed away at the age of 92( 1year has been officially added due to his many humanitarian accomplishments), and most recently Jet Lee. The real Wong Fei Hung was born in 1850 in Guangdung, Lam Hoi Province, Sai Chu County, Luk Huern Yan villiage, China. His father was Wong Kay Ying, a student and disciple of South Sil Lum Master Luk Ah Choy. He was also one of the earlier 10 Canton Tigers of the late Ching Dynasty. While Wong Fei Hung was one of the later Tigers. It is important to note here that both Wong Kay Ying and Wong Fei Hung were inducted into the "Ten Tigers" while they were still in their early twenties. The other 8 Tigers were all at an advanced age and of a higher kung fu generation. We must also note that the positions of the "tigers" was chosen according to Chinese tradition. The oldest or most senior holds the highest position i.e...#1, #2, #3 etc. This placement was given out of respect and had nothing to do with level of skill. It was also apparent that the induction showed the great respect and had honored the Wong's in that their skills were compared with the Sifu's of a higher generation.

Young Wong Fei Hung began his martial arts training at the age of five. By the age of 13 he was already an accomplished martial artist and often went out with his father to demonstrate Kung Fu and sell medicine in different villages. On one occasion a famous teacher of another style, named Sifu Gwan Dai Hung was demonstrating on the same day. He became jealous because the Wong's had a much larger crowd watching their performance. Every time he demonstrated his famous left handed fishing pole techniques the size of the crowd would be unmatched. Sifu Gwan felt these two were invading his territory, so, with pole in hand he approached Master Wong Kay Ying and issued a challenge fight. Master Wong smiled and told his 13 year old son, Wong Fei Hung, to take up a pole and match skills with this Sifu using the Ng Long Ba Gwan Gwun (8 diagram pole techniques). Wong Fei Hung eliminated the challenger and the word spread far and wide. Wong Fei Hung even though still a child was a great fighter. This incident started young master Wong's fame.

Wong Fei hung is credited with formalizing the orthodox Hung System and creating the styles' most famous set," the Tiger /Crane Double Pattern Fist Form".(Fu Hok Cern Ying Kuen) According to Master Frank Yee's Grandmaster, Tang Fung, the tiger/crane set was developed from Tit Kiu Sam's horse stance and hand bridge combined with Wong Fei Hung's fighting techniques. In fact the, the Hung system's strength was in the tiger/crane techniques, the twelve bridges, horse stance and Wong's secret "Sup Juet Sao" or 10 Killing Hands,which was only taught to" in the door" disciples.

Wong Fei Hung was also famous for the tiger tail kick & shadowless kick. A lot of people believe, Wong Fei Hung invented the Mo Ying Gerk (shadowless kick), but he learned it from a famous man named Sifu Song Ton Fai . The story goes... Sifu Song was staying at a hotel and at night he used to practice in the courtyard. One evening he heard a woman laughing, he turned and asked the woman "Why are your laughing"? She stated "You only have hands with no kicks". He couldn't believe this woman would say this. Sifu Song asked the woman to show him, Song Ton Fai and the lady sparred. He couldn't believe that each time he made an advance within striking distance; he would be kicked, although he never saw it coming. Afterward he got to know and eventually married the woman and learned this skill from his new found wife. Wong & Song were friends, Song wanted to learn Wong's Tit Sing Kuen, and Fuk Fu Kuen and Wong wanted Songs no shadow kick. So they exchanged and the Hung system inherited a new technique.

As an adult he taught martial arts to the navy in Canton and held a position in the General's office. Later in his life Wong Fei Hung left Canton and moved to Fukien to become the right hand man of General Tong Gin Cheung. General Tong was a resistance fighter of the Ching Dynasty, eventually the resistance fell. Wong moved back to Canton and started teaching Hung Kuen and also established his Po Chi Lum medicine shop. Wong was an undefeated fighter throughout his life. He also produced many famous students and disciples.

The following are 9 of his famous disciples:

1. Lian Foon - His #1 disciple. Famous for cracking the ground under his feet when he sat in horse stance.
2. Ling Wan Gai - Famous for his "Gwai Gerk" (ghost kicking skills).
3. Chan Din Biu
4. Lam Sai Wing - Famous for his saber techniques and writing 3 books on Hung Ga.
5. Tang Fung - famous for his strict, rigorous training and his stubborn" Old Square Mind" mentality.
6. Sui Low Ngan
7. Sui Low Yuk
8. Tak Gan Jow
9. Luk Jin Gun

Wong was not only good at martial arts but also had exceptional Mo Duk (martial virtue) and medicine. During the late Ching Dynasty he owned two herbal shops, one in Canton and the other in Futsan. At his Po Chi Lum herbal shops, he would make his own Dit Da medicine which became very famous. This led him to be known as one of the four top doctors in Southern China. These four doctors are still remembered even today. They were:

1. Wong Fei Hung
2. Jow Hong Gon
3. Lei Gam Chuen
4. So Hut Yee

During his lifetime Wong had 4 wives. There is a funny story about how he met his 4th wife, Mok Gwai Lan. Madame Mok Gwai Lan, also known as the "tigress" was watching a lion dance and Kung Fu demonstration during a celebration day for the Buddha in Fat San. Mok Gwai Lan, 19 yrs old, and already an accomplished martial artist herself, wanted to see first hand this famous man whose reputation preceded him. While Wong was demonstrating the Yu Ga Dai Pa (Yu's family Great Fork), he kicked and his shoe flew off and hit her in the face. Incensed, Mok Gwai Lan jumped upon the stage and smacked Wong Fei Hung in the face. Wong's students became infuriated. Mok stated that "This time its your shoe, but what if the next time its your weapon. You could kill someone. A person of your skill should not ever have an accident like that." Wong just smiled and said, "You are right I should not have been so careless." Mok Gwai Lan disappeared into the crowd. Wong had fallen in love; a woman that strong would certainly make a good wife. He searched, found and eventually married her.

At the end of the Ching Dynasty and the founding of the republic in 1912, Wong became the head instructor of martial arts for the Special Forces elite military unit, under the direction of the General Lau Wing Fuk in Canton City.

In October of 1924 there was a strike against the government by all the businesses. Canton city fell to riots and Wong Fei Hung's home and herbal shop were burnt to the ground. He lost all his belongings and money. Later on, his son Wong Hawn Sum lost his job and was shot dead in an altercation with a drug gang. After all this Wong took ill and died in his home at the age of 83, in 1933. His wife moved with their sons to Hong Kong, Wan Jai Go Si Da Do, and taught Hung Kuen there. She also produced many famous disciples.

Tang Fong (1874-1955)

Wong Fei Hung had produced more than one hundred "in the door" disciples. Some of the most famous ones were: Liang Foon (his #1 disciple, famous for cracking the ground under his feet when he sat in a horse stance), Ling Wan Gai (famous for his "Gwai Gerk", ghost kicking skills), Chan Din Biu, Lam Tsai Wing (famous for his Saber techniques and writing three books on Hung Ga), Tang Fong (famous for his strict and rigorous training and his "Old Square-Mind" mentality), Sui Low Yuk and Sui Low Ngan (Uncle and Nephew who spread the art to Malaysia), Tak Gan Jow, and Luk Jin Gun.

Grandmaster Tang Fong was born in Sam Soy village, Gwan Dong province in 1874. During his youth he learned Hung Ga from Sifu Wong Yau and Sifu Yuen Yin, and also studied Mau Shan, a form of folk sorcery. Later he learned from Wong Fei Hung, completing the orthodox version of Hung Ga and becoming Wong’s close disciple.

Tang Fong was also a participant in the Luk Sin theater incident. In this famous incident Lam Sai Wing, Tang Fong, Tang Yee, Gwan Kwan, and a few of Lam's disciples became trapped by a rival instructor at the theater. The rival instructor led an attack with about 80 men, while Lam, Tang and his colleagues had fewer than 10. They sustained a few minor injuries. The rival side had a count of 80 people sent to the hospital. Tang, his brother Tang Yee and Lam Sai Wing left town to avoid trouble. Lam went to the Gwang Dong/Gwong Sai border and Tang Fong went to Singapore to work as a miner. Later Tang Fong returned to Gwang Dung.

After Wong Fei Hung was quite old, Tang Fong and his brother Tang Yee opened a school called “Yee Yung Tong” (Chivalrous Brave Hall), After Wong's Death, Madame Mok Gwai Lan, who was Wong's Wife, taught an all women's class at Tang's school. After the start of the Sino-Japanese war in 1937, Tang moved to Hong Kong. He established a medicine shop at Sum Soi Bo and helped many people with medicine; always having a good heart and never charging for treatments if one could not afford it. Grand Master Tang Fong also married twice but had no sons. Tang’s second wife, Ho Fan, was the one Tang’s students called Simo. Ho Fan was taught the Gi Mo Cern Do (mother & son twin swords) and often demonstrated in fighting sets with Tang. Tang lived in Kowloon, Wang Gok, But Lan Street. He taught six days a week, even though he was in his 70's. Master Tang taught 3 days on the Kowloon side at the jewelry association, then would take a one hour ferry on alternating days to the Hong Kong side 3 times a week to teach at the Shau Kay Won Fish Market Association. He also took over the position as head of security from Lam Tsai Wing at the Shau Kay Won Fish Market. During his years in Hong Kong, Tang established a strong reputation for himself. His teaching was known to emphasize hard stance training and strict detail to forms and applications. Tang was nicknamed “Lo Wan Ku” which means "Old Square Mind." This was in reference to Tang's stubborn traditionalism. Tang Fong's daughter, Tang Sou Kin, broke from his traditionalist outlook and was heralded as Queen of the lion dance, during the 1920's. At that time women were not allowed to participate in lion dance, for which Tang Fong was well known. During the early 1950's, Tang himself, performed a special command performance lion dance for Queen Elizabeth even though he was well on in years.

According to Master Yee, Tang was famous for a weapon that was not a standard Hung Ga weapon. He was known for his Ngauh Gwat Sin (Beef Bone Fan) or Iron Fan techniques, which became renowned in Hong Kong, although his skill was rarely demonstrated. Tang produced his own roster of well known students & disciples:

Yuen Ling
Successor to Tang Fong - Represented in the U.S. by Master Frank Yee of Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy.

Lau Kai Ton
Represented in the U.S. by New Mexico's Master Frank Rivera.

Luk Gan Wing
Represented in Ontario, Canada by his son.

Wong Jo
A Hong Kong jewelry maker who still can be found on any given day at the Shau Kay Won fish market association.

Ho Lap Tien
Represented in the U.S. by Philadelphia's Master Cheurng Shu Pui.

Cheung Tai Hing
Represented in the U.S. by New York's Master Wan Chi Ming.

Jao Wing Duk
Represented in Spain by Master Lam Chuen Ping.

Kwan Kei Tin
Won Lei

Yuen Ling (1921-1966)

Grandmaster Yuen Ling was born in 1921 in Guangdong, Sun Wui to a large family. While he was still young, his family lost its fortune due to the depression. He went with his older brother to Fatsan where they made a living peddling food from a pushcart at the railroad station.

At the railroad station, there were plenty of other food vendors and disputes were, more often than not, always settled with the use of force. Deaths were not uncommon. Grandmaster Yuen was known for his kung fu fighting skills and was able to establish an important position for himself within the Fatsan railroad station vendors’ community.

Grandmaster Yuen studied Old Style Hung Ga kung fu under a sifu who was nicknamed Sau Gau (Thin Dog). Old Style Hung Ga is a branch of the art not through Wong Fei Hung. During the 1940’s, with China engulfed in World War II, Grandmaster Yuen escaped to Hong Kong and settled in at the Shau Kai Wan Fish Market to make a living. Like the Fatsan railroad station, only the strong survived the vending competition. It was here that he met Grandmaster Tang Fong.

Grandmaster Yuen became Tang Fong’s last disciple. He learned Hung Ga and Dit Da medicine, as passed down by Wong Fei Hung, from Grandmaster Tang. Being a strong-willed, intelligent and capable person, it was not long before Grandmaster Yuen established himself as the Number One person at the Shau Kai Wan Fish Market, with control of all the seafood distribution throughout Hong Kong.

During this period, he also established a school at Main Street East, where he taught Hung Ga kung fu and treated patients at his clinic. Grandmaster Yuen was well known and legendary for his "negotiation" skills in settling disputes for his students, neighbors, friends and association. He would often attend these negotiations alone, carrying nothing save the iron whip-chain he wrapped around his waist. He would sit down with the opposition to discuss the issues and, if the negotiation did not go well, he would settle the matter with force.

Grandmaster Yuen was also proficient in lion dancing. He was well known for his Gnah Chat Sau Dai Si;. His black lion head was famous throughout Hong Kong for its run-ins with other lions and dragons; having never lost in these encounters. He always emerged victorious, just as he did in the Cheurng Pao contests. He was also famous for his Dit Da medicine – jow, paste and pills.

Due to the tremendous strain of running both the fish market and the kung fu school, while suffering from stomach cancer, Grandmaster Yuen’s health took a turn for the worse. He died in 1966 at the young age of 45. On the day of his funeral, martial artists from all over Hong Kong, as well as members of the law enforcement and underworld communities came to pay their respects. It was one of the largest funeral processions in Hong Kong’s history.

Master Yee Chi Wai (Frank Yee)

Master Yee Chi Wai (Frank Yee) started his kung fu training with his father at the early age of six. He began his formal Tang Fong Hung Ga kung fu training under the tutelage of Grandmaster Yuen Ling, who was a disciple of Tang Fong, who in turn, was a disciple of the legendary Wong Fei Hung. Click here to read Master Frank Yee's Full Bio.

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Also off of Wong Kei Ying, we have...

Tit Kiu Sam (1813-1886)

Tit Kiu Sam was the nick name of a fellow whose real name was Leung Kwan. He was born in Gwan Dong Lam Hoi in 1813. He loved martial and began studying at a very young age.

Tit Kiu Sam learned from the Abbot Gwok Yan of the Fu Kien Po Tim Sil Lum Temple. He lived in the temple as a layman monk for 7 years. He practiced intensively in Sil Lum Hung Ga under the watchful eye of his teacher. Later the Abbot monk Gwok Yan passed away at the age of 110 years old. Tit Kiu Sam became saddened and left the temple. During his wanderings he happened upon a place known as "long bridge", where martial artists came to demonstrate and test their skills. He became very excited and wanted to demonstrate his skills. He had six men hold onto his extended arm and carried them 100 steps. He earned his nick name here for having an iron fore arm. The name Tit Kiu Sam means" iron bridge number three". He was the third child in his family thus the three at the end of his nick name.

Tit Kiu Sam was well known for helping people in the Mo Lum (martial arts forest) and was very respected Master of the late Ching Dynasty. He was also one of the 10 Tigers from Canton. When Tit Kiu Sam arrived in Canton, he lived in the Hoi Tung Gi (Hoy Tung Temple). There he exchanged skills with the Abbot monk. He taught the Tit Sin Kuen (iron wire form) to the Abbot and in turn was taught pole techniques.

Tit Kiu Sam also produced many famous students. The following were some of them:

1. Choy Jan
2. Mg Hei Goon
3. Si Yiu Leung
4. Ma Ji Tim
5. Ngau Gi
6. Lam Fuk Sing

Tit Kiu Sam was also well respected because he loved and never stopped learning martial arts, even in old age. He traveled to Sun Wui City to live and train at the Chang Ngum Gi (Chang Ngum Temple). Tit Kiu Sam learned the Abbots Mui Fah Gwun (Plum Blossom Pole), which was very famous. Master Tit Kiu Sam is credited with creating the Hung Systems' most advanced internal training set the Tit Sing Kuen (Iron Wire Form) He died in 1886 at the age of 73.

Lam Fuk Sing

Grandmaster Lam Fuk Sing.

A student of Tit Kiu Sam.

Taught the Iron Wire Form to Wong Fei Hung.

more to come...

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