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by: Master Frank Yee with Pedro Cepero Yee The Hung Ga system of Kung Fu, founded by Hung Hei Guen (Fig. 31 a), has a history of over 400 years. From its founding with the destruction of the Sil Lum Temple, until modern day, this system has maintained the position as being the number one style amongst the five family styles of Southern China. The other four styles being:
There have been countless movies portraying the popularity of the style and the various charismatic figures of its lineage, often elevating them and the style to myth like proportions. What we must not forget is the reality behind the styles existence, the dedicated practitioners who gave their lives to pass on an art, held sacred by its practitioners and the keys to a style whose techniques have survived the test of time. Before we discuss the heroes, we must first distinguish the 3 main styles of Hung Ga. The first style of Hung Ga is called Sil Lum Temple Hung Ga. This style produced some famous practitioners in its own right, such as Tit Kiu Sam, Ngam Yiu Ting, and Ngam Dim Hung . The second style is called Hung Moon or the Hung Door. These practitioners were the revolutionaries who fought the Ching Government to restore the Ming Dynasty. The third style of Hung Ga is the one founded by Hung Hei Guen. This style is the most commonly seen today. Wong Fei Hung 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 Gwan Dong, 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 Wongs 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 ortodox Hung Syestem 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 (Fig. 10a). 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:
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:
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 Hungs 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. Tit Kiu Sam 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:
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 Syestems most advanced internal traing set the Tit Sing Kuen (Iron Wire Form) He died in 1886 at the age of 73. Lam Sai Wing (1861-1942) Lam Sai Wing, born in 1861, was from Gwan Dong Lam Hoi, Ping Jow Jun , Ping Buck Huern , Sai Chuen , China. Lam began Training martial arts at a young age. First learning from his grandfather Lam Bak Sin and also Hung Ga from Sifu Wu Gum Sin , and Buddha's Palm Kung Fu from Sifu Jung Hon San . He also learned iron wire form from Lam Fook Sing , Tit Kiu Sam's Disciple, and later learned from and became a disciple of Wong Fei Hung. Lam combined all his knowledge of Southern Chinese arts into one style and called it Fu Hok Pai (Tiger Crane System), His nick name became" Mr. Tiger & Crane". In the late Ching Dynasty, Lam went to Canton to enter a tournament held at Dum Gao Cheung stadium and placed first. It is here that Lam first became famous. In 1917, Lam Sai Wing and his students Gi Yee Jai, Jueng Si Biu and Lei Sai Fai wrote three books on Hung Ga, which are still in print today. These books were the first to depict actual Hung Ga or any southern kung fu to the general public. These books opened the door to the world for southern kung fu. There is a famous story about Lam's skill which is still talked about today. One day when Wong Fei Hung asked Lam to accompany him to the Hoi Tung Gi (Hoi Tung Temple) to discuss a matter with the Abbot monk. At the temple they were greeted by someone who was known as the iron head monk who told them, the chief Abbot wasn't available, and instead offered them tea. While sipping tea the iron head monk boasted how he could never be beaten or touched in any confrontation. The monk asked to spar with Wong or Lam. Wong sent Lam to match skills with the monk. The monk attacked with his head. Lam struck out with the Mo Ying Gerk (shadowless kick) and knocked the monk 10 feet away. Lam ran over and picked him up, the monk had a new found respect for Wong & Lam and they became friends. There is also another famous incident which took place at the Luk Sin theater. Lam, Tang Fung, Tang Yee, Gwan Kwan and a few of Lams disciples became trapped by a rival instructor at the theater. The rival instructor led an attack with about 80 men, while Lam and his colleagues had fewer than 10. Lams students & colleagues sustained a few minor injuries. The rival side had a count of 80 people sent to the hospital. Lam escaped the incident uninjured. This is a good example of Lam's exceptional skill. Lam Sai Wing's succesor was Lum Jo who taught many well known sifu who now operate schools and spread the art of Fu Hok Pai in the United States and abroad. Lam died in his home town in 1942 at the age of 81. Tang Fung (1874-1955) Tang Fung was born in Sam Soy village, Gwan Dong province in 1874. During his youth he learned Hung Ga from Sifu Wong Yau, 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 Fung was also a participant in the Luk Sin theater incident. Both he, his brother Tang Yee and Lam Sai Wing left town to avoid trouble. Lam went to the Gwang Dong/Gwon Sai border and Tang Fung went to Singapore to work as a miner. Later Tang Fung returned to Gwang Dung. After Wong Fei Hung was quite old, Tang Fung and his brother Tang Yee opened a school called "Yee Yung Tong" (chivalrous brave hall). After the finish of the Japanese war, 1949, Tang moved to Hong Kong. He established a medicine shop at Sum Soi Bo. He helped many people with medicine, and always had a good heart, never charging for treatments if one could not afford it. Grand Master Tang Fung also married twice but had no sons. Tang's 2nd 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 fish market association . He also took over the position as head of security from Lam Sai Wing at the Sau Kay Won fish market . During his years in Hong Kong, Tang established a strong reputation for himself. His teaching was know to emphasize hard stance training and strict detail to forms and applications. Tang was also nicknamed "Lo Wan Ku" which means old square mind. This was in reference to Tangs stubborn traditionalism. He once said he would only teach what was taught to him by his Master Wong Fei Hung. He refused to add or delete anything to the Hung Ga he had learned. Tang Fungs 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 Fung 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 Ngau Quat 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:
Tang Fung died December 20th, 1955, at the age of 80. Sam Dai Sao Fat - The three most important hand techniques The Hung style has always been famous for its thousand pound horse stance and iron bridges. According to the late Grand Master Tang Fung, "In Hung Ga we have Sam Dai Sao Fat or the three most important hand tecniques. They are:
The first hand is Kiu Sao, it refers to the 12 bridges in the iron wire form. The second is Gum Gao Jin Sao or golden scissor hand, which can be used in the five directions, left, right, upper, lower and middle. The third hand , Bong Sao (Tying Hand), can be used on the inside for short range, or outside for long range. Having both long and short range makes the Hung style complete. Sam Dai Ma Bo-The three most important stances Aside from the Sam Dai Sao Fat, Hung Ga also has three main horse stances (Sam Dai Ma Bo). Although other stances exist, these three are the most important:
Besides these things, according to the late Master Yuen Ling (a close disciple and successor to Tang Fung), the Sup Juet Sao (10 killing hands) tops the list of keys to the styles usage. The "Sup Juet Sao are easy to do, but not easy to use. Whenever these techniques are used you maim or kill your opponent. This is why from generation to generation these techniques have only been shown to "in the door" disciples with good Mo Duk (martial virtue). This strict adherence is to insure that they will never be used in a way that would bring dishonor to the style. Master Frank Yee (Yee Chee Wai) a close disciple & successor to Master Yuen Ling who taught in New York's Chinatown for over twenty years, states that" As a boy I watched my father, Mr. Yee Yin (also a Hung Ga Sifu), fight a group of 10 men, successfully defeating them all with the use of the golden scissor hand. Each time his father used the golden scissor hand (Gum Gau Jin Sao), he broke his opponents elbow and in the end, came out of the confrontation uninjured. After they returned home, Yee's father stated, "If you don't know how to use the golden scissor hands of Hung Ga, you don't know how to use the style." This has never left Master Yee's mind! The Sup Juet Sao These are a very important part of training. The names and results of using the 10 killing hands are:
The Sam Dai Sao Fat, Sam Dai Ma Bo, and the Sup Juet Sao are all vital to the usage of the style but we must keep in mind that none of these will work unless you've trained the Hung styles basics. The stances, bridges, conditioning, the Noi Gung (internal work). The internal work of Hung Ga uses sound to bring up the chi , in turn the chi brings up the power. The Hung Ga Practitioners from the past, through loyalty and dedication, have given us a bright future. They would be proud to know that we are carrying on 400 years of history and the blood , sweat and tears of our ancestors who will remain forever, the true "Hero's of Hung Ga".  |
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