The Hung style of kung fu is known by many names in the west; Hung Gar, Hung Kuen, Tiger & Crane, etc. The style is named after its first patriarch, Hung Hei Guen. It is the synthesis of the original Southern Shaolin style of Chinese kung fu.
It should be made known to the reader that there were two Shaolin Temples in China. The original one in Hunan province, built in 495 AD, sometimes called the Northern Shaolin Temple, and the Southern Temple in Fukien province that was built much later, around 1399 AD. Early martial arts history is centered around the Northern Shaolin Temple. This is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and martial arts as we know it today.
When the Indian monk, Boddhidarma (Da Mo), came to China around 527 AD, he found that the monks were old and frail, and could barely keep up their religious duties. Da Mo is credited with many things to remedy this situation; writing the Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing (and creating health exercises based on them), and most importantly, teaching Zen Buddhism (Chan Zong). According to historical records, he meditated in a cave for nine years, simply facing a wall of stone, after which, he emerged and wrote the two classics; Yi Jin Jing (Sinew Metamorphosis Classic), and Xi Sui Jing (Marrow Cleansing Classic), which were the basis of Shaolin Chi Gung. The impact of this man's knowledge was tremendous. His method of meditation was simple, yet superior, and it eventually spread throughout China, Korea, and Japan. The importance of mediation lies in the fact that it helps you achieve the highest goal possible; some call it Buddhahood, Union with God, or Meeting Allah. This is why there is so much emphasis on it. His health exercises were also noteworthy, because they were the catalyst for the evolution of martial arts.
Martial arts, in one form or another, had always existed in China, (like many other countries), but before this evolution, they were simply just military drills and simple fighting techniques. Da Mo's teachings incorporated chi gung (energy work) into martial arts, which lead to fantastic health, and unbelievable power. The combination of chi gung, meditation, and implicit knowledge of the human body made Chinese martial arts superior to all others. Because of this foundation, martial arts were able to evolve faster than ever. Many brilliant monks and generals were able to contribute more than ever before because of their mind expansion, and excellent health, which in turn gave them more time to think and improve not only fighting techniques and military strategy, but spiritual and health practices as well. Hundreds of years of constant evolution is what made Chinese martial arts, or kung fu, so effective and unmatched in the world.
Events carried on at the Northern Temple on Songshan mountain, and the monks created many new styles and were involved in many famous exploits. The temple remained a national center for learning and cultivation, but now we divert our attention to the south. It was the south that was a hotbed of rebel activity during the Ching (Manchu) Dynasty (1644-1911). There was much unrest and dissent when the Ming Dynasty fell to the Ching's because they were foreigners that were now ruling all of China. So, many Ming supporters gathered at the temple to plan uprisings and rebellions, from 1644 till around 1800 when the temple was finally sacked and razed by the Ching Imperial Army.
Gee Sim Sin Si (Zen Master Gee Sin), was the last Abbot of the Fukien Temple. He was famous as a martial arts genius because he helped organize the 36 chambers of Shaolin, the 18 wooden Luohan dummies, and was the teacher of many monks and famous laymen such as Hung Hei Guen, Fong Sai Yuk, Luk Ah Choy, and the infamous Ma Ling Yee. While Hung Hei Guen was completing his training at Shaolin, the Ching army had found out about the rebel's secret base and planned a full scale attack on the temple. The Chings were very cunning, and knew about the high level of skill the monks carried, so they were hesitant in attacking, until they found their advantage in a traitor, named Ma Ling Yee. He was a disgruntled former monk who resented his difficult training at the temple, and decided to seek revenge by helping the Chings, and telling them of the temple's secret escape tunnels. Some sources claim that it was actually Bak Mei, (famous for the white eyebrow style), and not Ma Ling Yee, that was a treacherous monk. Other sources claims that they were actually the same person with one real name, and one nickname.
When the attack came, the monks were severely outnumbered by the heavily equipped soldiers, some of which even carried rifles. Once they realized that defeat was eminent, they retreated down the escape tunnel, only to be ambushed by more waiting troops. In the chaos the followed, monks escaped in all directions, only to be hunted down for years by the Chings. Hung Hei Guen, Luk Ah Choy, Gee Sim, and others managed to hide out on the "hung sheun" or red boats, which belonged to the Chinese Opera companies that travelled all over China. One by one the rebels were caught and killed, and the situation became dire.
Bak Mei continued the pursuit for years, finding, fighting, and killing, Fong Sai Yuk, Gee Sin, and others. Years before this trouble had started, Hung Hei Guen had married a girl named Fong Wing Chun, and they had a son named Hung Man Ting. Hung was an expert in kung fu, along with his wife and son, but he only specialized in the powerful tiger techniques, while his wife specialized in the elegant crane techniques. Hung Hei Guen was very powerful, and reportedly had killed a man with one punch, but when he fought Bak Mei, no matter how many times he hit him, he could not do any damage. This was because of Bak Mei's skill in the Iron Shirt Chi Gung. Eventually, Bak Mei killed Hung Hei Guen in addition to the other fugitives from Shaolin, making his revenge complete. Now, Hung Man Ting realized that in order to avenge his father and kill Bak Mei, he would have to combine the techniques of his parents, and when the opportunity arose, kill Bak Mei. When the encounter finally occured, Hung Man Ting was able to seek retribution, getting around his Iron Shirt defense, and killing him with a crane's beak peck.
It was mainly Luk Ah Choy (student of Gee Sim and Hung Hei Guen), and Hung Man Ting that were able to carry on the teaching of the Southern Shaolin Kungfu. Because they were still fugitives and Shaolin was still associated with the rebels, they had to go underground, and disguise their kung fu, naming it Hung Kuen, or Hung's style. Nowadays, it is referred to as Hung Gar, (Hung family style), and goes alongside the other famous family styles of the south such as Lau Gar, Mok Gar, Choy Gar, Fut Gar, and Li Gar. So the tradition carried on from master to student from Luk Ah Choy, to Wong Tai, to Wong Kay Ying and his famous son, Wong Fei Hung.
Wong Kay Ying and Wong Fei Hung gained fame as belong to the illustrious "Ten Tigers of Guangdong", a group of the top ten martial arts masters in Guangdong province. Another master from the ten tigers was Tiet Kiu Sam, whose real name was Leung Kwan. He was also a Hung Gar master, whose master, Kwok Yan Sin Si, had also learned at the Southern Shaolin Temple under Gee Sim. Tiet Kiu Sam's top student, Lam Fook Shing also played an important role in Hung Gar history, because he taught young Wong Fei Hung the internal energy form, Tiet Sien Kuen (Iron Wire Form). Wong Fei Hung was a martial arts prodigy, and also learned traditional Chinese medicine from his father. Both had earned excellent reputations for their medicine and martial arts, which usually went hand in hand in old China. There were also many adventures that Wong Fei Hung was involved in, from training the military and being the leader of the Canton militia, to a famous fight on the docks of Hong Kong where he was attacked by the dockyard workers. The story goes that he fought over a hundred men some armed with sticks and metal hooks. He was armed with a long staff, and had to fight and run, fight and run, just to save his life. Wong Fei Hung also had many wives and children. Sadly the first 3 wives all died of illnesses, and his eldest son, Wong Hon Sum, was killed by gangsters in the streets of Hong Kong. After this tragedy, he refused to teach any of his children martial arts, for fear that evil-doers would try to get to him through his children.
Wong Fei Hung's forth wife was Mok Gwai Lan, incidentally, a master of Mok Gar Kung Fu. The story of their meeting is rather ironic, because Wong and his students were performing a lion dance and kung fu demontstration, when his shoe accidentally came off and struck Mok in the face. Despite Wong's attempts to apologize, she slapped him and scolded him like a little boy. Wong became infatuated with the girl, whom he later married and had children with. Mok Gwai Lan was responsible for the women's kung fu and gynecology at her husband's school and clinic, Po Chi Lum. Later on in life, at age 87, she gave a powerful performance of Fu Hok Seung Ying on HKTV, showing her high level of skill, and the benefits of good training.
Wong had thousands of students learning martial arts from him. Two of the most famous masters were Lam Sai Wing and Tang Fung. Lam was a pork butcher by trade, from Canton. He was trained in many styles of martial arts, (many people believe he was trained in Lau Gar and Choy Li Fut), and decided to challenge Wong Fei Hung in a fight. Even though Lam Sai Wing was a powerful man and a good fighter, he was defeated by Wong's "Mo Ying Guek" (no shadow kick). After seeing Wong Fei Hung's high level of skill, he asked Wong Fei Hung to teach him his style of kung fu. Lam Sai Wing achieved a very high level of skill in Hung Gar and had many famous and high level students including Chan Hon Chung, Wong Lee, Jee Yu Jai, his nephew, Lum Jo, and others. Many of his top students were ordinary working people like fishermen, herbalists, dit da doctors, businessmen, etc. Most of these people aren't in the public eye or teaching martial arts, they simply practice kung fu for themselves and carry on with their regular daily duties. Lam Sai Wing was also trained in medicine and passed his art down to Chan Hon Chung and possibly other students. Another mark of his was adding in the Lau Gar forms, and numerous weapons to the Hung Style.
Tang Fung was another high level student of Wong Fei Hung. Together with Lam Sai Wing and a few other kung fu people, he had taken a job as a security force for a Chinese Opera company in Canton that was continually being robbed by gangsters. When the gangsters arrived, there was a huge fight. The kung fu masters were locked inside the theatre with a few of the gangsters, while the other criminals got reinforcements and set the building on fire. Wong's students managed to break out of the building, but were severely outnumberred and almost unarmed. Lam Sai Wing reportedly uprooted a small tree to use as a staff for fighting off their attackers. After they escaped, they decided to keep a low profile, with Tang moving to Singapore, and Lam moving to Hong Kong.
Chan Hon Chung was born in poverty in 1909 in the village of Hing Ling, Guangdong. He started learning martial arts and dit da medicine from Lam Sai Wing while he was a young street vendor, and eventually became one of Lam Sai Wing's top students, teaching at Lam's school in later years. After years of training he opened up his own school, Chan Hon Chung's Gymnasium, and his own dit da clinic. He was a hard worker and earned a great reputation as a doctor and kung fu master. To help pay for his training facilities in expensive Hong Kong, he had many different businesses in his building, including some rented out by Lau Fat Man (eagle claw master), and Wong Hon Fun (seven star praying mantis master). Because of his high status in the kung fu community, he was able to act as a martial arts advisor in the Hong Kong movie scene. Many of his friends included Jackie Chan (Sing Lung), Sammo Hung (Hung Gum Bo), Shek Kin (Mr. Han from Enter the Dragon), and the Lau family. One of his big accomplishments was organizing the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association. Chan Hon Chung passed away in 1991 at the age of 82.
My master, Mak Chiu Jor, began training under Chan Hon Chung in 1957 at the age of 10 and continued until he emmirgrated to Canada in 1964. While in Canada, he continued his personal training, and he taught for associations and private students, going back to Hong Kong every few years to improve under his master. After achieving a high level of skill and expertise in hung gar, my sifu furthered his studies, learning more about spiritual chi gung and meditation under the Buddhist monk, Lo Sing Yun. Currently, Sifu Mak is a retired businessman, and only teaches a few private students in Edmonton, Canada.
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There were many famous masters in the Hung Gar style. Hundreds of movies, books, and television shows have been made about their adventures. Some of them are true accounts, but many of them are fictional. To find out more about some of these kung fu movies, keep watching for my Chinese movies page. Some of these legendary figures include:
Hung Hei Guen
Luk Ah Choy
Tit Kiu Sam
Fong Sai Yuk
Hung Man Ting
Lam Fook Shing
Wong Kay Ying
Wong Fei Hung
Lam Sai Wing
Tang Fung
The style is famous for many reasons:
-the 1000 pound horse stance. After years of training, practitioners could combine their muscular strength, gained through horse stance practice, with the ability to "ground" their chi, making them unmovable, or what would seem to weigh 1000 pounds.
-Sam Sing, or three star blocking. This is a technique that makes a Hung Gar practitioner's forearms extremely impact resistant by conditioning the bones, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and tendons. If the training is done properly, there are no side effects. This enables people to block without getting injured.
-Mo Ying Guek, or no shadow kick. This kick was made very famous by the late master, Wong Fei Hung. The reason for the name is because supposedly the kick was so fast and undetectable that it did not even cast a shadow.
-Kui Sau, the bridge hands. A certain exercise that gives the arms unbelievable strength and stability. One of the greatest masters of this technique, Tit Kiu Sam, could reportedly hold up three people on each outstretched arm.
-Wong Fei Hung. This man is legendary and has achived the status of a folk hero. Stories have made him out to be the equivalent of a kung fu superman. Numerous movies have also popularized him to the Chinese community.
Today, Hung Gar is one of the more popular styles of Chinese kung fu, practiced in almost every part of the world.
Hung Gar Master
Dedicated to Wong Fei Hung
Under Construction
Hung Gar :
• Founded by Hung Hei Goon in 1723.
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• Lineage:
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• Hung Hei Goon (1723-1736). Luk Ah Choy. Wong Tai. Wong Kai Ying.
• Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924).
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• Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924). Tang Fung (1874-1955). Yuen Ling.
• Frank Yee (1948-Present).
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• Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924). Lam Sai Wing (1861-1942). Lam Jo (1910-Present).
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• Lam Jo (1910-Present). Lam Chun Fai. Lam Chun Sing.
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• Lam Jo (1910-Present). Buck Sam Kong (1940-Present). Vernon Rieta.
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• Lam Jo (1910-Present). Y.C. Wong.
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• Lam Jo (1910-Present). Chang Tai Ying. Curtis Kautzman. Roger Engmalm.
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• Lam Sai Wing (1861-1942). Chiu Kao (1895-1995).
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• Chiu Kao (1895-1995). Chiu Chi Ling (1943-Present). Chiu Wai.
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• Chiu Kao (1895-1995). Kwon Wing Lam. Curtis Kautzman. Roger Engmalm.
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• Lam Sai Wing (1861-1942). Chan Hong Chung (1909-1991).
• Mak Chiu Jor (1957-Present).
Short Historical Essay on Master Lam Sai Wing Written by His Disciple Zhu Yuzhai. As related by Zhang Shibiao from Pangyu. The twelfth year Kuihai of the Peoples Republic (1923), the first month of the summer.
Master Lam Sai Wing (1860-1943) was born in Pingzhou district of the southern Guangdong province. He was a generous, bright and witty boy who from his childhood strove for knowledge and did well in traditional classic sciences. His esteemed ancestor Lam repeatedly told him that talent and persistence are a good base to form one's character.
Besides, as far as Chinese pugilistic arts and sword fencing are concerned, the past period, when fighting techniques were secretly trained, should serve as an example. So, the second factor of success is to follow the ancient methods.
Master Lam Sai Wing learned Kung Fu for many years and had long experience, yet he could not be self-confident and humbly gained knowledge of ancient times in his desire to comprehend the innermost essence of the art. His disciples Hu Jinxin and Shao Zhangbo helped him in that. Later, they could not go on with their training and set up butcheries to earn their living. Only Master Lam, full of high aspirations, did not forget the ancient directions and diligently and indefatigably reared the art in his soul. It cannot but give rise to our admiration, indeed!
Master Lam Sai Wing Sets Up a School for Training the Fighting Arts in Canton (Guangzhou)
That was the time when Manchu dynasty Qing (1644-1911) fell down and the People's Republic (1912-1949) was in the process of formation. The Chinese people had no moral supports during that time of confusion and lawlessness. At quiet nights Master Lam Sai Wing meditated on how to devote himself to good deeds and heavily sighed. He said that at such a time a brave man could not waste his powers and had to do his highest duty for the sake of the people. One must devote to it his whole life, refuse trade and handicraft, "take a knapsack on his back and set off" in search of friends and mentors for himself to enrich his knowledge. Should not one do self-sacrifice for the well-being of the society?
Masters of fighting arts in northern provinces lived more or less well, but in the southern Guangdong province they had to seek for means of subsistence or expect official vacancies and to solve other every-day problems. That's why it was extremely hard to find disciples to pass fighting arts from generation to generation.
Nevertheless, at those hard times followers who wished to learn the ancient traditions were found. Military commanders Liu and Cheng, as well as Wu Quanmei who held "tidu" post (a military commander of all troops in a province) dedicated themselves to Kung Fu. There were more than 20 disciples in Wong Fei Hung's school and some trainers. They united, set up their own school and enrolled disciples.
The Lam's school opened in Canton (Guangzhou) quickly become very popular and Master Lam Sai Wing became famous as a great specialist in fighting arts. One should take into account that the Chinese Pugilism and Fencing interlaced with Dao practice are the most complicated. The whole technique imitating actions of the people and animals has a hidden sense. This technique is well elaborated and effective; if a man who observes all required conditions uses it, he wins a quick victory! This is the basic feature of the Chinese Fighting Arts.
Some time later, a man called the Bald-Headed, also native to Guangdong province, appeared in Canton. On hearing on the famous Master Lam, this envious man tried to discredit Lam Sai Wing by saying that he was stronger than Master Lam. One day he made a surprise visit to the Master Lam's school and burst into the room where the fighters trained. The Bald-Headed was unceremonious and impudent in complete disregard of everybody. He planned to set up his own school and to enroll disciples for himself. He wished to measure swords with Master Lam and challenged him. Three times Master Lam Sai Wing tactfully refused, yet the Bald-Headed forced him to fight; Lam had no any way out but to fight. The place for the fight was found outside the city. Master Lam Sai Wing overpowered the Bald-Headed who acknowledged his defeat and humbly expressed his desire to become Lam's disciple. Later, after training at the Lam Sai Wing's school he also became a well-known master.
Master Lam Sai Wing Becomes a Disciple of Wong Fei Hung
At that time there were strong anti-Japanese feelings among the people. The Japanese in Canton did injustice and unlawful actions, beat and humiliated the people and the people had to be on the run. The Japanese treated the Chinese with arrogance. One Japanese searched for Master Lam Sai Wing and tried to enter his school. He was not fastidious in his choice of words and sharply said that Master Lam Sai Wing was a cissy and had no any right to train other people and to have his own school. If he saw the fine Shaolin technique of esteemed Lam Sai Wing, he would not be so thoughtless!
Su Wenzu, a well-known classically educated master who got perfection in the pair sword technique and lived in Canton, highly appraised Lam Sai Wing's mastership. He said that he was ready to serve Master Lam.
Master Lam Sai Wing did not fear anybody; he taught at his school and showed benevolence to everybody. His disciples tried not to participate in shuffles or combat actions and kept aloof. However, worried about what happened around and realized that their country was on the verge of downfall, they agreed to participate in public show fight. A lot of important persons came to see the fight. Master Lam's enemy challenged him with a stick in his hand, and his voice was like a tiger's roar. It was a furious fight, the fighters' bodies were covered with wounds, they bled profusely. Suddenly Master Lam's enemy threw away his stick and ran away.
Although Master Lam won the victory, his body was covered with bloody wounds. Lam Sai Wing went to bow Wong Fei Hung who was not only an excellent Kung Fu master, but a doctor of the Chinese traditional medicine. Master Wong Fei Hung was very glad to meet Lam. He told him that he would be a worthy disciple at his school. He cured wounds and gave him a great support. Master Lam Sai Wing accumulated knowledge with veneration to his teacher.
Lam Sai Wing and Wong Fei Hung Talk to a Monk Called "The Iron Head"
Once, at daytime Lam Sai Wing went on a stroll with his teacher Wong Fei Hung to the monastery Haichuangxi. There they met a monk called Òå Tîu ("The Iron Head"). That monk, exceptionally brave and strong, was in full command of the fighting arts. After bowing and greeting them with his hands in a Buddhist manner he invited them to his cell. Drinking tea, they leisurely went on talking. After some idle talk they begun to discuss the Kung Fu technique.
Monk Òå Tîu said with a smile that learning the Kung Fu technique was extremely difficult for him, but one must be patient and persistent. If you train persistently, you will be able to achieve great success in full confidence. When he became a monk, he started to train himself by head butting. His teacher showed him some exercises with a stone mortar that used for butting and strengthening the head and the body. After long and persistent training he asked his mentor if his body could become as solid as iron. The mentor replied with a smile: "Why not? If you train systematically, all the time do exercises, your head will become like an iron bell!"
Afterwards he asked his mentor again: "Will the other people be able to get such results, if they do this exercise?" The mentor shook his head and said that there were no such people at that time. The monk "The Iron Head" achieved great results in training. While talking, he took a thick iron rod and stroke at his head with all his strength. The rod was visibly bent. That's why, if somebody wants to attack the monk, he can repeal the attack with his head. No doubt, it will have grave consequences for his enemy. A well-trained monk can defend himself and attack with his head and the enemy can not resist him.
Master Lam Sai Wing Gaines the Upper Hand over the Monk Called "The Iron Head"
The monk "The Iron Head" narrated such a story: "Once, early in the morning, after my breakfast that was very scarce, I went to the kitchen to take some more food. There was another monk there, he was also hungry and was eager to get more food. He demanded that I would give him my cookies, but I refused to do so. After that he suddenly rushed to me with a ladle in his hand and gave a very hard blow at my head with it. The sound was like a sound produced by "MUYU" ("muyu", literally "wooden fish", a Buddhist wooden beater in a form of a fish or a crab without feet to beet time during a prayer). Oh, it was a wonder that my head was not wounded at all". When he spoke that, he smiled all the time, pleased with himself.
Than the two Buddhists and Masters of Pugilism made up their mind to verify if they could confront that monk. They planned to check monk's fighting art in front of the decorated gates of the monastery. Wong Fei Hung, the tutor, made Lam Sai Wing challenge the monk, although the Buddhists decided not use techniques which could cause heavy wounds or death. Lam Sai Wing agreed to it and promised his tutor to gain the upper hand.
Master Lam attacked the monk, the monk tried to give a heavy thump with his head. Lam Sai Wing used a method called YUE YING SHOU JIAO ("The hand and The foot like the moon's shadow") which is the part of HU HE SHUANG XING (a form of "The Tiger and the Crane") and thanks to it won the victory. The monk was thrown on the ground. Master Lam helped the enemy to raise up and showed him the due respect. The monk closing his palms in a greeting also expressed his admiration to Master Lam Sai Wing. The monk and Master Lam parted, feeling respect for each other. Some disciple Kung made an detailed record of those events.
Master Lam Sai Wing Deals with a Band of Rowdies
Once a troupe of actors from the Beijing Opera made a performance in the Lam Sai Wing's native village. Master Lam Sai Wing went to see their performance. On his way back home in the company of a few of his friends he saw a man riding a horse. The man rode along a path between fields, probably, on some errand. Master Lam Sai Wing and his comrades witnessed an unattractive deeds. Some Xiao Long, an inhabitant of that place and a known rowdy, together with his old pals obstructed the way for the rider with a stick and started to jeer at him. The man got off the horse and pulled it with the bridle-rein in an attempt to go around them, but they caught him, tore his clothes, knocked down and mocked him.
The stranger demanded to compensate the damages he sustained. Master Lam Sai Wing saw it and went along the path without saying a word. He approached the place and did not display in no way his thoughts and feelings. But his disciples could not restrain at the sight of such a humiliation of the man and started to shout in a rage: "Why, who ever heard of such a thing when some debauchee is so impudent that he obstructs the way of other people with sticks and beat them?!"
Full of indignation, the Lam Sai Wing's companions resolutely engaged those ruffians. The fight was fierce. Although some more people ran to help ruffians, they could not overpower Master Lam's disciples. At first Master Lam Sai Wing did not want to take part in that brawl. However, when he realized that his disciples themselves are not able to overpower the superior force of the enemy, he joined the fight. Although there were tens of ruffians, they ran out in fear like "fallen-off leaves blown by a gust of the wind."
Master Lam Sai Wing and his Disciples enter “The Society for Cooperation” with the aim of mutual confrontation to robbers and cutthroats.
This is just one of the events expounded to readers. The police department in Canton was informed about that incident. However, a police squad, which carried out an investigation, did not get to the root of the matter and closed the case. That's why many shop keepers and wine shop owners began to hire strong guys to protect their property and to keep order. Lam Sai Wing also took part in the organization of self-defense and everybody appreciated it. After that event Lam and his disciples were busy with guarding various establishments. After hearing about the famous Master Lam Sai Wing who restrained ruffians from robbery and outrages, a lot of follows joined the master.
Once Master Lam Sai Wing followed by his disciple Zhu Yu-zhai called "Shrimp" went to an out-of-doors theatre stage to see a performance. During the performance of the classic opera they were introduced to Li Shi-gui, a low-rank military commander. In certain circles he was known as a specialist in fighting arms, but until that time they did know each other. Li Shi-gui also dealt with problems of defense against robbers. They arranged a meeting to discuss the problems.
A lot of people, known and unknown, gathered at that meeting, Master Lam's disciples were present too. The decision adopted was to unite efforts with Mr. Li and other esteemed people, to keep together and to take coordinated actions aimed at all-round defense against robbers. Everybody favored the idea: "With the Aid of Fighting Arts to Stop Outrages and Violence". Zhu and many other people expressed their opinions, many addressed Master Lam their complaints. Master Lam promised to go into every detail, but also reproached their disciples by saying: "You, too, already become enlightened people and understand the core of the things. Why cannot you realize that goods for traders are a source of profit; you and other reckless people take their goods free of charge instead of buying them; you also do not buy theatre tickets."
All came to the common conclusion that robbers should be decisively repulsed. Furthermore, it was necessary to re-arrange various provisions and rules for the settlement of disputes and to make them a law with the aim to stop squabbling and paying off of personal scores. Also, our aim is not to permit the use of fighting arts for oppression of laobaisin (ordinary people) in order not to have a bad reputation among later generations. The young and the vigorous, who are just entering the social life, must take an example of great people and be generous-hearted and virtuous. If somebody with an undeserved honor to hear do not listen to these words, then, let him blame himself. All disasters are caused by one's foolishness!
Master Lam Sai Wing also made many remarks and expressed wishes in the same vein. He finished his speech and took a seat. Some of those who was present at the meeting raised his hand, stood up and said that if it is acceptable, what can be called unacceptable?
Master Lam Sai Wing said that no need to prove to themselves and to others their own innocence, one should wash disgrace with their own deeds. Master Lam knew that it was difficult to find the right arguments, one must convince with his own example. As he contemplated about the welfare of the society for a long time, he understood that one should not act rashly and at random.
Master Lam Sai Wing is Lured into a Death Trap.
Once Master Lam Sai Wing came to a social meeting held in some yard. A lot of people herd speeches there, and many, allured by them, believed in each word and decided to join the leaders. All broke up, elated, as if they "came back from a victorious military campaign". Lam Sai Wing was also allured with those speeches and gave way to temptation to enter that society. Lam Sai Wing who headed a lot of people led them a wrong way. He intended to pay off old scores and solve problems by force and a pull. Lam allured with sugary speeches was tempted into that society where he decided to realize his abilities and skills. At the meeting in the yard he was brought tea and some sweets. Then they started to form various structures from sympathizers - men of courage.
They influenced the people and the people could not but agree with the right arguments. They persuaded those who hesitated and drew them into their "Society".
At any time a lot of policemen from the local yamen (the police station) like "scudding clouds" rushed to the esteemed Lam Sai Wing. They took him for a model of virtue and honestly did their duties. But there were other people in Sects and Secret Societies who opposed Lam, carefully concealed their true intentions and tried to approach Master Lam Sai Wing under a false mask of hearty sympathy. Using secret signs between themselves and following him everywhere, ****ing an ear and snooping around, they expected a chance to lure Lam Sai Wing into a death trap.
At the right moment they invited Lai Sai Wing to visit one of the schools of Fighting Arts in the outskirts of Canton. They sent an invitation in the name of the Tutor of that school. Lam Sai Wing calmly came there without any idea about their hostile intentions. The host pretended to be glad to see him. After a few polite words they exchanged some secret signs between them. Guan Kun who accompanied Lam Sai Wing, a vigilant and watchful man, felt that they were trapped and placed in a very dangerous situation.
Guan Kun hastened Lam Sai Wing to run like a deer towards the town of Fui, but the gate was already closed. At that moment the mob armed with side-arms and sticks attacked Lam and his companions. Only now treacherous and mean intentions of the people who entrapped Lam Sai Wing became clear to him. As Lam and his companions came there in a hurry without any weapon, they had to defend themselves barehanded. Soon several assaulters fell down and in a violent struggle Lam Sai Wing was able to seize from the enemy two jians (jian is a Chinese old time four-edged long metal weapon without a blade, narrow to the end, with a handle).
Lam gave one of the jians to his disciple, the other one he left for himself. After having seized some weapons, Lam Sai Wing and his companions cheered up and made an attempt to break through the hostile mob. Alas, the gate was still closed. Lam Sai Wing's men who stood behind the gate could not do anything to help his comrades. In that bloody mess Guan, Deng and the others withstood the large crowd and did their best to defend their tutor. Suddenly a man behind Lam's back raised a sword, but Lam Sai Wing, in a quick movement, was in time to move up his jian and to beat the attacking sword off the hands of the assailant. The sword flew a few zhangs away (zhang is a Chinese unit of length equal to 3.33 m) and while falling down stroke Guan Kun eyebrow which started to bleed.
It was lucky that the sword missed his eyes, because Guan could become blind. Although he was wounded, he felt a surge of strength and valor and rushed to the enemy. He stroke down more than ten assailants one by one. The enemy was shocked. Guan took this opportunity to come to the rescue of Lam. Master Lam Sai Wing rounded up by the enemies showed the extraordinary valour. He did not feel tired at all. Jian in his hands was striking like a lightning. The foes were falling on the ground around him one after another, but new men advanced. All of a sudden, a man, that was Tan, a former Lam's disciple, jumped out of the hostile mob and started to defend his Master.
Lam realized that he was in a desperate situation. Life and death - it was all the same for him. He fought like a possessed. It seemed that nobody and nothing could stop him.
...Broken weapons scattered the battlefield, the earth was red with blood. Here and there lied the wounded who loudly moaned. Lam Sai Wing, being a very brave and valiant man, understood that he was "like a fish in a pot or a bird in a cage" (Fu zhung zhi yu, Long zhung zhi niao). He did not see a way out.
Meantime, the number of the wounded and the killed among the assailants stunned the enemy and they called soldiers to help them. Five battalions under the command of Shi Xiaozhun came to form an impenetrable ring around the School of Fighting Arts. It was like the death sentence to Lam. Yet, as saying goes, "The trouble gives a birth to wit" and the man with a sword raised above his head becomes ready-witted. Lam Sai Wing found a stone and threw it at the lamp which lighted the yard. In a moment the battle-field plunged into pitch-darkness. Thanks to it Master Lam opened the gate with his jien, ran out into the street and mixed up with the crowd. Lam escaped the danger, but a little later a great scandal broke out because of hundreds of the wounded and the killed. He realized that he had to go away from the place of the incident as far as possible to avoid repression.
Master Lam Sai Wing becomes the Chief Instructor in the army of Fujien province.
Next day military men raided the Lam's house, but he already left it. Newspapers reported that more than eighty people with broken arms and wounded heads had been sent to the Taomei hospital from the place of the armed clash. Master Lam Sai Wing was safe, but his disciple Guan and especially Deng were severely wounded. Deng had seven knife wounds. He courageously fought to the end and death knocked at his door.
Li Shigui was informed about the incident and was ablaze with anger. He hated Lam's guts and promised a money award for catching him. So did the School of Fighting Arts. But Lam Sai Wing entered the People's Party and was out of sight for a few years.
In the sixth year of the Chinese Republic (1917) Lam Sai Wing invited by general Wu Jin was appointed the Chief Instructor in the army of Fujian Province.
Several years passed. Troops of the Fujian Army moved on so called March to the North. At an excuse of his old age Master Lam Sai Wing retired on a pension. Soon he was invited by Siangjan politicians to open a training course for fighting arts. They were neighbors and associated with each other at their leisure hours. In future all of them expressed admiration, if somebody mentioned Master Lam's name.
Although Lam acquired the highest mastership, he usually did not resort to it. He used his methods only in extreme situations or in rightful self-defense.
The story I have written down does not contain exaggerations. Master Lam, a kind and simple-hearted man, is worth of high esteem.
The twelfth year Kuihai of the Peoples Republic (1923), the first month of the summer.
As related by Zhang Shibiao from Pangyu.
Question Authority. Question Society. Question Reality. Question Yourself. Question your conclusions, your judgments, your answers. Question this. If you question everything thoroughly enough, the truth will eventually hit you upside the head and you will know. But here’s a warning: It won’t be what you imagined. It won’t be even close.
As an illustration, and to no fault of the poster, one can see how popular culture has affected the history of Hung Kuen, in that Hung Man Ting is a COMPLETELY FICTIONAL character that was invented for the Shaw Bros movies. Over time, his B.S. story got intertwined with the whole Bak Mei myth, and it eventually became part of Hung Kuen history.
There is SOOOOO much stuff to sift through when it comes to Hung Kuen history.
Originally
Posted By: FrankyLau
well this is not the performance from HKTV but from one of the old wong fei hung epeisodes..here she also demos fu hok ..
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As an aside and for those who don't know or don't realize - Mok Gwai Lan is Wong Fei Hong's third and last wife.
Even more important is that the tiger-crane she is demonstrating here -and this is a very old clip - is essentially the same as what's taught in other lineages from Wong fei Hong - ie the Lam's, Lau's, etc.
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What is the sound of one hand clawing? -- chanh buddhist proverb
Last edited by mok; October 11th, 2007 at 10:15 AM.
But yeah, here's a prime example of a top-level female practitionner, from many, many years ago... (the movie is probably from the 50's, BTW and Mok Gwei Lan is no spring chicken in it, either).
Props to hungkyun.com crew for digging this one up...
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What is the sound of one hand clawing? -- chanh buddhist proverb
Last edited by mok; October 17th, 2007 at 11:33 PM.
What I have on Hung Gar 
Wisdom, peace, and strength are not flowers to pick, but mountains to climb. 
