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This website is dedicated to promotion and preservation of the traditional 
Chinese Martial art of Choi Lee Fut kung fu

Masters of
Choi Lee Fut
Chan Heung
Chan Koon Pak
Jeong Yim
Chan Yiu Chi
Tam Sam
Ho Hgau
Chui Cheung
Chan Hon Hung
Tse Wing Bun
Lee Koon Hung

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Choi Lee Fut Articles
1. Choi Lee Fut 
Kung Fu
2. Chan Heung`s 
Ten Rules
3. The White Crane of Choi Lee Fut
4. The Choi Lee Fut Wooden Dummy
5. No Substitute For Skill

Chan Hon hung was born into a peasant family in the Gaoyao County of Canton. He was bestowed with great strength, vitality and a natural talent for martial arts. In his youth, the village recruited a Hung Gar instructor to teach his villagers. Many people including Chan enrolled into the martial arts class. Of all the students, Chan Hon Hung excelled in the art. It was said that Chan could take on six people at a time.
It came a point where Chan had to venture out of his village in search of employment. With the help of his village connections Chan found work as a waiter in a restaurant in Canton. city. With his hard working nature, he was well liked by both the owner and workers. At the same time, Fong Yuk Shu had then set up his kwoon in a nearby street .
After setting up his school in Canton, Fong Yuk Shu recruited many disciples who worked in the food industry. The restaurant in which Chan was working in was only a stone throw away from Fong Yuk Shu's kwoon, and some of his fellow restaurant, workers were Fong's disciples. So in their free time, they would practice their pow, kup, gwa, sow, chap in the restroom. Chan spotted this and saw that the movement s were very powerful yet very practical. Chan then asked them what art they were learning. They informed him that it was Choi, Lee Fut kung fut, it emphasised low stances and powerful swing blows. Even if trained at a less intensive pace, for about a year, it could be used very effectively in fighting. Chan Hon Hung then discussed with them what he had learnt from his village. With the help of his colleagues, Chan was introduced to Fong Yuk Shu.
Fong observed Chan and felt that he could excel in the art, and decided to take Chan Hon Hung on as an indoor disciple.
As time passed Chan Hon Hung spent most of his day’s learning Choi Lee Fut from Fong Yuk Shu and at the same time instructed the junior members of the school. At that time, Fong Yuk Shu was getting old and he encouraged his disciples to set up their own kwoons to help spread Choi Lee Fut.
As the number of kwoons increased, Fong Yuk Shu told Chan Hon Hung that since most his fellow Si-hing and Si-di have opened schools to spread Choi Lee Fut, it would be most appropriate for him to also open a kwoon rather than waste his time as an assistant instructor in his kwoon.
However, Chan Hon Hung was still hesitant, as he wasn't sure if his techniques and skills were good enough. Also, he was concerned about his experience as an instructor. He was also afraid that he would tarnish Fong Yuk Shu's reputation if he ever taught anyone. So he still wished to learn from his master.
Fong in turn told him that he has almost learnt everything from him and that it would not be a problem setting up his own school. He was also confident of Chan Hon Hung's teaching ability.
He also told Chan Hon Hung that the other influential schools at that time were disunited and had a lot of personal disputes whereas Choi Lee Fut is like a big family. If any problem about challenges or troublemakers from other schools arise, help from other Choi Lee Fut schools would be easily available. Lastly, Fong Yuk Shu commended Chan Hon Hung's loyalty to him by intending to stay in his Kwoon to help teach disciples. But stated that such a move would not only be unfair to Chan Hon Hung and he would not benefit from it either. Fong Yuk Shu also asked him to consider his own future. After these words, Chan then agreed to set up his own school to fulfill Fong Yuk Shu's request of him spreading Hung Sing Choi Lee Fut.
With a connection (from a restaurant owner who was his good friend), Chan Hon Hung got an old house on the West of the City, on the Lung Luk middle road in Canton.
He decided that on the day of his kwoon opening, he would have a celebration. The plan was to set up an altar on the street and also a lion eye dotting ceremony. Some influential person would dot the lion's eyes. Next, Chan Hon Hung would perform a lion dance with the newly dotted lion. This would then be followed by Fong Yuk Shu's disciples performing hand, staff, broadsword and spear forms. Fong Yuk Shu would also perform the Bot Kwa Staff form. As there were many Choi Lee Fut practitioners from all the different branches, Chan decided to only invite the Choi Lee Fut schools. He did not want to invite other schools of kung fu as there may be conflict among different schools and fights might break out.
In addition, some schools may be left out, leading to dissatisfaction toward him. The celebrations were carried out as planned. The Choi Lee Fut practitioners did lion dance, offered incense and food to the Gwan Di. All those made possible as the police turned a blind eye, Fong Yuk Shu performed the Bot Kwa Staff form and got a lot of praise from the audience. As the Cho and Tse Families also practised this technique, they became offended.
To make matters worse, on practitioner, Tam Kun Shan, who also had a school on the Lung Luk Middle Road before Chan opened his. The Bot Kwa Staff being the main weapon taught at Tam's kwoon. He learnt it from Cho Tai. Although his club was established earlier than Chan's, but at that time, Choi Lee Fut was a relatively new style and Chan Hon Hung was a good teacher. So many pupils dropped out from Tam's kwoon to learn Choi Lee Fut. Tam Kun Shan obviously wasn't pleased. Furthermore, he was senior in rank as a Sifu to Chan Hon Hung and was offended that he was not invited to Chan's Kwoon opening ceremony. He also felt offended when Fong Yuk Shu performed the Bot Kwa Staff from.
One day, Tam was in the teahouse when he heard some people talking about the Cho Gar martial arts and talked about the Biu Lung Cheong (dragon spear). Tam was very surprised as this was his schools trademark form and had been a secret that only he and his students know. When he looked across the table, he found out that it was Chan Hon Hung discussing the matter with some disciples.
He was showing them how to counter the Bot Kwa staff with the spear. When he observed more closely, he was shocked to find out that those were his former students. " So that is where all my disciples have gone," he thought. That was the last straw, he decided that he must burst Chan Hon Hung's ego. Unable to control himself, he challenged Chan Hon Hung to a match in Chan's Kwoon. Chan Hon Hung at first wanted to resolve the matter without violence and tried to reason with Tam but Tam wasn't in the right frame of mind to do so. Chan had no choice but prepare for the challenge.
Tam Kun came with his two sons. Both sons had learnt quite a bit from Tam senior and were assistant instructors in the school. Following them was also a group of his disciples. Chan Hon Hung predicted that this would happen and told his disciples to prepare themselves for the fight. When Tam reached the Kwoon, he scolded Chan Hon Hung first. Chan then came out of the door with a Ying Cheung (red tasselled spear) to battle the Bot Kwa staff. As he shot out his spear, he struck down both Tams' sons first. Tam Kun Shan then appeared and fought Chan Hon Hung. His two sons then took advantage of the situation to pick up their staffs to fight Chan Hon Hung. At the same time, disciples of both schools engaged in battle. Although Chan Hon Hung was outnumbered, he could see weaknesses and found the opening of the three-man formation. He first took care of Tam's son's firsts. Then it was Tam Kun Shan's turn.
He noticed that Tam's staff was shorter that his spear. So when Tam attacked, Chan Hon Hung turned his spear downward to press that staff down. He then slid the spear down the staff and inflicted a deep cut in Tam's lead arm. At this moment, the police arrived to stop the brawl. They soon gained control of the situation. As some of the police were friends of Chan, they knew that he would definitely be found guilty if he were caught. So they helped him escape. Tam was arrested, as were many disciples from the two schools. Following this incident, both Kwoons were closed down.
Chan Hon Heung was then a wanted man, so he had no choice but to escape to Hong Kong if he ever wanted to teach Choi Lee Fut kung fu again.

Master Chan Hon Hung Defeats the soldiers with Hang Jye Pang
(Desiple Staff)
This story about Grand Master Chan Hon Hung takes place during Chinese civil war between the Chinese Nationalist's and Communist party.

The then leader of the Chinese Nationalist party Dr Sun Yat Sen to City of Canton invited two Warlords, Lau and Yeung. These Warlords were in fact nothing more than bandits. They with their soldiers basically terrorised the city and committed various crimes. A common crime was to eat in restaurant without paying. Even the local police dare not touch them. Canton became a lawless city. The two Warlords also plotted to overthrow Sun Yat Sen so; there was a recruitment drive for soldiers. The rich ended up bribing the officials to release their sons. The poor however, were not so fortunate. All they could do was to see their loved ones being taken away to aid in the rebellion.
One day, in the restaurant where Chan Hon Hung was working, he heard loud noises coming from the eating area. He saw a group of soldiers who did not wish to pay for their meals. Chan then shouted at them, and demanded that they pay up. Upon seeing Chan, the soldiers saw Chan as a perfect soldier and attempted to capture him. They pulled him and grabbed him out of the restaurant. Chan noticed that the soldiers were not carrying any guns and took the opportunity to free him-self. At the same time, he saw a staff lying on the ground. He took hold of the staff and using the techniques of the Hung Jye pang to repel the soldiers that surrounded him. In the end, a few of the soldiers were knocked down and could not get up. Some soldiers in the vicinity saw the fight and rushed to help their comrades. They were also given a beating by Chan.
Chan’s fighting ability impressed the restaurant owner. However, he knew that the soldiers would definitely get reinforcements with guns this time to kill Chan, he then shouted in Cantonese to ask Chan to flee (the soldiers were from an other province and could not understand the Cantonese Dialect). Chan then broke up the circle of soldiers with the Wang Sow Chin Kwan and fled to Fong Yuk Shu's Kwoon.
Fong Yuk Shu was carrying out his routine teaching lessons when Chan came running into his Kwoon. He asked Chan what happened and was told that he got into a fight with the soldiers. Fong Yuk Shu was pleased, as he knew that Chan had achieved a high level of skill in Choi Lee Fut. He sent out one of his disciples to get some information of the situation. He got news from the restaurant owner that about 10 soldiers were injured and that a search was mounted to look for Chan. The soldiers have covered up the situation for their free mealing and reported that the incident was caused by Chan refusing to be enlisted to the army. Due to the cover up, the restaurant owner was spared but was told to report Chan to the authorities if he ever came back to work again. Chan could not work inn the restaurant anymore. He had nowhere to go and had no choice but to ask Fong to take him in as a full time disciple. Fong agreed and appointed Chan as an assistant instructor. Chan just had to wait until the situation had quieted down before deciding on working elsewhere.

Master Chan Hon Hung Defeats Law Ngau 
with Yum Yeung Chap Choi

With the help of Fong Yuk Shu, who had many contacts, arranged For Chan to go to Kowloon in Hong Kong. At the same time, he moved most of Chan Kwoon equipment to Kowloon. Three months later, Chan was taken into Fong Yuk Shu's Kwoon and given a sum of money by sponsors. He then left for Kowloon. Upon arrival, he opened his kwoon and dit dar clinic. Fong Yuk Shu had many friends and contacts working in the restaurants in Kowloon. They naturally sent their worker to learn Choi Lee Fut from Chan Hon Hung. His disciples rose to about 200 to 300 people.
This story has its origins in a small sea village in Hong Kong. A long time ago, a thirteen-year-old boy drowned in the sea near the village. The body was not recovered and the village suffered great poverty since then as their fish yield was badly reduced. Things took a turn when someone dreamt of a construction of a temple in the area to break the curse. Shortly after its construction, the body of the thirteen-year-old was recovered and the villagers enjoyed great prosperity.
There was one time when the village was suffering from a great plague that took many lives. Once again, it was the temple that saved the people. It was said that the villagers carried the statue of the God out of the temple and conducted a procession around the, Village. The plague then disappeared.
The villagers saw the God as a saviour saving then from all disasters. In order to please the Gods, they held a grand celebration on the young boys Birthday. The celebrations would consist of kung fu and lion dance performances. The main celebration event of the occasion would be a kind of competition between different martial arts organisations to snatch a prize held on a high pole by means of a boat race.
One year when Chan Hon Hung's Kwoon was invited to compete in the event. The match victory was to go to who ever was the first to grab a prize followed by securing a good luck Lantern.
The occasion started on the day with lion dance and kung fu performances while waiting for the tide to rise. Chan Hon Hung started with a spectacular performance lasting an hour and a half. They returned to the boat to continue their performances. This angered some clubs as people continued to take notice of Chan's kwoon even though they were already in the boat. This was how high the standard of kung fu that was produced by Chan's Kwoon. One person particularly offended, was a member of the sea village and the defending champion.
What was unknown to Chan was that there was a lot of match fixing involved and it was usually arranged for the local kung fu school, headed by the defending champion a one Law Ngau who also had the backing of the triads and a lot of ruffian villagers to win the match.
The competition started and all the different kwoons rushed to get the prize. The desiples of Both Chan Hon Hung and members of Law's kwoon were the first to reach the pole. Chan got to the prize first. Law Ngau then instructed his men to use foul tactics to snatch back their prize from Chan. Chan Hon Hung was not alarmed.
All he did was first, ignore the prize, then he began to fight his way, down the pole and as he reached the bottom of the pole he started to repel his attackers with the pow, kup gwa, sow, and chap techniques of Choi Lee Fut.
He inflicted heavy casualties on Law's men. Upon seeing the state of what his men were in, Law Ngau charged at Chan Hon Hung and executed the hung gar move of double dragon snatching pearl (a double claw technique). Chan Hon Hung saw it coming and said to Law " I have already got the prize and there is no way you're going to get it back from me". At the same time, he was executing a side step and aiming a punch at Law Ngau that struck him in the solar plexus. Law got up and delivered two missed flying kicks and a move called " black tiger steals heart' (a fu jao tiger claw move) at Chan Hon Hung. To counter the attack all Chan had to do was to retreat a step and using a left cheun sao to block, the tiger claw. He then followed by a got sao and stepped forward to throw two attacking yum yeung chap choi. Law Ngau at that moment was still too engrossed in his fu jao attack that he did not notice the two-chap chui's. Upon impact, he fell to the ground and was not able to continue the fight. Chan Hon Hung then claimed the prize and secured the lantern. He then returned the lantern to the temple.
After defeating Law Ngau, Chan's reputation got even bigger. Sensing that he might invite more challenges if he stayed any longer in the sea village, Chan made his way back to Mongkok in Kowloon.

Chan Heung Gong
The Founder of 
Choi Lee Fut 
 

My Sifu, Edmund Ng

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  My Choi Lee Fut lineage