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Alan Yee all rights reserved

CHOY LEE FUT KUNG FU

Chan Heung, Founder of Choy Lee Fut

(18061875)

Choy Lee Fut () as a distinct kung fu style has a colourful history of more than 170

years since its creation by Chan Heung Gung () , in 1836, in Southern China. As arevolutionary who fought during the Opium Wars and the Taiping Rebellion, Chan Heung

created Choy Lee Fut as an effective fighting style for use by revolutionaries in the battlefield.

The name Choy Lee Fut was chosen by Chan Heung in honour of two of his three mentors,

one a Shaolin master by the name of Lee Yau Shan (), the other, a Shaolin monk

who survived the destruction of the Shaolin Monastery by the name of Choy Fook (

).Chan Heung added the word Fut () meaning Buddha or Buddhist, in reference to

the legacy of the Buddhist teachings of the Shaolin Monastery.

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The history of Choy Lee Fut, particularly in the first one hundred years of its founding,

parallels the chaotic period in Chinas history from the revolutionary anti-Ching Dynasty

movements to the founding of the Republic of China through to the Japanese invasion of

China.

Chan Heung Gungs secondsonChan Koon Bak (), inherited the leadership of the

Choy Lee Fut clan following the death of his elder brother Chan Onn Bak ().

2nd

Generation Great Grand Master Chan Koon Bak

(18571916)

Chan Koon Bak was responsible for setting up a large following in the Jiang Mern City and

Guangzhou City, where he established the Choy Lee Fut Hung Sing Ancestral School (). Some of his famous disciples included Chan Cheung Mo, Ngan Yiu Ting,

Choy Bak Tat, Choy Bak Hung, Fong Yuk Shu, Leung Kwei, Wong Fook Wing and Tam

Ging Fu.

Chan Koon Bak taught his son, Chan Yiu Chi (), who in turn taught his own son

Chan Wan Hon () and adopted son and protg Li Iu Ling () at the Choy

Lee Fut Hung Sing Ancestral School () in Guangzhou ().

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3rd

Generation Great Grand Master Chan Yiu Chi

(18921965)

Chan Yiu Chi s kung fu was characterised by his lightning-fast footwork and his mastery of

the hard and soft. Chan Yiu Chis style was not showy but subtle, deceptively soft but

incredibly powerful, ever changing like a dragon and fast as a cobra.

The Choy Lee Fut lineage of the Li Iu Ling Martial Arts Alumni is that of Great Grand Master

Chan Yiu Chi (), passed on by his most illustrious Golden Disciple(),

Grand Master Li Iu Ling.

Photo of Great Grand Master Chan Yiu Chi with his family, son Grand Master Chan Wan Hon (in black to his left) and

adopted son, Grand Master Li Iu Ling (in white to Chan Wan Hons left).

In accordance with the tradition laid down by my Shigung, Chan Yiu Chi, and in his memory,

we call our lineage Hung Sing (Sages/Heros Victory) Choy Lee Fut ().