CHEUNG HUNG SING
AND THE FUT SAN HUNG SING KWOON

by Sifu Frank McCarthy

Cheung Yim 張鴻勝宗師 (1824-1893) was his original name and he was born in the Sun Wui Dong Ling Village during the Qing Dynasty. His parents were murdered and he was under the care of his uncle Cheong Kwan. Starting at a very young age, Cheung Yim had a passion for learning the martial arts. His first teacher was the Shaolin Monk Lee Yau San-master of the Lee Ga system- and who is said perhaps to have been a disciple of Lee Sik Hoi-one of the 5 ancestors of the Hung Mun secret Society. In one version of the history, the government was after Cheong Yim for as we say “Draft Dodger.” The government was trying to recruit him into the military and he didn’t want to go. And if things weren’t bad enough, his uncle Cheung Kwan had to leave town on business and wouldn’t be able to take his young nephew with him. So, he came up with the idea of paying his old friend in King Mui a visit. His friend was a gung fu master and founder of a new fighting system. Hoping that his old friend could take in the young Cheung Yim, they set out for King Mui’s Chan Village.


CHAN HEUNG 陳享宗師

Upon their arrival in King Mui, the two were met by Chan Heung, the chief gung fu instructor there. Cheung Kwan explained their situation but was faced with the unfortunate fact that those without the Chan Surname were not allowed to reside in their village much less learn their gung fu. But Cheung Kwan pleaded until Chan Heung devised a plan. He was able to take in the young boy, but only in the capacity of a groundskeeper. However, the young Jeong Yim wasn’t allowed to learn the gung fu from their village. An agreement was made and in 1836, Jeong Kwan left his young nephew with Chan Heung. During his daily chores, the young Cheung Yim watched as the students practiced their gung fu. Since he already was accomplished by the age of 12, he was able to pick up Chan Heung’s Choy Lee Fut rather quickly. At the time, Choy Lee Fut was based off of the styles taught by Monk Choy Fook, and Lee Yau San. He was already familiar with the Lee Ga system, which ironically they shared the same sifu. So at night time while everyone was sleeping, Jeong Yim would practice his stolen gung fu until he was caught in the act by Chan Heung.

The Home of Chan Heung
陳享宗師

It’s obvious that Chan Heung saw the great potential in Cheung Yim because for the next 5 years this late night training continued. Everything went smoothly during this time, but the one time Chan Heung went away, his senior disciples decided to point their attention at the outsider Jeong Yim. Believing Cheung Yim didn’t know gung fu at all, the senior disciples ultimately got him to fight them. Unfortunately for them, he whooped them pretty badly. This forced the parents of the senior students to order Chan Heung to kick out the outsider. Reluctantly, Chan Heung asked Cheung Yim to leave, but not before instructing him to go to the Pak Pai Mountain and locate a Shaolin Monk there to complete his training. So, in 1841, he left for the outskirts of Guangxi and found the Monk Ching Cho Wo Serng (Green Grass Monk 青草和尚) at the Pak Pai Mountain. He was accepted as a student and for the next 8 years (1841-1849) he learned the deadly art of Fut Gar Kuen. Monk Ching Cho or Green Grass Monk was a famous monk from the Shaolin Temple. In fact, at some point he was even the Abbott of the temple. After the destruction of the Southern Temple, Monk Ching Cho helped establish the Hung Mun Secret society. Therefore,the Green Grass Monk not only taught Cheung Yim gung fu, but he also instilled the revolutionary spirit within him.

Photo's Above: Pak Pai Mountain

Original Hung Sing given
to Cheung Yim

Once Cheung Yim’s gung fu training was complete, the Green Grass Monk changed his first name of "Yim" (炎) to Hung Sing (洪勝), which translates into Hung Mun Victory. The monk Ching Cho then instructed him to go to Fut San, contact the Hung Mun branch there and offer to help train their revolutionary fighters. For the next two years Cheung Hung Sing intensely trained his students strictly for combat. In 1851, he responded to the launching of the Tai Ping rebellion by organizing all of his Hung Sing Kwoon's throughout southern China and formally established his Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon (Fut San Hung Victory).

TAI PING REBELLION
1851-1864

Cheung Yim's very first school

The Tai Ping Rebellion ended in 1864 and many of the kung fu masters that were involved with this fled to Hong Kong, this included chan heung and Cheung Hung Sing. After doing my research, it is here that i believe they reunited and spent time with each other improving Chan Heung's Choy Lee Fut. In their meetings, Chan Heung treated Cheung Hung Sing as an equal because of their connection to the Hung brotherhood. In another version of the history, Chan Heung was supposed to train with monk ching cho but didn't get the opportunity. This was a great moment to finally learn some of his material. It was then that he shared what he learned from the Green Grass Monk with Chan Heung. Together, they evolved the Choy Lee Fut system to a new level this way. Since they were members of the Hung Mun, they created a set of techniques that would allow students from the various CLF branches to identify each other. One of the hand signals was the Left Handed Tiger Claw, this is representative of a certain individual within the Hung Mun. And in 1867, Cheung Hung Sing went back to Fut San and Chan Heung returned to King Mui. At the end of this period, chan heung and Cheung Hung Sing agreed to separately develop their respective systems. Choy Lee Fut would be further developed by Chan Heung's lineage in King Mui and the same with Cheung Hung Sing's lineage in Fut San. This is how the birth of the original "Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut" kung fu came into being.

Inside Cheung Hung Sing's
1st Hung Sing Kwoon


Sifu Frank McCarthy posing inside Cheung Hung Sing's 1st Hung Sing Kwoon with Sifu Lok Gee Hung watching

A TRIAD POSE FOR
THE GREEN GRASS
MONK

The one major difference between what Chan Heung was teaching and Cheung Hung Sing was teaching is that Chan Heung's system was based on Choy Gar, Lee Gar, and Hung Kuen (The use of FUT GAR within the Chan Heung lineages TODAY as of Nov. 2014 is a modern attempt to blur the lines). Cheung Hung Sing's method is comprised of the Fut Gar Kuen, Lee Gar, Choy Lee Fut styles. The "Fut" in Chan Heung's Choy Lee Fut is NOT based on Fut Gar, it was based on the fact that all of Chan Heung's teachers were buddhist monks of the shaolin temple. Cheung Hung Sing is the person to put the "Fut Gar" or FUT in Choy Lee Fut. Back in Fut San, Cheung Hung Sing was busy rebuilding his school. He changed the old Hung Victory name to Great Victory and his method took on so fast that it eventually eclipsed the other styles in Fut San. He was pretty busy with the fact that he was the founder of a new Choy Lee Fut system, training freedom fighters, defeating all challengers, and running from the law.

THIS IS THE LOCATION OF
CHEUNG HUNG SING'S
DONG LING HUNG SING KWOON IN
HIS HOME VILLAGE IN SANSHUI

CHAN NGAU SING

Fut San Hung Sing Ten rules of Conduct

According to "The first inaugural special issue of the Chen Xiang gong Memorial Association of Choy Lee Fut Ancestors journal the Hong Kong version, of January 11, 1972" Later (1856), Cheung Hung Sing went to Jiangmen (Kong Mun) and asked Chan Heung's permission to open a school there, but, use Chang Heung Great Sage (Hung Sing) name instead of his Hung Victory (Hung Sing) name instead. Cheung Hung Sing left Chen Heung and worked for a Tobacco company at Fushi Street, Jiangmen. On New Year's Eve one year, Cheung Hung Sing crossed the river to Futou Township to collect some debts. It was late at night when he finished his duties. He needed to take a Ferry back but the Ferry boats were closed. Cheung Hung Sing pleaded with Jiang Huan, one of the boatmen, to give him a ride to the other side. Reluctantly, Jiang Huan gave in and took Cheung Hung Sing to his destination. The only problem was, the Ferry boat that took Cheung Hung Sing home was owned by a well known local thug who, was pretty upset when he discovered the boatman gave him a ride without permission.

After Zhao Juan learned the person who his boatman gave the late night ride to was Cheung Hung Sing, Zhao Juan was already well aware Cheung Hung Sing's reputation as a very proud student of Chan Heung. Cheung Hung Sing was also one of Chan Heung's best and most capable students. Zhao Juan used this as an excuse to challenge him to a fight in the ring in Goushan, Jiangmen.

Chan Heung and Cheung Hung Sing recognized Zhao Juan as dominating thug with bad intentions and accepted the challenge. Chan Heung then discussed with Cheung Hung Sing about using the t he felt he should use in the fight. They agreed to using the" Continuous striking Lighting Iron Cutting Palms" but, only when Chan Heung would give the signal. During the Fight Chan Heung sat down in the front row.

Cheung Hung Sing and Zhao Juan fought for a long time and it was appearing to be an even match so far. Then Chan Heung noticed some openings in Zhao Juan's defense and immediately started clapping. Cheung Hung Sing knew that was the signal to use the " Continuous striking Lighting Iron Cutting Palms" and Zhao Juan was unable to defend against Cheung Hung Sing's attack. Move by move, step for step, Cheung Hung Sing successfully applied his palm techniques and finally struck Zhao Juan in the stomach and severely injured him enough to end the fight. The crowd was excited for Zhao Juan's defeat and rush to Cheung Hung Sing to give him praise. Even Zhao Juan's disciples bowed to Cheung Hung Sing and begged to be taken as his new students.

TAM LUP STUDENT
OF CHEUNG HUNG SING

     Cheung Hung Sing had many, many students. But three of his oldest disciples were Lui Chun (guangzhou), Lee Yan, and Yuen Hai (Hong Kong). Other students included Tham Lup, Jeong Sam Bing, Wong Sei, Chun Mien, Lee So, Wong Fook, and Chan Ngau Sing. Senior disciple Lui Chun went on to produce Tam Sam-who became the founder of the Choy Lee Fut Buk Sing lineage. Through Lee Yan’s line the Singapore Hung Sing Kwoon was established, and Yuen Hai produced Lau Bun who became the founder of the first gung fu school on american soil, as well as the first Hung Sing Kwoon established there. Evidence of Jeong Hung Sing’s involvement with the Hung Mun is found in a number of places. The first is found in the pair of couplets ALL Hung Sing Kwoon’s use. The left side reads, “A strong fist releases out like a tiger raising its head” while the right side reads, “A graceful staff flies above like a dragon whipping its tail.” Now, when you string the first two words of each couplet together, it means “Hero” as in revolutionary hero. Another link is found in the set up of Cheung Yim’s alter and the way it was set up.

   Cheung Hung Sing was truly devoted to the Hung Mun 洪門 Secret Society. Found in his school was a poem with a secret Hung Mun goal hidden within it. The Hung Mun goal or mission was to other throw the Qing Empire to restore the Ming Dynasty back to power in one slogan - "Fan Qing Fu Ming - Overthrow the Qing Restore the Ming (反清复日月)". The poem is a follows:

                          “ 大鵬展翅反天手, 魁星踢鬥清名留, 拱拜五湖复四海, 日月拱照萬世留":

the first is:

The Great Eagle spreads its wings like an overturned hand

the second is:

the scholar who excels so much that his name or fame will remain forever

the third reads:

Salutations to the brothers in the 5 lakes and four seas or four corners

the fourth reads:

the sun will shine brilliantly for generations

Alter of Cheung Hung Sing

Cheung Hung Sing continued to develop his Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut and training freedom fighters for the rest of his life. His successor-Chan Ngau Sing-didn’t come into the picture until 1883 when he (Cheung Hung Sing) was about 60 years old. According to material passed down from the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon, Yuen Hai was responsible for recruiting Chan Ngau Sing, whom, at first was extremely skeptical of Jeong Hung Sing. He felt that he was actually better than this old gung fu master. However, the old Jeong Hung Sing matched up with Chan Ngau Sing and advised him to pay attention, because he’s going to fall first the to the east, then to the west, and finally down the center. At the end of three quick rounds, Cheung Hung Sing honored his word, and Chan Ngau Sing landed exactly where Jeong Hung Sing, this old dying relic, predicted he would. Chan Ngau Sing learned the hard way that this old master really was one of southern China’s greatest fighters and requested to be taken as a disciple.

In 1893, Cheung Hung Sing fell ill and Chan Ngau Sing tried to take him to see his own personal doctor. However, Cheung Hung Sing, founder of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon passed away due to this illness. As it’s passed down within the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon, Cheung Hung Sing left behind his wife (Chan Kay) and his two sons who died pretty young themselves. Chan Ngau Sing from that point on became the next inheritor of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon.

FUT SAN HUNG SING KWOON
This location was also used by
Cheung Hung Sing, Chan Ngau Sing,
and Wu Qin.


Prof. Lau Bun 劉彬宗師 Student of Yuen Hai 阮系的學生 Gum San Hung Sing Kwoon America's 1st and oldest Kung Fu school (Est. 1939)

Home of Chan Ngau Sing

Chan Ngau Sing, also known as Chan Gok Choy, and Chan Gei Sing, and his nick name was Chan Mou Sing. He was born in Fut San on Ngar Pong St. in 1864. His ancestors came from a place called San Sui. As a young boy his gung fu career started with Hung Gar under a master named Chow Gum Biu.
Since the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon under Jeong Yim opened, Jeong Yim had to face many challengers which was customary during that time and defeated all his opponents. His reputation quickly spread throughout all of southern China. With this in mind Master Chow Gum Biu suggested to Chan Sing that he should go and complete his training under such a master as Jeong Hung Sing. Chan Ngau Sing dismissed his teachers recommendation because he was personally very proud of his own physical strength and marial arts prowess. Feeling that he was far better than most of the fighters in the area, and thought defeating Jeong Yim who was much older than him-would be easy.

In 1883, Chan Ngau Sing was convinced to pay Jeong Hung Sing a visit. During their initial encounter Chan Ngau Sing challenged Jeong Yim to a match. But Jeong Yim told Chan Ngau Sing that he would defeat him in 3 rounds. And in each round, Jeong Yim dictated where Chan Ngau Sing would fall. First he said that Chan Ngau Sing would fall to the East, and he did. The second round Jeong Yim said to Chan Ngau Sing, "now you will fall to the west" and of course Chan Ngau Sing did. On the third round Jeong Yim told Chan Ngau Sing he would fall down in the middle, and one more time Jeong Yim was correct. It was on the last fall that Chan Ngau Sing recognized the effectiveness of the Hung Sing Kwoon's fighting art, and especially that of Jeong Yim, even at his old age. Jeong Yim recognized the great potential of Chan Ngau Sing who proved to be a worthy disciple that practiced hard day and night to perfect his gung fu. Jeong Yim also instilled within Chan Ngau Sing his revlotionary spirit. Chan Ngau Sing learned the In and out bagua style that Monk Ching Cho taught to Jeong Yim. In this hand form, there were 1080 moves in it, and was the essence of the Green Grass Monk's system. Later on, because it was too long to teach to the newer students, Chan Ngau Sing broke up the In and Out Bagua into 3 separte hand forms used for fighting. They were called Ping Kuen, Cheung Kuen, and Kau Da Kuen. Evil people was one of Chan Ngau Sing's pet peeves. He was an hornorable man who often treatment bad people as his personal enemies. Once, a well known tough bully from the Sing Tong name Ying Sha was one of those people Chan Ngau Sing despised. Ying Sha had more than 100 people under him, and he also enjoyed causing trouble where ever he went, and often took advantage of the villagers whenever he could.

In Fut San at the Zhu Miao Ancestral Temple Ying Sha and his followers always took control over the first three rows in the audience. He and his roughnecks wouldn't allow anyone to sit in those rows without receiving a severe beating or even possibly killed.

On one of these occasions, someone ran to Chan Ngau Sing and informed him that Ying Sha and his group were at the Ancestral Temple causing trouble. Chan Ngau Sing was incensed, grabbed a pair of CLF hammers and rushed over to the temple and caught Ying Sha in the act. Single handedly, Chan Ngau Sing killed Ying Sha and his followers, then made a public announcement to the audience that the first three rows were now based on a First Come First Serve basis, making him sort of a local hero.

By 1893 Chan Ngau Sing was running his own Hung Sing Kwoon in Fut San near his home, and Cheung Hung Sing would come to teach there on a regular basis. That same year (1893) Jeong Hung Sing fell ill and eventually passed away leaving Chan Ngau Sing the next head master of the Fut San Hung Sing Mo Kwoon. Towards the end of the Ching Dynasty, Chan Ngau Sing would teach his students that "the strong should never bully the weak, and small groups should never bully individuals. He was a very strict teacher who installed a set of rules, and placed a strong emphasis on perfecting the basics. Chan Ngau Sing also made it a point to pesonally teach every single student for more than 30 years straight.

Aside from gung fu, Chan Ngau Sing also had his own metals business, but that wasn't doing too well. And if that wasn't enough, once again the Chinese Government tried to arrest the members and close down the Hung Sing Kwoon. Yet this time in 1900, Chan Ngau Sing fled to Hong Kong and stayed with his Si-Hing Yuen Hai (Lau Bun's teacher). During his stay there, Chan Ngau Sing managed to beat up a British Police officer in Hong Kong and had to flee back into Fut San to avoid being arrested.


Alleged Pic with Chan Sing on the right

While back in Fut San Chan Ngau Sing began setting up some very strict rules. Personally he was against public Lion Dances because he felt it would bring too much attention to their school. So the Lui Chung and Hip Lien Lion Dance Societies were set up where he was the head master. However, all of the members of these two Lion Dance groups were secretly Hung Sing members which numbered over 10,000 students.

In Fut San, Chan Ngau Sing's name carried much weight. His name was so famous that anyone wishing to open a school in the area regardless of who they belonged to always paid him a visit to ask his permission first. Over time, Chan Ngau Sing changed his mind about teaching revolutionary groups. Many of his students were members of the Communist Workers and Farmers Unions. Most of his students wre forced to open Hung Sing Kwoons overseas to avoid being arrested as well. At the time, the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon was constantly in the local news.

STUDENTS OF CHAN NGAU SING:
TOP ROW L TO R - WU QIN, TONG SEK, LI SO, LI GUANGHAI, FANG ?.
BOTTOM ROW L TO R: LIANG GUIHUA, HU YUEN CHOU,CHUI CHEUNG, AND CHEN YI LIN.

Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon

     Chan Ngau Sing's strict governance of the Hung Sing Kwoon,set the bar high in the martial arts circle of Fut San. He developed new rules, new routines,etc. for the new students of the Hung Sing Kwoon. For example, all new students would have to come by recommendation only from someone who was already a student. Once the new student was interviewed and believed to have good morals, not a bully, not a gangster, the student would be accepted into the Hung Sing Kwoon. In times of peace, Chan Ngau Sing emphasized to his students that the strong will not bully the weak, and they would not cause trouble in public and bring negative attention upon the school. If an apprentice makes trouble for no reason and fights with others, he will be called to the hall to warn and punish him. This way, Chan Ngau Sing could weed through the bad seeds and maintain the high integrity of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon.

   The boxing skills of Hung Sing Kwoon are divided into outer boxing and inner boxing. The average apprentice only learns some foreign boxing. Only martial arts has a certain accomplishment, and a decent person can learn the internal boxing. Neijiaquan is the essence of Hung Sing Kwoon Boxing, which is often taught secretly behind closed doors. Chan Ngau Sing has more than 3,000 apprentices, but only a hundred people can learn the inner boxing.

     The main reason Chan Ngau Sing was being so selective in who got to learn what is that some people with bad behaviors learn the inner boxing and use it for bad intentions. In order to prevent disciples from stubbornly fighting, in addition to strict law enforcement, Chan Ngau Sing also paid attention to lead by example. When Chan Ngau Sing saw that lion dance was easy to get into trouble, he stipulated that Hung Sing Kwoon was not allowed to set up Lion Dance groups.

     In his later years, Chan Ngau Sing was shot and injured his leg by a boxer in a martial arts hall. A group of Chan Ngau Sing apprentices wanted the boxer to be arrested and punished for shooting Chan Ngau Sing, who then pointed at the boxer running away in the opposite direction then fled the scene himself saying nothing more. He didn't want to cause a scene over of his injury. Although the Hung Sing Kwoon has always emphasized not to to get into fights, but things happen. Especially to those foreign trouble makers who are extremely vicious and powerful. In Yingsha, a bully with more than a hundred members in his gang usually oppressed the local people. Chan Sing was young and vigorous at the time. There was a stage with many rows of seats for the audience at the Wan Fu Tai Temple. The bully and his gang took control of the first three rows and made a rule that anyone not of his gang was caught sitting there will get beat up terribly. One day Chan Ngau Sing stood in front of the stage as the Play was going on when he was suddenly surrouned by dozens of the gang members holding benches they would use to strike him. Single handedly, Chan Ngau Sing defeated all of the gangsters and loudly announced that from that point forward, the seating was first come first served, the old gang rule was dead. The local people were so happy they cheered for him.

Dr Sun Yat Sen

Some of Chan Ngau Sing's famous students were Qian Wei Fang, Wu Qin, Liang Hui Hua, Tong Sek, and more who were all involved in the revolution. Wu Qin became a revolutionary martyr, and bodyguard to Dr. Sun Yat Sen. On October 13,1926 in the midst of all his poverty, Chan Ngau Sing passed away after falling ill and was buried in the Mong Ching Gong cemetary. There were more than 5000 people who attended his funeral. Today, his legacy is being carried on by his true bloodline. His Grand son and Great Grand Daughter (Cho Chi Han) who was born on December 29, 1985 and still resides in Fut San till this day, practicing the gung her great grand father passed down. Cho Chi Han was been entering and winning local competitions with her gung fu. Hopefully sometime in the future she would be able to step up and take over where he grand father, the legendary Chan Ngau Sing left off.


1911 Xinhai Revolution Whampoa Military Academy One of the locations used as a Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon

Liang Guihua
Student of Chan Ngau Sing

After the Revolution of 1911 aka the Xinhai revolution which resulted in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty, key members of the Hung Sing Kwoon continued to pursue revolutionary activities. Qian Wei Fang and Li Su both joined Dr Sun Yat Sens Tong Men Hui. Together they also led a civilian army to drive the Qing troops out of Fut San. In the early years of the 1911, Hung Sing Kwoon disciple Li Su organized a civil army whose members were the backbone of the Hung Sing Kwoon. In September, they split their troops and annihilated the Qing army stationed in Foshan and restored Foshan.

In the spring of 1921, the city of Fut San established a hair dressing union and a civil construction union. The presidents of these unions were Liang Guihua and Qian Weifang, senior disciples of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon. In 1922, Liang Guihua and Qian Weifang both joined the Communist Party of China and formed the Fut San Group of the Communist Party of China with Wang Hanem and Liang Reign to lead the Fut San Workers' Movement. In 1924, Hung Sing Kwoon disciples Wu Qin and Chan Xiong Zhi also joined the Communist party.

In the 1922, the Fut San Federation of Trade Unions was established and Qian Weifang was elected as its director. In the fight against reactionary and yellow unions (A company or "yellow" union is a worker organization which is dominated or influenced by an employer, and is therefore not an independent trade union), the FTU has grown rapidly. In the spring of 1925, the name of the Fut San Federation of Trade Unions changed to the Workers Congress, and Qian Weifang was appointed as the Executive Committee (Board Member).


Wu Qin/Ng Kam 1895-1942

In May 1924, Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon disciple Wu Qin formed members of the Nampo Family Regiment with members of the Nampo Hung Sing Society as its backbone. It was China's first people's self-defense force and was named by Liao Zhongkai. On the day of the formation of the Agricultural Corps, Liao Zhongkai personally attended the meeting to chair. In May 1925, the Fourth District Farmers' Association of Nanhai County was established in Taishang Temple (current location of today's Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon), and Wu Qin served as the chairman. On the day the peasant association was established, Liao Zhongkai came to guide again, showing that the Fut San peasant movement was highly valued by the National Revolutionary Government.

After Chen Sheng's death on October 13,1926, Qian Weifang, his first disciple, succeeded the curator. At that time, Qian Weifang was a member of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Foshan Workers 'Congress (referred to as the Workers' Congress). Hongsheng Pavilion also has a group of backbones who have led the workers' congress, especially the union picket team. Its members also joined the workers' congress in 1927. Chiang Kai-shek launched a coup. The workers' congress was suppressed by reactionary authorities. Qian Weifang, Wu Qin was forced to flee, but a large number of members were killed. Since then, the Hongsheng Museum was forced to stop its activities and resumed in the name of the Hongsheng Sports Association in 1937, but there was no previous momentum. The Kuomintang and Communist Party cooperated in the anti-Japanese war. Qian Weifang and Wu Qin returned to Foshan from Hong Kong, and served as the honorary chairman of the Hongsheng Pavilion Sports Association and chaired the library affairs. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, another group of members gave their lives to the country.

Early KMT

In January 1926, the Second KMT Congress was held in Guangzhou. In view of the KMT's rightist conspiracy to assassinate the CCP leaders and KMT left leaders during the meeting, the CPC Guangdong Committee appointed Qian Weifang, Liang Guihua, and Zhou Xiasheng to organize special protection groups. Most of the members were masters of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon. As a result, no one was assassinated that day.

On April 12, 1927, Chiang Kai-shek launched a coup d'état. On April 15, the Fut San Workers' Congress, the Nanhai Four District Agricultural Association, and the Hung Sing Kwoon were seized at the same time. A large number of revolutionary volunteers in Fut San, including a considerable number of members of the Hung Sing Kwoon, were killed. Since then, Qian Weifang, Liang Guihua, Wu Qin and others persisted in the underground struggle and participated in the Guangzhou Uprising. During the Guangzhou Uprising, Liang Guihua served as the Deputy Commander of the Workers Red Guards, was arrested in the battle, and finally heroically died.

1933 Big Sword brigade

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the ancestors of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon taught the "Big Sword Method - Dai Doh" to the Big Knife Team of the 19th Route Army of Shanghai. The January 28 Incident broke out in 1932. The 19th Route Army appeared with a large sword and a spear. Their superb martial arts and fierce attack caused great damage to the Japanese army. Another incident was after the Lugou Bridge Incident in 1937, the third disciple of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon Chen Yilin, the National Art Department of the Hung Sing Sports Association and then the director of was invited by the Shanghai Wushu Federation (also called the National Wushu Federation at the time) to go to Shanghai to perform the sword demonstrations. After being praised, this set of knives was later selected as the anti-Japanese big knives and popularized in the army.

KMT Dai Doh Gorilla's

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Wu Qin returned to the country to participate in the Anti-Japanese War at the end of 1937, and secretly contacted the Southern Committee of the Communist Party of China (but his party membership was not restored). Wu Qin launched an anti-Japanese rescue campaign in the southern suburbs of Guangzhou and organized a peasant self-defense force. The next day after the fall of Guangzhou in October 1938, he led 19 hot-blooded youths to escape from the urban area of Guangzhou. He organized a 50 or 60 anti-Japanese volunteer team in Chongwen 24 Township on the outskirts of the city. A nearby river attacked Japanese transport ships and seized a batch of food and guns and ammunition. Then at the Xiaotang station between Guangzhou and Sanshui, the enemy was ambushed, the railway was smashed, and the Japanese army's westward plan was delayed. In order for this team to obtain legal status and receive weapons and support, Wu Qin obtained the consent of Zeng Yangfu, the mayor of Guangzhou and the eight genus of the Xijiang Eight guerrillas who retreated to Guangning, and changed the Anti-Japanese Volunteer Team to the Guangzhou Urban Guerrilla Second Division , Referred to as the Guangyou Second Division. Wu Qin was appointed commander.


1900 Shanghai: it's higly likely that Chan Ngau Sing is on the left

In 1937, Qian Wei fang and Wu Qin, who had fled to Hong Kong, returned to Fut San to preside over the newly restored Hung Sing Sports Association. They set up a coaching class for killing enemies in the museum and taught martial arts to schools in the city. During the fierce battle between the 19th Route Army and the Japanese invaders in Shanghai, Chen Yilin, then the director of the National Art Department of the Hongsheng Pavilion, was also invited by the Chinese National Art Association to demonstrate Shanghai's sword-killing technique and was selected to be promoted nationwide.

In 1937, the Lugouqiao Incident, the Japanese invaders launched a large-scale war of aggression against China, and the Chinese people were trapped in the deep waters, which not only had a serious negative impact on the spread and development of Cai Lifo Boxing, restricted the development of Cai Lifo Boxing, and also It disrupts the normal order of our society and plunges our people into a scuffle. It is an unforgettable pain in the history of the Chinese nation. The Anti-Japanese War has been going on for 14 years, and the Chinese people have ushered in the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.

Video on the Loguo Bridge Incident

1937 JAPANESE ASSAULT ON SHANGHAI

WORLD WAR II CHIANG KAI SHEK

     Later on in 1937, Qian Weifang and Wu Qin returned to Foshan from Hong Kong, presided over the Hongsheng Sports Association's affairs, and led members into the torrent of the War of Resistance. They first set up a coaching class for killing enemies in the Hongsheng Pavilion, and sent some people to teach martial arts in some schools. Second, they organized a protective group, and a group of famous doctors in the Hongsheng Pavilion taught emergency treatment methods. In the meantime, Qian Weifang also held a technical training course, organized a group of members of the Hongsheng Pavilion to set up the Shanzi Village People's Self-Defense Force, and was banned by the Kuomintang authorities. Qian Weifang was forced to flee to Hong Kong. Although Qian Weifang left, Hong Sheng Pavilion, under the leadership of Wu Qin, continued to step up the formation of anti-Japanese armed forces. In October 1938, on the eve of the fall of Foshan, Wu Qin notified the end of the Hongsheng Sports Club building, and informed more than 200 members of the Hongsheng Museum to Shiji to form an anti-Japanese guerrilla. This team won the second guerrilla detachment in Guangzhou, with Wu Qin as commander. Later, the Guanger guerrillas developed into several people, became the people's anti-Japanese armed forces under the direct leadership of the Communist Party of China, and repeatedly destroyed the Japanese and Puppet Army in Nanfanshun area.

   Guangyou Second Division was formally established

     Wu Qin contacted the Guangzhou Municipal Government in November 1938 in order to obtain the legal status of the Anti-Japanese Volunteer Team and obtain weapon support. At that time, the mayor of Guangzhou, Zeng Yangfu, formed the Guangzhou Guerrilla Command in Guangning, and formed 7 Guangzhou urban guerrilla detachments. Among them, the anti-Japanese volunteer team led by Wu Qin was reorganized into the Guangzhou Urban Guerrilla Second Division (referred to as & Guang You 2 Detachment) and appointed Wu Qin as commander.

     However, the good times did not last long. When the team led by Wu Qin grew to more than 10 brigade groups and several thousand people, Zeng Yangfu tried to control this team and appointed anti-communist and bandit leader Shi Wenjian as the deputy commander of the second detachment of Guangyou. Finally, in December 1938, a Japanese army surrounded Shunde Chen Village from both land and water. Wu Qin organized some teams to resist stubbornly. Due to the disparity between the enemy and us, the troops withdrew from Chen Village and moved to the south of Panyu County.

    After January 1939, at the request of Wu Qin, the Guangdong Party Organization of the Communist Party of China dispatched a group of cadres such as Liu Xiangdong and Yan Shangmin to the Guangyou Second Detachment for specific leadership. In June 1940, the CPC Nanxun Central County Party Committee decided that a squadron of the Shunde guerrillas led by Lin Yunyun was incorporated into the Second Guangyou Division. Because of the leadership and support of the Communist Party of China, the political quality and combat effectiveness of the second detachment of Guangyou have been greatly improved. They are active in Panyu, Zhongshan, Shunde, Nanhai and the suburbs of Guangzhou, frequently hitting Japanese and puppet forces. Later, this revolutionary team grew to more than 500 people, and in January 1945 was incorporated into the sequence of the second column of the Pearl River Column. At the same time, in May 1939, Wu Qin, together with He Fuhai, a celebrity in Dashi Township, Taonan (later joined the Communist Party of China), formed a semi-armed mass group of the anti-Japanese national united front—Comrade Anti-Japanese Junjie (referred to as "Junjie", with Wu Qin as its president. "Junjie Club" was established within a few months, and it has developed from Taonan to Nanhai, Shunde, and the southern suburbs of Guangzhou. It has more than 50 branches and 3,000 members. Among them, there are three or four hundred peasant cadres, working closely with the second detachment of Guangyou to strike the enemy everywhere.

In May 1942, Wu Qin was killed by Lin Xiaoya, the National Army, but was later made a martyr and cemetery was created for other martyrs in his honor. The Foshan Hongsheng Museum was closed in 1950, and it was not reopened until 1998.


2001 Grand Elder Ho Cheung 何祥 at Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon 150th Anniversay celebration

THE YUEN HAI LINEAGE OF FUT SAN HUNG SING KUEN AKA HUNG SING FUT GA

In the United States during this time, a disciple of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon's Master Yuen Hai by the name of Lau Bun (1891-1967) was the first person to establish a Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut school outside of China. While teaching underground for many many years prior to the Hung Sing Kwoon's official opening, the official establishing of the school took place in the year 1939 in San Francisco's Chinatown. His school later became known as America's first and oldest existing kung fu school on American Soil.

Try asking any of the elder martial artists such as Ralph Castro, Wally Jay, or even Y.C. Wong, about the Hung Sing Kwoon in America and instantly Professor Lau Bun's name would come to mind. Because long before any of the “Old School Masters” ever set foot in the United states he had already been well established, tightly locked away within the confines of San Francisco's Chinatown for some time. Professor Lau Bun's memory alone breeds thoughts of what a true master really was, or even should be. A teacher. A fighter. A healer. Not only that, but he was a man with many loves and passions. In one sense you can say as a man, Professor Lau Bun exemplified the very meaning of Yin and Yang. On the hard side of the coin he was a seasoned fighter who grew up during revolutionary turmoil of the Ching Dynasty back in his homeland of Toi San, China. He Survived the extremely bloody “Tong Wars” in America between the 1920's to the 1940's, while living in a country that didn't really welcome him.


Professor Lau Bun 劉彬

On the soft side of the coin, he was a man with many talents from music and Art, to Chinese Philosophy and medicine. However, it has always been the darker side to his life that many Americans like focus on. Still, the Chinese are a very closed society, very rarely allowing outsiders into their world. Therefore, giving up information about someone such as Professor Lau Bun, was something many people that knew him weren't and still aren't willing to do so easily, unitl now.

For the first time, a detailed history has been put together of the man, the gung fu pioneer, the Master and the legacy he left behind.Professor Lau Bun is a highly ranked 2nd generation master of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon (the biggest gung fu organization at that time in Southern China), and the founder of the 1st American Branch of Fut San's Hung Sing Kwoon. Meanwhile, he is also the first gung fu pioneer to establish a gung fu school on American soil. Professor Lau Bun was a native son to Toi San, China. He was born in 1891 and grew up during the tail end of the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911). Starting at a very young age he took up learning the Hung Ga style of gung fu as was very skilled with it. According to Professor Jew Leong (one of Lau Bun's eldest surviving students) “he didn't start learning Choy Lee Fut until he lost a friendly test of skills with one of his friends.


Top Left & Right: Professor Lau Bun and his students Lower Left: Professor Jew Leong Right: Prof. Jew and students and grand students

As Professor Jew Leong recounts the story: “On his way to meet his friends for lunch one day, Professor Lau encountered two men carrying poles walking along the same path he was using. Words were exchanged between them and a fight ensued, with Professor Lau being the champion. He then continued on to meet with his friends where he excitedly explained what had happened to him. One of his friends who happened to study Choy Lee Fut politely asked for a light weight match of skills after hearing this story. Lau Bun readily accepted the friendly challenge and as quickly as the match started it was over, with Lau Bun on the losing end.

Professor Lau Bun performing Butterfly Knives

Impressed with his friends abilities, Lau Bun inquired to whom his teacher was. The friend admitted his sifu was Master Yuen Hai of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon, but was now retired from teaching. Still, Lau Bun was determined to locate this old master and convince him to change his mind. Somewhere in Canton Lau Bun finally found Master Yuen, who initially turned down Lau Buns request to be taken in as a student. Lau Bun wasn't going to take no for an answer, and offered to take Master Yuen and his wife into his own home and pay for their room and board if he would agree to teach him Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut. After discussing it over with his wife, Master Yuen Hai agreed to move into Lau Buns home where he taught Lau Bun the true essence, art, and spirit of Jeong Hung Sing's gung fu until his death. Lau Bun would then become Master Yuen Hai's final student."

Under Master Yuen Hai, Lau Bun learned bonesetting skills, and Chinese Herbal medicines in which later on he became well known for his Dit Da Jow medicine. Not only that, after Master Yuen passed away, Lau Bun continued to care of Master Yuen's wife. In turn for his generosity, she honored him by teaching him a rare Shaolin 5 animals Internal form. He was the only person she had ever chose to teach in her life. Some time after this, Lau Bun chose to leave his homeland and head for "Gum San-Golden Mountain" in search of a better life (however there are a few rumors to why he left china when he did.)

At the time of Lau Bun's arrival to California, he entered the United States (via Mexico)illegally under the Paper Name of Wong, On Low during the very early 1920's. Naturally, he settled down in the Los Angeles Chinatown community, where he opened a small gung fu school called "Wah Keung(meaning Strong Chinese). In those days it was extremely possible that there were other gung fu masters in America due the to Railroad business, but Lau Bun was the only one known to open a gung fu school and teach Chinese Martial Arts here. Everything was running smoothly for Lau Bun until a gambling establishment was raided by the police. Not wanting to get arrested, and possibly deported back to China, Lau Bun chose to jump out of a second story window.

One of the first Associations that was set up to aid newly arriving Chinese to America, learned of Lau Bun, and made him a member of their Association. At the same time, he was hired as their Chief Gung Fu instructor. This was sometime in the early 1920's. But in 1931 they approached Lau Bun and offered to get him out of L.A. and send him to San Francisco. Then hired as well as a Body Guard, Bouncer. Some of the things he was hired to do was protect Association owned gambling houses and Opium Dens, as well as a few other duties.

Since Lau Bun was the only one teaching gung fu in the bay area as well, most of the association members took their own children to learn gung fu from him. As the numbers of students and requests to take more students grew, Lau Bun eventually and officially re-opened his Wah Kue Kwoon in San Francisco's Chinatown in 1939 (exactly 100 years after the founding of the original Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon). Later, in order to reflect their true lineage, Lau Bun changed his schools name to the Hung Sing Kwoon.

When Lau Bun officially opened the doors of his school to the general Chinese community, he set down some very strict rules. First one was "don't expose your gung fu." He was dead set against any of his students showing off their skills. If anyone asked about gung fu they were to act clueless, and not answer. Lau Bun looked at gung fu as possessing a gun, you don't pull it out unless you planned to kill with it.

Another of his most strictist of rules was "never teach outsiders." With a lot based on his own personal experience with the Americans ill treatment of Chinese, while in his mind "why should I teach the enemy our national treasure, and only form of self protection the Chinese had?" He often instructed his students if an outsider walks into the school stop what you are doing and sit down don't say anything.

However, Lau Bun was a true master and Old Style Teacher. He trained his students in the exact same way his Sifu Master Yuen Hai taught him. For the first 6 months, you could spend doing the Jot Ma (Horse Stance Training). Unlike most schools today, just learning one hand form could take over 1 year to complete.

Also, during class Lau Bun was known to sneak up behind you while you were practicing. He would be testing the power of your strikes and if they were not powerful enough, he was going to give you an earful on why it's important to have devastating strikes. He would also check if you were using a strong horse. Either way, if you weren't, he's send you crashing to the floor because he wanted to you to understand why basic training was so important. During the 1950's and 60's Lau Bun's name was quickly circulatng amongst the American martial arts community outside of Chinatown. But due to the legal issue of his residency in the United States, those who wanted to put a spot light on him were forced to keep their mouths shut about him. However, they would often return to pay their respects to him.

Wee Gee, a Los Angeles student of Prof. Lau Bun

Professor Jew Leong 周亮

In hindsight, Lau Bun was well known for more than one reason. A true gung fu master, a known Tong member, a gung fu pioneer and America's first gung fu teacher, still, this is only one aspect of who he truly was. The strong and tough side of him are almost always the main topics of conversations. Yet, there are sides to him rarely ever discussed outside of his original students.

Aside from being a great gung fu master, Lau Bun was a man with many talents , loves, and passions. Not only was he intelligent, an incredible teacher and skilled fighter, he was also a very cultured individual as well. Some of his talents lay with his love of music and art, while his passions were medicine and philosophy. At the same time he was a very talented Bone Setter as well.


Professor Lau Bun demontraiting his strong low horse stance to uppercut a local bad guy.

Lau Bun had a strong love for music and art. He was an accomplished Butterfly Harp Player, and loved to perform for the children of his students who were busy practicing their gung fu. While he played, he took this opportunity to share his philiosophy with the children since he had all of their attention. Chinese calligraphy was another of Lau Buns many talents. He was well known for his calligraphy, and specialized in Dai Gee, the writing of extremely large letters which usually took the skill of a gung fu master to do. At the Hung SIng Kwoon's current Head Quarters are a pair of couplets that were written in Lau Bun's own hand writing.

In September of 1967, the Hung Sing disciples, the Chinese and martial arts communities were left with a huge void at the passing of Professor Lau Bun, the founder of the American Hung Sing Kwoon. He passed away from a massive heart attack at the age of 76 years old. Up until his death, Professor Lau was also existiing with a Hernia that caused him a lot of pain. He left behind no wife or children that we know about, but he did manage to leave behind one incredible legacy. Since the Hop Sing Tong was heavily embedded with Professor Lau Buns Hung Sing Kwoon history, they felt it was only right that one of their own should fill the position and backed Jew Leong, who, was one of Lau Buns more senior and most capable desciples. Without missing a beat, Professor Jew Leong stepped up as the first successor of the American Hung Sing Kwoon and assumed the responsibility of keeping the school and Lau Buns memory alive.

Sifu Frank McCarthy paying
respect to Professor Lau Bun

GM Jew Leong

Professor Jew Leong (Jimmy Ming Jew) or Leong Goh (brother Leong) as he is called by his close friends was born on October 02, 1926, and is a native of Southern China’s Say Yup village in Canton. In the late 1930's Professor Jew’s family left their home and headed for the United States in search of a better life, and decided to move to San Francisco. As did many of the Chinese new to the bay area, they settled down in the city’s Chinatown district.

In 1941 there were only about two gung fu teachers in the whole San Francisco area, they were Lau Bun a Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut master, and T.Y. Wong- a Shaolin Fut Ga master. Professor Jew was just a young boy then and really wanted to learn gung fu. A friend of his mentioned that he could possibly set up a meeting with Lau Bun since he was accepting new students.

At the time Lau Bun, was calling his school "Wah Kueng" meaning "Strong Chinese" which was located at 916 Clay Street. Professor Jew couldn’t wait, and after meeting Lau Bun, at the age of 14 he expressed his wishes to become a student and Lau Bun accepted him into his school which later changed its name to Hung Sing Kwoon to reflect their lineage to the birthplace in Fut San.

Student of Professor Lau Bun

Lau Bun was recognized as one of the most authentic gung fu masters ever to set foot on American soil. A true master from the old school, and an old fashioned teacher. According to Professor Jew training under Lau Bun was tough because he demanded a lot from his students. Just the first 6 months could be spent doing the Jot Ma, or Horse Stance training before learning any hands.

Prof, Jew and Sifu Frank McCarthy

It was obvious that Professor Jew was dedicated to mastering the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system. According to Professor Jew's brother, "he was determined to train hard, and when he wasn’t at the gung sah, he would often practice at home ". However, due to World War II Professor Jew had to cut his gung fu training short to serve in the Army/Aircore.

Once the war was over, he returned to the Hung Sing Kwoon and resumed his training under Professor Lau Bun. Professor Lau taught Jew Leong to pay strict attention to every detail of the techniques he was taught. According to Grand Master Dino Salvatera, his very clear and pricise execution of the forms earned him the nickname of "The Master Technician" by his students.

SF Hung Sing Kwoon circa 1956

Between 1939-1967 public gung fu performances were a rare treat for most non-Chinese folks. Lau Bun’s Hung Sing Kwoon was the first to ever demonstrate Chinese gung fu to the general public. Professor Jew quickly rose in the ranks amongst the senior studenst while gaining much recognition for his awesome street performances. Due to his great physical shape and massive arms, his hand and weapon forms such as Sup Ji Kau Da, Tiger Fork, Steel Whip, Staff and the Kwan Do to name a few was an incredible sight to behold. One of his trademark sets to perform was the Shaolin internal 5 animal form called Um Ying Kuen.

Professor Lau Bun and his student pose for the camera

Share Lew on the left, Professor Lau Bun on the right


Professor's Lau Bun and Wong Ark Yuey's Schools rep the Hop Sing Tong in L.A.

Professor Jew followed in Lau Buns footsteps and also joined the Hop Sing Tong, . and eventually became a one time President of their association as well as a youth group called Sing Keung. He also took on a night job working as a bartender at the "Buddha Bar" which is still located in San Francisco’s Chinatown today. He also began teaching gung fu to members of the Gee Tuck Sam Tuck Family Association on Waverly Street. Meanwhile, outside of the Hung Sing Kwoon, Professor Jew was keeping himself busy. He learned and began practicing making Dit Da Jow from Lau Bun as well as other herbal medicines and often supplied these medicines to the Chinese community free of charge for those who couldn’t afford it.

Professor Jew and the Hung Sing Kwoon were hit with terrible news on September 06, 1967. The students of the Hung Sing Kwoon were informed that their sifu Lau Bun had passed away and this greatly affected Professor Jew because he often took care of Lau Bun, and truly honored the very close relationship they had together.

BACK IN CHINA......

Hung Sing Kwoon disciple Wu Qin accepted the leadership of the Communist Party of China and frequently attacked the Japanese and pseudo-puppet forces and gained popularity, and was therefore hated by the Kuomintang die-hards and Japanese pseudo-puppets. On May 7, 1942, Wu Qin and his wife, Huo Shuying, were assassinated by the Kuomintang die-hard ambush when they transitioned through the Chencun Shuizhihua Ferry. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Communist Party of China and the People's Government built a cemetery in the former residence of the martyrs, and carved a monument to commemorate his heroic deeds in memory of his patriotism.

Hu Yuen Chou

Boxer defeat by Hu Yuen Chou

In 1945, Alingo/Alengo was a large Russian boxer Visiting Fut San. Being that Fut San was the mecca for Kung Fu at the time, Alingo's opinion of them wasn't very good. He felt the Chinese were very weak people and then issued an open challenge to anyone in Fut San to a boxing match. It was then that Fut San's reputation and the heart of the Chinese people was at stake, many wanted and tried to defeat the boxer but failed. Finally, a student of both Chan Ngau Sing of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon and Chan Yau Chi, the grandson of Choy Lee Fut founder Chan Heung by the name of Hu Yuen Chou stepped forward and accepted the challenge. Hu Yuen Chou happened to defeat Alingo in the second round, regaining face for the martial arts community of Fut San, and the Chinese people.

Newspaper article about Hu Yuen Chou's fight against the boxer

     During the Guangxu period (1871-1908), a Western Hercules set up a ring at the Tai Ping Theater in the Western District of Hong Kong and offered a bucket of Silver to anyone that can defeat him. He was alleged to possess 500 lbs punching power. The ring was up for more than a month and this Western Boxer and his men defeated dozens of Kung Fu fighters. Then a student of the Hung Sing Kwoon by the name of Lau Chung took up the offer but wasn't planning on just defeated him. Lau Chung studied the big boxers fighting style looking for weaknesses and discovered a way to counter the boxer. He wanted to kill the strong man for insulting his fellow countrymen. Lau Chung fought with all his heart defeating the western powerhouse, but sadly the boxer died in the fight from his injuries.

     Tong Sek (?-1959) was a trusted student of Chan Ngau Sing. He was born Say Kui in Pu Yu and loved practicing martial arts since he was a youth. He was a one of Chan Sing's main students and taught the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system in various locations around the city of Fut San. During the revolution, he participated in the Labor Movement Uprising and was at one time a squad leader. In 1937 he became the superintendent of the Hung Sing Sports Club and along with other Hung Sing members, they went to teach kung fu in different elementary and High Schools. There he would demonstrate and teach the Dai Do form. In 1948 he became a head master and moved to Hong Kong where he continued to teach Hung Sing Kuen until his death in 1959.

Tam Sam 谭三

Tam Sam, founder of the Buk Sing Kwoon and student of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon's Lui Chun, was born in 1873 in a Hoi Ping Suburb, and grew up in the Toi Ting Village of Canton, China. His parents gave him his first name because he was the 3rd son born to them. By nature he was a lover of a good fight, strong willed and very intelligent. He started out learning Gung fu under a famous Hung Gar Master named Chow Gum Biu.

A friend of Tam Sam fs practiced gung fu at a Hung Sing Kwoon under Master Lui Chun. Eventually Tam Sam gave in to his curiosity- because he passed the school everyday-and went in intending to see if their gung fu was worth its weight in salt. He had heard good things about Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut and wanted to know first hand. Arrogantly he walked into Master Lui Chun fs school and asked if anyone wanted to spar a few rounds with him. Wong Sum who was a senior student stepped forward and accepted the challenge while Master Lui sat back and observed the match.

During the match Wong Sum struck Tam Sam with a powerful Sow Choy. Tam Sam managed to hit Wong Sum in the ribs. Then Wong Sum used his Hung Sing Jo Ma Kwa Sow technique which instantly ended the fight because Tam Sam was unable to continue the match. Tam Sam was very disappointed by his own performance and was desparate to save face. Thinking that since Master Lui Chun was advanced in age Tam Sam felt the he would have a better chance at defeating him. His friend urgently tried to pursuade Tam Sam to change his mind and cautioned him that something like this was unwise. Still, Tam Sam ignored his friends warning and proceeded with the challenge.

Tam Sam with his wives

Master Lui Chun never gave Tam Sam a chance. In a matter of seconds he floored Tam Sam who was scolded by his friend for acting so foolishly and said “see, I told you so. You are lucky my sifu controlled his punches or you would have been seriously hurt.” Convinced that Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut was more than effective Tam Sam asked Master Lui to accept him as a student. Since Tam Sam was already trained in the martial arts Master Lui agreed to take him in. Only a few years later Tam Sam excelled in the Hung Sing fighting art, and was eventually appointed as the assistant instructor teaching the younger students who would call him Sam Sook.

Regardless of anyone fs position in life Tam Sam wouldn ft let anyone bully him. For example, one afternoon he got into an altercation with his Si-Sook (gung fu uncle) Ngan Yiu Ting and a few of his family members. The incident was later referred to as the “Kuen Da Sam Ngan” which means “fist that defeated 3 Ngan fs, after he beat all of them up. Master Lui Chun discovered what happened, however his hands were tied, there wasn ft much he could do. It was against the code of Choy Lee Fut to fight another brother, but to beat up an elder left Master Lui with no other options but to ask Tam Sam to leave.Unfortunately at this point Tam Sam had not completed his training under Master Lui. But what he didn ft already he later learned it from his friend Wong To who trained with Tam Sam very hard.

Tam Sam Wives n child

To Tam Sam the only way to get better was to go out and challenge people and learn from those experiences. Often these challenges end up in bloody battles, and he began to develop a name for himself as a fighter. Yet, he realized that his reputation may begin to tarnish the of Master Lui Chun and the Hung Sing Kwoon.Out of respect for his sifu Tam Sam moved his school north into a temple called Siu Buk Di Mew. He named his school the Siu Buk Hung Sing Kwoon. Over time students such as Chow Hing and Lai Gum pursuaded Tam Sam to shorten the schools name to Buk Sing Choy Lee Fut because it was too inconvenient to repeat over and over, and he agreed, ultimately creating the 3rd branch to the Choy Lee Fut system.

Since Tam Sam was so adept at fighting he went on to create new techinques and redefine old ones,. An “extra in means extra power” was his motto for his school. He would invite many of his gung fu brothers and elders over for intensive, in-depth studies of Choy Lee Fut fs techniques. It is then that he became known for his Lin Wan Chop Choy (continuos cyclic panther punches). Following in the tradition of the Hung Sing Kwoon Tam Sam had a pair of double couplets made. They read: “Turn around like a tiger raising its head, and punch like a dragon raising its claws.”The second read: “Hands are like the wind blowing out the candle, and The footwork is like walking on clouds.”

Master Tam and master gu yu-Zhang (one of the five Tigers) taught at Guangzhou's Guangzhou National Museum of Guangzhou National Art Museum in Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, while the two broke the door and disciples can turn to take care of the Master Tan Master Tan's apprentice can also learn from master's shaolin kung fu. at that time, he was known as " Yi to teach " at that time, because at that time, the Chinese martial arts were quite strict. Such moves are really no one before and no one " Easy to teach " accomplished the good words of the time.

The government also invited many northern styles to come to the south and teach gung fu. A competition was to be held in Canton with the southern styles competing against the northern styles. Ku Yu Jeong, a well known northern stylist who was renowned for hos iron body techniques was nominated to head the northern Team.Tam Sam was nominated to be the southern teams coach. And his reputation was so widespread that even Ku Yu Jeong heard of him and regarded him as a fellow hero and actually wanted to train with him. But Tam Sam had different intentions, he wanted to fight Ku Yu Jeong. In place of fighting an arrangement was set up between them to each exchange a group of students for cross training purposes.

Grand elder Lun Chee
Student of Tam Sam

In his heart Tam Sam was a die hard Hung Sing man and did not want to learn anything northern himself. Some of his favorite techniques were Kwa-Sow-Chop (Back hand, Sweeping Fist, and stabbing punch). It was techniques like these that he used to defeat many of his challengers. Although he preferred the wider horse stance and the longer ranging punches of the Hung Sing Kwoon.Then, during World War II and the Japanese invasion Tam Sam was elected to head the “DI DO (Big Sword) training camp. Durning this time he was also a member of the Canton National Board of Martial arts, a husband and a father. Sadly, in 1942 Tam Sam passed away at the age of 69 years old.

In 1946, Lau Kam Dong, a student of Tan Sam's defeated the foreign hercules Magano at the Xiguan Model Theater in Guangzhou. In 1949 the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon was shut down once again by the Chinese government. But that didn't stop the evolution of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon. With Professor Lau Bun representing the Yuen Hai lineage in America starting in 1939, Lau Chung with the Lee Yan lineage in Macau, the Lee Yan lineage in Singpore under Choy Yat Kiu in 1965,

The Yuen Hai Lineage of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon in USA

The first uncontested successor of Prof. Lau's Hung Sing Kwoon in San Francisco, California and 2nd Successor of the Yuen Hai lineage was Professor Jew Leong. He was a high ranking senior disciple who came to train under Professor Lau Bun in 1941/42. In 1967, after the death of his teacher, he moved the old Hung Sing Kwoon to 38 Spofford Alley, one of the most notorious alleys in Chinatown known to be the battlegrounds for San Francisco’s tong wars. To the uninitiated, one would never guess by first glance that behind the doors of 38 Spofford alley would be the oldest gung fu school in the United States. To some of the Chinatown locals Professor Jew was recognized as the sifu of the "Red Door People (Hung Moon)." Some time later he moved the Hung Sing Kwoon to the Gee Tuck Sam Tuck Family Association due to skyrocketing increases in rent prices.

Professor Lau Bun's Couplets from his school
in his own hand writing

Prof. Jew Leong

Professor Jew continued to teach Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut in the same manner as Professor Lau Bun had taught it to him. Therefore, preserving the integrity and tradition of the Hung Sing Kwoon as it was passed down to his own teacher. Although some may claim that he was a very tough teacher, he was even tougher to speak to since he was a man of very few words. He expected his students to practice hard and always stressed how important it was to perfect their gung fu. More often than not Professor Jew would only demonstrate a move once and expected his students to pick it up quickly.

In 1987, Professor Jew announced in the Chinese newspaper that he was going into semi-retirement, and based on the recommendation of Ms. Adeline Luey, this 1987 news paper article stated that Dino "Jew, Tien Loong" Salvatera was to be his next successor. This article ran in the Sing Tao newspaper for 3 days.

Then in 1995, Professor Jew Leong, a long-standing pillar in the Chinese community finally decided to retire from teaching for good after spending more than 56 years of his life in the martial arts, fully handing over the Hung Sing Kwoon to Dino Salvatera. Jew Leong still resides in San Francisco's Chinatown and can often be seen walking up Washington Street on his way to either play Mah Jong, make herbal medicines, or just hang out reading his newspaper at the Gee Tuck Sam Tuck Family Association on Waverly Street. Professor Jew Leong will always be loved and respected by his peers and as "The Man" by his countless number of students and grand students for years to come.

Professor Jew "The Master Technician" Leong passed away in 2010, leaving behind his incredible legacy in the hands of his successor, and trusted disciple Dino aka Tien Loong. The present Grand Master of the American Branch of Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut is its second-generation inheritor, Dennis "Dino" Salvatera. He is known and respected throughout the Chinese community as Jew, Tien Loong.


Sifu Frank at Prof. Jew Leong's gravesite

GM Dino Salvatera

On October 20, 1945, Dennis Salvatera was born at San Francisco’s Chinese Hospital. He was raised by someone his father completely trusted, and grew up on the streets of the South of Market district of San Francisco, which was a tough place for any child to grow up in. Since Salvatera (being mixed with Filipino and Chinese) was smaller in comparison to other children his own age. Schoolyard, and neighborhood bullies often thought him to be an easy target. Maybe for a short time he would be, until he got up. Out of necessity for survival, he began to fight back against the bullies and began earning himself a reputation as a fighter.

Denny Lai, Student of Lau Bun

In 1958, Salvatera got involved with a Chinese street gang called the Chinatown Deacons. The leader (Denny Lai) of this gang was a student of the Hung Sing Studio under Professor Lau, Bun. Salvatera was so impressed with the gang leaders fighting abilities he asked if he could be taught a few techniques to enhance his own fighting skills. This was his first introduction to the style of Choy Lee Fut.

During the 1960’s, the American pop culture revolved around "Sex, Drugs, and Rock-N-Roll." Unfortunately, Salvatera hit a very low point in his life. It was becoming more and more complex, certain things were beyond his control. Thankfully, he took a look around him and realize that wasn't where he wanted to be in life. But, from that point forward, he was on his way to being on the right track and turn his life around.

The Lup Mo Kwoon

Feeling the desperate urge to make a change in his life, Salvatera made an attempt at escaping the torments of drugs, jail, and gangs by receiving his High School Diploma, quit abusing drugs, and chose to add some discipline to his life by joining a gung fu school. On May 11, 1967, Salvatera officially joined the Lup Mo gung fu studio under Master Bing Chan, a student of Professor Lau, Bun. Unfortunately, Master Bing Chan passed away less than a year later, and Salvatera with some of the other students of Lup Mo transferred over to the Hung Sing Studio under Professor Jew Leong, Master Bing Chans Senior classmate.

About this time, Salvatera was introduced to Professor Lau, Bun by a senior classmate (Adeline Louie) who acted as translator when the Professor asked if he wished to become a student of his school. But his current teacher was a student of the Professor, and Salvatera politely declined the gracious offer.

Meanwhile, Salvatera had become a member of the very same association that his sifu, and Grand Master had been apart of, and it was shortly after this that he joined one of San Francisco’s most notorious Chinese gangs. Although he was working at straightening out his life, gangs were the only family he knew. Street fighting came with the territory, and Salvatera often took advantage of these situations by testing out the gung fu he was learning.

Left: Jew Leong Right: Dino S.

On August 10, 1968, Salvatera joined the Hung Sing Gung Fu Studio, which was headed by Grand Master Jew, Leong. He would practice at Hung Sing every day for 4-5 hours, even when he was the only one that showed up to class. Over the years, he developed, refined and perfected his gung fu abilities. He was quickly becoming the main attraction in the gung fu / lion dance street performances, which were held all over the Bay Area from San Francisco to Marysville. It was at this point that he began building his reputation as a gung fu practitioner, becoming the most recognizable and charismatic student in Hung Sing due to his dazzling hand and weapons demonstrations.

In 1970, at the age of 25, Salvatera began to privately teach. His first student (Yusef Hannibal) was a member of San Francisco’s Black Muslims. But many wanted to learn from Salvatera, and the demand was so great, he would need a place to teach. So, at the advice of his first student, he began teaching other members of the Black Muslims, the Black Panthers, and other youths and adults at the Famous Glyde Memorial Church. At the same time, he was teaching San Francisco’s version of the "Red Guard" at the old historical Hungry I.

Approximately 1975, with the encouragement of his students and friends, Salvatera opened his own school in the Sunset District in San Francisco, calling it the "Tien Loong Gung Fu Club". In the meantime, Salvatera continued to study at the Hung Sing Studio as often as he could and regularly returned to assist his Sifu in supervising all the lion dance performances.

In 1983 Sifu Dino officially opened his Tien Loong Gung Fu club. His school grew rather quickly, but like the Chinatown Hung Sing Kwoon, you couldn't just walk into Sifu Dino's school off the street because the school was built as an add on to the back of his house. He worked very hard to promote his school and from the beginning he was involved with charity work organizations like Self Help for the elderly for more than 2o something years, the Chinese Hospital Charity Drive, and much more.


Tien Loong Gung Fu Club (Circa mid 1980's). Frank McCarthy in front row on the left.

Then, in 1987, Grand Master Jew, Leong went into semi-retirement. *It was at this point when Adeline Louie, Salvatera’s senior classmate, was instrumental in convincing Grand Master Jew that Salvatera had the skill, loyalty, and dedication to handle the welfare of the school, and the responsibilities should be passed on to him. Grand Master Jew then announced that Dennis (Dino) "Jew, Tien Loong" Salvatera was appointed to the permanent position of "Chairperson in Charge" by placing it in the San Francisco Chinese Newspaper.

Salvatera, with his newly appointed title, worked feverishly to promote his school of Choy Lee Fut, teaching students numbering in the many hundreds, as well as from all walks of life. He has performed for many of San Francisco’s city officials such as current Mayor Willie Brown, and former mayors Art Agnos, Diane Feinstien, Joseph Alioto, Police chief Fred Lau, and March Fong Yu. He has also worked along with famous Chinese actors like Jacky Chan, Shek Kin (Mr. Han from Enter The Dragon), the eternal Kwan Tak Hing (original Wong Fei Hung) and the late great Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut Master- Lee Koon Hung.

In 1995, Grand Master Jew, Leong officially retired from teaching gung fu, naming Salvatera as his only successor, as well as next Grand Master of the American Branch of Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut. Salvatera has since changed his school’s name of "Tien Loong Gung Fu Club" to the "Hung Sing Studio" in order to preserve and uphold the prestige, respect, and honor this school has earned over the years. He has moved the Chinatown based headquarters into his home where he has built a small gymnasium and continues to teach select groups of students, and has produced a number of qualified instructors who operate their own schools around the United States.

Adeline Louie was the first to train Salvatera, and a major influence in the refinement of his movement. Ms. Louie has been an active member of the Martial Arts and Chinese communities for more than 30 years, and is currently active in promoting Chinese Opera. She is also credited with implementing and coordinating the lion dance and martial arts demonstrations for the Self Help For The Elderly Foundation. Together, she and Salvatera continue to work side by side in many of San Francisco’s Chinatown affairs.

In 2000, GM Dino Salvatera took a trip to China with a small group of students to trace the roots of Lau Bun's lineage in the home base of Fut San, China. The result was heartwarming because his trip was more like a coming home party. Since Prof. Jew Leong was fully retired, GM Salvatera took a new Sifu in the city of Fut San by the name of Ho Chek Wah. GM Salvatera has been repping the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon ever since.

Students of Grand Master Salvatera

Gm Salvatera and his Fut San teacher Ho Cherk Wah

GM Salvatera performs for well known magazine Celebration

Tien Loong Kwoon

Sifu Frank "Jew Hung Loong" McCarthy is a 3rd generation master of the American Hung Sing Kwoon lineage, and a 5th & 6th generation of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon lineage. His path down the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut road started for him at the age of 14 years old. He became a student after moving onto the same block as the Tien Loong Gung Fu club was located on 26th Avenue in San Francisco, California.

Sifu Frank's initial interest in the Martial Arts happened when he was still in his diapers. Both his older brother and father were black and brown belts in Karate and this is where it all started. Prior to turning 10 years old Sifu Frank had already studied Judo, Karate, Tai Mantia and even boxing. It wasn't until Sifu Frank was a freshman in High School that he began his passion for the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system.

At the age of 19 years old, Sifu Frank was involved in an accident where he fell 50 feet breaking his back in 3 places. His spinal injury was so severe that he was paralyzed from the waist down and his prognosis was he would never walk again and would be in a wheel chair for the rest of his life. But as stubborn as he was, he refused to accept his fate and vowed to walk again and return to his life as a martial artist at any cost (and does).

After beating all of the odds, Sifu Frank started walking again, returned to train under GM Dino Salvatera who personally helped him to recover enough to train again. In the mid 1990's Sifu Frank was promoted to the Sifu level, a title that he took very seriously. While having the title, Sifu Frank still chose to stay in house and help his teacher instruct new students to gain the teaching experience needed to be the best teacher he could become. When he finally decided to teach outside of his teachers school, he did so privately at first with his 1st student Jim Carroll. His first group of student were Tyler Miranda, Jason ?, and Neal Headley. Then in 2005 he named his school "Hung Sing Hung Loong Mo Kwoon" (Great Victory - Hung Dragon - Martial art School) he took on his very first group of students (but was later requested by GM Salvatera to just call his School the "Hung Sing Kwoon".

In the midst of Sifu Frank's recovery and return to gung fu training, he wanted to gauge his recovery and actual skill levels by entering various tournaments. When he chose to compete in forms, he never trained for them. He just entered whatever tournaments that took place in the San Francisco bay area, but did not expect to win any. He only wanted to see where his skill level was, and surprisingly won many first places trophies. He did the same for sparring competitions, and did not intend to win those either. He needed to know his own weaknesses so he could improve on them. For example, the fact that he could not feel his feet or the floor due to the numbness from his spinal injury, was the result of early losses. That, and the paralyzation affected his movement at the time mixed with the loss of enough sensation to stay rooted to the ground.

One of Sifu Frank's passions was learning about the history of the Lau Bun lineage and the birth of Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut gung fu. For him, it all started with one simple question. "Who was Cheung Yim and who was his teacher?" Since the internet was relatively new, Sifu Frank talked his sifu into creating a website and share their historical information for the world to see. After documenting the oral history, various new questions lead Sifu Frank to want to dig deeper into the history, which was very very thin in those days. Since he was the only one researching the history of his school and lineage, GM Salvatera named Sifu Frank as the Hung Sing Kwoon official Historian.

During Sifu Frank's research, he managed to uncover the truth about such things as the origin of the Hung Sing name as given to him by the Green Grass Monk, the identity of the Green Grass Monk, as well as the origin of the "Green Grass" name. Then, in 2001 Sifu Frank travelled to Fut San to participate in the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon along with some of his classmates and Grand Master Salvatera. Part of this trip was also to trace the roots of the American Hung Sing Kwoon back to the birthplace of Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut in Fut San, China.

For Sifu Frank, travelling back to Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut's birthplace was an eye opening experience. He mentioned "It was such a great honor to be standing in the school that was founded by Cheung Hung Sing". Yet, one of his greatest honors was following in the footsteps of his Hung Sing Kwoon elders and joined the very same Tongs they had joined before him. It was an honor for him in more ways than one. Partly because he managed to break through some very strong and traditional barriers Chinatown had in place. He also became a highly ranked member of the Ghee Kung Tong, one of the oldest and most powerful tongs in Chinatown. But, more importantly it was the very same Tong which was founded by the Green Grass Monk back in Southern China. And, from a research point of view, this then allowed him greater access into the Tongs history and gained even more insight Secret Society and the roles the Green Grass Monk played within it.

Currently Sifu Frank is teaching his own group of students at the Head Quarters of the Hung Sing Kwoon in San Francisco, California. His main focus is set on making sure the Hung Sing Kwoon fighting reputation is upheld to its true purpose. He completely understands that evolution is a very important happening. Yet, he tries to keep his gung fu tradition while while keeping it alive in modern days.

Cheung Hung Sing

Friday, April 17, 2015

1937 JAPANESE ASSAULT ON SHANGHAI

WORLD WAR II CHIANG KAI SHEK

2 comments: