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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Choy Li Fut say to the egg? "You crack me up, fut-ure omelet

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Choy Li Fut
蔡李佛
Two people practicing the martial arts
Also known asChoy Lee Fut, Choi Lei Fut, Cai Li Fo, CLF
FocusStriking, joint lock, grappling, weapons training
Country of originChina
CreatorChan Heung
Famous practitionersChan Heung, Chan Koon-pak, Chan Yu Chi, Chen Yong Fa, Wong Zen Yem, Philip Ng, Doc-Fai Wong
ParenthoodShaolinquan, Choy Gar, Li Gar, Fut Gar & Hung Gar [1]
Olympic sportNo
Choy Li Fut
Chinese蔡李佛
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinCài Lǐ Fó
Bopomofoㄘㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄈㄛˊ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhTsay Lii For
Wade–GilesTs'ai4 Li3 Fo2
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationKai Li Fwo
JyutpingCoi3 Lei5 Fat6

Choy Li Fut[a] is a Chinese martial art and wushu style, founded in 1836 by Chan Heung.[2] It was named to honor Chan Heung's uncle and the three masters of each family: Choy Gar, Li Gar and Fut Gar, plus his uncle Chan Yuen-wu,[b] who taught him Hung Kuen, and developed to honor the virtue teachings and philosophy of Buddha and the Shaolin roots of the system.[3]

The system combines the martial arts techniques from various Northern and Southern Chinese kung-fu systems;[4] the powerful arm and hand techniques from the Shaolin animal forms[5] from the South, combined with the extended, circular movements, twisting body, and agile footwork that characterizes Northern China's martial arts. It is considered an external style, combining soft and hard techniques, as well as incorporating a wide range of weapons as part of its curriculum. It contains a wide variety of techniques, including long and short range punches, kicks, sweeps and take downs, pressure point attacks, joint locks, and grappling.[6] According to Bruce Lee:[7]

Choy Li Fut is the most effective system that I've seen for fighting more than one person. [It] is one of the most difficult styles to attack and defend against. Choy Li Fut is the only style [of kung fu] that traveled to Thailand to fight the Thai boxers and hadn't lost.

Founding

[edit]
Oil painting of Chan Heung which hangs in the Chan family temple of King Mui Village in the Guangdong Province of China. This family temple is where Chan Heung founded his martial arts style and opened his first school to teach kung fu.

Chan[c] was born on August 23, 1806, in King Mui,[d] a village in the San Woi[e] district of Jiangmen, Guangdong province.[2]

Chan's uncle Chan Yuen-wu,[f] a boxer from the Qingyun temple near Dinghu Mountain[8] who had trained under Du Zhang Monk (獨杖禪師),[9] who began teaching him the Fut Gar style of Chinese martial arts when he was seven. When Chan was fifteen, his uncle took him to Li Yau-san,[g] Chan Yuen-wu's senior classmate. Li had trained under Zhi Shan Monk (至善禪師).[9]

Under Li's instruction, Chan spent the next four years learning the Li Gar style. Impressed with Chan's martial arts abilities, Li suggested that he train with a Shaolin monk called Choy Fook to learn Choy Gar,[10]

According to legend,[clarification needed] the monk Jee Sin Sim See is said to have been one of the legendary Five Elders who survived the destruction of the Shaolin Temple sometime during the late Qing Dynasty.[11][page needed]

At the time Chan sought Choy out, he had lived as a recluse on Mount Luofu and no longer wished to teach martial arts. Chan set out to the mountain to find him. When Choy was at the Shaolin temple, he had been seriously burned, and his head had healed with scars, which gave him the nickname "Monk with the Wounded Head" (爛頭和尙). Using that description, Chan eventually located the monk and handed him a letter of recommendation from Li. However, Chan was disappointed when Choy turned him down. After much begging, Choy agreed to take the young man as a student, but only to study Buddhism.[12]

One morning, when Chan was practicing his martial arts, Choy pointed to a heavy rock and told him to kick it into the air. Chan exerted all of his strength as his foot crashed against the rock, sending it twelve feet (3.7 m) away. Instead of being complimented, he watched as Choy placed his own foot under the heavy rock and effortlessly propelled it through the air. Chan was awestruck by this demonstration. Again he begged Choy to teach him his martial arts. This time the monk agreed, and for nine years, Choy taught Chan both the way of Buddhism and the way of martial arts.[13][not specific enough to verify]

In 1836, Chan formally established the Choy Li Fut system, named to honor his 3 teachers: Choy Fook, Li Yau-san and his uncle Chan Yuen-woo, and developed to honor the Buddha and the Shaolin Kung Fu roots of the system.[3]

Characteristics

[edit]

Chan revised and refined what that he had learned from his teachers and with his disciples, established standardized hand and leg techniques.[14][15]

Choy Li Fut's hand techniques contain 10 elements: slapping or pressing palm deflection (擒), shooting arm bridge (拿), back fist (掛), sweeping (掃), yin/yang knuckle strike (插), upward power shot (拋), small upward power shot (撞), claw (爪), swinging power shot (鞭), chopping (劈), and yin/yang fist (擂陰).[16] Its leg techniques contain 6 elements: bracing (撐), nailing (釘), kicking (撩踢), sweeping (掃), blocking (截), hooking (勾), and springing (彈). There are eight techniques of how the hand and leg techniques are applied: yin (陰), yang (陽), hard (剛), soft (柔), false (虛), real (實), stealing (偷), and sneaking (溜).[17] [2][18]

The stances of Choy Li Fut are similar in height to other martial arts styles, such as Hung Gar, but not as high as those of Wing Chun. This allows the practitioner to move quickly during combat without sacrificing stability and power generation. Unique to the Choy Li Fut style is "whipping", where the practitioner's upper torso twists to generate more power in executing hand and arm techniques. In other martial art styles, the upper body is less dynamic, placing more emphasis in stability and generation of static power.[18] Other differences include how the practitioner's stance should be while facing their opponent. In the Hung Gar and Wing Chun styles, practitioners hold their torso perpendicular to an opponent, to allow the full use of both arms. In contrast, Choy Li Fut holds the torso at an angle to the opponent to reduce the target area exposed to him, and to allow the practitioner more reach. Front stances in Choy Li Fut have the front bent leg angled in to protect the groin, while other martial arts systems have the front bent leg facing forward.[18]

During Qing era rebellions, Choy Li Fut practionners would identify themselves by shooting "yak" when striking with the palm, "wak" when thrusting with a tiger claw hand, "ha" when striking with the fist, "hok" when using a crane beak strike, and "dik" when kicking.[2][19]

Forms

[edit]

The Choy Li Fut system has over 150 various single person, multiple person, weapon, and training apparatus forms,[20][21] e.g. the Ching jong, the Sui Sau Jong, and the Ma Jong.[22]

Weapons

[edit]

Nine-Dragon Trident is an exclusively Choy Li Fut weapon created by the Chan, which was designed to shred any part of the opponent with which it might come into contact. The many hooks and blades can seize an opponent's weapon and, with one twist, rip it from his hands. The Nine-Dragon Trident (九龍大叉) is known as the "King" of all weapons.[23]

Expansion of the system

[edit]

Between 1847 and 1850, many Chinese leaders formed secret societies to overthrow the Qing.[24] In 1850, under the leadership of Hong Xiuquan, the Taiping Rebellion broke out in Guangxi, and the movement would maintain control of large areas of southern China under the banner of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom until its collapse in 1864.[25]

Chan had 18 original Choy Li Fut disciples, known as the eighteen Luohan (十八羅漢), who were named to honor the Bodhidharma, traditionally considered to have taught the Shaolin monks the methods of the original Eighteen Lohan hands in 527 CE.[26] They are considered by some to be the predecessor of Shaolin martial arts.[27]

Hung Mun[28] represented all revolutionary factions, including all Choy Li Fut representatives. Choy Li Fut schools chose to write the name of their schools in various ways to hide their affiliation with Hung Mun, which was outlawed, and to protect themselves from government persecution.

Main branches

[edit]

The Choy Li Fut martial arts system has spread throughout the globe.[29]

Choy Li Fut schools can trace their lineage from the schools started by the original 18 disciples whom Chan sent out in 1848.[30] Many schools can easily trace their origins from these four main branches: the King Mui / Chan Family Choy Li Fut branch, the Fut San / Hung Sing Choy Li Fut branch, the Jiangmen[h] or Kong Chow[i] Choy Li Fut branch, and the Buk Sing Choy Li Fut branch.[31]

King Mui Choy Li Fut[j] branch

[edit]
Chan Sun-chiu of the King Mui branch on the right with Doc-Fai Wong

The mainline transmission is referred to as King Mui (京梅), named after the origin of Chan's family, where he officially started teaching Choy Li Fut in 1836.[32]

Notable Chan family student of Chan Yi-chi was Hu Yuen-chou,[k][33][34] instructor of famous Choy Li Fut master Doc-Fai Wong, considered by many as a 5th generation successor and inheritor of the King Mui lineage.[35] After Chan Yiu-chi 陳耀墀 his son Chan Sun-chiu became the inheritor and Keeper of the style. Following the passing on April 22, 2013, of Chan Sun-chiu (Keeper of King Mui Choy Li Fut)陈燊樵,[36][37] all the descendants and known students become his current successors of the 5th generation of the King Mui lineage, they are; Chan Yong-fa [38] and Niel Willcott.[39][40] Chan Siu Fung, the founder's sixth-generation grandson, became a disciple of Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong.[41]

Hung Sing branch[l]

[edit]
Sifu Alvaro Leon exhibited in position Mapu (Horse), the knock's "Chap Choy" (Fist Penetrating) at the museum of Choy Lee Fut of the Hung Sing's house, in Foshan, China

The Fut San Hung Sing branch, under the Chan Heung Great Sage[m] curriculum, have a different form, as Chan and Cheung developed them separately.[42] It has fewer hand sets. The branch is known for its aggressive fighting methods, such as continuous non-stop combination.[43]

Lau Bun[n][44] established the Wah-Keung Kung Fu club of Choy Lee Fut, which later became the first Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut school in America in 1935.[42]

Buk Sing Choy Li Fut[o]

[edit]

Buk Sing Choy Li Fut branch is known for its application of Choy Li Fut techniques rather than the practice of forms. Because of the emphasis on combat applications,[45] the Buk Sing style in the tradition of the Jeong Yim has produced some excellent[citation needed] Choy Li Fut fighters.

Death of the founder

[edit]

When the Taiping government fell in 1864, Chan left China for a few years, some speculate South East Asian locations such as Malaysia or Singapore. At age fifty-nine, he became the martial arts teacher for the Chan Family Association overseas. In 1867, Chan returned home to King Mui, where he was able to see his own kung fu system gain tremendous popularity throughout Southern China. Chan died at the age of sixty-nine. He was buried in King Mui.[30]

After Chan's death, his Choy Li Fut legacy passed on to his two sons, Chan On-pak[p] and Chan Koon-pak[q]. Chan On-pak, the older brother, was known for his control of the spear as evidenced by his nickname "Five Blossoms with One Lance" (一槍五梅花).[30]

In 1894, two of Chan On-pak's students, Cheng Si-leung[r] and Chan Siu-bak, helped the Tongmenghui, to overthrow Qing and found the Republic of China. The younger brother, Chan Koon-pak, left King Mui to become a merchant in Jiangmen, where his fame as a martial artist spread quickly. He soon had no time to spend as a merchant and devoted all of his efforts teaching Choy Li Fut. In later years, Chan Koon-pak established another large Choy Li Fut training center in Guangzhou.[30]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Choy Li Fut is the Cantonese rendering of the name. The name of the style is also spelled Choy Lay Fut and Choy Lee Fut or Chua Lee Hood (Hokkien) or Cai Li Fo (Mandarin) (Chinese: 蔡李佛; pinyin: Cài Lǐ Fó; Cantonese Yale: Choi3 Lei5 Fat6; aka Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu).
  2. ↑ 陳遠護
  3. ↑ Yue Chinese: 陳享, also known as Din Ying (典英), Daht Ting (逹庭)
  4. ↑ Yue Chinese: 京梅
  5. ↑ 新會
  6. ↑ 陳遠護
  7. ↑ Chinese: 李友山
  8. ↑ 江門
  9. ↑ 岡州
  10. ↑ Chinese: 京梅陳家雄勝蔡李佛始祖拳舘 / 新會洪聖舘蔡李佛始祖拳館
  11. ↑ 胡雲綽
  12. ↑ 佛山鴻勝蔡李佛拳館
  13. ↑ 洪聖舘
  14. ↑ 劉彬
  15. ↑ 北勝蔡李佛拳
  16. ↑ 陳安伯
  17. ↑ 陳官伯
  18. ↑ 鄭士良

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ While Hung Gar had formal training slightly earlier than Choy Lee Fut, both styles share common roots in Shaolin kung fu and have seen continuous development over the years. Yee's Hung Ga
  2. 1 2 3 4 Doc-Fai Wong; Jane Hallander (1985). The Dynamic Fighting Art Descended from the Monks of the Shaolin Temple Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. Unique Publications. ISBN 0-86568-062-0. 978-0-86568-062-3..
  3. 1 2 Koon-hung Lee (January 1, 1994). Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu: The Dynamic Art of Fighting. Lee Koon-hung Publishing. pp. 190 pages. ISBN 962-7284-41-6. 978-962-7284-41-3..
  4. ↑ Bruce Lee (February 1, 2008). Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense (4th ed.). Black Belt Communications. p. 125 pages. ISBN 978-0-89750-112-5. 978-0-89750-112-5.
  5. ↑ Doc-Fai Wong; Jane Hallander (1988). Shaolin Five Animals Kung Fu. Unique Publications, Inc. pp. 130 pages. ISBN 0-86568-080-9..
  6. ↑ Title: The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Skills from Around the World, Author: Chris Crudell, Hardcover: 360 pages, Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (1 Oct 2008), Language: English, ISBN 1-4053-3095-3 ISBN 978-1-4053-3095-4.
  7. ↑ Title: Bruce Lee - Between Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do, Author: Jesse Glover, Publisher: Glover Publications, p.67 (January 1, 1976) ISBN 0-9602328-0-X ISBN 978-0-9602328-0-2.
  8. ↑ "Fut Gar Kuen/Fojia Quan, 庆云佛家拳". Taipinginstitute.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  9. 1 2 "蔡李佛拳源流谱 Lineage of Choy Li Fut" (PDF). Plumblossom.net. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  10. ↑ Title: The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World, Author: Chris Crudell, Page:122, Hardcover: 360 pages, Publisher: DK ADULT; Ill edition (September 29, 2008), Language: English, ISBN 0-7566-3975-1, ISBN 978-0-7566-3975-4
  11. ↑ Title: The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health, and Enlightenment, Author: Wong Kit Kiew, Tuttle Publishing (November 15, 2002), ISBN 0-8048-3439-3 ISBN 978-0-8048-3439-1.
  12. ↑ Title: The Tao of Gung Fu: A Study in the Way of Chinese Martial Art, Authors: Bruce Lee and John Little, p.151, Paperback: 200 pages, Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st edition (November 15, 1997), Language: English,ISBN 0-8048-3110-6, ISBN 978-0-8048-3110-9.
  13. ↑ Title: Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and Karate, Author: Nathan J. Johnson, Paperback: 265 pages, p.239, Publisher: Weiser Books (December 2000), Language: English, ISBN 1-57863-142-4, ISBN 978-1-57863-142-1.
  14. ↑ Title: Pagration (Pan + Kratos): Confusions about Pagration (Greek Edition), Volume 7, Author: Gregory Zorzos, p.74, Paperback: 120 pages, Publisher: CreateSpace (2009-01-22), Language: Greek, ISBN 1-4414-5469-1, ISBN 978-1-4414-5469-0.
  15. ↑ Title: The Essential Jackie Chan Source Book, Author: Jeff Rovin, Paperback: 304 pages, p.237, Publisher: Pocket (October 1, 1997), Language: English, ISBN 0-671-00843-9, ISBN 978-0-671-00843-7.
  16. ↑ Title: Fighting Power: How To Develop Explosive Punches, Kicks, Blocks, And Grappling, Author: Loren W. Christensen, 248 pages, Publisher: Paladin Press (November 1996), Language: English, ISBN 0-87364-901-X, ISBN 978-0-87364-901-8.
  17. ↑ "Choy Li Fut Techniques Video List -". ChoyLiFut.co.uk.
  18. 1 2 3 Title: World Sports Encyclopedia, Author: Wojciech Liponski, 600 pages, p.128, Publisher: MBI (August 2003), Language: English, ISBN 0-7603-1682-1, ISBN 978-0-7603-1682-5.
  19. ↑ Title: The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World, Author: Chris Crudell, Hardcover: 360 pages, Publisher: DK ADULT; Ill edition (September 29, 2008), Language: English, ISBN 0-7566-3975-1, ISBN 978-0-7566-3975-4
  20. ↑ "Choy Li Fut Forms Video List -". ChoyLiFut.co.uk.
  21. ↑ "Choy Li Fut Forms List - Plum Blossom International Federation". Plumblossom.net. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  22. ↑ Title:Wing Chun Kung Fu: The Wooden Dummy, Author: Shaun Rawcliffe, Page:22, Paperback: 160 pages, Publisher: Crowood Press (November 1, 2008), Language: English, ISBN 1-84797-026-5, ISBN 978-1-84797-026-8
  23. ↑ "9 Dragon Trident - Golden Eagle Martial Arts Center". Goldeneaglemac.com. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  24. ↑ Title: The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolution, Author: Jonathan D. Spence, Paperback: 560 pages, Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 28, 1982), Language: English, ISBN 0-14-006279-3, ISBN 978-0-14-006279-3
  25. ↑ Platt 2012
  26. ↑ Title: Complete Book of Zen, Author: Wong Kiew Kit, 336 pages, Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (November 15, 2002), Language: English, ISBN 0-8048-3441-5, ISBN 978-0-8048-3441-4.
  27. ↑ Title: Shaolin Lohan Kung-Fu, Author: P'ng Chye Khim, 172 pages, Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (September 15, 1991), Language: English ISBN 0-8048-1698-0, ISBN 978-0-8048-1698-4.
  28. ↑ Title: King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong Kong, Author: Jonathan Chamberlain, Page: 255, Paperback: 348 pages, Publisher: Blacksmith Books (July 16, 2010), Language: English, ISBN 988-99799-8-5, ISBN 978-988-99799-8-0
  29. ↑ "Find a School - Plum Blossom International Federation Schools". Plumblossom.net. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "History & Lineage of Choy Li Fut - Plum Blossom International Federation". Plumblossom.net. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  31. ↑ "Home". Lion Dance, Tai Chi, Kids Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Sunrise and Boynton Beach, South Florida. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  32. ↑ "Chan Family Choy Lee Fut trademark". Euipo trademarks.
  33. ↑ "Hu Yuen Chou history". Plumblossom.net.
  34. ↑ "Video history of Hu Yuen-chou". White Dragon Martial Arts. Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  35. ↑ "Choy Li Fut Founder's Family and I by Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong". plumblossom.net. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  36. ↑ "The Keeper of Choy Li Fut - Plum Blossom International Federation". Plumblossom.net. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  37. ↑ "The Keeper of Choy Li Fut and Doc-Fai Wong - Plum Blossom International Federation". Plumblossom.net. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  38. ↑ "Grand Master Chen Yong Fa Bio -". ChoyLeeFut.org.
  39. ↑ "Dinner with Chan Sun-chiu". chansunchiu.wordpress.com. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  40. ↑ "Front cover El Budoka 2.0 magazine". www.elbudoka.es. 9 December 2014.
  41. ↑ "The 6th Generation Grandson of the Founder of Choy Li Fut, Chan Siu Fung Takes Discipleship Under Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong". plumblossom.net. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  42. 1 2 Title: The Way of the Warrior - Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World, Author: Chris Crudelli, page: 124, Hardcover: 360 pages, Publisher: DK ADULT; 3rd edition (September 29, 2008), Language: English, ISBN 0-7566-3975-1, ISBN 978-0-7566-3975-4
  43. ↑ Title: Choy Lay Fut Kung-Fu: Chinese Art of Self-Defense, Author: Leo T. Fong, Paperback, Publisher: Black Belt Communications Inc. (June 1972), Language: English, ISBN 0-89750-035-0, ISBN 978-0-89750-035-7.
  44. ↑ Title: The Dragon and the Tiger: The Oakland Years: Volume 2, Author(s): Sid Campbell and Greglon Lee, Page: 103, Paperback: 288 pages, Publisher: Frog Books (January 20, 2005), Language: English, ISBN 1-58394-118-5, ISBN 978-1-58394-118-8
  45. ↑ "Master Li Siu Hung". Lion Dance, Tai Chi, Kids Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Sunrise and Boynton Beach, South Florida. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2017-05-19.

Bibliography

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