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Wong Fei
Hung
1850-1933
Biography
The life of this most
charismatic figure has been portrayed in over one hundred movies,
starring such greats as Kwan Tak Hing, who just recently passed away
at the age of 92( 1year has been officially added due to his many
humanitarian accomplishments), and most recently Jet Lee. The real
Wong Fei Hung was born in 1850 in Guangdung, Lam Hoi Province, Sai Chu
County, Luk Huern Yan villiage, China. His father was Wong Kay Ying, a
student and disciple of South Sil Lum Master Luk Ah Choy. He was also
one of the earlier 10 Canton Tigers of the late Ching Dynasty. While
Wong Fei Hung was one of the later Tigers. It is important to note
here that both Wong Kay Ying and Wong Fei Hung were inducted into the
"Ten Tigers" while they were still in their early twenties.
The other 8 Tigers were all at an advanced age and of a higher kung fu
generation. We must also note that the positions of the
"tigers" was chosen according to Chinese tradition. The
oldest or most senior holds the highest position i.e...#1, #2, #3 etc.
This placement was given out of respect and had nothing to do with
level of skill. It was also apparent that the induction showed the
great respect and had honored the Wong's in that their skills were
compared with the Sifu's of a higher generation.
Young Wong Fei Hung began
his martial arts training at the age of five. By the age of 13 he was
already an accomplished martial artist and often went out with his
father to demonstrate Kung Fu and sell medicine in different villages.
On one occasion a famous teacher of another style, named Sifu Gwan Dai
Hung was demonstrating on the same day. He became jealous because the
Wong's had a much larger crowd watching their performance. Every time
he demonstrated his famous left handed fishing pole techniques the
size of the crowd would be unmatched. Sifu Gwan felt these two were
invading his territory, so, with pole in hand he approached Master
Wong Kay Ying and issued a challenge fight. Master Wong smiled and
told his 13 year old son, Wong Fei Hung, to take up a pole and match
skills with this Sifu using the Ng Long Ba Gwan Gwun (8 diagram pole
techniques). Wong Fei Hung eliminated the challenger and the word
spread far and wide. Wong Fei Hung even though still a child was a
great fighter. This incident started young master Wong's fame.
Wong Fei hung is credited
with formalizing the orthodox Hung System and creating the styles'
most famous set," the Tiger /Crane Double Pattern Fist
Form".(Fu Hok Cern Ying Kuen) According to Tang Fung, the
tiger/crane set was developed from Tit Kiu Sam's horse stance and hand
bridge combined with Wong Fei Hung's fighting techniques. In fact the,
the Hung system's strength was in the tiger/crane techniques, the
twelve bridges, horse stance and Wong's secret "Sup Juet
Sao" or 10 Killing Hands,which was only taught to" in the
door" disciples.
Wong Fei Hung was also
famous for the tiger tail kick & shadowless kick. A lot of people
believe, Wong Fei Hung invented the Mo Ying Gerk (shadowless kick),
but he learned it from a famous man named Sifu Song Ton Fai . The
story goes... Sifu Song was staying at a hotel and at night he used to
practice in the courtyard. One evening he heard a woman laughing, he
turned and asked the woman "Why are your laughing"? She
stated "You only have hands with no kicks". He couldn't
believe this woman would say this. Sifu Song asked the woman to show
him, Song Ton Fai and the lady sparred. He couldn't believe that each
time he made an advance within striking distance; he would be kicked,
although he never saw it coming. Afterward he got to know and
eventually married the woman and learned this skill from his new found
wife. Wong & Song were friends, Song wanted to learn Wong's Tit
Sing Kuen, and Fuk Fu Kuen and Wong wanted Songs no shadow kick. So
they exchanged and the Hung system inherited a new technique.
As an adult he taught
martial arts to the navy in Canton and held a position in the
General's office. Later in his life Wong Fei Hung left Canton and
moved to Fukien to become the right hand man of General Tong Gin
Cheung. General Tong was a resistance fighter of the Qing Dynasty,
eventually the resistance fell. Wong moved back to Canton and started
teaching Hung Kuen and also established his Po Chi Lum medicine shop.
Wong was an undefeated fighter throughout his life. He also produced
many famous students and disciples.
The following are 9 of his
famous disciples:
- Lian Foon - His #1
disciple. Famous for cracking the ground under his feet when he
sat in horse stance.
- Ling Wan Gai - Famous for
his "Gwai Gerk" (ghost kicking skills).
- Chan Din Biu
- Lam Sai Wing - Famous for
his saber techniques and writing 3 books on Hung Gar.
- Tang Fung - famous for
his strict, rigorous training and his stubborn" Old Square
Mind" mentality.
- Sui Low Ngan
- Sui Low Yuk
- Tak Gan Jow
- Luk Jin Gun
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