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Chow Gar kung fu was founded by Grandmaster Chow Loong. At the time of its inception, this particular style of kung fu was described as having the head of Hung, tail of Choy and the patterns of tiger and leopard. It was described in this manner because the main techniques incorporated the muscular and mighty movements of Hung Kuen, and the swift footwork of Choy Gar kung fu, making it a very effective form of self-defense, with the emphasis on simultaneous attack and defense. Chow Loong taught the art to his brothers, Chow Hip, Chow Biu, Chow Hoi and Chow Tin. They all contributed to the emergence of Chow Gar kung fu in the 1920's in China. The five brothers were known as the Five Tigers of Chow Gar, ( Gar means family ), and were a dominant force in the Kwangtung Province for nearly half a century. Chow Loong's Early Years Chow Loong had an uncle, named Chow Hung, who had been taught Hung Gar kung fu many years earlier. Chow Hung was reputed to be the top fighter in Sun Wui County, and Chow Hung had a fondness for his young nephew. Knowing that his health was failing, Chow Hung decided to teach the youngster kung fu. To Chow Hung's great surprise, his young nephew did not utter a word of complaint during the arduous training. One day, Chow Hung summoned his nephew, Chow Loong, to him. He related to the boy how his health was failing rapidly, and while there was still time, he would teach Chow Loong the rest of the techniques and the Pak Kwa pole fighting techniques. Slightly over one month later, Chow Hung had passed away. The death of his uncle did not stop Chow Loong from learning kung fu. He traveled to Siu Hing County, where Master Choy Kau was to be found. From Master Choy Kau, Chow Loong learned and mastered Choy Gar kung fu. After this mastery, Chow Loong felt it would be more beneficial to him to combine the two styles of kung fu he had learned, as he preferred the hard driving power of Hung Kuen, and the swift footwork of Choy Gar. At age 19, due to family hardship, Chow Loong left his home for Kuala Lumpur, in Malaya, or as it is now known, Malaysia, to find employment. After his arrival, he was involved in a fatal fight with a gangster, and fearing prosecution by the local authorities, Chow Loong fled into the jungles and mountains. He survived for several days on wild fruits and berries, and was on the edge of collapse when he stumbled into a monastery and asked for help. The abbot of the monastery was very sympathetic toward the ordeal that Chow Loong had survived, and took him in. As Chow Loong recovered, the abbot asked if he could take the simple, frugal and hard style of the monastery. Chow Loong was willing to accept this, and was welcome to stay. The abbot observed and noted the behavior of Chow Loong, and after several months, he had no doubt as to the character and integrity of this young man. The abbot announced to Chow Loong that he was willing to teach him the North Siu Lam kung fu style. Chow Loong had never envisioned that his flight from the "imagined persecution" in Kuala Lumpur would lead to being instructed by a Siu Lam kung fu master! Chow Loong left the monastery a rich man, not in the sense of material wealth, but in the wealth of knowledge of kung fu and the philosophy of Buddhism. Upon returning to Kuala Lumpur, he was astonished at the tremendous changes that occurred over three, short years. Gone were the familiar buildings and faces, and finding this no place for a stranger, he resorted to the Kwangtung Society. Here he found his compatriots, and the Society raised a small amount of money for his return passage to China. Return to China Upon Chow Loong's return to his village in China, he gathered up his four brothers and they journeyed to Canton. Here, he planned to open a kung fu school with the help of his brothers, who had received additional training in kung fu during his absence. Chow Loong opened his first school in Canton, and began teaching his style, which he named Chow Gar. He taught this to his brothers, as well as having them as assistants. In 1915, a year that marked Chow Gar's arrival as a kung fu style, General Lee Fook Lam of the Chinese army wanted an additional drill instructor for his troops. He issued an open invitation for anyone to apply for the post, and over 100 applications were received for this one vacancy. General Lee divided the men into 10 groups, for a round-robin elimination tournament. Chow Loong was one of the applicants, and was able to continuously advance to the final elimination round. Here, he was paired against a very tough opponent, named Koon Kam Chi. Chow Loong emerged victorious from this final round and was appointed to the instructors position. This was the beginning of the fame and respect of Chow Loong, and his four brothers, who also made their marks on the kung fu world. They were collectively known as "The Five Tigers", and they worked continuously with tiger-like vigor to validate this reputation. In 1924, tragedy befell the family. Chow Loong had caught a cold, and due to the pressure of work, and being strong and healthy, he chose to ignore it. The cold rapidly advanced into pneumonia, and by the time he sought medical attention, it was too far advanced. Chow Loong died at the age of 31. His untimely death shocked everyone, for it was just not possible for one so young, and who had achieved so much, to die in his prime. His four remaining brothers proclaimed a six month mourning period, and they erected an altar in Chow Loong's memory. The brothers swore to live up to their eldest brothers reputation, and to carry out his wish to promote Chow Gar kung fu. Our Connection to Chow Gar Our Academy's connection to the Chow Gar style is only through Grandmaster Vince Lacey's Si-Gung, Kong On, and his son, Kong Hing, who was Grandmaster Lacey's Sifu. Kong On first studied Chow Gar, then Choy Lay Fut, and finally Buk Siu Lam, Northern Shaolin style kung fu. Grandmaster Lacey studied Choy Lay Fut kung fu under Kong Hing, and absorbed the Chow Gar style from him. This is the reason we have Chow Gar incorporated into our Academy. It should be noted that all other Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut schools do not include the Chow Gar style in their curriculum. Last Updated Wednesday, May 01, 2002 |
