The primary reasons Master Lay Wing Sung (Lay is pronounced 'Lee' in Cantonese) has decided to share his knowledge of the history of Choy Lay Fut, Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut and his personal autobiography are twofold. Master Lay wishes to leave a legacy for his students, in the hope that they can learn from his experiences, and can appreciate the hardships he has overcome in his life. Secondly, Master Lay wishes his students to carry on the task of propagating Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu and the Shaolin Martial Arts for future generations. 

I have known Master Lay Wing Sung for almost two years now, and while working on his website, I have gained a keen insight into his personality and ethics. I have found Master Lay to be a forthright, honest and honorable person, one who I am proud to consider a friend. Master Lay has not only shared his personal history with me, he has shared his knowledge and research of the Great Grandmasters of Choy Lay Fut. I have felt very privileged indeed to learn from such a man.

The following is a special note from Master Lay Wing Sung regarding the issue of the Grandmaster title....  

Sifu Vince Lacey (Lay Wing Sung) would like to clarify that his title of Grandmaster was bestowed on him automatically when any of his students ( Australia ) opens their own Kwoon, therefore making them the Sifu. This in no way implies that he is the Grandmaster of the Choy Lay Fut System as a whole. He much prefers to be addressed as Sifu.  

Sifu Lacey commented, “Many teachers are too concerned about being superior in rank and authority in the Martial Arts. They don’t like to be outranked or second best. It used to be just ‘Master’, ‘Sifu’ or ‘Sensei’, but today they are not content and want to be addressed as Doc (Doctor), SI-Gung (Grandmaster), Professor, or more recently the ridiculous title of ‘Guru’! I think I’ll promote myself to the title of ‘Emperor’, since the Emperor rules above all and his words are the law!!!  

There are some who claim to be the highest ranking in Choy Lay Fut in America-many claim to know more and to be better than everyone else. A title is only as deserving and respected as the person holding it.

Unfortunately, every time you look in the Martial Arts magazines, they are full of “Grandmaster” titles – many self proclaimed. The title is being abused and exploited so continuously because most everyone wants power and recognition. This has caused a lot of confusion and misunderstanding, to the point that the title doesn’t mean much anymore.  

Being brought up in Hong Kong in the Fifties was quite an experience. The British Colony was just beginning to recover from the effects of World War II. It was a trying time; everyone was struggling to make to make a better life for his or her families. 

Hong Kong tourism was also beginning to boom, and Hollywood soon discovered the areas potential for movie locations. Many movies that are now considered classics were shot in Hong Kong, such as ‘The World of Susie Wong’, ‘Love Is A Many Splendored Thing’, and ‘Soldier of Fortune’. The Chinese were great fans of American movies, and many of the very best classic movies ever made were shown in Hong Kong in the Fifties. It was a new era of Pop Music and Rock and Roll. American music and entertainment greatly changed and influenced the young generation in Hong Kong. 

Many kung fu Masters decided to cross the border from Canton to resettle in Hong Kong. Once there, they began to teach kung fu and many started ‘Osteopathy Clinics’. By the mid-Fifties, kung fu was starting to become very popular in Hong Kong. In fact, if you didn’t belong to a gang, or weren’t skilled in a martial arts form, you were putting your life at risk! 

During this period in Hong Kong, you had to be very well off to afford a car, let alone a house! People had to fight to get on the buses, the only transportation most could afford. The double-deck buses were noisy and the people were packed in like sardines, people trying to get off the bus had to fight with those struggling to get on. It was like the now famous scene of people trying to board the helicopter while evacuating the American Embassy during the Vietnam War. The bus company had to hire staff just to control the people getting out of hand at the bus stops! Fights and continuous cursing were a daily occurrence and challenge while trying to catch a bus!

 Social graces that are taken for granted in the United States were literally non-existent in Hong Kong during the Fifties. Spitting, cursing, blowing their noses with out any handkerchief, all these were part of everyday life. People would wipe their fingers on the lampposts or the bus stop signs after blowing or picking their noses! One had to take precaution not to lean on or place their hands on the posts!!! 

“Courtesy was a rare thing, almost didn’t exist in Hong Kong,” says Master Lay. “I have seen women cursing and threatening one another, all over who would get the next table in one of the large ‘Dim Sum’ restaurants!” “When I say cursing, I’m talking about words and expressions that far exceed the worst things that can be said in English!” Cursing was as normal as saying ‘Good Morning’, whether in a restaurant, on a bus or in any public place. The language was so foul it would make the ‘Simpson’s’ blush! 

On one occasion, I was having lunch with my Sifu, Kong Hing, and my Si-Bark (kung fu uncle), Kong On, and there was a sign on the wall ‘No Spitting’. In those days, my Sifu did not sit on the chairs; instead he squatted and knelt on the chair seat. He was constantly spitting on the red carpet without a care in the world! My Si-Bark grabbed a handful of the white tablecloth and started to blow his nose! I am relating these incidents not as a sign of disrespect to my Sifu or Si-Bark, but just to portray what it was like in the Fifties and Sixties in Hong Kong, in fact I find them quite amusing!!!   

Master Kong Hing attacks Master Lay Wing Sung
with his 'Charp Chui', sparring in Hong Kong, 1968

Another time we were at a Chinese teahouse and there was a ‘Reserved Sign’ on one of the tables. My Sifu, Kong Hing, picked up the sign and threw it under the table, much to the annoyance of the shocked waiter nearby. The waiter shouted, “Hey you can’t do that, the table has been reserved!” To this, my Sifu replied, “I don’t see anyone sitting here yet,” and we proceeded to sit down. Fortunately for the waiter, he soon realized that my Sifu was being serious and was wise enough to leave us alone! 

On another occasion, Master Lay, his Sifu Kong Hing and a friend were having a late lunch in the Sham Shui Po area, after shopping for some two-piece Chinese (kung fu style) attire. When the waiter came to serve some tea, he was surprised to see Master Lay, who looked European, eating in this slum area. Not realizing Master Lay could speak and understand Cantonese, the waiter proceeded to ask Master Kong Hing whether this European could speak Chinese. Jokingly, Master Lay replied in Cantonese, “I can speak and I can fight!” Feeling offended by Master Lay’s remark, the shocked waiter said angrily, “I can fight too, my Master is so and so!” Throughout all this, Master Kong Hing found the waiter quite amusing and let him brag and then started to laugh. He had noticed that the waiter was getting a bit too serious, and was neglecting to serve them. Master Kong Hing turned to the waiter and suggested, “If you like, how about you and him (Master Lay) settle the matter outside?” The disgruntled waiter just mumbled to himself and walked away!