Recall that Master Tarm Sarm’s school had a number of slogans, and Master Tarm Sarm had his own personal couplets. He also had a personal motto, “Extra Inch, Extra Power”, meaning the longer your strikes, the more power and impact you will have. This motto has become the most used training concept in Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut. 

Master Tarm Sarm also believed that “Offense is the Best Defense”, thus giving you a better chance at surprising your opponent and defeating him. He also believed that speed was one of the main factors in a victory, use it to overcome and surprise your adversary. 

Master Tarm Sarm had over one hundred fights in his lifetime and his notorious feats were to be recorded in a book, his biography. Unfortunately, the reporter who was writing the accounts, died in Hong Kong during the early stages of the writing, and the book, which was to have been titled ‘Yut Bart Jeen Gong Wing Look’ (The Record of 100 Victorious Fights) was never published. 

During the first few decades after the Republic of China was formed in 1912, the government encouraged and promoted the Chinese Martial Arts to the public. Many tournaments were held in the city of Canton, and the Kwongtung and Kwopzou Chinese Martial Arts Associations were formed. 

Many of the Northern Kung Fu Masters were invited to the south of China to help teach. Among these Northern Masters were Man Lai Sing, Lai Sing Ng, Foo Jun Soong and the well-known Ku Yu Cheung. 

There was to be a big challenge match between the Southern and Northern styles, and Master Tarm Sarm, who was representing the Southern style, was preparing his students for the tournament with extra training and conditioning. Master Ku Yu Cheung was one of the main representatives of the Northern style. 

Master Ku Yu Cheung was a very famous and accomplished martial artist, and was well known for his ‘Iron Body’ feats. He was very familiar with Master Tarm Sarm’s reputation, and respected him as a fellow martial arts hero. In Chinese, there is a saying, ‘Sik Ying Hung-Jung Ying Hung’, which literally means ‘A true hero respects another hero’. 

Master Ku Yu Cheung had a strong desire to train with Master Tarm Sarm, so rather than fight each other, and out of mutual respect for each other, they decided an exchange of students would be beneficial to both of their schools. With this 'exchange program' implemented, each sent several students from their respective schools to train in the others school. This is the reason that Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut has the some of the Northern form, ‘Buk Siu Lum’, incorporated into its curriculum. 

It was after this exchange program was implemented that Master Tarm Sarm was encouraged by two of his students, Lai Gum and Chow Hing to rename the school ‘Buk Sing’ (Northern victorious), and Master Tarm proceeded to do so with the approval of most of the members.

 Master Yip Tse Fei, second generation, Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut 

Yip Tse Fei began learning kung fu under Chung Tai, but because of financial hardships, he had to move to another village. In his new village, he learned the sword and spear in the school of Ng’arm, and he was introduced to a Tai Chi teacher, Master Yuen Ching Po.

After a long absence, Yip Tse Fei returned to his home village, and took up residence next door to Wong To’s Kwoon. Wong To was a long time friend and training partner of Tarm Sarm’s, and Yip Tse Fei told Wong To that he wished to study under Tarm Sarm. Wong To warned that if he was questioned about his kung fu ability, Yip Tse Fei was not to try and prove himself by sparring with Tarm Sarm! Wong To strongly advised him that the consequences would be very painful! 

When Yip Tse Fei was introduced to Tarm Sarm, he was asked what techniques he had learned. Yip Tse Fei replied that he had learned the ‘Gwa’, ‘So’ and ‘Charp’. At this, Tarm Sarm asked Yip Tse Fei to attack him with his ‘Charp Chui’, and being young and impulsive, Yip Tse Fei immediately forgot the warnings from Wong To. He attacked Tarm Sarm, thinking that he should be able to withstand at least two or three of Tarm Sarm’s punches! 

Yip Tse Fei attacked using ‘Fu Jow Charp Chui’ (Tiger Claw Stabbing Punch). Before Yip Tse Fei had advanced very far, he was hit on the head by Tarm Sarm’s ‘Bart Gwa Jeurn’ (8 Diagram Palm). Tarm Sarm’s ‘Bart Gwa’ was not the same as that of the famous ‘Bart Gwa’ (Pa Kua) boxing style, but one of his own inventions. It looked similar to a dragon stretching out its claws, and when Tarm Sarm turned around, he looked like a lion raising its head to roar! Shortly after this encounter, Yip Tse Fei became a student of Tarm Sarm, and was one of his second generation Masters.