Martial Arts Spotlight: Choy Li Fut

The martial arts of China are collectively known as “kung fu” or “wushu.” These umbrella terms encompass thousands of distinctive, diverse, and radically unique disciplines of Chinese martial arts.

Naturally, as with any martial arts culture, many Chinese disciplines borrow techniques, philosophies, and training methods from each other. Some even combine multiple individual disciplines into one.

One of the best-known kung fu systems to do exactly that is Choy Li Fut—a hybrid martial art that integrated multiple styles over a century ago.

Bruce Lee reportedly gave Choy Li Fut an enthusiastic endorsement, stating, “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.”

At KFK, we are eager to explore the fascinating history and techniques of this incredible martial art. Join us as we delve into the subject of KFK’s latest Martial Art of the Month column: Choy Li Fut!

Origins

Founded by 19th-century Chinese martial artist Chan Heung, Choy Li Fut is a harmonious blend of three distinct sub-disciplines of kung fu: Choy Gar, Li Gar, and Fut Gar.

Chan Heung first studied Fut Gar in childhood under his uncle, Chan Yuen-wu. As a young man, he trained in Li Gar under Li Yau-san.

He later studied with the Shaolin monk Choy Fook, who taught him Choy Gar kung fu. From Chan’s mastery of these three distinct styles, the art of Choy Li Fut was eventually born.

Historically, Chinese martial arts have been categorized into Northern and Southern styles. The North emphasizes powerful kicking techniques, while the South is known for close-quarters fist techniques—exemplified by the old Chinese saying “Nan Quan, Bei Tui” (“South fist, North foot”).

With Choy Li Fut, Chan Heung sought to unify the techniques of both regions into a single, comprehensive system. As a result, Choy Li Fut exemplifies Chan’s dedication to blending diverse martial arts forms into something wholly new.

Techniques

When most people think of kung fu, they imagine either flowing, elongated punches and kicks inspired by animal movements or direct, close-range trapping techniques with chain punching as a primary strategy.

However, the goal of martial arts is to move beyond limitations, and Chan Heung aimed to do just that with Choy Li Fut. His philosophy was simple: “Why not both?”

Choy Li Fut is renowned for combining the extended ridge hands, long-arm punches, animal strikes, and dynamic kicks of Northern Chinese martial arts with the direct punches, trapping techniques, and low kicks characteristic of the South.

Watching a Choy Li Fut practitioner in action is like seeing the best of both worlds brought to life.

A skilled Choy Li Fut master might attack an opponent with powerful kicks and sweeping hand strikes from a distance. In close-quarters combat, they might utilize rapid strikes tailored for short-range fighting.

With the addition of sweeps and takedowns, a Choy Li Fut expert is proficient at all ranges of combat, merging the aesthetic beauty and practical effectiveness of kung fu into one formidable system.

Notable Practitioners

Philip Ng

Arguably the most famous Choy Li Fut exponent in modern times is Philip Ng, a name well-known to Hong Kong action fans.

Under the tutelage of his father Sam Ng, Phil became well versed in Choy Li Fut as a child (with Phil being equally skilled in other martial arts, such as Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Taekwondo, Jiu Jitsu, and Eskrima).

Phil eventually followed his dream to the Far East to become a star in Hong Kong action movies, bringing the art of Choy Li Fut to the big screen in such Hong Kong hits as “Once Upon A Time in Shanghai”, “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”.

Additionally, Phil also remains closely associated with his family’s Chicago-based kung fu school, the Ng Family Martial Arts Association, where his father still imparts the art of Choy Li Fut to his students to this day. With his own training and teaching lineage, Sam Ng himself is arguably the foremost authority on Choy Li Fut in the United States, and among the greatest authorities on the art worldwide.

Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong

Another highly respected Choy Li Fut master is Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong, who has dedicated decades to passing on the art through the Plum Blossom Federation. Under his leadership, the federation has established schools on every continent, spreading the teachings of Choy Li Fut across the globe.

Bruce Lee’s Endorsement and Influence

Additionally, Bruce Lee’s aforementioned endorsement of Choy Li Fut made the art one of many puzzle pieces used in the creation of Lee’s own modern fighting philosophy, Jeet Kune Do.

Not unlike Chan Heung’s creation of Choy Li Fut, Bruce Lee assembled Jeet Kune Do by collecting techniques from a wide array of different martial arts forms, with an emphasis on being fluid and adaptable in combat.

Great minds think alike, as they say, with Chan Heung and Bruce Lee having much the same martial arts mindset over a century apart – it is perhaps no coincidence, then, that Philip Ng would eventually go on to play Bruce Lee himself in 2017’s “Birth of the Dragon”.

With such a long legacy as one of the world’s most respected disciplines of kung fu, Choy Li Fut will undoubtedly continue to be practiced by martial artists the world over for generations to come.

And that’s KFK’s breakdown of the legendary Chinese martial art of Choy Li Fut!

Have you ever studied Choy Li Fut? What are some of your favourite Chinese martial arts? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram!

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