CHIN WOO HISTORY
Grandmaster Huo Yan Jia (founder of Chin Woo, 1867 - 1909) was the fourth child in the family of 10 brothers and sisters. Chen Gong Zhe, Mr. Mr.
During his childhood, he frequently became ill and, as a result, was often taken advantage of by the other children in his province. Ironically, Master Huo’s father, who was teaching kungfu, refused to teach his son the martial art. Therefore the young Huo was forced to hide behind bushes and watch as his father taught other students in the courtyard. Master Huo practiced on his own for the next 1
0 years. His parents never discovered this until he began to fight with his peers and defeat them. Later, his father officially accepted him and taught his younger son all that he knew. One day, he fought with a foreigner and immediately gained fame. It was during this time that many foreigners were in China, and some referred to the Chinese as the “Sick Men of Asia.” To keep the Chinese image, Master Huo decided to organize the Chin Woo School to allow all Chinese the opportunity to learn Chinese kungfu and strengthen themselves in order to defend the country. In 1909, a European wrestler was sent to Shanghai to challenge any Chinese that would accept. News quickly spread all over Shanghai. Later, some Chinese people invited Master Huo to Shanghai to accept the challenge. He seized the opportunity and emerged victorious. This incident further escalated Master Huo’s reputation. As word of his victory further spread, so did the Chin Woo spirit. Unfortunately, in August 1909, Master Huo died, but on March 3, 1910, Mr. Yao Chan Bo and Mr. Lu Wei Chang reopened the Chin Woo school. After Master Huo Yan Jia passed away, his younger brother, Mr. Huo Yuan Siang, and his son, Mr. Huo Tong Ker, continued to teach at the Chin Woo Association. Later, many famous martial-arts masters were invited to teach in Chin Woo. Even though they came from different schools, they all followed Chin Woo regulations. Thus Chin Woo became a famous and popular martial-arts association in Shanghai. Chin Woo sponsored most of the martial-arts tournaments. However, in 1966, Shanghai Chin Woo was forced to discontinue their martial-arts activities due to communist regulations. Those restrictions were later lifted, and martial-arts activities were again alive in the Shanghai Chin Woo. After the death of Master Huo, Chin Woo was reorganized to make it available to other parts of China and Asia. In 1920, Shanghai Chin Woo sent representatives to Southeast Asia. Li Hui Seng, Mr. Luo Xiao Ao, Mr. Ye Shu Tian, and Mrs. Chen Shi Chao made their first stop in Saigon, Vietnam. They opened the first Chin Woo School there and later in parts of Malaysia and Singapore. To prove their skills, they were often required to give demonstrations or accept challenges. By 1923, these five Chin Woo Masters had opened Chin Woo schools all over Southeast Asia and visited nine different countries. Of the five masters, Mr. Ye Shu Tian was considered the most knowledgeable in kungfu.Chan Tsi Cheng succeeded in learning all of the techniques. Because he admired the Chin Woo Association, started by Huo Yuen Ja, Chan Tsi Cheng went to Shanghai with Lau Fat Mang to join the Chin Woo Association, and spread the knowledge of Eagle Claw Kung Fu there. Lau Fat Mang was Lau Kai Man's blood nephew, so he learned from his uncle at a very early age. When Lau arrived in Shanghai, the first thing he did was to go to the head office of the "Chin Woo Association" to teach. In this Association, everyone was required to know the ten (10) basic forms of Chin Woo. The ten basic forms are: Tam Teui, Gung Lik Kuen, Da Gin Kqen, Sahp Gee Gin Kqen, Tuet Jien, Ng Fu Chon, Quan Yeung Quan, Toa Kuen (2 man form), Bat Kua Do, Jeet Kune. After that, they could learn one (1) of the five (5) Kung Fu Styles taught at that Association. In time, Lau become Chan's Assistant Eagle Claw Instructor. In 1924, the Chin Woo Association was started in Hong Kong. The Association wanted to send a teacher from the headquarters in Shanghai to go to Hong Kong to teach, and Chan Tsi Cheng was selected. Hence, Lau Fat Mang remained in Shanghai and became the head teacher in the Chin Woo Association where he trained many successful students. Two (2) years passed and the Chin Woo Association opened a school in Fut Shan, which is located in the south. Lau Fat Mang was sent to this school. In 1929, Chan Tsi Cheng left Hong Kong and returned to Northern China. The Chin Woo Association in Hong Kong was left without an Eagle Claw teacher, this situation allowed Lau Fat Mang to go to Hong Kong and take over the teaching position. Lau Fat Mang arrived in Hong Kong and attracted many students. Among them were Ng Wai Nung (Master Shum Leung's Sifu), Lee Zhau Mang and Lee Waig Hong. Greek Chin Woo Athletic Association established in 2016 by grandmaster Lily Lau's students Papachristos Christos( Fat Shing), Salomidou Angeliki ( Fat Onh) ,Tzima Dora and Karkalis Kiriakos.
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