The Choy Lee Fut System

There are a total of 148 forms in the choy lee fut system. These are subdivided into 3 levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. Apart from the fist forms, there are also weapons as well as 18 different types of dummies, which are also divided into these 3 categories of primary, secondary and tertiary. Even Lion Dance routines are another category of the Choy Lee Fut system. Each category is further subdivided into "soft", "hard", external, internal, long, short, and medium ranges for the weapons categories. In the primary level fist forms, there are 10 forms, these are:

"Ng Lun Ma" ( 5 wheel horse)
"Ng Lun Choy" ( 5 wheel fist)
"Siu Moi Fa Kuen" ( small plum blossom fist)
"Siu Sup Ji Kuen" ( small cross form)
"Sup Ji Jit Fu Kuen" ( cross blocking tiger form)
"Peng Kuen" (level fist form)
"Peng Jang Kuen" ( level elbow form)
"Tet Ji Cheung Kuen" ( iron arrow long form)
"Kung Jl Fook Fu Kuen" ( subduing the tiger form)
"Sup Jl Kou Da Kuen" ( cross pattern fighting form)

At the primary level the first type of techniques are "oi lem sou" or external hands. These are "long external hands" which are predominant in the above forms. The main type of techniques are the "long gwa chui's, cheung gnarn chui's, sol chui's" etc. There is a lot of importance placed at the primary level in training the various "horse stance" fundamentals to enable the Choy Lee Fut practitioner to be able to fully utilize and harness all the power generated not only by the stance work but also to use the waist and co-ordinate the "whole body" into one effective unit.

Each form at the primary level teaches the Choy Lee Fut practitioner to target specific areas as well as use particular techniques. Even the direction in which a form is executed has "specifics". The way power is generated ~ different in certain forms.

For example in "Siu Moi Fa Kuen" the movements are mainly in a linear direction and the techniques targeted are: "charp chui, chen ji, biu jong, dert jeung".

The power is generated by fast and flowing movements eg.-

"Siu Sup Ji" again the main techniques are: "chen ji, biu jong, cup chui, sol chui"; "Jet Fu Kuen": "chen ji, pek chui, biu jong, chet kiu"; "Peng Jang": "loy yum ,cheung gnarn chui, charp chui", and the main emphasis or target area is the "middle section".
"Tet Jin Cheung Kuen" teaches maneuverability in using the left and right feet as well as single foot movements.
"Sup Ji Kou Da Kuen" places emphasis on the following techniques: "cheung gnarn chui, charn jeung, pow jeung, jin ji".
"Kung Gee Fook Fu" targets the "fu jow (tiger claw), cup chui, gwa chui and poe chui".

Apart from the fist techniques, there is also emphasis on different stance work within the forms. In the "short forms" of Choy Lee Fut, different forms highlight particular stances, for example in "Peng Kuen" the main points are the "Tun Ma"(swallow), "Tol Ma" (forward bias horse stance) as well as teaching how to "slide" using the horse stance. The horse stance is also "broken down" into "high and low" stances as well as allowing mobility in both offensive and defensive modes. In each of these modes, the use of the "horse stance" allows the practitioner to develop and utilize the power differently. For example when on the offensive, using the "Tol Ma" technique the power is projected forward, whereas when in the "retreat" mode using "tun ma" or "deel ma" the power is still projected forward but the amount of power generated from the stance is inherently different. Even the way techniques are executed are trained differently. What this means is the way power is generated and applied. For example in "Peng Jang" (level elbow) the power is fast, flowing and strong, in "Kung Gee Fook Fu" the power is strong and slower. Even the energy levels vary from form to form. For example in the "short forms" there is often a "burst" of continuous energy whereas in the "long forms" one must learn to "pace" oneself and train for "endurance" rather than outright speed. At all times one must remember that all the forms are teaching one how to practice for "combat".

Photo of Kuen Po's (Fist Manuals) and Drawings

At the secondary level, there are a total of 13 fist forms. These are:

"Sze Mourn Kiu Jo Sarng Ma" ( 4 door bridging, running the live horse)
"Sup Baat Lohan Kuen" ( 18 lohan hands -internal clf form)
"Jor Yol Dan Keuk Kuen" ( left & right alternating Single leg form)
"Oi Lem Bic Da Soy Sou Ying Yang Kung" (External yin yang sticky exercise for close fighting and hand breaking)
"Dai Bagua Kuen" ( large bagua fist form)
"Siu Bagua Kuen" ( small bagua fist form)
"Moi Fa Bagua Kuen" ( plum blossom bagua fist form)
"Dat Ting Bagua Kuen" (Achieving Harmony Bagua fist form)
"Yee Jong Bagua Kuen" (Strong Righteousness Bagua fist form)
"Hun Yun Bagua Kuen" (bear man bagua fist form)
"Dou Fu Bagua Kuen" (fighting tiger bagua fist form)
"Ng Ying Bagua Kuen" (5 animals bagua fist form)
"Bagua Sum" ( the heart of bagua fist form)

At the secondary level ,the practitioner begins learning "noi lem sou" or internal hands. Techniques that fall into this category are elbows, knees or what is generally known as "2nd and 3rd gate" techniques. Also more emphasis is placed on the "bagua" techniques and forms. The bagua forms and training also help the Choy Lee Fut practitioner to be able to effectively change not only the direction of "attack" but also the "angle" of attack on 3 different planes. In the primary levels, most of the forms are executed in either a "linear" direction or a "cross pattern". The "bagua's work on the 8 directional changes as well as 3 different planes". The "planes" are divided into 3 levels, these are upper, midsection and lower levels. At this level there is also more emphasis placed on speed and the correct execution of techniques relative to directional changes. Having already "mastered" the basic techniques at the "primary levels", the secondary level technique training teaches how to quickly alternate between various techniques and to effect directional changes. For example a straight line or linear technique such as "cheung gnarn chui" executed in the "jee ng ma" stance which targets the head area, is easily changed to a "horizontal back fist or "dart chui" which is known as a spinning back fist by utilising the "kwai ma" stance in conjunction with the turning of the waist. If one then again utilises the waist and "unwinds" the waist another "dart chui" technique can easily be utilised, this can then be followed by a "dang charn". Geuk' or reverse spinning push kick as the weight is transferred onto the front leg allowing one to make use of the "spare leg" to execute the "dang charn geuk' or even a "au sol geuk" (spinning hook kick).

Bagua Hands and Nine Kicks

The Bagua Hand techniques and the nine basic kicks of Choy Lee Fut are taught to students on a basic level. This in combination with basic horse stance training gives even a beginner student a sense of the effectiveness of the Chan Family Choy Lee Fut system.

Bagua hands are first taught "in the air" and soon tested on focus mitts with a partner. These techniques were developed as a way to teach students how to utilize power and to punch properly in a shorter period of time. They are first trained separately and then as combinations. This gives students a head start to forms training because all of the basic hands are utilized in the primary level forms so by the time the student starts the form he or she already has an idea of how to use the technique properly.

The nine basic kicks are also taught to the beginner student for the same reason. First trained in the air and then on bags with a partner, this also gives the student a sense of how to kick properly and develop power.

The bagua hands in combination with the nine kicks creates a large arsenal of techniques that even a relatively new student can utilize. There are endless combinations with these techniques making them ideal for student who want to adapt Choy Lee Fut for competitive fighting.

Weapons

Choy Lee Fut weapons are divided into several categories. These are long range, mid-range and close range. These are further subdivided into hard, soft, heavy, flexible, double and combinations of weapons.

Weapons that fall into the long range category are the single-headed pole, double headed pole, monkey pole, level eyebrow pole, as well as several others like the flag pole. This category also includes several types several types of spears as well as Kwan Do and Pu Dao type weapons. Several farmer-type implements and fork type weapons also fall into this category.

Weapons that fall into the Mid-Range category vary from broadsword to Gim or straight sword. These are further subdivide into hard or soft categories. Also inclued in this category are the bench, tiger hooks, hammers and axes.

Short or close range weapons include the fan and daggers.

Among the flexible weapons in the Choy Lee Fut system are the nine section whip, rope dart and the three section soft whip.

Double weapons include the double broadsword, double gim, double hammer, double axe, double hook, double nine section whip, double dish shield and double tiger head shield.

The 18 Wooden Dummies of Choy Lee Fut

The Choy Lee Fut system has 18 different dummy sets as a result of the legacy passed down from Choy Fook to founder Chan Hueng. Again, these are categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Each dummy set trains specific techniques or is used to condition certain parts of the body. As a practitioners skill level increases, so does the complexity level of the dummy system. Some of the higher level dummies are elaborate mechanical contraptions with built-in booby traps designed to surprise the student as well as raise his/her skill level.

Ching Jong - The ching jong is predominantly a static dummy even though the central mounted arm does have a limited amount of movement. This entry level dummy is used to condition the Kiu Sau or "bridge hand". This dummy focuses mainly on hand techniques as well as a limited amount of kicking techniques. The main essence of the Ching Jong, apart from the conditioning, is to teach the student to move off the centerline and utilize attacks left and right as well as using defensive and offensive techniques on three different planes.

Sa Bo Jong (Sand Bag Dummy) - The second dummy is the Sa Bo Jong. The single Sa Bo Jong (there is also a 3 bag version) is the first of the primary level moving dummies. The student is first taught the single version to allow him/here to focus on speed and allow the mind to focus on moving objects. Techniques are designed to allow the student to focus on speed using an array of continuous hand techniques. This also forces the student to have proper alignment of the wrist. The bag also checks the students stance work. The more advanced version of this dummy is the Sam Sing Sa Bo Jong. This trains the student to deal with multiple attackers.

Sui Sou Jong (Hand-Breaking Dummy) - The next dummy or Sui Sou Jong is a combination of the two previous dummies. In training with this dummy, the main emphasis is on speedy hand techniques and focusing the mind on fast reaction timing.