At approximately 500 AD at Honan Shaolin Temple Tatmor, a Buddhist monk had established a sect of Buddhism creed called Chan and introduced to the monks the practice of systematic martial arts that involved self-defense. This new idea was to help the monks strengthen their bodies, sustain impeccable health and defend themselves and the temple if it became necessary.
Tatmors became popular and expanded to include over a hundred self-defense systems that escalated the recognition of Shaolin warriors and therefore earned Sacred Land of Chinese Kung-fu title. In Honan province, Fukien Temple emerged from the previous one (Honan) that Tatmor taught at. It became a sanctuary for the monks in 1570 when fire consumed Honan Temple to ashes and marked the beginning of Hung Gar Kung Fu, a form of self-defense mechanism.
The monks opened the Shaolin Temple for the villagers and that is where the story of Hung Hei-Kwun, a tea merchant that abandoned that to become a Fukien Shaolin devotee unfolded during the reign of Abbot Chi Zin. Wu Wai-kin also an ardent follower became a cause of chaos between the Fukien Shaolin Temple and Ching Dynasty, when he avenged death of his father at his hometown by attacking Ching fine men.
Actually, Dynasty had its prior suspicions about the affairs of Shaolin and Wu had just provided an ideal chance to attack and even as the monk fought hard to protect their Shaolin it was still ruined by the armed Ching troops. This ruthless act happened at the end of 18th century and as the history imply there were some five senior monks trapped in the crumbling Temple but they escaped anyway. They vowed to restore the Ming Dynasty while wrecking the Ching and that is how the country’s most influential Hung Gar Kung Fu fighting styles and warrior cropped up.
The aforementioned influential leaders of Shaolin Temple including Hung Hei-Kwun and his teachers, monk Sam Tak and abbot Chi Zin were among the thirty people that took off to Kwantung province after the attacks. Hung Hei launched a secret school for martial arts in Big Buddha temple with an aim to spread Shaolin Temple Teachings and ten years later expanded to open yet another in Fa City called Hung Gar Boxing.
The aim was to disguise its ties with the Shaolin roots from the Ching Government. Besides that the foundation was a commemoration to the Hung-mo Chu, the initial emperor of Ming Dynasty ruined when Ching seized power. Hung Hei-Kwun martial art school success was adamant and that is how he received Luk Ah-Choy, a son of Hung Hei Goon and a student of his teacher abbot Chin Zin.
Hung Hei Goon is remembered for being the initiator of the form Kung Gee Fook Fu meaning Taming tiger that is an elementary technique in Hung Gar Schools now. He was a tea merchant before becoming a student of Gee Sim Sum See, one of the seniors that escaped during the destruction of Fukien Shaolin Temple. So, Luk Ah-Choy, his son became a fast learner and an expert enough to accept a responsibility to teach Hung Gar Kung-fu at Canton by his teacher Hung Hei-Kwan.Wong Tai, a son and student of Luk Ah-Choy and his brilliant son Wong Kay-ying became resilient Hung Gar Kung Fook Fu but Wong Tai later sought more tactics from the Hung Hei-Kwun devotees.
The son patiently and diligently gathered knowledge to snatch a position among the top ten martial artists in Kwantung province labeled the (Ten Tigers of Kwantung). Wong Kay-Ying’s son, Wong Fei-hung martial art ability was as perfect as his fathers and his popularity spread like bush fire in the entire southern China at around 1850-1933 and is celebrated for creating Tiger & Crane or Fu Hoc Kuen style.
One of his students, Lam Sai Wing during 1861 to 1942 was only eighteen, when they first met. The passionate young man aimed at sharpening the earlier skills learned from his father and a couple of other experts such as Sifu Wu Gum Sin, Sifu Jung Hong San, and Sifu Lam Fook. They taught him Arrow Hand and Butterfly Knife forms, Buddha palm Kung fu and Iron Wire respectively.
All these teachers had gathered their skills from influential experts of Hung Gar Kung Fu earlier, but were later succeeded by one of the student. He brought along Lam Jo, recognized for his innate abilities, passion and sturdy physique. The school gathered several students only for one, Lam Kwong Wing to spread Hung Gar Kung Fu teachings in 1967 to San Francisco.