Lau Gar Kung Fu is an ancient form of martial art. It has been in existence for many years now and is a popular form of Kung Fu style even after all these years. There are many people who believe that the martial art originated at Shaolin temples. But the fact is that the martial arts have been present much before they became popular at Shaolin temple. They have been a part of life even before the temple was built. Shaolin temples were the places where the martial arts developed. It is from these Shaolin temples that the popularity of martial arts started picking up.
There are five major styles of Southern Kung Fu system. They are Lau, Hung, Choy, Li, and Monk. Lau Kung Fu Gar is one of the five major styles of Southern Kung Fu systems. All the styles derive their names from the originators and therefore have a suffix “Gar”. The word “Gar” refers to the family to which the form of Kung Fu system belongs. The five styles or classifications of Kung Fu dates back during the days when Five Animal Fist Forms were practiced in temples. The various forms of kung Fu systems were based on physical abilities, mental attitudes, and different strategies and tactics.
As mentioned earlier, the Lau Gar Kung Fu system is a traditional Kung Fu system of Southern China. It developed at Shaolin temples and was originally taught to the monks in these temples. The Shaolin temples were the places where the monks were moved after completion of their training. Common people were not allowed any access to the Shaolin temples.
Lau Sarm Ngau – Founder of the style
The Lau Gar Kung Fu style was developed by the founder of this style and was known as Lau Sarm Ngau. Being a tiger hunter, he had received a deep scar on his forehead that gave the impression of an eye. It was because of this scar that gave him the name, Lau Sarm Ngau, which means three-eyed Lau. The form of Kung Fu system is also known as the Liu Jia Ngau or Liu San Yan because the local dialect. The Lau Gar Kung Fu is based on a type of boxing that was in practice at the Kuei Ling temple. Other forms of Kung Fu systems were based on the movements of five animals. The five animals included the tiger, dragon, snake, crane, and leopard. These animals are also referred to as the “Five Ancestors” as the sets of this Southern Kung Fu system are based on their movement styles.
The Kuei Ling temple, the birth place of Hung Gar Kung Fu style, also became home for the Lau Gar Kung Fu system. The master of this system, Lau Sarm Ngau, learned this art of fighting at the Kuei Ling Temple. The Lau Gar Kung Fu style is similar to Hung Gar Kung Fu System in several ways and therefore the sets of this style were incorporated into the syllabus of the Hung Gar Kung Fu style. As a result, it is very difficult to find trainers for Lau Gar Kung Fu system in China. The style used for Lau Gar Kung Fu was a “closed” style. In other words, the art was taught only to the family members of the master and the outsiders were not even considered.
Yau Luk Sau
It was only towards last century’s end, when a person named, Yau Luk Sau, expressed his wish to master Kung Fu that the scenario began to change. He left his home at the tender age of 13 in pursuit to learn the art. From his home situated in Kowloon, he travelled as far as Kong Sai Province. Here, he began his training under the Master Tang Hoi Ching. He learnt the art for nine years before he was allowed to teach Kung Fu independent of his teacher, Master Tang Hoi Ching. After some time, Yau Luk Sau came in contact with Master Wan Goon Wing. Yau Luk Sau carried on with his studies with Master Wan Goon Wing for another six years.
Jeremy Yau
In this manner, the art of Kung Ku travelled from one generation to another and today Master Jeremy Yau, the grandson to Yau Luk Sau, is the possessor of the art. Master Jeremy Yau started his training early in his life. He was only six years old when he started practicing the art and continued it for next 16 years. He used to devote 4 hours for his training in Kung Fu each night. He would practice almost 360 days in a year. Gradually, the art travelled to the land of Britain in the year 1961 with Master Jeremy Yau. Master Jeremy Yau is currently the Chief Instructor at the British Kung Fu Association that was formed in 1973.