| Southern Kung Fu Families |
| Other legends state that these five were the only survivors of the Qing attack on the Southern Shaolin Temple. Please note that the spelling of the names change often between accounts due to the Romanization of the Chinese characters and the pronunciation between Mandarin and Cantonese. The word 'Gar' (Mandarin: Jia) used after the founder's name means family. Hung Gar: (Mandarin: Hong, Founder: Hung Hei Gung) External system that uses dynamic-tension exercises, which are excellent for developing strength, coupled with low, long stances and a combination of short, medium and long-arm styles. Lau Gar: (Mandarin: Liu, Founder: Lau Sam Ngan) Middle-length hand system, which is not often taught today. Choy Gar: (Mandarin: Choi, Founder: Choy Gan Yee) Also spelled Chia, Ju, Choi, Tsoi, Gee, and Jyu and renamed to protect the family as Tong Long or Preying Mantis. Long-arm style. Lei Gar: (Mandarin: Lee, Founder: Lei Yao San) Strong medium range style. Mok Gar: (Mandarin: Mu, Founder: Mok Ching Giu) A system with short-hand techniques and strong kicks. Of the five kung fu families, Hung Gar remained intact and the four other systems were combined to produce... Hung Fut Choy Mok Choy Lei Fut The reason for these off shoots was because of their adaptability to changing times and unique features such as the left-foot principle of the Hung Fut Kung Fu system. |
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| When the Qing troops burned down the Shaolin Temple, many characteristics of the southern method (as we recognise them today) began to emerge. True consolidation of what one would consider the 'southern style' did not take place until Gee Sim, fled to the Kwong How Temple in Guangzhou, in Guangdong province and took in six famous students. These students were Liu Chan, Hung Hei-Gung, Choy Gan Yee, Mok Ching Giu, Lei Yao San, and Lau San. Liu Chan was a religious monk and his beliefs prevented him from fighting in the revolution. However, the rest went on to propagate the martial arts throughout The South. These five martial artists are credited as the famous five families of southern kung fu (Hung, Lau, Choy, Lei, and Mok) that most of the southern systems practised today are related to. |
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