Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu: A Quick Overview for Beginners

What is Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu?

Choy Lee Fut is a Southern Chinese martial art that combines the quick footwork and circular movements of Northern styles with the powerful hand techniques of Southern styles. It was founded by Chan Heung in the 19th century and incorporates elements from various Kung Fu systems. It is known for its powerful whipping techniques, circular movements, and emphasis on both offensive and defensive strategies.

History of Choy Lee Fut

Founded by Chan Heung (陳享) in 1836, Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu's creation was influenced by a combination of Shaolin Kung Fu styles. Chan Heung traveled extensively to learn from various masters. He combined what he learned from three main teachers:

• Chan Yuen-Wu (陳遠護) who taught him Fut Gar (佛家) which means Buddha Family
• Lee Yau-San (李友山) from whom the Lee part of the name comes
• Choy Fook (蔡褔) from whom the Choy part of the name comes

The name Choy Lee Fut honors these three influences as well as the teachings of Buddha (佛, Fut) in the Shaolin Temple. Chan Heung formally established the style in his village, and it has since become one of the most popular and widely practiced styles of Kung Fu, particularly in Southern China and then throughout the world.

Core Principles of Choy Lee Fut

Some of the core principles of Choy Lee Fut are:

• Power Generation: Utilizing whole-body movement and proper body mechanics to generate power and a well-balanced physique.
• Long-Range Techniques: Using wide and open movements to open the mind at early stages of training and for developing internal power. Those techniques easily can be changed to short-range techniques later on and are great for defending against multiple attackers.
• Circular Movements: Using circular blocks and strikes to deflect attacks and generate momentum.
• Straight Techniques: Using straight techniques to stop circular attacks and cultivate willpower.
• Maintaining a flow: Combining various hand and foot techniques in fluid sequences to being able to adapt to any situation.

Fundamental Techniques

Choy Lee Fut incorporates a wide variety of hand and foot techniques. Some fundamental ones include:

• Punches: Including straight punches, uppercuts, elbows and knees.
• Kicks: Such as front kick, sidekick, oblique kick, and roundhouse kick.
• Blocks: Various hand and arm movements to deflect attacks.
• Palm Strikes: Powerful strikes using the palm of the hand.
• Footwork: Dynamic footwork to move in and out of range.
• Throws and joint locks: Grappling techniques and joint locks.

Benefits of Learning Choy Lee Fut

Training in Choy Lee Fut offers numerous benefits:

• Improved Physical Fitness: Enhances strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination.
• Self-Defense Skills: Provides effective techniques & understanding for practical self-defense.
• Mental Clarity & Discipline: Cultivates focus, discipline, and perseverance.
• Stress Reduction: Promotes relaxation and mental well-being through physical activity.
• Freedom of Movement: Allows for a more fluid and dynamic approach to movements in general.

Getting Started with Choy Lee Fut

It is not easy to find a good teacher of Choy Lee Fut nearby. For those interested in learning Choy Lee Fut, consider exploring online courses that offer an engaging instruction, clear explanations of the fundamentals, and a well structured step-by-step learning path. Courses like that can provide a great learning experience, allowing you to train at your own pace and convenience. Check out our Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu video courses to begin your journey.