The Kung Fu King: Stories From Kulo, Hoksan
Jim Roselando, October 28th, 2008
I would like to share with you, a few stories from our Kulo Research projects in China!
Kulo eBook 2 contains English translations, for the first time ever, of the 13 Historical Posters that are hanging in Leung Jan’s Family Estate in Kulo village, Hoksan! Below is a couple of “sneak peaks” from a very famous “challenge match” and more! And, there are many more “challenge” stories and much more info - Get the whole picture and all the stories in eBook 2: “Leung Jan; The Kungfu King”. “Coming Soon”
Info Excerpts, Kulo eBook 2:
…Wing Chun was popular during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. At the end of the Qing, Leung Jan came to Foshan to open a medicinal clinic. He understood “nei jia” and “wai jia” internal and external. From his time Wing Chun became famous. Many people challenged him, but none could pass his hand…
…Dr. Leung kept a rack of poles, in his Foshan clinic, in which the middle pole was longest and had the tip painted red. He used this red pole to accept challenges from all martial artists. If anyone could break his red pole he would pay them 50 silver taels. And if anyone could defeat him he would give them 100 silver taels. In the past, famous masters of Dragon style, Shaolin, Wing Chun, Choy Li Fut, Liu Pai, White Crane, Wudang and more came to challenge Dr. Leung. But, after this time of the red pole, no one dared to come again and Leung Jan was known as the most powerful boxer in the area…
…And so his Foshan Wing Chun school flourished with many many students. Leung Jan used his Wing Chun hand as advertisement. He was a fighter. Every challenge he won brought more new students to his school. Soon, he became known as “King of Wing Chun”. From his students he choose only those who were kind, generous, and good hearted to become disciples. He was not a respecter of persons, rich or poor, the qualifications were the same, although, he preferred to teach those who were slim, ill in health and needed raising up, needed help…
A Famous Fight
Excerpt Kulo eBook 2; “Sneak Peak”
…Huang Fei Long (Dragon) thought to himself that Leung Jan must be afraid of a challenge. Dr. Leung welcomed the younger man as a brother and said that if he needed financial assistance, Leung would give him some silver. But, the young master said money was unimportant and that he only came to learn from the famous Master Leung, asking, teach me please. But, Dr. Leung, said, younger brother, I no longer need to use the red pole as an advertisement for my clinic and teaching and I no longer wish to acceptance challenges, we can be friends. However, the young master was intent upon a challenge. So Huang took an eyebrow height staff adopting a “qi mei gun” stance and challenged Leung saying its time to fight now all the while striking out with his pole to Leung Jan’s head. Leung had already picked up his red pole and defended with ….
Excerpt Kulo eBook 1:
“Lao Ba (Fung Chun) Interview”
19:
Q) I have heard that one of Leung Jan’s Sifu’s, Wong Wah Bo, was a native of Kulo village? Can you tell me about that?
A) Yes! Wong Wah Bo was a native of Hoksan, Kulo.
21:
Q) Wing Chun is often considered to be a fusion of Snake & Crane boxing. What do you feel Wing Chun derived from?
A) Well, I think it is from Snake & Crane boxing. Even in the old books it is said to come from this!
23:
Q) Many people feel Red Boat Sifu, Wong Wah Bo, was responsible for the split of one long set into three sections. Who do you think broke the one long Siu Lin Tao set into the Three that most people practice today?
A) Wong Wah Bo taught Straight Body Wing Chun, Yim Wing Chun taught Side Body Wing Chun. The rest I cannot say!
Read the complete 36 Secrets Interview with gatekeeper Fung Chun in eBook One and much more!
In 2008, even with the web full of WCK sites, authentic information direct from the source on the “Kung Fu King” is still scarce! Master Leung Jan, the most famous fighter of his time in Southern China, has always been a common name thanks to his time spent in Foshan and Kulo. His Wing Chun Boxing has spread around the globe, and with millions of people practicing his art there is no doubt his Wing Chun Boxing is one of the most popular forms of Martial Art in the world today!
Leung Jan, like many hero’s of the past, has brought much curiosity as to what type of skill did he really have? Well, the one thing we can be sure of was that Master Leung Jan was no doubt the most dominant hand and teacher in his region and loved martial arts his entire life!
During our last trip to Kulo village this year, a member of the Kulo Government not only opened Master Leung Jan’s home for us without charge, others read the 13 Posters out loud for us as we recorded them! Now, for the first time ever, they have been translated into English in our eBook 2.
Special thank you to the Fung family and the Lao family for their support and preservation of Master Leung Jan’s Boxing and History! For more information regarding Master Leung Jan and his Kulo Boxing Family please visit our site!
And if you have interest in our eBooks or DVD, just email me.
Jim
Thank you for the interesting article on the traditional training methods for the pole. Some of the principles listed like “live or dead” are remarkably similar to the “off or on” idea as Hawkins Cheung Sifu often expounded. There is much food for thought and comparisons on the six principles that you described to be sure. Just one curious note on the Chinese language. Why do you translate “Sam Faat” as nature or mind methods. If I understand this term correctly, this refers to three methods. In the article you mention six methods instead? Could you clarify my confusion on this? Thanks!
Jim,
Sorry for the post above. I thought I was on Monsieur Robert Chu’s thread! Anyway, your collection of stories of Leung Jan seems interesting as they pertain to some relevant cultural and early WC background.
Best wishes,