Yiu Choi Lineage

[PalmStriker]

Demo vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTrR6_-LKkk

[PalmStriker]

Demo vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4PcdY8R7po

[PalmStriker]

Master Fok Chiu who is Master Yiu Choi's last disciple also set up in Hong Kong and taught WingChun. This school and the more underground sect posted earlier would only show and practice "Ip Man Style Wing Chun" openly when working out in the parks around Hong Kong. Times are different now, but back then, there were codes to be followed. This is still in effect with some existing Kung Fu lineages. This I know, personally. You have to respect their privacy. ~ Grandmaster YIU Choi (Fok Chiu's master)
Yiu Choi (Yao Cai) was born in the 16th year of the reign of the Guangxu Emperor (1890) and died in 1956. Nicknamed ‘Strong Choi’, his name was bestowed upon him due to his surprising strength.

Once, with his arm outstretched, he could easily lift up a big basket of rice by his wrist, just by using his wrist power. Yiu Choi’s one punch carried 460lbs of impact; his inch punch could break stone tiles, his bong sau broke the arm off of a wooden dummy. Later under the guidance of Ng Chung So, Yiu switched to the bamboo dummy to develop softness. As a result, Yiu Choi’s sensitivity and ‘stickiness’ in chi sau improved tremendously. Softness within hardness, and hardness within softness is one of the distinguishing features of Yiu lineage Wing Chun.

Yiu Choi studied under the tutelage of renown Foshan Wing Chun master, Yuen Chai Wan. Later he continued his training as a student of Ng Chung So. Alongside Yiu, Yuen Kay Shan and Ip Man all took pointers from Ng. Later on, Yiu Choi also received guidance from Kok Bo Chuen (who spent his time between Qinzhou, Guangxi and Foshan). As a result of his comprehensive knowledge, Yiu Choi was able to distill the essence of all his teachers and subsequently, his skills developed tremendously.

At the time the reputation of Yuen Kay Shan, Yiu Choi and Ip Man were so well known they were called the ‘Three heroes of Wing Chun’. Today, the descendants of Yiu Choi are numerous, many with outstanding skills, found throughout the world.

Fok Chiu is the last of Yiu Choi’s first generation disciples. He has been teaching students in Hong Kong and China for the last sixty years. His students have spread far and wide, to the US, the UK, France, Canada etc.

http://hongkongwingchunschool.weebly.com/

[Eric_H]

Hey thanks for sharing the links guys, it's always interesting to see another relatively unknown lineage highlighted.

I've got a lot of disagreements with how their SNT plays in terms of structure, but would prefer to put hands on it before making any final judgements - are there any schools in the USA?

Best,

[PalmStriker]

Yiu Choi Wing Chun is noticeably different than the Yuen Kay San Wing Chun. Most likely contributed to the many years Yiu Choi spent training under his 2nd Sifu Ng Chung So. Yiu Choi, Yuen Kay San and Ip man were all about the same age but Yuen Chai Wan (Yuen Kay San's older brother) was born in 1877, 12-13 years older than the three. https://chinesemartialstudies.com/20...-of-wing-chun/

[Marnetmar]

Can I ask why Fok Chiu does SLT basically like the Yip Man version, with no rolling Kwun Sau or Sup Jee Sao or really anything characteristic of other Yiu Choi/Yuen Kay San forms that I've seen?

Yiu Choi SLT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6su5fLj1G5Y

Yuen Kay San SLT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uGbSvl68RE

Typical Yip Man lineage SLT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wTa5BKV_-k

Fok Chiu SLT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JofHiooprQk

[PalmStriker]

My thoughts are that Ip Man had established himself and "Wing Chun" in Hong Kong during a time that was very competitive in securing students among Kung Fu Masters who had established schools open to non-family members. Fok Chiu as well as other WingChun lineage teachers were not open back then with teaching the public family-only style, they would openly only teach what Ip Man was showing. Ip Man was respected by them for who he was. There were lineages besides Yiu Choi (Tang Yik for instance) that were probably also guarding their family styles. Master Ip Man was the unprecedented "foot forward".