Inside the Yik Kam Cho Gar vs Hendrik Santos CONTROVERSY

[VT Andy]

I have been doing some reading and I find what is conveniently ignored by the disciple of Cho Hung Choy. This informations come from inside the Cho Gar family members. It is the same group that is the direct source of Cho Hung Choy’s kung fu the Ban Chung Zheng Dan Kam Cho Gar Wing Chun clan in Malaysia. Some here already dismiss their public announcement as false to counter the Cho family denouncement contradicting Hendrik Santos. But to dismiss is not enough by any means to prove it as false in my book. Some questions also conveniently ignored but need to be ask and hopefully everyone who reading this [supporter and against alike] will consider.

Claim – Hendrik Santos is sole successor of Yik Kam Cho Gar Wing Chun by his Sifu Cho Hung Choy.
Claim – Hendrik Santos publicly claim Ermei 12 palms system is the mother art of all Wing Chun.
Claim – Hendrik Santos publicly claim if WCK is without Ermei 12 palms system it is not WCK.
Claim – Hendrik Santos publicly claim all WCK without the core of Ermei will die out between one generation and 30 yrs time.
Claim – Hendrik Santos just sharing his story unbias leave it up to public to accept

Before we can understand we must look at big picture. Take look at who is Cho Hung Choy and Cho Gar clan first before understanding Hendrik.

From Cho Gar family member Patrick Tham on FB, WC Malaysia page.

There is a drastic difference between students and disciples. The actual forms were only taught to immediate family members. Whereas those learning in schools within the Cho village were only taught modified forms. The original 108 complete single form was used to modify Hung Kuen, Choy Lay Fatt, etc and taught to the students. Cho Onn also did not teach the original form to his early students including Cho Hung Choy, Yeung Kam Jiang, Hendrick Santos and others. Until today, the original form is only imparted to selected closed door disciples.

None of the elders in Cho Ga has knowledge about Yik Kam's Siu Lim Tao having a hybrid of Emei 12 form ad claimed by Hendrick Santos. It is a fabrication of his own imagination.

Hendrik Santos is indeed Cho Hung Choy's disciple. No doubt about it. But Cho Hung Choy was not Cho Onn's nephew at all. He was just someone from the Cho Village in Punyu that Cho Onn was asked to bring to Nanyang as those days it was difficult to clear the immigration unless they claim to be immediate family members. When Cho Hung Choy was older, Cho Onn brought him back to Punyu to marry one of the village girls. He did not learn any martial art while he was back at the village. This was told to some of us by the Cho Ga elders when we were back at Punyu.

According to elders of Yik Kam and Cho Gar families who are the seniors and peers of Cho Hung Choy he was not nephew of Cho Onn. He was not family at all but was someone from the Cho Village in Punyu. Cho Onn was ask to smuggle him to Nanyang because in those days it was very difficult to clear to immigration without being actual family member so Cho Onn help him immigrate. When Cho Hung Choy was older age then Cho Onn took him back to Punyu only for purposes of marrying a village girl. He did not learn any kung fu from Cho Chuen when going back to Cho village. This is very important to understand

Now look at tradition of Cho Gar clan. As difference between student and disciple is great also as family member vs outsider. What that means is it helps to understand tradition and culture of Cho Family and how they pass knowledge. Cho Gar elders explain publicly that core art of Ban Chung Zheng Dan Kam Cho Gar Wing Chun only reserved for immediate family members. Students learning at Cho village who not family members only access to modified forms and trainings. The Ban Chung Zheng Dan Kam Cho Gar Wing Chun original 108 long form is complete and intact, and is source for modifying Choy Li Fut, Hung Kuen, other arts. Original complete system is not taught to outsiders and students but preserve and exist today with family members and closed door disciples internally only.

Cho Onn is family member insider. As facts presented by Cho Gar family elders Cho Onn did not teach original form to the students per tradition. He did teach only modified method to Cho Hung Choy Yeung Kam Jiang, Hendrik Santos, all other outsiders. Cho Gar family tradition is maintain still today. Original core teaching is prserve for family member and close-door disciples only. Another declaration by Ban Chung Zheng Dan Kam Cho Gar Wing Chun clan is publicly declares “none of the elders in Cho Gar have any knowledge about Yik Kam’s Siu Lim Tao having a hybrid of Emei 12 form as claimed by Hendrik Santos. It is a fabrication of his own imagination.”

Fact – Cho Hung Choy not family member of Cho Gar family
Fact – difference in knowledge impart to students vs closed door disciples
Fact – Cho Hung Choy not learn original family art of Cho Gar family
Fact – Cho Hung Choy only receive modified knowledge from Cho Gar original art
Fact – Cho Gar family insiders denounce Hendrik’s claim of Yik Kam Cho Gar kung fu have anything to do with Emei 12 Palms system.