Choy Li Fut

Choy Lee Fut
蔡李佛
Two people practicing the martial arts
Also known asChoy Lei Fut, Choi Lei Fut, Cai Li Fo, CLF
FocusStriking, joint lock, grappling, weapons training
Country of originChina
CreatorChan Heung
Famous practitionersChan Koon-pak, Philip Ng, Doc-Fai Wong
ParenthoodShaolinquan, Choy Gar, Li Gar, Fut Gar & Hung Gar [1]
Olympic sportNo
Choy Lee Fut
Chinese蔡李佛
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinCài Lǐ Fó
Bopomofoㄘㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄈㄛˊ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhTsay Lii For
Wade–GilesTs'ai4 Li3 Fo2
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationKai Li Fwo
JyutpingCoi3 Lei5 Fat6

Choy Lee Fut[a] is a Chinese martial art and wushu style, founded in 1836 by Chan Heung (陳享).[2] Choy Li Fut was named to honor the Buddhist monk Choy Fook (蔡褔, Cai Fu) who taught him Choy Gar, and Li Yau-san (李友山) who taught him Li Gar, plus his uncle Chan Yuen-wu (陳遠護), who taught him Hung Kuen, and developed to honor the Buddha and the Shaolin roots of the system.[3]

The system combines the martial arts techniques from various Northern and Southern Chinese kung-fu systems;[4] the powerful arm and hand techniques from the Shaolin animal forms[5] from the South, combined with the extended, circular movements, twisting body, and agile footwork that characterizes Northern China's martial arts. It is considered an external style, combining soft and hard techniques, as well as incorporating a wide range of weapons as part of its curriculum. It contains a wide variety of techniques, including long and short range punches, kicks, sweeps and take downs, pressure point attacks, joint locks, and grappling.[6] According to Bruce Lee:[7]

Choy Li Fut is the most effective system that I've seen for fighting more than one person. [It] is one of the most difficult styles to attack and defend against. Choy Li Fut is the only style [of kung fu] that traveled to Thailand to fight the Thai boxers and hadn't lost.

  1. ^ While Hung Gar had formal training slightly earlier than Choy Lee Fut, both styles share common roots in Shaolin kung fu and have seen continuous development over the years. Yee's Hung Ga
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ref1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CLF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference GFu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SFive was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Title: The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Skills from Around the World, Author: Chris Crudell, Hardcover: 360 pages, Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (1 Oct 2008), Language: English, ISBN 1-4053-3095-3 ISBN 978-1-4053-3095-4.
  7. ^ Title: Bruce Lee - Between Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do, Author: Jesse Glover, Publisher: Glover Publications, p.67 (January 1, 1976) ISBN 0-9602328-0-X ISBN 978-0-9602328-0-2.


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