Hung Kuen is a graceful and powerful style of Kung Fu based on five animals: Dragon, Tiger, Leopard, Crane, and Snake.  Hung Kuen is a traditional Shaolin form of Kung Fu, with a clear lineage back to the Shaolin Temple

History

Hung Kuen traces its roots back to the Shaolin Temple in Northern China.  Legend has it that a monk named Bodhidarma travelled to the Shaolin Temple around 600 AD and found the monks there too weak for prolonged periods of meditation.  To prepare the monks for the physical challenges of meditation, Bodhidarma taught the monks a carefully crafted set of exercises.

It is said that these exercises developed over the years into fighting arts.  Shaolin served as the main Imperial Temple, where many great generals, warriors and scholars retired and devoted their lives to monkhood.  The temple served as a place for these men to refine their arts, and develop new fighting styles.

Shaolin is often wrongly referred to as the origin of all Kung Fu.  Rather, it served as the first institutionalized center for Kung Fu, resulting in the refining and crystallization of the fighting techniques we know today.

Head Instructor Karl Pettersen continues to learn Hung Kuen from Master Ang and his team of qualified instructors.

Please be sure to visit Master Ang's site:

http://www.hungkuen-kungfu.com

You can also visit the site of the London Hung Kuen school, where Karl Pettersen studied Hung Kuen:

http://www.london-hungkuen.co.uk

Hung Kuen Lineage

Master Ang:

Sifu Ang began learning Hung Kuen at an early age from Sifu Cheong Wing Kwang in his home country of Malaysia.

Sifu Ang was quickly recognized as a highly competent student, and by the age of 15 began teaching as a student instructor.  By 17, Sifu Ang had risen to the level of full instructor and began making a name for himself in the martial arts community of Malaysia, winning many tournaments including the Malaysia Open Championships of 1978.

Sifu Ang's father Ang Two Yong was also a Hung stylist, originating from Ting Hai village in Guangdong.

Master Ang arrived in the UK in 1984 and immediately made an impact, teaching in an open manner to all those who wish to learn.

Grandmaster Cheong:

Sifu Cheong Wing Kwang was personally trained by and was the favorite student of the late Song Siu Bo, who trained for many years under the legendary master Lam Sai Wing.

Sifu Cheong is the founder of the Gao Pei Physical Culture Association in Malaysia and, besides being a master of the overt and external aspects of Hung Kuen, also practices and teaches the internal aspects of our art, including Chi Kung (breathing) and Dit Dar (medicine).

Lam Sai Wing:

Born in 1860, Lam Sai Wing grew up in a family of martial artists, and had already many years of training before he set out looking for the best kung fu masters to improve his skills.

Lam Sai Wing eventually challenged Wong Fei Hung and was easily defeated; eventually, Wong Fei Hung accepted Lam Sai Wing as his student.

Lam Sai Wing quickly became Wong Fei Hung's top student, and learned everything from his master.  Lam Sai Wing did much to promote Hung Kuen, teaching openly to anyone willing to learn, and had many superb students of his own.

Wong Fei Hung:

One of the greatest martial artists to have ever lived, Wong Fei Hung is without doubt one of the most famous masters in Kung Fu history.  His life has been the subject of hundreds of films, publications, and TV series.  Among others, Wong Fei Hung was portrayed by Jet Li in the "Once Upon in China" film series and Jackie Chain in the "Drunken Master" film series.

Wong Fei Hung is widely accepted as the father of modern day Hung Kuen thanks to additions and refinements in the forms and techniques of Hung Kuen, most famously his re-choreographing of Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen (Tiger-Crane double shape fist).

Wong Fei Hung and his father, Wong Kei Ying, were among the Ten Tigers of Guangdong. 

Wong Fei Hung's grandfather, Wong Tai, was one of the best students of Luk Ah Choi, a disciple and classmate of Hung Hei Gung in the Shaolin Temple.

Hung Hei Gung:

Legend has it that Hung Hei Gung was a descendant one of the sons of Ming Emperor Chung Chen, and was active in many anti-Ching activities.

Fei Hung's grandfather, Wong Tai, was one of the best students of Luk Ah Choi, a disciple and classmate of Hung Hei Gung in the Shaolin Temple.

Hung Hei Gung sought refuge in Shaolin fearing persecution from the Ching government and it is here that he became one of the top students of the Abbott Gee Sin Sim See, specialising in Tiger style. After the massacre of the Shaolin Temple, Hung Hei Gung spent many years hiding with the Red Boat Opera Troupe, travelling all over China.

It is said that on his travels, he met and married Fong Wing Chun, an expert in the Crane style having learned from her uncle, the legendary Fong Sai Yuk. Hung Hei Gung took the best parts of his wifes Crane style, and incorporated it into his own Tiger style, creating the famous Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen, or Tiger Crane Double Shaped Fist. Once the ban on kung fu was lifted, Hung Hei Gung set up a school in Fa City.

Gee Sin Sim See:

Gee Sin Sim See was one of the original five elders from Northern Shaolin.  When Northern Shaolin was destroyed by the Ching in the 17th century, Gee Sin fled to Southern Shaolin where he continued to teach Kung Fu and support anti-Ching activity.

Gee Sin became the Abbott of the Southern Shaolin Temple and had numerous students, including Hung Hei Gung and Luk Ah Choi.

After the destruction of the Southern Shaolin Temple,  Gee Sin fled again and travelled with the famous Red Boat Opera Troup, where the low and powerful stances of Hung Kuen were further developed.  It is said that the main characteristics of Hung Kuen as we know it today, such as low stances and strong footwork, were born from the time spent in the confines of the cramped and rocking red boats.