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THE GREAT HUNG GAR MASTER CHIU KAU
The reporter has interviewed and is reporting on the
student of Lam Sai Wing, the great Hung Gar Master Chiu
Kau of the “Chiu Kau and Son Dit Da Bone-Setting
Clinic”. Chiu Kau has inherited the authentic Siu Lam (Shaolin)
bone-setting and this has distinct advantages such as
the magic hand treatment. He has been very successful,
healing many patients.
In China, the Kung Fu or “Gwok Sut” (Kuo Shu) is very
ancient, dating back over a few thousand years.
Throughout the ages many hero warriors have descended
from the different styles such as Siu Lam, Wudang, Emei,
etc. These are just a few examples of the multitude of
styles that have come from the original.
In Canton, the Kung Fu we recognize first is from the
Siu Lam Temple in Fukien (Fujian). During the time of
the Ching dynasty, the Siu Lam boxing from Canton
(Guangzhou) is very skillful and popular, being very
bright. Also shining very brightly is “Chiu Kau and Son
Dit Da Bone-Setting Clinic”, located at 919 Canton Road,
Kowloon, Hong Kong, where he practices the original
technique passed down from the Siu Lam Temple.
The reporter describes Chiu Kau as being very polite,
having good manners and excellent character. His words
are from the heart, always speaking the truth.
In the present day martial arts circle, Chiu Kau is
among the very best martial artists.
Chiu Kau Sifu was born and raised in San Wui, Gwongdung
(Guangdong). He is not from a wealthy family, quite the
contrary, actually coming from a humble family that was
very poor.
When Chiu Kau was 12 years old he left his village for
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It was there that he
worked very hard for some time. But, being so young he
felt he was too weak for such hard labor and decided he
must find a better job.
It was at this time that he met a famous Kung Fu boxer
named Ling Jai Yuk, which means beautiful or handsome
faced. His real name was Wong Yuk.
The uncle of Wong Yuk was an accomplished martial arts
master named Wong Sai Wing, who had learned his skills
from Wong Fei Hung. Chiu Kau then traveled with Wong Sai
Wing selling Chinese medicine. During this period Chiu
Kau began learning the art of Dit Da and bone-setting,
as well as he was being introduced to learn Hung Gar
Kung Fu. He faithfully followed his teacher for many
years, developing a solid foundation in Hung Gar Kung
Fu.
Eventually Chiu Kau left Singapore to go back home to
China to be wed to his future wife Siu Ying. It was at
this time that he realized he was in a lucky position
and decided to take the opportunity to seek out and
learn from the renowned Master Lam Sai Wing, who was a
top disciple of Wong Fei Hung. Chiu Kau received
instruction in the original Siu Lam Hung Gar boxing and
the famous “Iron Wire Fist” (Tit Sin Kuen). Chiu Kau
became one of Lam Sai Wings top disciples. Lam Sai Wing
noticed that Chiu Kau’s prior training had given him the
talent and foundation to learn and master the Tiger and
Crane and Iron Wire Form properly.
Chiu Kau learned very much and trained very hard under
Lam Sai Wing surpassing even the previous generation.
Lam Sai Wing told Chiu Kau he should now pass on the
tradition and preserve the Chinese Art and rules of
conduct by opening his own Dit Da and bone-setting
clinic. Chiu Kau did so and established his own school
for teaching Hung Gar and helping and treating the poor,
as was his duty, and spreading his knowledge of Siu Lam
Hung Gar far and wide.
From that time until now, Chiu Kau has done many great
things, earning a good name in the martial arts society
and within the medicinal community. He is very well
known and respected by the public, rich and poor alike.
He has taught many students and also many of his
students in turn taught many people that have opened
schools of their own.
Before learning Kung Fu, you must learn Dit Da.
The reporters observation is that in Hong Kong the
bone-setters heritage includes somewhere between four
and five hundred. Chiu Kau specializes in Hung Gar Kung
Fu but his Dit Da and bone-setting knowledge is very
deep and experienced. In this field perhaps only three
out of ten are as skilled as Chiu Kau.
The reporter feels he must say that Chiu Kau is a
kindhearted, helpful and charitable man, being very well
mannered and also being a good example of a “Yiu Ga”
gentleman, being straight forward and honest. He has
told his entire life story from the beginning, as a
young boy until now, holding nothing back. Chiu Kau has
a very open personality and his talents are much
appreciated, helping as an employed volunteer doctor
healing the community: football teams, government
workers, public bus company, construction workers, etc.
He has received very good feedback from the society.
Chiu Kau is now 62 years old, waking up at 5 o’clock in
the morning, exercising his skillful knowledge of “Tit
Sin Kuen” (Iron Wire Fist). He himself feels that he
will never give up his training and continues to
practice and learn, exercising daily with bodybuilding
at the school and healing the poor people for free. It
should also be noted that the society and community
respect Chiu Kau very much.
Chung Ying Daily News Sunday Oct. 7, 1956
© Chiu Chi Ling
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CHIU KAU WAS COMMITTED TO KUNG FU
Chiu Kau is a top Hung Gar (or Hung Kuen) Kung Fu Master
in Hong Kong. He came to appreciate the value of Kung Fu
the hard way during the years he worked in the mines of
Malaya – virtually as a slave labourer in the beginning
of the century.
Now retired from teaching, the task of upholding the
tradition is in the hands of his able sons and daughters
Chiu Lai Fong, Chiu Kim Fung, Chiu Kim Ching, Chiu Wai
and Chiu Chi Ling.
Sifu Chiu Kau is a very prominent figure of Hung Kuen
Kung Fu in Hong Kong. At 80 years of age and with over
40 years of teaching Kung Fu and practising Chinese
medicine to his credit, Chiu Kau is deservedly honoured
as a leader of Hung Kuen.
Sam Kong County of Kwangtung Province is the home town
of Chiu Kau. This famous son of Sam Kong County is not
only a master of Kung Fu but also a man of principles.
Discipline and generosity towards others are two virtues
he always insist upon, and has set himself as an example
for his children and students to look up to.
Chiu Kau left home at a very small age, under the care
of his uncle, he went to Malaya to work as a miner. He
was but twelve years old. There was a large number of
Chinese who worked as labourers in the dangerous mines.
They were enticed overseas because of poverty at home
and under the pretence of good wages. The truth was
revealed soon upon arrival. The Chinese labourers worked
under the most appalling conditions imaginable and
received only a pittance in payment. To make matters
worse, they were often maltreated and bullied. Chiu Kau
was then only a puny young boy, and a favourite target
for taunting. The injustice seen, heard and experienced
had branded an inerasable impression in young Chiu Kau’s
mind. A decision which decided his future was made. The
agony of seeing fellow compatriots who found no comfort
in a place far away from home and the loved ones, yet
had to tolerate insults and physical assaults was
something that he could not comprehend. He had decided
to learn Kung Fu for self-defence and teach fellow
compatriots to do so.
During a visit to Singapore when he was just 14 years
old, Chiu Kau witnessed the sensational fight which
shocked Singapore and Malaya. It was the fight between
Ling Chai Yeuk, the crack Hung Kuen expert and Ha Shan
Fu, a noted exponent of internal Kung Fu. For the fight,
they had signed an agreement to accept any consequence
as a result of the fight.
Ling Chai Yeuk was only a nickname (Ling Chai means
pretty-face), his real name was forgotten by the general
public. Ling Chai Yeuk was reputed to possess enormous
strength, he could crush three dice in his hand without
any trouble. Ha Shan Fu was not an easy opponent, he was
a solidly built and powerful individual. It was reported
that he once slayed two oxen with his bare hands. It
happened when he disturbed two oxen fighting in a field.
One after the other, the oxen charged at him. Ha Shan Fu
evaded the first charging ox and kicked with his
powerful right foot at its belly. The animal dropped to
the ground after struggling on its feet for two or three
faltering steps. But then the full fury of the other
charging beast was on its way at great speed. Again Ha
evaded the powerful charging beast, grabbed one of its
horns as his right hand dealt a powerful blow to its
backbone. The impact of the blow was most stunning as
the beast dropped to the ground soundly. Ha Shan Fu was
really someone to be reckoned with and certainly worthy
of his nickname as Ha Shan Fu means “a tiger descended
from the mountain”.
The event attracted tremendous publicity and a huge
crowd had gathered on the day of the contest. And Chiu
Kau was there.
As soon as the gong was struck to signal the
commencement of the fight, Ha Shan Fu began to attack
and piled on the pressure. The situation was now
reversed as Ling Chai Yeuk evaded the relentless attack
of Ha Shan Fu just as he had done in slaying the bulls.
This titanic struggle did not last long as Ling Chai
Yeuk turned the tide to attack. Under the fierce
onslaught, Ha Shan Fu could hardly return any
resistance. In a lightning fast move, Ha Shan Fu was
seen struck on the belly. With blood gushing out and a
last painful cry, Ha Shan Fu fell motionless on the
floor. The fierce fighting tiger that was Ha Shan Shu
just moments ago was now dead.
Chi Kau learned one thing from the fight, he knew that
Hung Kuen was superior, and it was also the Kung Fu he
had been looking for. The young boy went immediately to
Wong Sai Wing, uncle of Ling Chai Yeuk, to master Kung
Fu. The road was a long and difficult one, but Chiu Kau
took everything in stride. Later, Wong Sai Wing also
taught Chiu Kau osteopathy, the art of healing using
traditional Chinese methods of treatment and herbal
medicine.
Home longing is always in the heart of every Chinese who
worked abroad. Chiu Kau was 27 years old when he finally
saved enough to return to China. He was stopping on his
way in Hong Kong when he became aware of the presence of
the great Lam Sai Wing there. So, instead of continuing
onto China, he stayed in Hong Kong so that he could go
to this true great master of Hung Kuen Kung Fu for his
expert tuition and for advanced studies in herbal
medicine.
Lam Sai Wing was pleased to have a student who had
already built a very sound foundation. According to Chiu
Kau, Lam Sai Wing was then in the peak of his technical
excellence, he often demonstrated his Chi during
practice. His breathing rattled the house. Chiu Kau was
more determined then ever to emulate his teacher.
The young Chiu Kau needed no reminder of his aims in
learning Kung Fu. He used to make frequent long trips to
the many towns and villages in Kwangtung Province,
giving his services to injured workers and farmers in
remote villages and to teach the country youths Kung Fu.
He was always welcome in any village or small town he
visited.
Many incidents in Hong Kong also showed Chiu Kau’s sense
of justice. One day he witnessed a gang of louts making
threats to street hawkers and vendors, while extorting
protection fee. The gang beat up everyone of these
defenceless people. When they came to an elderly woman,
and were about to give her the same rough treatment,
Chiu Kau came out and intervened. He gave the gang a
stern warning in no uncertain manner. Apparently, the
gang was taken aback by the husky stranger’s appearance
and stopped the rampaging at once, but the leader gave a
threat to Chiu Kau to “wait and see.” A few days later,
Chiu Kau met the same gang again, the gang was there to
annoy Chiu Kau as he was having his own stall on the
street, selling medicine and giving treatment to the
sick. The hooligans treaded on his display, and the ring
leader was the same man he met several days earlier.
They came prepared to attack Chiu Kau. The tense
atmosphere immediately attracted a crowd of onlookers,
and the rest of the street vendors also stood behind
Chiu Kau, for once they displayed unity in dealing with
the blackmailers who had threaten their livelihood. The
pack of cowards was scared off easily. From then on
peace returned to this group of poor people who made a
living as small traders.
Some incidents could not always be solved by non-violent
means. Chiu Kau dislikes the use of force to solve
problems, but there was one that he could not avoid.
Visitors to Hong Kong would know that Hong Kong is
linked to Kowloon peninsula by a tunnel under the sea
and frequent ferry services.
In the days well before the cross harbour tunnel and
regular ferries, commuters were dependant on haphazard
services ran by the boat people. On top of the ferry
charges, passengers had also to give in to the demand of
extortionists who charged an embarkation fee. This was
no less than daylight robbery. This gang of
extortionists did not seem to know the art of gentle
persuasion, it was their practice to beat up the victim
first then to collect the money. One day, Chiu Kau had
occasioned to cross. the harbour. On arrival at the
wharf, he heard the boat people shouting warning to
passengers to get ready and pay the toll to the
blackmailing gang. But the gang was already coming at
Chiu Kau’s direction, and beating every one on sight.
One man was badly beaten as he was standing in front of
Chiu Kau. The victim was in distress but he would not
dare to call out in fear of reprisals. The robbers then
proceeded to demand money. The timid onlookers simply
looked on in anger. Chiu Kau came out and challenged the
gang, he call them despicable blood-suckers who had no
place in the society. The gang had never been challenged
much less being told of before. The leader wasted no
time to lead his henchmen and attacked. Little did the
gang leader know that he was leading his men crashing
against a brick wall. In a few simple moves, Chiu Kau
had them sprawling on the ground. It drew a round of
applause and shouts of approval from the onlookers, who
had been bullied for so long. Not only did Chiu Kau give
the gang a hiding, he also got rid of them for good as
they did not re-appear to bother the commuters.
These were but two of many incidents during Chiu
Kau’s long years in Hong Kong. Over these long years,
Chiu Kau has never forgotten the resolution he made in
learning Kung Fu, so many years ago in Malaya. Though he
has retired for many years, his five children, all
grown-ups, are now having schools of their own, to carry
on the same ideal which their father fostered.
(Real Kung Fu Nr. 7, Vol. 1, March 1976, pp. 20-24)
Further reading:
Martin Sewer - Chiu Kow Memorial Book 1895-1995, Hero of
the Street
Publ.: Books on Demand GmbH, Norderstedt, 1905.
ISBN 3-8334-2858-9
In English and German language.
A fascinating biography, 183 pp., with over 150 unique
pictures, documenting his life.
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