It is always hard to write about someone you never personally met. I was fortunate enough to hear some stories and saw some of Grandmaster Ho’s Kung Fu through his famous tou dai Mark Ho Sifu.

Grandmaster Ho was a genuine Gung Fu practicioner who taught a rare version of the Hung Ga Kyun style in Malaysia. His teaching methods were old school, he was also versed in Dit Da medicine.

His passing is another sad loss to the Hung Ga Kyun Mou Lam world. His legacy will live on through Mark Ho Sifu and his students in Malaysia.

Grandmaster Ho, R.I.P.

As Lau Jaam did declare he has been learning kung-fu before, to avoid confusion, and to convince Lau in the coming lessons, Lam Saiwing said:“You said you had learnt some, while I do not know your standard. as now we’re master and disciple, as a matter of fact, I’ll teach all I have, I need to test you for 2 reasons: First, to know your weak points, second to evaluate whether or not I’m qualified as your teacher.“

Lau though repeatedly said:“ I dare not impolite“ but in heart, excited to have chance to compete. In just a few moves Lau realised that he stood no chance,so he was ready to drop all his prior martial art studies and fully focus on the teachings of his new sifu. He never complained about hard times and never got tired.

In just a few days Lau completed learning 108 techniques (108 點手法) of the “Taming the Tiger Set” Fuk Fu Kyun (伏虎拳). Lam Saiwing’s concept was “learning without hard practice, one can neither be facile in the skill nor capable to enjoy the hidden subtilty”. Lam Saiwing ordered Lau to practise Fuk Fu Kyun for that moment, no further teaching given.

Lau had a thinking of secret learning what other students performed. Among numerous pupils, one called Sou Gim Sang (蘇劍生) learning the Tiger Crane Double Style (Fu Hok Seung Ying Kyun 虎鶴雙形拳). Lam Saiwing ordered his disciple Jeung Yun (張元) to teach so on his behalf. Lau knew this Si Hing was skillful in this set, so begged SiHing for teaching same.

Si Hing Jeung Yun (張元) said: “No, this behavior is ofensive when master is absent, dare not overtake master.“

Lau persuaded his Si Hing and said: “Teaching outside the gym is okay!“

Jeung Yun for the sake of not disappointing Lau, taught him. And it took Lau only a few days to complete this set.

At the age of 16, he followed his father to Hong Kong and worked at Daai Sing Gold-Smith Shop (大成金舖) located at Queen’s Road West (大馬路 ) as apprentice at a monthly salary of 50 cents Sterling coin. To add clothes or blanket, it ought to be saving 3 months salary at least. It was a hard time. He realized this job could not bring him standard living, and he was compelled to wait.

Six months later, people say at String Lane (弓紜巷) close to Bamboo Hillside (竹樹坡), a boxer was teaching there, and this boxer is not nobody, but the beloved disciple of Wong Fei Hung known as Lam Sai Wing. Before he came to Hong Kong, he was a fight-instructor in the military. Both names,Fei Hung and Sai Wing were not new to Lau Jaam. Now, as he was right there teaching, surely he went to see how good his kung-fu really was. When Lau still was in his village, he already learnt Kung-Fu from his uncle Lau Bou Sing (劉保勝) who belonged to the short-bridge branch of Hung Kyun (短橋派/洪拳一派).

His uncle saw that Lau was diligent so he taught him as much as he had. Lau was well-phased in martial arts, and now he went to Sai Wing’s gym standing by the door-entrance. The whole evening until they finished. Lam Sai Wing did not notice anything special, but evening by evening, Lau was there, and would not leave unless got scolded. Then he found Lau was so concentrating during his students were practising, and this is so rare , a young man like him loving kung-fu so much. Then Lam laughed at him, saying: „Hey young man, why you stood there every evening watching me teaching?“

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7xXdZOMeLI

Lau very shy answered: „I did learn kung-fu too, and now I want to compare if it is the same as yours.“

„You learned kung-fu, then how different you find it now after standing here watching many evenings?“

Lau, shaked head : “Not the same“ and he continued: „Can you teach me too?“

“I opened this gym here, and everyone who may obey the rules and pay fee can learn“

“How much is the fee?“

“3 dollars per month.“

Lau spread his tongue and said: „I earned only 50 cents a month, and for 1 month fee, I need to work for 6 months, cannot afford it even I love learning.“

Lam, fond of his childlike, said: „If I teach you free of charge, how you may reinburse me?“

„I got nothing valuable, but what I have is just the physical ability.“

Lam said:“I live here alone, and no-one take care of my living like washing clothes etc, so can you do it for me? If you can, I teach you.“

Lau said: „Yes, yes, yes!. When I can come to Baai Si?“ (Note: Baai Si is the ceremony to affirm the relationship of master and disciple).

…to be continued!

Note: “Biography of Mr. Lau Jaam” (劉湛) from the book on Ling Naam Masters, translated by Mr. Tony Ma and rewritten by Frank Bolte sifu.

In regard to Lam Sam Wing’s skills, aren’t they all transmitted from Wong Fei Hung ? The answer is “NO”. Lam’s skills come not just from one person but taught by several masters, and thru his hard learning. He was a meat hawker, admired Wong Fei Hung’s skills, and followed him traveling here and there, days and nights studied hard. Wong Fei Hung did feel Lam’s sincerity and honesty, so taught him all boxing techniques. That’s why Lam was one of the most loved disciples.

Later Lam Sawing moved to Canton. In an incidental day-off, he went to West Hill Temple, hanging around and neighboring the temple, then met a shoemaker. Lam Saiwing saw he was strong and vital, aged around 50. Lam Saiwing was curious and approached him and chatted with him. The Shoemaker declared himself as surname Hong. His accent showed he was not local habitant, and on listening, he talked about his life experience.

He sighed and said: ” I don’t tell people my history. You’re good to me so I’ll tell you but I need your word not telling people my secret.”

So Lam Sai Wing promised.

“I’m a subsidiary official, learnt kung-fu all my life. On orders I came to Canton and I’m already a year here. Regret I’m a too straight personality and weak in reception people. My superior not fond of me due to my mal-mission. I wandered here to this foreign village and I’m not familiar with this area, so unable to achieve anything and doing shoe-repair at very low income for living. No savings left for any investment. Looking at my situation, I got to be dying in this foreign village.”

“He did not push himself for fame or benefit, and stayed in this abjection status as a shoemaker, a low class job, accepted poverty, he was of high personality, very seldom in this century,” Lam Sai Wing thought.

Lam Sai Wing wanted to help and got from his money purse some money and gave it to the shoemaker, saying:  “Here’s a  small amount of money, hope you can accept it. I don’t know whether it’s enough for carriage fares to return home.”

As this happened all in a sudden, shoemaker was excited and said: “Good enough good enough! How rare is a gallant man like you available in this awful world. If I can return home it’s because of the goodness of your heart and I wish I may know your great name.”

Lam Saiwing told shoemaker his full name. Shoemaker looked at LSW said:” Your figure is very strong and grand,
seems to be well-trained in martial arts, don’t you?”

LSW didn’t deny and told the fact. Shoemaker said:” I’ve a vanishing skill called Commander Sword, willing to present you as a gift. I don’t know if you mind this minor skill or not?” Lam Saiwing was very happy, agreed. Shoemaker taught promptly Lam Sawiing with utmost attention, and until Lam Saiwing intimated fluently, he departed.

A year gone by, coming to the festival of Fa Dei God Birthday, all habitants prepared well for this great occasion – dramas, Lion Dance to support this celebration, and invited Lam Saiwing to perform kung-fu, to enchant people with his new items.

Lam Sawiing didn’t have any chance yet to perform Commander Sword learnt from the shoemaker even he practiced it fluently for long time. Seizing this fortunate festival moment, as numerous Kung-fu artists gathered here, why not play it to entertain people, so he performed it. Just finishing, a huge applause broke through the air, even martial artists applauded in the same time with all spectators. Lam Saiwing never imagined it could be so successful.