San Do Kuen Martial Arts

Lee Koon Hung

Otherwise known as the “rocket fist of the south,” Lee Koon Hung style Choy Lay Fut is a truly a beautiful art form.  The flowing grace and explosive power of this long fist style hypnotized me from the first moment I saw it.  I continue to be humbled by the athletic challenges of Choy Lay Fut forms and weapons technique.

Although it may appear “flashy” or ornate in its presentation, I have found that Choy Lay Fut to be a tremendous asset in the development of self-defense applications.

Close Range Fighting

Hung Sing (Southern style) Choy Lay Fut is a “long fist” style, but also has many close range fighting applications.  In particular, the hammer fists, sweeps and blocking series are excellent tools for close range defense.  Hammer fists target the neck and throat, sweeps target the knee and the blocking series create excellent locks and traps with simultaneous counter strikes.

Diverse Weapons Practice

This style also widens the weapons range to include: long staff, spear, tiger fork, kwando, single sword, double sword, and butterfly knife.  The wide array of challenges provided by these training modes facilitates grip strength, range awareness and general weapons dexterity.

The butterfly knives and broadsword techniques translate almost effortlessly to Arnis training (both stick and blade).  The staff becomes the spear, the spear becomes the staff, and the tiger fork and kwando are simply spears with larger blades.  This crossover in movement patterns then evolves into better footwork and timing in all areas of training.

The “Flow”

Most martial arts people would agree that the Filipino martial arts are unparalleled in their development of “flow.”  Choy Lay Fut may be a very close second.  The distinction of strikes and blocks becomes difficult in the dynamic twisting, spinning and leaping of Choy Lay Fut.

There are perhaps too many different empty hand forms in the system for most people’s taste.  In the long run, there is no more form, it is just flow.  The signature of Choy Lay Fut is not what a student is taught; it is what he learns on his own.