Master Parrella's Kung Fu Centers

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CHOY LAY FUT KUNG-FU

HISTORY

Choy Lay Fut was founded in 1836 by a highly skilled Kung-Fu Master named Chan Heung. Chan Heung developed the style as a result of the teachings of three of his teachers, Lei Yau-San, Chan Yeun-Woo and a Buddhist Monk named Choy Fook.

Chan Heung was born in Guangdong Province, China in 1805. At the age of six, he began to study Kung-Fu from his uncle, Chan Yuen-Wu a master of Southern Shaolin. He became so proficient as an adolescent that he could defeat any challenger from nearby villages. Chan Heung was ready to learn more and began training under another Southern Shaolin Master, Lee Yau-San. After only four or five years of training, it became apparent that Chan Heung was ready to move on once again. So Chan Heung set out to find Choy Fook who is said to have been a reclusive Monk who lived in the mountains. After several years of training under Choy Fook, Chan Heung returned to his home village of Ging Mui in the county of Gin Hui. Although he did not like or approve in fighting (due to his Buddhist beliefs); he taught many of his students to fight and support the ongoing Ming vs. Ching Dynasty Revolution.

Choy Lay Fut is a characterized as an "external" style. The curriculum was designed so that anti-Ching rebels could quickly gain practical proficiency and also incorporates a wide range of weapons. Several key movements have specific sounds associated with them - for example; "Sik" when throwing punches, "Yik" when punching from horse stance, "Wah" was used when using a Tiger Claw and "Dik" when kicking - supposedly so that friendly forces could recognize each other in battle and to force the practitioner to coordinate his breathing patterns with his movements.

TEN FIST SEEDS

Each style is separated from all other styles by their techniques, strategies and philosophy. A style’s core techniques are referred to as ‘Seeds.” The “Seeds” or main techniques are where all things in the style ‘grow’ from. Choy Lay Fut’s Seeds are “Kahm”, “Na”, “Gwa”, “So”, “Chaap”, “Pao”, “Kahp”, Biu”, “Deng” and “Jung”.

Kahm (Seize) - Grabbing and Twisting of the limbs, primarily the arms and wrists, but can include the neck, waist and ankles. Kahm is used to clinch and set up throwing or locking techniques. It forms the base of all joint manipulations.

Na (Lock) - To isolate a joint, muscle or tendon as to limit the opponents mobility. Can be used to break, tear or rip a limb, thus rendering it useless in a fight. “Kahm” and “Na” are almost always used together.

Gwa (Rise) - Done with a closed fist or open palm (Backhand) Gwa uses an upward energy to hammer down on it’s target. The technique must be done lose and fast as it does not have ‘knockout’ power. It is a great ‘first strike’ weapon.

So (Sweep) - Trademark technique of Choy Lay Fut, the Sweeping fist is a long range swinging strike, using the fist, forearm or palm. It’s trajectory is either parallel to the the floor or cutting at a 45 degree angle. It can be used to strike or throw.

Chaap (Stabbing) - Another trademark technique, the stabbing fist uses a quick ‘thrusting in and pulling back’ energy, much like a sewing machine. It utilizes the leopard first to concentrate the striking surface of the hand, but can also be used with a regular closed fist.

Pao (Cannon) - The family of Uppercuts; strikes that travel from a low point to a higher target. There are three variations of this, ranging from a completely straight arm to a 90 degree bend in the elbow. Targets are usually the mid-section or under the chin.

Kahp (Stamp) - A straight down or 45 degree angle strike, Kahp can use the closed fist or open palm to deliver punishing power. If the fist is used, the fore-knuckles are the main surface for striking. Both Kahp and So are the most powerful ways to strike someone with a fist.

Biu (Thrust) - The name given for a variety of techniques ranging from finger strikes to fists. These techniques ‘shoot’ out as a bullet would through the barrel of a gun. They are fast and direct and may be used to off-balance an opponent as well.

Deng (Pressing/Propping) - Used to press into an opponent’s limbs to hold or ‘pin’ while another strike is set up. Can be used to ‘cut the bridge’ and strike at the stomach or can be used to prop up or ‘deflect’ an oncoming punch to the head.

Jung (Crashing) - A forearm strike design to uproot or throw. It uses also 100% of the practitioners waist strength to ‘crash’ into a target as waves of the ocean pound and crash against the rocks of a shore. Can be both a long or short range technique.

TEN ANIMALS

Like many other Southern Kung-Fu styles of the day, Choy Lay Fut mimics the movements and fighting strategies of the classic “Five Animals”, specifically the Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard and the Crane. These movements or “techniques” embody such characteristics and attributes such as speed, increased bone density, internal power, spirit and longevity. However, Choy Lay Fut is quite unique in the fact that it also uses an additional five animals in it’s arsenal. These are lesser known and practiced by other Kung-Fu styles and in some cases these techniques can only be found in the Choy Lay Fut style. The second set of five animals are; the Horse, Monkey, Lion, Elephant and Tiger Cub.

HAND FORMS

Some of the more well known hand forms are; Siu Moi Fa Kuhyn (Small Plum Blossum Form), Siu Sahp Jih Kuyhn (Small Cross Pattern Form), Lien Waan Kuyhn (Continuous Fist) , Chaat Sing Kuyhn (Seven Star Form), Ng Ying Kuyhn (5 Animal Form), Sahp Ying Kuyhn (10 Animal Form) Bok Mo Kuyhn (White Hair Form), Fu Bao Kuyhn (Tiger & Leopard Form) and many more. These are all taught at the Center.

WEAPON FORMS

Choy Lay Fut uses a vast array of weapons, more than any other style of Kung-Fu. Popular ones are the Staff, Spear, Butterfly Swords, Broadsword, Fan, Bench, Monk Spade, Double Axes, Tiger Fork, Twin Hammers, Straight Sword, Whip Chain, 3-Sectional Staff, 2-Sectional Staff and dozens more. The style also has a few dozen paired-weapon fighting sets as well. Over 50 weapons are taught at the Center.

WOODEN DUMMIES

Choy Lay Fut has a total of 18 wooden training dummies, all created by Chan Heung. They range from the popular “Ching Jung” (Balance Dummy) to the less known “Fan Fighting Dummy”. Although drawings of the 18 dummies still exist, the methods for only 14 of them are know today. Less even still is the number of dummies which are actually practiced in modern times. Few Choy Lay Fut practitioners know how to use more than 2 or 3 of them at best. Students at the Center will learn the Ching Jung on their way to Black Belt and other dummies after they become Black Belts.

LINEAGE OF CHOY LAY FUT

Generation Ancestors

This Lineage Chart represents a small section of Choy Lay Fut teachers. It is not meant to exclude anyone, only to display many of the teachers who are directly related to our Kung-Fu Family

Sifu Michael Parrella

(5th Generation)

Choy Lay Fut