Shaolin “Fan Tsi Eagle Claw” is a set of traditional Chinese kung fu fighting techniques. This style of Northern Kung Fu was developed and widely used in China. The traditional style of kung fu was employed by the famous military general Ngok Fei to train his soldiers. This set of techniques mainly includes: “Jau” (grabbing), “Da” (striking), “Kum” (catching), “Na” (holding), “Fan Gun” (separating the tendons), “Cho Gwat” (dislocating the joints), “Dim Yuet” (striking the pressure points precisely), “Baai Hei” (stopping the breath), “Sim Gin” (changing stance quickly), and “Tun Noh” (jumping and removing). Traditional Eagle Claw is based on three fundamental forms: Hahng Kuen Sahp Lo (Walking Fist 10 Sections), Lin Kuen Ng Sahp Lo (Combination Fist 50 Sections), and 108 Chin Na (Joint Locking Techniques). All techniques are highly practical.
Eagle Claw kung fu was invented during the Song dynasty but gained popularity during the Ming dynasty. Its historical development is as follows: a monk named Lai Chun, a renowned practitioner of the Fan Tsi style, developed an interest in Eagle Claw techniques. He invested much time in training and refining these techniques, incorporating them into a new set of Fan Tsi Eagle Claw kung fu fighting techniques. These were then passed to a monk named Tao Chaig, who in turn passed them to another monk named Fat Sing. Until that point, these techniques were taught exclusively to Buddhist monks and were not widely known.
By the end of the Qing dynasty, a man named Lau Si Chun from Huibei inherited these techniques from Fat Sing. Lau Si Chun practiced diligently for thirty years and became famous in Beijing for his expertise in the traditional Shaolin Fan Tsi Eagle Claw techniques. He also specialized in fighting techniques with the “dai gong gee” (long staff) and became known as “Da Gong Gee Lau” for his exceptional performance in old-style fighting competitions. Later in life, Lau Si Chun passed all his techniques to his nephew Lau Sing Yau, who then passed this knowledge to his third son Lau Kai Man and his nephew Chan Tsi Cheng. Lau Kai Man, in turn, passed the Eagle Claw Kung Fu to his nephew Lau Fat Mang (the 7th Generation Eagle Claw Grandmaster).
Chan Tsi Cheng mastered all the techniques. Admiring the Chin Woo Association, founded by Huo Yuanjia, he traveled to Shanghai with Lau Fat Mang to join the association and promote Eagle Claw Kung Fu. Lau Fat Mang, being the blood nephew of Lau Kai Man, had already started learning from his uncle at a young age. When Lau arrived in Shanghai, he first went to the Chin Woo Association headquarters to teach. At the association, everyone had to learn the ten basic forms of Chin Woo: Tam Teui, Gung Lik Kuen, Da Gin Kuen, Sahp Gee Gin Kuen, Tuet Jien, Ng Fu Chon, Quan Yeung Quan, Toa Kuen (2-man form), Bat Kua Do, Jeet Kune. After mastering these, students could learn one of the five kung fu styles taught there. Over time, Lau became Chan’s assistant Eagle Claw instructor.
In 1924, the Chin Woo Association opened in Hong Kong and needed an instructor from Shanghai. Chan Tsi Cheng was selected, so Lau Fat Mang stayed in Shanghai as the head instructor, training many successful students. Two years later, the Chin Woo Association opened a school in Fut Shan, southern China, and Lau Fat Mang was sent there.
In 1929, Chan Tsi Cheng returned to northern China, leaving the Hong Kong Chin Woo Association without an Eagle Claw instructor. This allowed Lau Fat Mang to move to Hong Kong and take the teaching position. Lau attracted many students, including Ng Wai Nung (Master Shum Leung’s sifu), Lee Zhau Mang, and Lee Waig Hong. Lau was a diligent teacher, giving personal attention to his students. At that time, three famous northern instructors were teaching in Hong Kong: Kan Tak Hoi (Tai Shing Pek Kwar Moon, Monkey King), Yip Yue Ting (Mai Jung Law Hong), and Lau Fat Mang (Eagle Claw Fan Tsi Moon). Known as the “Huibei Three Heroes,” they were skilled and close friends.
In 1933, Lau Fat Mang was invited to be the chief instructor for the Guang Dong army. Not long after, he left the army and returned to Hong Kong, opening the Lau Fat Mang Eagle Claw School. Shortly after, the Japanese invaded China. Lau, a loyal patriot, closed his school to fight for his country. He created the 19th Regiment Army’s “Dai Do (Big Sword)” unit and fought until Japan’s surrender.
After the war, Lau relocated to Guang Zhou, then moved with his family to Hong Kong in 1949, where he continued teaching Eagle Claw Kung Fu. He represented Northern Style Kung Fu for the Hong Kong Kowloon Restaurant Union and was invited to judge the first Lei Tai competition in Hong Kong and Macau in 1954. The event also featured a demonstration sparring match between Lau and Dong Ying Kit, thrilling the audience.
After the competition, Lau fell ill with pneumonia and recovered slowly. During this time, he stayed home, teaching his children Eagle Claw techniques and writing the book Shaolin Eagle Claw Fan Tsi Kung Fu and 108 Chin Na Techniques. His daughter, Lily Lau, and son Francis completed the book using photographs to illustrate the techniques.
When Lau fully recovered, he reopened his Eagle Claw School in Kowloon Mong Kok, gaining more students. On March 17, 1964, Lau Fat Mang passed away at the age of 62, leaving behind a legacy of spreading Eagle Claw Kung Fu throughout southern China.
After his death, his eldest daughter, Lily Lau, became the 8th-generation Grandmaster of Eagle Claw Kung Fu. Determined to carry on her father’s dream, she has taught and spread Eagle Claw Kung Fu for over 37 years, establishing schools worldwide, including in the United States, Puerto Rico, Brazil, England, Hong Kong, Egypt, Greece, and China. Grandmaster Lily Lau continues to travel and teach, hosting seminars and workshops annually.
Known for her dedication and generosity, Grandmaster Lily Lau focuses on her ultimate goal of spreading kung fu globally and dreams of uniting all martial arts one day.
Grandmaster Lily Lau
Grandmaster Lily LauLily Lau is the eldest daughter of the 7th Generation Eagle Claw Late Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang. Master Lau passed away on March 17-1964, at the age of 62. Lily rose to her father’s position at the age of nineteen due to the circumstances and cultural expectations. Since Kung Fu has been regarded as an integral part of the Chinese culture, Grandmaster Lau, determined to continue her father’s dream, through hard work and persistence, she has continued teaching through out the years, spreading Eagle Claw Kung Fu. She is the first and only woman to take over a Kung Fu System and teach openly as a Kung Fu Master. Grandmaster Lily Lau wants to continue spreading the real Eagle Claw techniques throughout the world. She has schools worldwide: United States, Brazil, England, Greece, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong and China. Master Lau travels frequently to these schools where she presents seminars and workshops yearly. Master Lau is diligent in her work and is focused on her ultimate goal; to spread as much Kung Fu in the world as she can. She would like to one day see all Martial Arts united.
A brief summary of Grandmaster Lily Lau’s career is as follows:
1964 Chief Instructor of Lau Fat Mang Eagle Claw Academy in Hong Kong
1966 Chief Instructor of Hong Kong Teacher Union
1968 Started acting career in Hong Kong Film
1971 The President of Lily Lau Dramatic Art Academy
1984 Chief Instructor of Lily Lau Eagle Claw Academy in Hong Kong
1985 Chief Instructor of Hong Kong University Student Union
1986 Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association
1986 Lifetime Honorary President of the Chinese Kuoshu Federation in Hong Kong
1987 Member of Hong Kong Ching Woo Association Executive Committee
1993 Vice President of United States Wushu Kung Fu Federation (USAWKF) [Region 8]
1994 Opened her first Kung Fu School in San Francisco, California
1995 Member of Advisory Council of President of the United States Wushu Kung Fu
Federation
1995 Established the Lily Lau Eagle Claw Kung Fu Federation, International
1995 Member of USAWKF Executive Committee
1996 Organized and hosted the 1996 USAWKF National & International Invitational
Tournament
1998 Organized and hosted the 1st International Eagle Cup Kung Fu Tournament.
1998 Advisor of the United States Chinese Kuoshu Federation
1999 President and Organizer of the 15th Chinese American Athletic Tournament of the Bay
Area USA
2000 Vice President of the National American Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Federation
2001 Vice President of the United Kung Fu Federation of North America (UKFNA)
2001 Opened the Latin America Headquarter of L.L.E.C.K.F. in Puerto Rico
2001 Organized and hosted the 2001 U.S. Open Kuoshu/ Martial Arts Championships and 2nd International Eagle Cup Championship
2001 Organized the 3rd International Eagle Claw Cup Kung Fu Tournament in Chicago
2001 USA Action Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame & Spirt Awards 2001. Golden Life
Time Achievement in The Martial Arts
2003 Opened the Lily Lau Eagle Claw Kung Fu Federation Int’l Headquarters in Millbrae,
CA. USA
2004 Vice President of the United States Traditional Kung Fu Wushu Federation.
2005 USA Inside Kung Fu Magazine’s Hall of Fame ~ Woman of the year, Top 2005
Honorees.
2007 Organized the 2nd International Traditional Kung Fu Tournament & masters’
Exhibitions & 4th International Eagle Claw Cup Kung Fu in Oakland, CA.
(a) President of the United States Traditional Kung Fu Wushu Federation.
2009 Gained excellent Thesis Award of Thesis Forum in the 7th International Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Tournament, Qingdao, China.
(b) USA Kung Fu Qigong Magazine ~ Golden Life Time Achievement in The Martial Arts
2010 Established the Lily Lau Eagle Claw Kung Fu Federation, International in Brazil
(c) China The International Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Tournament~ Martial Art Contribution Award.
(d) Organized and hosted the 1st International Traditional Chinese Kung Fu Tournament in
San Paulo, Brazil.
2012 Opened the Fourth Kung Fu School in Chicago, USA.
2013 Extraordinary Martial Artist of the World ~ Award for Life-Time Achievement
2014 December 12, 2014 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the passing of
Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang, the 50th anniversary of Grandmaster Lily Lau’s teaching
career, and GM Lau’s 70th birthday. An event will be held on December 12, 2014 in
San Francisco, California, USA
