Jowga Kung fu in India

The world renowned Chinese martial art-- Jow Ga Kung Fu, a style which utilizes Hung Ga, Choy Ga and Northern Shaolin techniques-- has found new roots in India. This traditional style of fighting art is a relative new comer to India. The art is brought to India by the famous master Grand Master: Sam Hing Fai Chan. His personal disciple Sifu: K.P.Nataraj is the pioneer in India to teach this style.
Jow Ga is a system of traditional Kung Fu that was developed from three Shaolin systems; namely, Hung Ga, Choi Ga and Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.(Ga means: family) Jow Ga is known Hung Tao Choy Mei because the system incorporated Hung Ga Kung Fu's powerful upper body techniques and Choy Ga Kung Fu's swift footwork and complex kicking techniques from northern shaolin kungfu. Hung Ga kungfu is a southern style that was developed for close to medium range defese. This style emphasizes low stances and is especially known for its low horse stance. Kicks are generally low and hand techniques are powerful and direct using the strong stances to deliver formidable blows, namely, a tremendous thrust punch. This style also includes the five animal techniques of the leopard, dragon, tiger, crane and snake. This style primarily uses the tiger and crane, hard and soft animal techniques from its Shaolin origins. Hung means to stand tall with integrity. Choi Ga kung fu is also a southern style emphasizes long reaching hands and wide horse stances.
The “hang fist”, “throw punch”, “upper cuts”, hammer back fist”, “downward whipping punch” and “jab punch” are some typical and effective techniques of the system. This system is an aggressive system that emphasizes long range techniques and blitz attacks. The power is generated from the hips in a rotating fashion. Elusive footwork is also prominent in this system as are grappling, throwing, high and low kicks. Intercepting and jamming are favorite techniques employed. Northern Shaolin kung fu originated from the Shaolin temple that resided in Northern China before its destruction. The present system of Northern Shaolin specializes in long range fighting techniques. This system maintains that kicks are more effective than hand movements because the legs are longer than the arms thereby keeping the opponent further away. Low stances are not emphasized as they reduce mobility. This style requires constant mobility to be effective. Jow Ga utilizes these three systems combined into one. To defend one would use strong low stances and hold ground or may rely upon evasion tactics. To attack the Jow Ga practitioner can rely on Choi Ga long reaching arm techniuques combined with Northern Shaolin kicks and mobility. This system is suitable for all body types and can tailored to each individual. The student can master techniques most suited to him/her. This style requires hard work and discipline and is physically demanding. There are over twenty traditional hand forms, including tiger-crane, tiger-leopard, and the famous five animal form.
Training includes an internal breathing form called Iron Wire Fist, which is used to strengthen muscles, organs and bones. Additionally, there are over eighteen weapons sets including batons, the staff, spear, three sectional staff, wind sword, whip chain and double edge straight sword. Straight sword is the most revered and respected because its use demands a total knowledge of fluidity to master. The founder of the system was Jow Lung. Jow Lung was born during 1891 in Hsin-Hui Sheng Sha Fu village in the Canton Province of China. Jow Lung started learning Hung Gar from his Uncle Jow Hung at an early age. Jow Lung's training began with basic stances and stepping. Regardless of age, those who practice Hung Gar suffer the most from basic stance and step training. Jow Lung never complained about the training and his uncle took a special liking to him. One day Jow Hung told Jow Lung that he didn't think he would live much longer due to symptoms of an old illness. Jow Hung told Jow Lung that he knew a unique set of Pa Kua Staff techniques that he wanted to pass on to Jow Lung before he died. Uncle Hung told Jow Lung that his Kung Fu technique had come to the point that if he learned the Pa Kua Staff techniques, he would be one of the best in the martial arts field. Within one month, Jow Lung learned the Pa Kua Staff techniques. Shortly after Jow Lung learned the Pa Kua Staff techniques, his Uncle Jow Hung died. After the death of his uncle, Jow Lung followed Master Choy Kau (Chi Ching Tsai Kong) and learned Choy Ga Kung Fu. It took Jow Lung only a few years to master the Choy Ga Kung Fu because of his basics in Hung Gar Kung Fu. At the age of 18, Jow Lung had a difficult time finding a job in his hometown through the introduction of his townspeople, so he traveled to Malaysia (Singapore and Malaysia were one country at that time).
In 1910, Jow Lung and many others went to find work as miners in Kuala Lumpur. The bosses, who were described as gangsters, would often beat the workers. One day Jow Lung got into a fight with one of his bosses and fatally wounded him. Jow Lung fled to the mountains and found a temple named "Gi Leu." Because he hadn't eaten for many days and was exhausted, he asked an apprentice at the temple for help. The master of the temple Chian Yi, agreed to provide shelter for Jow Lung in the temple. Chian knew that Jow Lung had a natural talent for Kung Fu from the moment he saw him. Chian Yi taught Jow Lung northern Shaolin Kung Fu and medicine. One day Master Chian Yi called Jow Lung and told him, "I have passed on to you the northern Shaolin martial arts and medicine, and now your skills are good enough to hold a special place in the martial arts field." Master Chian Yi then ordered Jow Lung to leave the temple. When Jow Lung went back to Kuala Lumpur, he felt like centuries had gone by, but he never stopped practicing Kung Fu. From continuous practice, Jow Lung realized the uniqueness of the three styles of Kung Fu he learned and decided to combine them into one, thereby developing Jow Ga Kung Fu. Jow Lung felt that he would not be able to spread his family's Kung Fu in Kuala Lumpur, so he went back to his hometown in China. From then on he vowed to spread his family's Kung Fu. In his hometown, Jow Lung taught his brothers Jow Hip, Jow Biu, Jow Hoy, and Jow Tien the system of Kung Fu he created. The brothers would diligently practice. They discussed setting up the first family Kung Fu school in Canton "Zhou Ren Yi Tang." Jow Lung would be in charge of teaching, while Jow Hip, Jow Biu, Jow Hoy, and Jow Tien would assist in the teaching. Eventually their family Kung Fu spread. In 1911, a commander of the military ordered General Fu-Lin Li to hire a martial arts expert to be the coach of the military by holding a public competition. Whoever won the competition would get the job. Jow Lung signed up for the competition.
The competition was divided into 10 groups and used eliminations to decide the winner. Jow Lung passed each of the eliminations and reached the final competition against one of the best martial arts practitioners, Guan Gin Sze. Jow Lung defeated Guan Gin Sze and became the military martial arts coach. Because of Jow Lung's success, his brothers assisted him in teaching the military. It was around this time that the brothers became known as "The Five Tigers of Jow Ga".
At that time, Jow Lung made it his job to solve problems and dissolve dissentions. The four brothers followed in Jow Lung's footsteps. In 1919, Jow Lung became so busy teaching that he hardly got rest. When Jow Lung caught a cold at times, he would dismiss it casually because he considered himself to be strong. Unfortunately Jow Lung's cold became so severe that it turned into pneumonia and rendered him incurable. Just as other heroes who have died young, Jow Lung died when he was 29. His death shocked the martial arts community.
His students mourned him as they would for their own parents, and the society as a whole was at loss. Jow Hip, Jow Biu, Jow Hoy, and Jow Tien mourned deeply for the loss of their brother.
On the day of Jow Lung's funeral, they vowed that they would continue to carry out their brother's dying wish to spread Jow Ga Kung Fu so that it would be noted in history. The brothers worked hard and opened up the 4th branch in Canton and Hunan. In 1927, they set up the 5th branch in Chen Tsun, the 6th branch in Fo Shan, and the 7th and 8th branches in Nan Hi Shi Giao and Guin Shan. In 1928, Jow Biu returned to his hometown to set up the 9th branch in Jiang Men, the 10th branch in Tai Shan Hsin Chan, and the 11th branch in Gio-Gian with students Zhu Hua and Lee Ngou (Li Niu) in charge.
In 1929, Jow Tien went to Shi-Gian to develop and set up branches in Yu -Tsen, Du-Tsen, Nan Fu and Guan-Shi, widely setting up to 20 or more branches. By 1930, 80 branches were set up in Shanghai and led by students of the Five Tigers.
Setting up so many branches in so few years was unprecedented in the martial arts field. This was achievable due to the Jow family leadership. China experienced great political upheaval. Lee Ngou immigrated to Hong Kong's Yuan Lan head branch. Jow Biu followed and set up branches.
Many other students of the Five Tigers arrived in Hong Kong later to help with the branches. The Jow Ga lion dance techniques were even better known. Before World War II, Hong Kong held a huge parade during the inauguration for the King of England, George II. The Hong Kong government sent people to Canton to ask a group from Jow Ga to perform for Queen Elizabeth's inauguration ceremony. Jow Biu led the group to accept Hong Kong's invitation.
Since the war, Jow Ga's lion team has performed during any large-scale parades in Hong Kong. When Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 25th silver anniversary of ruling, the Jow Lung Branch sent out a huge Lion Dance team of 300 people for the parade.
On March 14 1961, Jow Biu died after a short illness.
Grand master Sam hing Fai chan learned Jow Ga under Lee Ngou. SiFu. K.P.Nataraj is a disciple of Sam Hing Fai Chan
Yaolan kungfu School is the first to promote and popularizing this art in India.

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