CHAPTER II

NIM FUT SAN YEN – THE STORYTELLER

With today’s range of telecommunications like the phone, fax machine, TV, computer etc., the present generation must be educated that in the past, China and the Asian world depended a lot on storyteller and pictorial “comic books” to communicate happenings to the masses. Their comic or pictorial were not like the familiar “super heroes” comics found in the west today. Storytellers and comic books were an important communication structure and tool in their society then. One must understand that pictorial books (or even comics) as with most storybooks are not the basis of authority on historical events but they very often reflect the general truth. Over the years many in China have printed pictorial and even comic versions on the life of the Chinese sage Confucius. Some of these stories were in abridged version but there is no deviation from historical facts. For Doc Fei Wong to think that the Hung Sing school had culled their history from such books is totally absurd.

“Nim (remember) Futsan Yun (person)” was the pen name of a “storybook teller” who wrote a story on the “Futsan Hung Sing Gwoon” based on his own interpretation of events and “historical facts” which he put together to write a “storybook” version on Cheung Yim’s legacy that would appeal to the general public. Though these storybook versions are not the basis of authority on historical events they often reflect the general truth. Many historical events like the Boxer Rebellion and the Chinese Revolution have appeared in pictorial and even comic versions but these stories reflect no major deviation from historical facts. It is not true that the Hung Sing school had culled their history from such books but the stories carried in such books itself may not be wrong either.

STORYTELLERS ARE NOT HISTORIANS!

In Doc Fei Wong’s story, he “claimed” that Chan Ngau Sing (Cheung Hung Sing’s protégé student) knew Nim Fut San Yun. Now, if that was true, do you really think that Chan Ngau Sing would have allowed this “storybook” writer with the pen-name “Nim Fut Sam Yen” (translates – “Remember Futsan Person”) to propagate falsehood by writing an inaccurate story giving undue credit to Cheung Yim (Cheung Hung Sing) instead of Chan Heung!? Don’t you think that Chan Ngau Sing would have felt indignant and stopped this “Nim Fut Sam Yen” character, a storyteller and not an accurate historian to pen a story based on his personal interpretation of historical events!? Maybe people like Doc Fei Wong would like us to believe that Chan Ngau Sing didn’t object to the publishing of this storybook because he was promised a “handsome commission” from the sales of the book!!

TRUTH IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

It is interesting to note that many of the great events and figures in history have been shrouded in antiquity and therefore it has led people to come to their own conclusion as to what they should believe and accept as the “best case scenario” that’s closest to the truth. Yet some arrogant individuals are so incoherent in their accusations and allegations to discredit CLF brothers that they have lost all sense of logic, and whilst they were blinded by their obsession to run down others, they deservedly allowed their own story on the founding of CLF to be scrutinized and their claims and allegations to be challenged.

Both the Hung Sing and the Chan family branches have their OWN story on the founding of Choy Lay Fut but past elders have always accorded one another with the mutual respect of fellow CLF brothers despite the difference in their martial arts lineage/heritage. Unfortunately, the latter generation of the Chan clan does not know how to treasure good relationship and have used the internet’s Kung Fu Forum to further fragment the already fragile relationship between the CLF clans (Hung Sing, Buck Sing and Chan Family) – all because of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE!

HUNG SING & BUCK SING
BONDED BY THE SAME LINEAGE

When you talk about the true Hung Sing masters who are of the Cheung Hung Sing lineage you are referring to those who acknowledge Cheung Hung Sing as the Founder of CLF. If any of them believe differently than they cannot and should not call themselves “Hung Sing” CLF for that is the martial arts founded by Cheung Hung Sing.

The Buck Sing and Hung Sing branches have the same lineage and history and I had explained that before, but as usual, people like “joseph” and “fu pow” were hoping to cause conflict between the Hung Sing and Buck Sing schools by saying that the Buck Sing branch in Hong Kong was trying to “take control” of the CLF factions in Hong Kong and falsely accusing the Buck Sing elders of being “power hungry” and saying that they have “the money” to do it! What a load of crap!

All the Buck Sing branch ever did was to help make the CLF martial arts strong in Hong Kong, to uphold the good reputation of CLF and to stand up and defend the honor of the CLF name during an era (1950’s-1970’s) when martial arts rivalry and private martial arts challenge grudge matches were prevalent in the buzzling British colony during the period when martial arts tournaments were outlawed. It was always the Buck Sing schools that took on these challenge matches to defend the honor and reputation of CLF.

When the Chinese martial arts schools in Hong Kong selected a team to represent Hong Kong in the 1957 Far East Asia Full Contact Tournament, the CLF school sent two fighters from the Buck Sing school of master Lee Chow for the 4 day tournament held in Taiwan. They were Lai Hung and Chan Woo Leung. Whilst fighters from other Hong Kong kung fu schools failed to beat Taiwan’s top champion fighters, Lai Hung and Chan Woo Leung fought to the finals to win the championship title of their weight division. These two fighters from the Buck Sing Choy Lay Fut school not only brought home honor and glory for Choy Lay Fut but also to the Chinese Martial Arts fraternity of Hong Kong. They didn’t fight in that bloodbath tournament for the Buck Sing branch but for the Choy Lay Fut school of martial arts.

Master Dave Lacey in action on stage
at the CLF global gathering hosted by the Singapore Hung Sing Gwoon, :::: June 2001

I have earned the respect of my elders for my part in defending Choy Lay Fut’s honor (as far back as 1961) and for my commitment to teaching and propagating CLF since 1966 and I need not elaborate on that as my reputation speaks for itself. Over the years, I have trained students to compete in many full contact kung fu and kickboxing matches under the CLF name and they have won championship titles in Australia since 1980. One of them even beat the undefeated 3-times kickboxing champion of Hong Kong (a former CLF student of master Lee Koon Hung turned professional kickboxer) in 1984.

Mario Riggiio with his sifu getting ready
for his 6 round kickboxing title match with "the ice man." Perth, Australia :::: 1988

Mario Riggiio(left) fighting the 'ice man'
in a 6 round kickboxing title match Perth, Australia :::: 1988

So tell us josephx and all you loud mouth CLF computer warriors – what contributions have you made to propagate and uphold the good reputation of our CLF martial arts? Are you willing to stand up and defend the honor of your name, your sifu and school when challenged or are you going to back down and call for help?