Chan Tai San

Chan Tai San was a Chinese martial arts grandmaster who was often called one of China's "living treasures". He was featured as such on the cover of Inside Kung Fu magazine in 1996. He was born in 1920 in King Mui, a village in the Xinhui district of Guangdong province. He was the eldest son of Chan Yuen-woo, a boxer from the Qingyun temple near Dinghu Mountain, and Chan Hui-mei, a woman of the Hakka ethnic group. He started learning martial arts from his uncle at the age of seven, and showed great talent and strength. He learned the Fut Gar style, which specialized in palm techniques, from his uncle. At the age of 15, he was introduced to Li Yau-san, a senior disciple of Zhi Shan Monk, who taught him the Li Gar style, which was more fluid and flexible than Fut Gar. He studied with Li Yau-san for four years, and became a proficient fighter. He then sought out Choy Fook, a Shaolin monk who lived in seclusion on Lou Fu mountain, and who was skilled in both martial arts and Chinese medicine. Choy Fook was reluctant to teach Chan Tai San at first, but was impressed by his sincerity and perseverance. He taught him the Choy Gar style, which was a northern Shaolin style that emphasized long-range attacks and footwork. He also taught him other Shaolin techniques, such as the iron wire fist, the crane form, the five animals form, and the eighteen weapons. He also instructed him in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Chan Tai San spent ten years with Choy Fook, and became his best disciple. Chan Tai San returned to his village in 1836, and started teaching martial arts to his relatives and friends. He combined the three styles he had learned, and named his system Choy Li Fut, after his two main teachers and his uncle. He also added his own innovations and modifications, such as the sup ying kuen (cross-shaped fist), the kung ji fuk fu kuen (tribute to Buddha fist), and the sap bat mor kiu (eighteen grabbing bridges). He also developed a set of ten forms, called the sup ying kuen, which were the core of his system. He also taught his students the principles of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom, and courage. He was known for his generosity and compassion, as well as his bravery and skill. He often helped the poor and the oppressed, and fought against the corrupt officials and bandits. He also participated in the Red Turban Rebellion, which was a movement against the Qing dynasty and in support of the Ming loyalists. He was respected and admired by many people, and was regarded as one of the greatest martial artists of his time. Chan Tai San died in 2004, at the age of 84. He had no spouse or children, but he had many disciples, who spread his style throughout China and overseas. His style is still practiced today by thousands of practitioners around the world, and is one of the most popular and influential styles of Chinese martial arts.