Choy Lee Fut
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
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Choy Lee Fut is a Chinese martial art which is one of the most popular Kung Fu styles in the world today. Th art is well known for its speed and power, its smooth circular body movements and its flexible footwork. It combines the powerful hand techniques characteristic of the southern styles with the versatile kicks of the northern systems, emphasizing the intelligent use of strength and combining external force with internal will. Many Mixed Martial Arts competitors study the Buk Sing branch of this art.
Choy Lee Fut is easy to learn because it was originally created as a killing style for use against government forces of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). For this reason, a large variety of weapons are part of the study of this style. It is one of the arts whose techniques Bruce Lee incorporated into Jeet Kune Do.
History
Choy Lee Fut was founded by Chan Heung in the Guangdong Province of southeast China in the 19th century. Chan originally studied Hung Gar, which heavily influenced his creation of Choy Lee Fut. The name of this style is derived from the fact that it is a modified combination of the techniques of three other styles of Kung Fu: Choy Gar, Li Gar, and Fut Gar, as well as Hung Gar. It is considered a very complete style for self-defense.
Techniques
Like many other Chinese styles, Choy Lee Fut makes use of the Five Animals techniques: Tiger, Dragon, Crane, Leopard, and Snake, and also Chin Na techniques. Though a southern style, it makes equal use of both kicks and hand techniques, including the swinging, whip-like roundhouse punches of the various Crane styles. It features high, wide stances, making for great mobility in a fight. It also uses a specific sound (the kiai) when executing common movements in order to coordinate breathing and movements. It is said that the kiai was also used as a way to differentiate Choy Lee Fut fighters from Qing enemies.
Styles
The three main branches of Choy Lee Fut are Chan, Cheung Yim, and Buk Sing.
The Buk Sing branch focuses on sparring and actual combat rather than forms and weapons. This style has fewer techniques, making it easier to learn than the other branches, and teaches students to stand with the torso at a 90 degree angle to the opponent, thus reducing the target area available to the foe. Buk Sing is highly aggressive, delivering a furious attack with a rapid series of punches and kicks, then followed up by hooks and uppercuts, so that it resembles Western boxing. It is very popular in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
