History of Eagle Claw

ChangWuJi · October 7, 2001

The Eagle Claw Story

"The roots of Eagle Claw reach far back in Chinese history to the Shaolin temple of Northern China, founded during the Sung Dynasty it has travelled down through the ages reaching the 20th century in its entirety.

A blend of three ancient kung fu styles, Eagle Claw is a classical system of Kung Fu, a complete and rounded system, encompassing increasingly difficult free hand set, martial tumbling, gymnastic routines, and numerous weapons.

Master Gini Lau is the daughter of the late Great Grand Master Lau Fat Mang, a famous Eagle Claw Master and honored war hero from China, who was probably one the greatest Eagle Claw exponents of this century.

Today's Eagle Claw descends directly from three systems of Northern Kung Fu, the first being Chin'na (joint locking) developed by the famous General Yueh Fei (1103 - 41) of the Sung Dynasty. The General Yueh Fei although not himself a product of Shaolin Temple was extensively trained by the Shaolin Priest Jao Tung.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) one of the great periods of Chinese cultural history, a Shaolin martial monk named Li Chun famous for his abilities in Faan Tzu (martial tumbling). Li Chun chanced upon a demonstration of

General Yueh Fei's Chin'na. Li Chun saw the power of Eagle Claw hand techniques as well at the beauty of the form and was determined to combine it with his own Faan Tzu. In time the monk Li Chun combined the two systems creating Northern Shaolin Ying Jow Faan Tzu. (Eagle Claw as we know it today.)

The monk Li Chun passed Northern Shaolin Ying Jow Faan Tzu to the monk Tao Chi of the Li Chu'an monastery Pao Tin in the Hopei province, an area famous for it's martial arts. The Li Chu'an monastery maintained the system as the Ming Dynasty gave way to the Ching. Near the end of the Ching Dynasty a Confucian scholar named Lau Shr Chien entered the Li Chu'an Monastery and studied the Eagle Claw system. Lau Shr Chien then moved to Peking and gained great fame as a martial artist, especially with the staff, becoming known asTa K'an tse Lau (Master Lau of the Staff). Master Lau passed Eagle Claw to his third son Lau K'ai Wen and nephew Ch'ung Tzu Chung.

It was Ch'ung tzu Chung who took the system to Shanghai, becoming an instructor at the famous Ching Wu academy of martial arts. The Eagle Claw form became very popular and one instructor of the Eagle Claw system was too much to handle for one man. Ch'ung Tzu Chung returned to Hopei province and convinced Lau Tzu Chang, Lau Chan We and one another Eagle Claw artist, destined to become one of the most famous martial artist of the era Lau Fat Mang, to return to Shanghai and assist in teaching of the Eagle Claw system.

The Late Great Grand Master Lau Fat Mang was born in 1902, the nephew of Lau Shr Chien and close relative of Lau Ch'ung Y'o. This family connection allowed him to be trained in the inner "secret" forms of eagle Claw that were not taught to the general public. Lau Fat Mang had already made a name for himself in martial art circles by winning honours at the Peking civil service exams ( these exams were very difficult and competitive, encompassing both Confucianism and martial arts). the Late Great Grand Master Lau Fat Mang's specialties was that of a unique style called Joy Lhok Tong ( Six Drunken Falling Form).

In 1929 the Late Great Grand Master Lau Fat Mang was requested travel to Hong Kong as Head instructor for the new Ching Wu martial arts academy, This was a very famous period of growth for martial arts in Hong Kong and lead to it's introduction to the West. With two the Kung Fu Master became known as the three Heroes from Hopei.

As China became embroiled in war Grand Master Lau was requested by the army in training the troops. While his military career was brief, Late Great Grand Master went on to become a national war hero. he organized and trained a special forces troop named the Tao Tao Brigade. This group specialized in making night-time raids on enemy encampments. The exploits of the Tao Tao Brigade are legendary and are still a point of pride in China today.

After the war Late Great Grand Master Lau Fat Mang opened his own school and taught there for several years. Toward the end of his career he retired to the New Territories of Hong Kong and taught only his family. Master Gini Lau the youngest of three daughters and two sons was born late in her father's life, chosen by her father to carry on the Eagle Claw tradition. Many hours of hard gruelling training sweeping away the old traditions of Chinese tradition, being that of only Eagle Claw being taught to the son and heir. Gave Master Lau the complete Eagle Claw system as taught by her father."