Eagle Claw Kung Fu: The History

The Northern Eagle Claw System can be traced back to the Southern Sung Dynasty (1127-1279). It evolved from the Elephant style, which got its name from its heavy, fixed stances and its reliance on hand techniques. General Ngok Fei trained his soldiers in fighting techniques that he had adapted from a Sil Lum (Shaolin) monk named Jow Tong. Using these techniques, Ngok Fei and his troops continuously defeated invading Mongolians.

His techniques became known as Ying Kuen and acquired a fierce reputation throughout China. These techniques formed the system to be called "Ying Sao" (Eagle Hand) and the "108 Locking Hand Techniques" were its base. The system was primarily handwork from simple blocking and punching to complicated grappling, emphasizing the use of grabbing, locking and pressure point strikes.

Sometime during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the system underwent a dramatic change. A monk named Lai Chin, famous for the Faan Tzi system, became impressed with the Eagle Claw techniques and decided to combine them with the Faan Tzi system known for its kicks and intricate legwork. With great diligence he mastered Eagle Claw and then blended the two systems to form what he called Faan Tzi Ying Jow Moon, now called Faan Tzi Ying Jow Pai.

From here the next great master was Toa Jai. When the Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911) the lives of all members of the Ming family were threatened. Toa Jai was forced to flee and became a monk. He was forced to hide his teachings under the penalty of death, so he taught Eagle Claw in secret. He passed the system to Far Shing. Far Shing practiced in secret in the city of Ho Bok (now Beijing). He passed the system to Lau Shu Chun. Here Eagle Claw becomes the treasure of the Lau family and for many generations was taught only to family members. Lau Shu Chun taught his third son, Lau Kai Man and his sister’s son, Chan Tzi Ching.

Chan Tzi Ching was one of Eagle Claws most famous masters. He became known as a great fighter never using more than two techniques to defeat an opponent. He was the first person to teach Eagle Claw in southern China. In 1915 in a place called Ching Hoy Yun, in the state of Tin Jun, a master named Fawk Yun Gop invited him to help create a kung fu association later known as the Ching Mo Association. This story was recently portrayed in Jet Li's movie "Fearless". Chan Tzi Ching taught in Shanghai. He had many students. His youngest was Lau Fat Mon. In 1924 Chan Tzi Ching started teaching at the Hong Kong Ching Mo gymnasium. Here he introduced Ng Wai Nung to the system. In 1929 Chan Tzi Ching ha to return to his village and sent for Lau Fat Mon to take over for him.

Lat Fat Mon taught in Hong Kong until 1931. He then accepted an invitation to teach in a village named Wong Jong. He was assisted by Ng Wai Nung and Yiu Kin Wah. After establishing this school, he and Ng Wai Nung returned to Hong Kong. In 1936, during the Sino-Japanese War, Lau Fat Mon taught in the army in Canton. He remained there after the war until the revolution when he returned to Hong Kong. Lau Fat Mon died in 1964. During his life he was largely responsible for the spread of the Eagle Claw System throughout southern China.

By 1935, Ng Wai Nung had learned all of the system of EAGLE Claw. He had also learned the complete Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan from Chiu Sau Chun and Ngau Yun Ho in the Hong Kong Ching Mo Association. He left Hong Kong to return to his home village but returned in 1949. One of his advanced students was Leung Shum. In 1956, Ng Wai Nung was called to teach in Singapore. This left the Hong Kong school in the care of Shum Man Lock, Shum Yiu Ching and Leung Shum.

Leung Shum moved to the United States in 1971 to spread the Eagle Claw System. He opened his school in 1973 and has been teaching in New York City ever since. One student who joined in March of 1984 was Joel Rodriguez.

Joel Rodriguez started training at the New York school in 1984. He became an assistant instructor for Grand Master Shum in 1989. In 1995 he moved to Atlanta and started teaching Eagle Claw there. He opened the Eagle Claw Kung Fu Center in midtown Atlanta in 1999. Joel Rodriguez became one of the few 'Masters' under Grand Master Shum in 2000.