History
The International Chiu Chi Ling Hung Gar Association was created to preserve Grandmaster Chiu Chi Ling and his family's teachings about Hung Gar Kung Fu.
Meet Our Founder
Grandmaster Dr. Chiu Chi Ling was born in 1943, born to Chiu Kow and Chiu Shiu-ying. From a young age, he trained in the Chinese martial art, Hung Gar. Hung Gar stems from the 5 animals of Chinese Kung Fu: tiger, crane, snake, pray mantis, and monkey; main animals are tiger and crane. Grandmaster Chiu started to train in the arts of Hung Gar at the age of 4-6 years old. as well as lion dancing, a popular dance during Chinese new years. His martial arts lineage stems from his father and mother who learned from Lam Sai-wing, who was a great martial artist in his own right. Yet he learned from Wong Fei Hung, or Huang Fei Hung, known as to be a Chinese martial artist hero during his time and with many folk and movie stories about him.
During his childhood, he would be challenged by boys at his academic school to a fight, and would often beat them with only a few moves. In his father’s Kung Fu school, he would learn from sunrise to sunset about Hung Gar and lion dancing. He would even learn Dit-Da Jaow from his parents. This is a form of Chinese medical practice that makes a liquid of crushed up and watered medicinal herbs and rubbing it on sores and bruises; relieving pain and help with blood flow. He would eventually get his Doctor title through Dit-Da Jaow.
Grandmaster Chiu began his career in the cinema industry in 1961, at the age of 18 year old. He worked with movie producers and actors like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-Fat, and Stephen Chow. Preforming his role as a stunt actor and as a martial artist in fighting scenes. Today, he has done at least, 70 movies. Throughout his career. Along with his movie career, he soon made his own Chinese Kung fu school in the early 1970’s. He would travel using his movie career and spread Kung fu all over the world. From China, to Europe, to even North and South America. Each student making schools and spreading Hung Gar more.
Disciples
Grandmaster Chiu's journey throughout the Americas. Europe, and many more places, he has gained a mass following. Everywhere he went, he would teach the basics of Hung Gar to as many people as he could, teaching students everywhere from Germany, to Switzerland, to the US, to Brazil, to Mexico, and to many more.
His first studio was in Hong Kong, China, which made it a bit difficult for some students to visit him from far off countries. They were only ever be able to see and learn from him at social events, seminars at their schools, etc. See, Grandmaster Chiu's policy was, and still is this, the student needs to go to the Master, not the other way around. This displays and shows him that there are students that are willing to learn for the sake of improvement and aren't willing to take any shortcuts.
In 1997, when he came to the Bay Area of Alameda, California, he was able to make teaching Kung Fu his main goal and making movies his side passion. Overtime, students from Europe, South America, China, and even some of the US ones from California and New York all start going to Grandmaster Chiu to learn from him.
There are many students and many more Hung Gar masters he taught, that getting all of them written down would take too long. But the major ones that stood out and showed true greatness and prominence are: Martin Sewer, Tim Lau, and Jose Jaime Fabian. These students and masters have truly stood out as being pillars of Grandmaster Chiu's ideals and teachings.
Martin Sewer; Dia Sihing
Martin Sewer wasn't Chiu Chi Ling's first student, but was one of his best students that became a master. He learned at an early age and was taught at the original Kung Fu studio in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, he lived in Switzerland and had to save up money and travel to Hong Kong and stay for a few weeks; this never did deter him from learning, though. When Chiu emigrated to America, he also willing to fly over there as well. Through training and his Switzerland grit, he became a master and teaches at least 3 schools Hung Gar. As well as support events like the China Expo. He is the leader of the Switzerland branch of Hung Gar and is a main line for Grandmaster Chiu of anything happening in Europe.
Tim Lau; Dia Sihing
Tim Lau is Grandmaster Chiu's advisor, one of his eldest student, occasional interpreter, and all around understanding person. He started his journey into Hung Gar at around 2001. His journey started out quite differently then most as he was struggling with health problems and was on 5 different medications. He wasn't any slouch though and did sports like swimming, jogging, meditations, Tai Chi, etc. Yet nothing clicked with him. That wasn't until he was introduced to Grandmaster Chiu by a friend and it was a shock to him at first. He was shortest in the class and was pretty behind, and he taught very differently from what he imagined, learning applications and actually touching hands and applying the technique. His doctor was also a bit shock and took him off the medication to see if this new change in pace would improve his health more, and it did. Since then, he kept a good work ethic, training at home and becoming a teaching assistant to Grandmaster Chiu; becoming my Dia Sihing and good mentor.
José Jaime Fabian; Secretary
Jose Jaime Fabian is a student of Grandmaster Chiu from Oaxaca, Mexico. He may not be wise as Tim or as hardworking as Martin, but he has youth, skills, and a dedication towards Grandmaster Chiu. Jose is one of Grandmaster Chiu's most relied on student. He is the leader of the Mexico branch of Hung Gar and teaches many students. He travels between Mexico and America almost 4-5 times a year. Taking his time in both learning from Grandmaster Chiu as well as spending time with him. This show of dedication isn't cheap and is a costly journey to fly from Mexico to America. Even still, he is very dedicated to martial arts and Grandmaster Chiu. Jose's fascination with Kung Fu comes from his childhood, as a hyperactive kid. His parents attended him to learn martial arts from a teacher but wasn't as good or focused. Yet, it lit a fire of fascination for Jose, eventually coming back to train from that teacher later on in his teens. He would eventually meet Grandmaster Chiu and started to follow him; learning and absorbing all that he can get from Grandmaster Chiu. He would go to the China Expos, go on holiday training in America with Grandmaster Chiu, and host events for him to teach his own students and spend time with Grandmaster Chiu. Jose Jaime Fabian is a good student, amigo(friend), and reliable leader of the Mexico branch and of the Chiu Chi Ling Hung Gar school.
Mission
Our main mission with this online store is to:
- Establish clarification of rules in our Kung Fu Association.
- Define the hierarchical placements within our branches associating with Grandmaster Chiu.
- Restore Grandmaster Chiu's rightful payments in recognition of his contributions to teaching and inspiring others, both directly and indirectly.
This store isn't meant to be a blockade or discourage people from joining the Hung Gar family. This is meant to be a clarifying and connecting bridge between Grandmaster Chiu and all branches and masters. A proper way of being accepted and acknowledged by Grandmaster Chiu. As apposed to becoming a master without consent or acknowledgement by him.
Our board leaders:
- Chiu Chi Ling; Chairman, Grandmaster.
- Martin Sewer; Di Sihing
- Tim Lau; Di Sihing
- José Jaime Fabián; Secretary
- Jack Wong; CEO
- Marcus J. Wong; CTO