Lam Family Hung Kuen
Lam Cho
A legendary figure in Hung Gar, Grandmaster Lam Cho was the last of the great masters of his generation. He devoted his entire life to the practice, study, and progression of Hung Kuen. Born in the village of Ping Jau on the 18th day of the first lunar month in 1910, Lam Cho was orphaned at an early age and raised by his renowned uncle, Lam Sai Wing. Under his uncle’s strict discipline, Lam Cho was trained in the traditional ways with the intent of becoming his uncle’s successor. Lam Sai Wing imparted all his martial arts knowledge and Dit Da medicine skills to Lam Cho, including many secret herbal formulas passed down only to the future heir of the art.
During his long and vibrant life, he build an immense reputation that spread all over the worl and was often reffed as the living legend of Hung Kuen.
Lam Cho’s lifelong journey in the tradition of martial arts began at the tender age of 6 years old under the strict but caring guidance of his uncle. Talented, young Lam Cho was not only a natural athlete but also very intelligent and hardworking. Lam Sai Wing was extermly disciplined and not easy on his nephew. Training was harsh and youg Lam Cho was pushed beyond his limits on daily basis. Thanks to his uncles stric guidance and his natrual flair, Lam Cho was able to improve quickly and grasps the finer points of the style.
In his teens, Lam Cho had already become a well known and respected figure within the martial arts community. He was only sixteen years old when he began teaching as an assistant under his uncle and taught at his uncle’s school Lam Sai-wing Martial Arts Association (林世榮國術團), and at Southern Martial Arts Athletic Association (南武體育會). Teaching Kung fu at a such young age and being called sifu was not taken ligtly to say the least. Like his uncle, young Lam Cho had to prove his martial art skills in many open challanges.
Lam Chos’ position as the adopted son and successor to the great Lam Sai Wing put him under the limelight from an early age. Like his uncle before him, his fame and name spread far. At the age of 21, he opened his own Kung fu school and dit da clinic in Hong Kong’s central district.He was an excellent teacher and taught his art openly. Many students from all over southern China traveled to learn Hung Kuen from Lam Cho. Some of his students also became famous in Hong Kong and around the world.
In 1933, Lam Cho took over the Second Branch and renamed it to Lam Cho Martial Arts Association (林祖國術社) with a new logo of Tiger and Crane insignia designed by his student Leung Wing-hang, replacing his uncle’s former circular insignia logo which had Lam’s Training Hall (林館) written inside of it. Thus the logo became a trademark of Lam Family Hung Kuen (林家洪拳) lineage.
Being one of the most celebrated kung fu masters of his time he was often sought after to demonstrated his skills the public and was invited to all important events. One such occasion was in 1931, when Lam Cho was still a young man, he was invited to perform Hung Kuen at a British military exercise in Lufeng. His martial arts demonstration, one of the first public exhibitions of “Chinese boxing” before a predominantly Western audience, earned praise and was favorably covered in London newspapers. This high-profile event helped solidify Lam Cho’s reputation as one of the most influential kung fu masters in Hong Kong.
On December 8, 1941, as World War II raged on, Hong Kong awoke to the reality of war. The Japanese invasion marked the beginning of nearly four years of hardship and suffering. The invaders’ brutal treatment and the collapse of law and order led to widespread civil disorder, with looters and thieves taking advantage of the chaos. Recognized as a prominent figure in the community, Lam Cho stepped forward to protect the locals by forming a self-defense unit with his students. Additionally, his clinic in Yau Ma Tei became a safe haven for the neighborhood during these fearful and uncertain times.
Knowing Lam Cho’s influence and status, the Japanese attempted to coerce him into working for them, offering numerous privileges. However, Lam Cho refused, and in retaliation, his kung fu school was burned down. Now a wanted man, Lam Cho had no choice but to flee to his native village of Ping Chow, where he continued to teach kung fu in secret until the end of the war. His acts of courage and his efforts to assist the community during the harsh times of Japanese occupation are still remembered and honored today.
After the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, Lam Cho returned to Hong Kong with his family. There, he reopened his kung fu school and Dit Da clinic one of which is the now-iconic Blue House at Stone Nullah Lane in Wan Chai and also branches at Pottinger Street in Central, Kowloon Nathan Road, He also became the chairman of the Physical Culture Association, the martial arts consultant for the Paper and Boxes Association Union and the Dit Da herbalist of the Restaurant Workers Union. Sigung carried on teaching his art openly to the public and continued to treat patients using his Dit Da. Beyond his role as a teacher, Lam Cho played a pivotal part in popularizing kung fu. He helped establish the renowned Nam Mou Athletic Association and became its chief instructor after the war. The association attracted some of the best martial artists in the city, many of whom were refugees from Mainland China. One notable member was Gwan Dak Hoi, a master of the northern PekGwa style, who became the chief instructor for northern styles at Nam Mou and a personal friend of Lam Cho.
The Nam Mou Athletic Association was one of the most active and influential martial arts clubs in post-war Hong Kong, serving as a major platform for promoting kung fu and bringing together martial artists from diverse traditions.
By 1960’s Lam Cho was in his early fifties and despite all the adversaries he had already accomplished so much in the world of martial arts. In the next chapter of his life, he focused his attention to teaching and treating patients at this dit da clinic. He continued with practice and finer refinment of his kung fu continuesly innovating and reshaping his family style. Being a great master and teacher he produced many great students who in turn made a name for themselvs and spread the style to western countries.
Lam Cho was married Tam Yeut-ming (譚月明) and had six children, four sons, namely, Anthony Lam Chun-fai (林鎮輝) (born 1940), Lam Chun-hin (林鎮顯), Simon Lam Chun-chung (林鎮忠) (born 19 October 1948) and Lam Chun-sing (born January 1951 林鎮成) (born 1952), and two daughters, Lam Fung-chan (林鳳珍) and Lam Fung-chu (林鳳珠) (born 1944). All his six children were trained by their father and were established Hung Gar and Dit Da practitioners. His three sons, following in their fathers steps continued with teaching and promoting the art in Hong Kong as well all over the world and they continue to do so now.
Great grand master Lam Cho was truly a kung fu genius who made groundbreaking contributions to martial arts and his family style. Building upon the legacy of Hung Kuen masters such as Wong Fei-hung and his uncle Lam Sai-wing, he transformed Lam Family Hung Kuen into a globally influential system. By incorporating techniques from various martial arts styles and drawing on years of experience and innovation, he greatly expanded the depth of Hung Kuen and reshaped the Lam Family’s unique approach.
In his later years, the venerable master focused on running his Dit Da clinic in Mong Kok, where he continued practicing Chinese medicine until his passing. Meanwhile, he entrusted the teaching of martial arts and the dissemination of the Hung Kuen style to his children. By this time, he had become a living legend, with martial arts students and enthusiasts traveling from far and wide to seek out the great Hung Kuen master. Despite his advanced age, he always welcomed the steady flow of visitors with kindness and patience, often offering valuable insights and practical advice on martial arts training.
Even at the remarkable age of 100, Lam Cho Sigung remained vibrant and full of energy. He practiced kung fu every morning, ran a Dit Da clinic, and occasionally taught Hung Gar to students at his renowned studio and clinic in Mong Kok. Grandmaster Lam Cho stands as one of the most revered and accomplished grandmasters in Hong Kong’s history. Throughout his extraordinary life, he achieved much, yet he remained humble and grounded. Until his final days, Hung Gar practitioners from all over the world traveled to Hong Kong annually to pay their respects and train at his legendary Kung Fu studio in Mong Kok.
Lam Cho Sigung passed away on March 29, 2012, but his spirit remains strong in our hearts. His Kung Fu legacy and teachings will endure through his students and future generations. He entrusted his great legacy to his sons, Lam Chun Fai, Lam Chun Chung, and Lam Chun Sing. Like their father, all three are exceptional masters, endowed with natural talent and decades of experience in the family arts of Hung Gar and Dit Da medicine.
