Developed by Chan Heung in 1836, Choy Li Fut is a form of martial art in which several Chinese styles, including Southern and Northern styles, have been blended together. It beautifully combines the powerful hand techniques of the Southern Kung Fu styles with the versatile kicks of the Northern style. A complete and highly effective style for both health and self-defense, it also includes the five animals – tiger, dragon, crane, leopard, and snake.

Gradually spreading to other parts of the world, Choy Li Fut is an extremely popular martial arts style in mainland China even today. It is now fast gaining popularity in Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States. Choy Li Fut is one of the fighting styles used by the Outworld ninja Ermac in the Mortal Kombat video game series.

Heung, who learned martial arts from his uncle, a famous Shaolin boxer, named this form after his two mentors, Choy Fok and Li Yau-San. Fut in Cantonese means Buddha, which Heung added to the name of his new style as an acknowledgement of his uncle and Shaolin origins of the system.

Choy Li Fut involves a wide variety of techniques, which includes long and short range punches, kicks, sweeps and takedowns, lethal pressure point attacks, joint locks, and grappling. In this form, many of the traditional Kung Fu weapons are also used. Some forms of Choy Li Fut also teach the use of a large arsenal of traditional Kung Fu weapons, 52 to be precise, which are classified into long, short, twin, and flexible categories.

Having powerful, circular forms Choy Li Fut is not only effective in combat but also beautiful to watch. They usually contain more than 150 types of movements, each having its own practical use during self-defense. When performed at full speed, they also provide an excellent cardiovascular exercise.

The Nine Dragon Trident is the symbol of the Choy Li Fut system. The system includes internal training such as meditation and breathing exercises as well. It lays emphasis on the intelligent use of strength and the combination of the external force with the internal will.

Choy Li Fut system has more than 190 forms divided into three levels of learning. Among them are traditional fist and weaponry forms, either in solo or multiple person sparring sets; Shaolin wooden dummy forms for hand techniques and weaponry; sand bag techniques and forms; internal forms and traditional Chinese medical theories; and lion dance sets.

There are some codes to be followed by those who practice Choy Li Fut that were written by founder Chan Heung in his original manuscript. Apart from combat skills, a practitioner of Choy Li Fut must develop a kind, gentle, good and patient heart; never commit injustice or injury to others, except when necessary for defending oneself; respect fellow practitioners; avoid excess alcohol or meat; bully others or misuse power and so on. If anyone breaks a code, the practitioner is asked to leave the school.

At present, Choy Li Fut schools are being set up in many parts of the world for teaching this form of martial art.

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