Wong Yan-Lam
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After Sing Luhng had died, his student, Wong Yan Lum (王隐林) left Guangdong (Canton) and began a very successful armed bodyguard/escort business. Travelling and meeting new people had often given him the opportunity to share and exchange his rare Kung-Fu with others.
Years later, a homesick Wong Yan Lum returned to Guangdong with the intention of opening a Kung-Fu school and teaching others the art of Lama Pai. He decided to issue and open challenge to any martial artists in the area and boasted that “none could beat his kung-fu.” He erected a fighting-stage referred to as a Leitai in the center of town.[citation needed] Over the next three days, a tireless Wong Yan Lum fought over 150 martial artists styles and skill levels. Most matches were over in less than 10 seconds[citation needed], with Wong being victorious in every match, his reputation grew rapidly and he immediately opened up his “Lama Pai” school.[citation needed]
As a result of his fighting skill, he was recruited by a revolutionary group whose vow was to restore the Ming Dynasty to power. Wong Yan Lum agreed to join and the “Guangdong Sahp Fu” (Ten Tigers of Canton) were formed, they included famous Kung-Fu masters such as “Begger” Sue, Tiit Kiu Sam and Wong Kei Ying (father of the well known Wong Fei Hung[citation needed]). The Tigers were each ranked in order of their fighting ability, Wong Kei Hung was ranked 5th, while Wong Yan Lam held the number one position, Wong Yan-Lum was perhaps the best fighter in all of Canton during the late 1700s and early 1800’s.[citation needed]
Most practitioners of Hung Gar are unaware that Wong Yan Lam shared techniques with Wong Fei Hung’s father, Wong Kei-Ying, in the Lama Pai style. Lama Pai techniques are evident in both the Tiger Crane form and the 5 Animal/5 Elements forms of Hung-Ga. In turn, Wong Kei-Ying shared the Hung family’s 5 animal techniques which led to Wong Yan-Lum’s creation of Lama Pai’s Ng Ying Kyuhn (5 Animal Form).
Wong Yan Lam, during his later years in Guangdong, also taught a number of students which each went on to head their own variant of the Lama Pai tradition. Among these students were Jyu Jik Chuyhn, Wong Hon Wing, Nhg Yim Ming, Lei Ying Chuen, Choi Yit Gung and Ma Yi Po.
For many years, Wong Hon Wing was considered Wong Yan Lum’s senior student and began teaching the art under the name “Haahp Ga” or Knight Style. “Haahp” (Hop Gar) translates to Knight which was the nickname which Wong Yan-Lum was often called. Wong Hon-Wing’s students began to practice and promote this new martial art.
