Cho Ga Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a Chinese martial arts that needs little introduction, as it has been popularized in recent decades as the precursor to Bruce Lee's Jeet Kuen Do, the inspiration to Dannie Yen's role as Ip Man and the poetry in motion that was showcase in Wong Kar Wai's "The Grandmaster".

But that which we know in the mainstream media is the Hong Kong style of Wing Chun popularized by Ip Man, hiding away other styles of Wing Chun that clearly have common origins.

Cho Ga Wing Chun was born out of trouble times in the last Dynasty of China, where a fighting system emerge with the aims to rebel and overthrow the government and for survival!

While Cho Gar Wing Chun has similar feature to other establish Wing Chun styles, what makes this system unique is the integration of many features of other Southern Chinese fighting Styles, namely Cho Family's background in Hung Kuen, Choy Lee Fut and also the influence of the opera troupe!

This has thus refine a system develope to maim; with a wide repertoire of strikes, takedowns, limb break etc. to get the job done in the shortest time!

Cho Ga couplet — Cho Ga HQ, Seremban, Malaysia

Characteristics of Cho Ga Wing Chun

An ancient Chinese Martial Arts for today's challenges.
No rules, no limits, excellent system for street self-defense.
Attack points of weakness: soft target and vulnerable areas such as eyes, throat, groin, etc. to maximize your effectivity.
Techniques would consider illegal or dirty boxing in combat sports or MMA!
Small joints manipulation and arm break.
Lower leg attack and foot immobilization is a common traits of Cha Ga Wing Chun.
"Hit the bridge" Counter-strike by hitting the attackers limbs instead of blocking an attack.
Both direct and circular movement are use for attack & defense.
Cho Ga Wing Chun system is likened to a "Swiss Army knife"; extreme utility applicable to more or less any scenario at hand!

If you think tradition martial arts does not work, then you do not understand it!

The old styles exist today because its practitioners did not die when they needed their art!

Development of Cho Ga Wing Chun

Cho Ga Wing Chun (曹家詠春拳), Sometimes written as Cho Gar or Cáo jiā, and also referred to as Nanyang (South East Asia) Wing Chun too. This is a very old traditional Chinese martial arts system; Cho Ga Wing Chun system which can be traced back to the Red Boat (Red Junk) opera troupe (廣東粵劇紅船) era.

As legend has it that one of the five elders from Shaolin Temple, a monk name Ji Sin or Gee Sin (至善禪師) flee from persecution of the Qing Dynasty government, seeked refuge in the opera boat disguise as cook with the traveling opera troupe, navigate the waterways of Guangdong Province connected to surrounding towns and villages where they perform.

The boat and its sail was distinctively painted all red hence the name “red boat” trade mark for the opera troupe, whenever it docked, a temporary stage was set up nearby to perform Chinese Guangdong opera.

Gee Sin was highly skill in martial arts and have taught and exchange martial skill with fellow member of the opera troupe, at the time those were present include Painted face 大花面(花面錦), Li Wenmao (李文茂), Liang Langui (梁蘭桂), Huang Huabao (黃華寶) & Liang Erdi (梁二弟) etc.

When the troupe disbanded / retired, Huang Huabao (黃華寶) & Liang Erdi (梁二涕) went back to Foshan taught Liáng Zàn (梁赞) , Liáng Zàn subsequently taught Zhǎoqián Huá (找錢華) and finally Zhǎoqián Huá taught to Yip Man (葉問) which give rise to the Hong Kong Yip Man Wing Chun Branch.

Around 1864, the late Painted face 大花面 (易金) retire and settle down with the Cao Family at Guǎngzhōu Panyu (廣洲番禺) , and to repay his gratitude he taught his lifelong skills to Cáodéshèng, (曹德勝), Cáodéshèng was a very gifted martial art arts student later on open 7 martial arts school around China Guǎngzhōu!

During the early century there was an influx of immigrants from southern China seeking better livelihood, set sail and settle along neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand etc. Cho On, nickname Sifu On 曹廷安 (1899-1993) was one of these immigrants who settled in Penang Malaysia (circa. 1937), Since young he been learning Wing Chun (鴉湖詠春拳) back in his village with uncle Cáodéshèng (曹德勝) in China.

Sifu On was teaching Wing Chun in the early 60's at Panyu Association in Penang Malaysia, one of his early student was S Y Lau (劉順源) , the young S Y Lau was assisting the teaching of Wing Chun on Cho On's behalf, and always seek opportunity to test the effectiveness of Wing Chun with other martial arts.

Due to economic needs he move to Singapore to work in the 70's where he subsequently taught his Wing Chun skills to his nephew Ku Choi Wah (古財華) at the time master Ku Choi Wah was also working in Singapore.

Today Master Ku Choi Wah has been actively promoting this traditional style of Wing Chun system both in Singapore, Malaysia and oversea!

Protect yourself and your loved ones!

The average response time for law enforcement is around eleven minutes. Those eleven minutes can seem like a lifetime when you’re in the middle of a situation; bottom line you're on your own! Don't regret, be prepared!

曹家詠春拳

Class Location:-
Civil Service Club @ Tessensohn Rd
Saturday: 11:30am to 1:00pm.
Venue: Level 2, Aerobic Studio, 60 Tessensohn Road, Singapore 217664.
Fees: S$100 per month/4 Sessions.
Instructor: sifu Ken Lau.
Contact: WhatsApp: 9046 2936.

Cho Ga Wing Chun Pioneers

Sifu Cho On

(曹廷安)

(1899-1993)

Nephew of the famous martial artist Cáodéshèng who was wellknown in Guangdong during early 1900, Sifu On was the 1st person who brought Cho Ga Wing Chun out from Guangdong, China to Penang, Malaysia, in the early 30's!

Si Kung S Y Lau

(劉順源)

Currently residing in Singapore.

Assisting instructor to sifu Cho-On back in Penang Chinese Association in Malaysia, move to Singapore in the 70's, have not open public classes, sifu Ku Cho Wah was one of his closed door disciple!

Sifu Ku Choi Wah

(古財華)

Currently base in Seremban, Malaysia.

Current Cho Ga lineage holder for South East Asia, he regularly commute back to Singapore and give private classes to his long term student here, sifu Ken Lau is one of his authorize instructor here in Singapore.