CHOY-LI-FATT AND NORTHERN SHAOLIN
Combat application of Da Lohan Quan
Question
Is Choy Li Fatt related to Great Northern styles like Da Lohan, Tan Tui or First Emperors Long Fist?
-- Sifu Roland Mastel
Answer
The answer, as is common in our school, is "yes" and "no", depending on one’s interpretation.
If we interpret the relationship historically and over a fairly long period, yes Choy-Li-Fatt is related to the great Northern Shaolin styles like Da Lohan, Tan Tui and First Emperor Long Fist.
Southern Shaolin Kungfu, the style of Shaolin Kungfu practiced at and issued from the Southern Shaolin Temple, evolved from these Northern Shaolin styles. Some of the patterns of these northern styles, like the upward swinging arm of Da Lohan, the chopping fist of Tan Tui, and the long-reaching thrust punch of First Emperor Long Fist, are also found in Choy-Li-Fatt.
But if we interpret the relationship over a shorter period, with emphasis on their present forms rather than their origins, the answer is no. Choy-Li-Fatt is related to Southern Shaolin styles, and not Northern Shaolin styles. It is evolved from Choy Ka Kungfu, Li Ka Kungfu and Southern Lohan Kungfu. Although some Choy-Li-Fatt has some patterns similar to those of the Northern Shaolin styles, on the whole Choy-Li-Fatt patterns are characteristically different.
As an interesting analogy, we may consider Choy Ka Kungfu, Li Ka Kungfu and Southern Lohan as brothers of Choy-Li-Fatt, and other Southern Shaolin styles like Hoong Ka and Wing Choon as cousins. On the other hand, Da Lohan (or Big Lohan from Northern Lohan), Tan Tui and First Emperor Long fist as distant relatives.
-- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
Combat application of Shaolin Tantui
The above is reproduced from the thread 20 Questions for Grandmaster: Choy-Li-Fatt and Kungfu against Other Styles in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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