Taming the Tiger. Southern Shaolin Hung Gar Kung Fu Classics Series

Second, Revised and Updated English Edition, 2025.

You can also purchase the book on Amazon >

First English Edition, eBook, 2002 > 

Priceless Heritage of Southern Shaolin Inherited from the Past and Handed Down by Venerable Grandmaster Lam Sai Wing.

The book scrutinizes an old canonical form (Tao Lu) of Southern Shaolin, the "Taming the Tiger Fist" (工字伏虎拳, "Gung Gee Fook Fu Kuen").

According to surviving sources, the founder of the Hung Gar style, Luk Ah Choy (陸阿采), studied this form (or Tao Lu, 套路) under the tutorship of Southern Shaolin's best fighter, a Grandmaster of the White Tiger style Southern Shaolin abbot Gee Sin Sim Si (至善禪師).

Luk Ah Choy handed down his skills to Wong Tai. Wong Tai handed down his skills to his son Wong Kay Ying (黃麒英), who was one of the so-called Ten Tigers of Guangdong. Wong Kay Ying to his son Wong Fei Hung (黃飛鴻), who became a successor of the Southern Shaolin Martial Art in the fourth generation.

The author of the book, Lam Sai Wing, being Wong Fei Hung’s closest and most renowned student, represents the fifth generation of keepers of the Southern Shaolin heritage, or the fifth link in the chain of direct transmission of knowledge "from heart to heart," as Buddhists say.

…And the book truly embodies the spirit of Southern Shaolin... The book places a crucial emphasis on the fighting aspect of the techniques presented. The author details the techniques' key nuances, giving the movements combat content and meaning.

This book is an invaluable source of information for anyone interested in the martial arts of Southern China, and especially for practitioners of Hung Gar and other Southern Shaolin styles.

The Quintessence of Southern Shaolin Kung Fu - classical Southern Shaolin fighting techniques from the book GUNG GEE FOOK FU KUEN:

"Black Tiger Claw"
“The Fierce Tiger Lurking Under a Rock”
“The Hungry Tiger Catches the Sheep”
"The Bull Strikes with Its Horn"
"The Blow that Breaches the Sky"
"Hand of the Golden Dragon"
"The Tiger Tail Kick"
"Two Dragons Snatching Pearls"
"Snake-Shaped Hand Technique"
"To Take the Horse by the Bridle and Bring It Back to the Stall"
"Black Dragon Whipping Its Tail"
"Golden Dragon Presents Its Claws"
"Beat the Drum With a Stone Pestle" ...

 and many more...

About the Author

Lam Sai Wing

Lam Sai Wing (1860 - 1943) was born in the district of Nan Hai, Guangdong province. Followed the customs of ancestors and learnt the tradition of Martial Arts in his family, proceeded to learn from tutors Lam Fook Sing, Wong Fei Hung, and Wu Gum Sin. Indulged in persistent training, achieved great mastership in the Martial Arts. Founded Wu Ben Tang ("The Hall of Fundamental Study") in Guangzhou (Canton) where he taught the Martial Arts. During his life brought up more than 10,000 followers.

Toward the end of the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911) gained the first place at large competitions that took place at the Dongjiao ground. Thanks to it, with great pleasure, Lam Sai Wing received a silver medal handed to him by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen himself as a token of the recognition of his great services and successes. In the years followed, taking images and characters of the Tiger and the Crane as a base, as well as techniques of Hung Gar Kuen and Fo Kuen styles, he founded a new school Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen ("The Double Form of the Tiger and the Crane").

Lived in his old years in Hong Kong where he taught the Martial Arts together with his favorite disciples Juy Yu Jaai, Jeung Sai Biu, Lei Sai Fai, and others. Wrote books: GUNG GEE FOOK FU KUEN ("Taming the Tiger"), TID SIN KUEN ("Iron Thread Fist"), and FU HOK SEUNG YING KUEN ("The Double Form of the Tiger and the Crane").

Marked a new epoch and a new school of Chinese Martial Arts, in particular in the division of formal complexes Tao Lu. Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen ("The Double Form of the Tiger and the Crane") is practiced on a large scale both in China and abroad and the interest to it does not fall down. After the formation of the People's Republic of China (1949) this style was included into syllabuses of institutes and Wu Shu high-grade schools.

/ An article from ZHONG GUO WU SHU ZEN MING CI DIAN - Dictionary "Well-known Masters of the Chinese Martial Arts" edited by Chang Cang and Zhou Li Chang. /

More about Lam Sai Wing:

Short Historical Essay on Master Lam Sai Wing. Written by His Disciple Zhu Yuzhai 

As related by Zhang Shibiao from Pangyu. The twelfth year Kuihai of the Peoples Republic (1923), the first month of the summer.