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CHAPTER ONE - ORIGIN
The history begins with a heroic martial arts Buddhist shaolin monk – Siem Yan, also known as Lee Siem Si. Who was born in the mid part of the 1800’s. Travelling almost all his life through Southeast China spreading the teachings of Buddhism. Before returning home he shared his martial arts knowledge in different provinces with various family clans. According to oral passing from the older generation, these family clans were the Lam family clan (林), the Chung family clan (宗), the Cheung family clan (張) and few others more. Historical documents proof that his last stop before returning home was Guangzhou (广州市) in the Guangdong province (關東) around 1890. From there, he returned to his birth village in Sai Heung Tong (西乡塘区), located in Naam Ning (南宁市), in the Kong Sai province (廣西). Once the monk arrived at his destination, there were two young brothers who had heard about his highly skilled deadly fighting art, that had spread rapidly through the South. Both young men were eager to learn this fighting art from the monk. Knowing that he did not easily accept young students, they asked the monks niece to put in a good word for them…the monk accepted the Lee brothers as his disciples and so their training began.
Due to the brothers exceptional intelligence and physical stamina, they were able to master the system’s intricacies and subtle techniques under the skillful guidance of Lee Siem Si. In only a few years they both had learned the fighting art from Lee Siem Si. The reputation of the Lee brothers began to grow far beyond their region. The older brother became highly skilled in the unarmed techniques. He could easily crush his opponent with one single blow. Due to his strong muscular build body and fierce full strikes, “as strong as an ox” people would say. He soon gained the nickname “Lee Tit Ngau”. As for the younger brother Lee Kam Kong, he too became an excellent martial artist in the explosive staff skills (Chaai Taw Kwan) of this extraordinary deadly fighting art. Unfortunately during one of the many challenges both brothers had in those days, The eldest brother, Lee Tit Ngau accidently killed his opponent in a challenge and had to flee afterwards from his birth village. He then left China and went to the New Territories (新界) in Hong Kong to start a peaceful and quiet life away from the continues challenges he had to deal with in the past. The younger brother decided to remain at their birth village, taking care of further family business as a farmer and living the life of a hermit.
CHAPTER TWO - INCEPTION
When Lee Tit Ngau arrived at Hong Kong through Sam Chan (深圳). He started to work for a friend who owned a paddy field. This was located at Ping Yeung (坪洋) in the North district (北區) of the New Territories. Later on, a lantern was hung up at the village club house. Announcing that the teachings of Lee Tit Ngau would start. Passing the knowledge on, what he had learned from the Buddhist monk, Lee Siem Si (the founder of our style / 祖師). It was there where the very first school from Kong Sai Tit Ngau Kuen had officially opened its doors. During those days, many surrounding villages would have a local master. Like Lai Yan, who was one of them, he taught the Hakka Tit Ngau Tong Long in the village Nga Yiu Ha (瓦窰下), as well in other villages nearby. Such as Man Uk Pin (萬屋邊), Lin Ma Hang (蓮麻坑) and Sheung Shui (上水) in the New Territories of Hong Kong.
Ping Yueng (坪洋) and Ping Che (坪輋) were the only 2 villages where the Hakka fighting art Kong Sai Tit Ngau Kuen was taught during the mid-1940’s to the second generation in Hong Kong…this almost 80 years ago.
CHAPTER THREE - CONNECTION
During the second world war (1937-1945), also known as the second Sino - Japanese war. A young man named Man Yan Tai (our great grandmaster / 師太公), who already was a fierce fighter that time in the Southern style “Hong Kuen” (洪拳).Was later on assigned to the Republic of China military police (ROCMP / 中華民國憲兵). Once the war ended, he returned to his birth village Ping Che in the North district of the New Territories. Wanting to go back to the peaceful times in Hong Kong, it was there where he would come in contact with the famous Lee Tit Ngau, our ancestral master (si jo / 師祖) for the very first time.
GREAT GRANDMASTER MAN YAN TAI
1925 - 1994
The spring of 1946, on a sunny day, Man Yan Tai went fishing at the Ping Yeung river (平原河). Once there an argument occurred with 3 villagers from Ping Yeung. They wanted his fishing spot and told him to leave. He refused, telling them the river was big enough for everyone to catch fish. At the time Man Yan Tai already had quite a reputation in the area of being a formidable fighter, but the three men took their chances…3 against 1, they couldn’t lose! All of a sudden one of them threw a punch in his direction, so Man Yan Tai reacted to the situation without hesitation and a fight broke out. It ended quickly with the 3 men lying on the ground bleeding. They stood up all bruised and left the scene. Shouting from a distance that they would be back tomorrow and make him pay…Man Yan Tai smiled and continued with his fishing. Once the 3 men returned to their village, they went straight to Lee Tit Ngau and told him what happened at the river bank. Offering him a huge amount of money if he could get the fishing spot they wanted and teach this well-known fighter from Ping Che a lesson.
So the next day Lee Tit Ngau went to the riverbank where the fight occurred in search of Man Yan Tai. He walked straight up to him and said “ I heard that your kung fu is really good, the best in Ping Che. If you want you can try me”. Man Yan Tai accepted the challenge, but with the first strike that he executed, he immediately fell straight to the ground. The second time Lee Tit Ngau knocked him down with one single blow, using only an open hand formation. Man Yan Tai couldn’t believe what just happened! Lee Tit Ngau already having the age of 66 years old! How was this possible? A third and final time he gave his best shot, but again he just could not pass Lee Tit Ngau’s hands. He then said to Man Yan Tai “ You’d better go, your kung fu is not good enough. You must train more”. So he left, angry and in disbelief of what had just had happened.
“ GWAN MOW LEUNG HEUNG ”
Surprisingly, a few days later, Man Yan Tai went back looking for Lee Tit Ngau. Only to challenge him again, but this time to an armed combat with the staff. He tried 3 times, but the outcome of the fight was the same…Man Yan Tai was no match for him. Lee Tit Ngau then said to him “you must take the best sifu and learn the good one, then you come and fight with me” It was then that Man Yan Tai asked to be accepted as his student, but Lee Tit Ngau refused at first. The upcoming days he kept asking the same question over and over, following Lee Tit Ngau wherever he went. Finally to offer him tea on his knees (bai si / 拜師) and asked the same question again. At that moment surprisingly he accepted the cup of tea…Lee Tit Ngau agreed to teach him, he became an indoor disciple from then on (yap sat dai gee / 入室弟子). The young man was motivated, dedicated, but above all…he possessed a good heart. Everything starts from there.
CHAPTER FOUR - LEGACY
Not long after, teaching’s also began at the community hall of the Ping Che temple. A small group of the villagers would come together and train in front of the entrance under the watchful eye of Lee Tit Ngau. Man Yan Tai assisting his Sifu. This was the second and last village where the fighting art was taught in Ta Kwu Ling, the North district (New Territories) of Hong Kong during the mid-40’s. Of course other Hakka fighting arts were active at neighboring villages during that time, but not the one that we represent…period!
坪源天后古廟是香港新界北區規模最大的一所天后廟, 位於打鼓嶺坪輋水流坑。 建于清初 (大约在 1756)。该庙与另外两幢建筑物相连；正中为天后庙，右为平源公所，左为昇平社义祠。
坪源天后古庙
Entrance of the “Tin Hau ancient temple” situated at Ping Che Road in Ping Che Village. It is connected to two other buildings. On the left, the Sing Ping Che Memorial Hall. On the right, the Ping Yeung Community Hall.
At the end of the 1940’s, Lee Tit Ngau decided it was time for him to return to his birth village in the Kong Sai province. He told Man Yan Tai that if he wanted to complete his training he should join him in Sai Heung Tong. There, he would have the chance to learn the full essence and deeper understanding of the long weapon (tok sei gwan) from his younger brother Lee Kam Kong. Without hesitation, he accepted the invitation and the two would soon leave Hong Kong. Sadly, this meant that the teachings at both villages would have to come to an end, as Man Yan Tai was the only qualified person that was officially allowed to teach. From then on, there were no more official teachings of the Tit Ngau Kuen Hakka fighting art in the North district, New Territories in Hong Kong.
“ jie kong tsai yau jie yau tsai kong “
Taught to Man Yan Tai by Lee Kam Kong
Once they arrived at the Sai Heung Tong district, located in the Naam Ning capitol, Kong Sai province of China, Man Yan Tai was taught the deeper understanding of the poisonous snake staff by the younger brother Lee Kam Kong, as well as furthering his training in the unarmed combat skills with his Sifu, Lee Tit Ngau. Aside from the daily practice that would last somewhere between 4 to 6 hours, Man Yan Tai would also assist with their family business, doing the daily chores he was given by the two brothers.
CHAPTER FIVE - BELGIAN SOIL
Coming soon
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