Choy Li Fut

Choy Li Fut
蔡李佛
(蔡拳,李腳,佛掌)
Two people practicing the martial arts
Also known asChoy Lee Fut, Choi Lei Fut, Cai Li Fo, CLF
FocusStriking, joint lock, grappling, weapons training
Country of originChina
CreatorChan Heung
Famous practitionersChan Heung, Chan Koon-pak, Chan Yu Chi, Chen Yong Fa, Wong Zen Yem, Philip Ng, Doc-Fai Wong
ParenthoodShaolinquan, Choy Gar, Li Gar, Fut Gar & Hung Gar
Olympic sportNo
Choy Li Fut
Chinese蔡李佛
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinCài Lǐ Fó
Bopomofoㄘㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄈㄛˊ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhTsay Lii For
Wade–GilesTs'ai4 Li3 Fo2
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationKai Li Fwo
JyutpingCoi3 Lei5 Fat6

Choy Li Fut is a Chinese martial art and wushu style, founded in 1836 by Chan Heung (陳享). Choy Li Fut was named to honor Chan Heung's uncle and the three masters of each family. (in Cantonese pronounced: Choy Fook (coi3 fuk1)) (in Mandarin pronounced: Cai Fu (Cài Fú)) 蔡褔 who taught him Choy Gar 蔡家拳 (蔡家捶), (in Cantonese pronounced: Li Yau-San (Lei5 Jau5 Saan1)) (in Mandarin pronounced: Li You-Shan (Lǐ Yǒu Shān)) 李友山 who taught him Li Gar 李家拳 (李家腳,李家馬), (in Cantonese pronounced: Qing Cho Sim Si (Cing1 Cou2 Sim4 Si1)) (in Mandarin pronounced: Qing Cao Chan Shi (Qīng Cǎo Chán Shī)) 青草禪師 who taught him Fut Gar 佛家掌 (少林掌法), plus his uncle Chan Yuen-wu (陳遠護), who taught him Hung Kuen, and developed to honor the virtue teachings and philosophy of Buddha and the Shaolin roots of the system.

The system combines the martial arts techniques from various Northern and Southern Chinese kung-fu systems; the powerful arm and hand techniques from the Shaolin animal forms from the South, combined with the extended, circular movements, twisting body, and agile footwork that characterizes Northern China's martial arts. It is considered an external style, combining soft and hard techniques, as well as incorporating a wide range of weapons as part of its curriculum. It contains a wide variety of techniques, including long and short range punches, kicks, sweeps and take downs, pressure point attacks, joint locks, and grappling. According to Bruce Lee:

Choy Li Fut is the most effective system that I've seen for fighting more than one person. [It] is one of the most difficult styles to attack and defend against. Choy Li Fut is the only style [of kung fu] that traveled to Thailand to fight the Thai boxers and hadn't lost.