Dr. Lo Yan Chu and Kong Han Athletic Club
The Beginning
Dr. Lo Yan Chu was born in 1878 in the city of
At age thirteen Lo Yan Chu’s father died, eventually Yan Chu had to stop school to help with the family chores and livelihood. During those hard times his mother ponder on the future of the family especially that of the young Yan Chu.
Lo Yan Chu was a very athletic person and is known for his good moral character. His mother wanted him to take up martial kung fu but the perception of society was to look favorably on intellectual achievements rather on martial career. One night after his mother dreamt of a powerful man wielding a Green-Dragon Halberd, upon waking up the next day she proceeded to the Kwan Yu temple to pray for guidance. It is during her meditation and praying that she received divination that led her to decide to let young Lo Yan Chu pursue the martial path a decision that would prove to be fruitful.
Road to Ngo Cho Kun
At age fourteen, his first master was master Chuang Tan, Lo Yan Chu was a natural martial artist a quick learner after couple of years of hard training, master Chuang died. Lo Yan Chu was appointed the instructor of the school and with great loyalty and respect to his teacher he remitted all the student fees to his teacher’s wife. Later, he would learned of the famed master Kong Po Chiam, a well-known teacher of Tai Cho-Ngo Cho Kun (Five Ancestor Fist) he would continue his training with master Kong Po Chiam. Lo Yan Chu was now at the peak of his martial art skill, he would later meet other masters of Tai Cho kung fu such as Li Jun Ren founder of Yong Chun Ngo Cho Kun and Chua Giok Beng (founder of Ho Yang Pai-Ngo Cho Kun), Lin, Jiu Ru, Chen Ching-ming and many others.
Lo Yan Chu would open his first school at the age of 19 in the year 1897 situated at Wei Tou village. Aside from his martial skill, Lo Yan Chu studied traditional Chinese medicine, which in the west is equivalent to medical general practitioner, herbalist, orthopedic, chiropractor, and general surgeon. He would provide medical services to the poor and at the same time helping with his family’s farming and fishing business.
Soon, Lo Yan Chu martial virtue becomes well known. Lo Yan Chu would take up the cause for the poor and the oppressed, this virtue and attitude have resulted in him to engage in combat against bandits and oppressors. In one occasion as he was heading back to Quanzhou city in a ferryboat, the ferryboat he was riding was attack by a group of pirates. With out hesitating and before the pirates could do any serious harm to the passengers, Lo Yan Chu armed with a steel container launch forward, he fought ferociously and succeeded in defeating the pirates. As a gesture of gratitude, the British boat captain offered Lo some money. Instead of accepting the money, Lo distributed the reward money to his companions.
At age twenty-one from the year 1899, Lo Yan Chu decided to travel overseas to expand his martial skill as well as to learn and improve his medical knowledge and skill. He first traveled to
Dr. Lo Yan Chu would marry Miss Chang Fan-Niang in 1909. With his new family and with his extensive traveling in having witness first hand the sufferings and happiness of many people lives, Dr. Lo Yan Chu begun to pursue the teachings of the Tao to improve his spiritualism and strengthen his martial virtue.
He began to study meditation and would become a member of a Taoist sect based in
The Fearless Tiger
Two years before the end of the Manchu dynasty, and the establishment of the Republic in 1910 Dr. Lo Yan Chu got into several hostile confrontation with abusive Manchurian soldiers. In one critical confrontation, Dr. Lo Yan Chu led a group of martial fighters to help free his martial brother who was falsely accused of a crime and sentence to be executed by Manchu officials. The Manchu official’s base their judgment on bribes they received from the opposing party not on evidences presented was to be the last straw. Upset, Dr. Lo Yan Chu plotted against the Manchu soldiers and officials.
As his friend was being escorted to the execution grounds, Dr. Lo Yan Chu and his followers confronted them on a crossroad. The soldiers armed with guns open fired, because of the close fighting situation Dr. Lo Yan Chu made good use with his darts. Armed with a sai in one hand and a nine sectional steel whip on the other, Dr. Lo Yan Chu led his group and fought the Manchus ferociously and gallantly, the battle quickly turn into a fierce hand to hand fighting, succeeding in reducing their numbers forcing them into a corner. They fought for about three hours Dr. Lo Yan Chu exhibit of extraordinary bravery and fighting prowess gain him the nickname Hu Mu Chiu (Tiger Chiu). Dr. Lo and his companions after succeeding freeing their friend quickly escape into the narrow streets before Manchu reinforcement could encircle them.
This encounter has resulted in Dr. Lo Yan Chu becoming an outlaw; a bounty was put on his head he would escape to another village. Months later, and upon insistence from his friends and relatives Dr. Lo Yan Chu left for
Dr. Lo Yan Chu in 1912 return to his native village, he was welcome as a hero his exploits, reputation as a skilled martial artist and his good moral character possessing martial virtue, he was look up to for leadership in handling and mediate town dispute. He was to become the chief instructor of Quanzhou Kuo Shu Club this was the largest martial art school in the city. During the struggle of establishing, the new Republic Dr. Lo Yan Chu would serve as martial combat instructor and medical doctor for the 183rd division of the
The Establishment of Kong Han Athletic Club
In 1937, Imperial Japan invaded
Dr. Lo Yan Chu arrived in
Encourage with an overwhelming support of enthusiasm, Dr. Lo Yan Chu upon listening to the advice of fellow martial artist Chen Ching-ming opened an informal martial school located at
The name Kong Han has a very patriotic meaning; Kong mean fiery, bright, brilliance or shinning and Han is the ancestral term for the people of
Dr. Lo Yan Chu set a high and strict standard of regulation for his school; a good moral character was his main pre-requisite to be accepted in the school. Two people who must be members of Kong Han must act as sponsor for an applicant, after that, the applicant will go through an interview by a committee which will establish his or her eligibility, parents are required to be present during the interview. Dismissal and or expulsion from the club will result if for any unjust and unlawful reason a member should engage in violent crimes inside or outside of the school.
Support from the local community was awesome; soon many people from Dr. Lo Yan Chu native village upon immigrating to
In 1941 The prestige of Kong Han reach the northern provincial city of Dagupan upon hearing of this, the local Chinese-Filipino community formally requested for an instructor to introduce and teach ngo cho kun to their students. Dr. Lo responded by sending his eldest son Lo King Hui to take charge and eventually a new school was born in that city, this is to be the first branch of Kong Han; it was named Kong Hua Athletic Club. The school started out with about ten students and it quickly multiple to more than a hundred members.
In
Facing up to the Enemy
In 1942 the entire Philippine nation fell to Imperial Japan war machine, at that same year Japanese forces occupied
Soon many Kong Han members have joined the guerilla units and have been involved in many attacks on Japanese interest in and around
In 1944 the Japanese were starting to loose the war, American forces were advancing towards
Revival of Kong Han
The career of Dr. Lo Yan
Community support for the rebuilding of Kong Han was strong soon the original Kong Han was revive with membership souring up to seven hundred students. With a new, Kong Han and with the absence of the founder Dr. Lo Yan Chu came with internal power struggle. Young headmaster Lo King Hui was being pressure to give up his authority to personally be in charge of Kong Han, an authority that he inherited from his father. With much reluctance, young master Lo King Hui had no choice but to give in to the demands of the new committee set up to look after Kong Han affaires. These new changes couple with the power struggle had a negative effect on Kong Han; there was indecisiveness, too much bickering, activities become stagnant and division among its leaders. There was even plans to change the school name something that would have been consider a big disservice to the memory of the founder Dr. Lo Yan Chu.
Finally, in July 1954 leaders of Kong Han realized their mistakes and decided to revive the old system, the system that made Kong Han successful. Finally, Master Lo King Hui was officially recognized as Headmaster of Kong Han Athletic Club, the Club new address would be at
In 1955, a war memorial was erected at the
In 1960, Kong Han set up its fourth branch located at
In 1965, Kong Han accepted an invitation to perform at the Asian Martial Arts Festival and Karate Championship sponsored by the Philippine Journalist Association. In 1967, Kong Han was to be the first international martial art group to send a delegation to travel to Taiwan from Taipei to the southern region of Tainan, show casing the prowess of ngo cho kun to the people and soldiers of Taiwan and giving the troops moral support in their campaign against the communist. The delegation would be the biggest ever organize consisting of 96 members.
From 1960s to the early 1980s were to be Kong Han most glorious time. In 1978, students of Kong Han would further expand Kong Han prestige by competing at a national mix martial art full contact tournament sponsor by the Sports Development of the
Mainland
Master Lo King Hui
Master Lo King Hui was born on
After his father had passed away, master Lo King Hui would inherit his father’s legacy, he would become the headmaster of Kong Han and he will continue his father’s dream of teaching the true essence of ngo cho kun. Master Lo King Hui will be responsible and instrumental in expanding Kong Han reputation by participating in several local and international martial art competition and convention.
He was also an expert in traditional medicine specializing in bone setting and general herbal medicine. He was both active in teaching ngo cho kun and as a traditional Chinese physician. Master Lo King Hui would have a clinic that includes providing free treatment to students and members of Kong Han especially to those who got injured during training and competition.
Master Lo King Hui was a true traditionalist and a loyal ngo cho kun exponent he strongly believe in the effectiveness of ngo cho kun, he would not betray his heritage nor the ancestors of ngo cho kun. His loyalty would be put to test during the mid 1980s with the introduction of wu shu from mainland
It was just sad, that very few would understand what true ngo cho kun is and what contemporary wu shu is. Many Kong Han senior members would get enticed with the elegance of wu shu that they try to pressure Master Lo King Hui to include wu shu in Kong Han curriculum. This was something Master Lo could not allow to happen; Kong Han martial identity must be preserve and the founder’s legacy of Dr. Lo Yan Chu must not be allowed to be corrupted that was Master Lo King Hui’s stand.
Master Lo King Hui resistance to the plans to include wu shu in Kong Han curriculum resulted in an internal rebellion that saw several senior members breaking away from Kong Han and joining Wu Shu
Master Lo King Hui would embark on a gigantic task, a mission to bring all ngo cho kun families together. He will be instrumental in uniting all ngo cho kun families into one body. He sends out invitation to all known ngo cho kun group in
Finally, in 1990 his dream was fulfill the International South Shaolin
Master Lo King Hui was elected as the first chairman, the organization started with 14 member countries have expanded to about 22 and at present is still very active in receiving new members. The primary objective of the association is to promote and preserve the true essence of ngo cho kun. It is also active in working with other martial art groups.
Master Lo King Hui died at age 75 in 1995; months before he died the International South Shaolin
The Legacy continues
During Master Lo King Hui’s time he was able to train several outstanding students, one that would stand out is his eldest son Lo Zu-ming (Henry Lo). Henry Lo would inherit not only of the legacy of the Lo family but that of Kong Han Athletic Club. He would become the headmaster of Kong Han Athletic Club his official title would be Siensi Lo Zu-ming or Henry Lo.
Siensi Lo Zu-ming was a seasoned ngo cho kun athlete he started his training at age 11 just like his grandfather and father he train extensively and learn traditional medicine through his father. Siensi Lo would continue to operate the family clinic at the same time teach ngo cho kun. In 1996, Siensi Lo led a Kong Han team to participate in form and san shou competition at
From 1996 to 2005 Kong Han Athletic Club under Siensi Henry Lo has remain very active in participating and competing in many international wu shu events. Every year Kong Han would send delegates to Quanzhou
Kong Han participation would not only be in the martial art field but in the local community as well. Continuing his father’s legacy, Kong Han would participate in voluntary works in helping the poor and the less fortunate. Siensi Henry Lo would provide Chinese herbal healing to all who visit his family clinic regardless of social status.
Siensi Henry Lo is instrumental in seeing the expansion of Kong Han. Kong Han in year 2000 open a branch at
With the onset of 21st century, the social and economic environment was changing, technology and globalization was expanding, the open market approach has penetrated the martial art community. Many martial art schools have adapted to the new approach of globalization, quality has been replace with quantity. In accepting enrollees, students are now screen base on ability to pay for training not on their moral qualification.
In Kong Han, Siensi Henry Lo would continue to preserve the strict tradition of training and enrollment policies. Acceptance to Kong Han requires prove of good moral character, guarantor from at least two members and finally going through a committee who will interview the applicant with the presence of a parent for applicant eligibility.
The legacy of Dr. Lo Yan Chu, Kong Han Athletic Club and ngo cho kun has become an integral part of the cultural institution in the Filipino-Chinese community and its legacy continues internationally under the guidance of Siensi Henry Lo.