Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu (蔡李佛功夫) is a dynamic style of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts. It originated in the South of China, and has become on of China's most popular styles of kung fu today.

Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu (蔡李佛功夫) can be found on every continent of the globe, with practitioners from China in the East, to USA, Canada, and South America in the West. From Europe in the North, to South Africa in the South.

All Choy Lay Fut practitioners are part of the Global Choy Lay Fut Family, and share the same roots, regardless of their respective race, religion or nationalities.

With emphasis on both, long and short range fighting techniques. Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu is a powerful style of Southern Kung Fu, which combines "Southern Hands" and hand techniques, with "Northern Feet" and foot work. Choy Lay Fut is also known for its long range, sweeping like strikes, and deceptive foot work.

The Choy Lay Fut Chinese Martial Arts Academy is one of South Africa's fastest growing Martial Arts Schools / Associations.

We are the South African representatives of the World Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Association, under Master Li Siu Hung.

We are also affiliated to the South African Wushu Federation.

The South African Wushu Federation is a member of SASCOC, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) is the controlling body for all high performance sport in South Africa and was formed as a Section 21 Company by representatives of all the sports bodies at a general meeting held on 27 November 2004.

Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu has a very rich heritage in South Africa.

We are one of few styles who has had the honor and privilege of learning from 4 Great Internationally well known Choy Lay Fut Masters who all came to South African shores to spread this great art.

Choy Lay Fut first came to South Africa in 1987, when Sifu Morne van der Schyff and Sifu Andre Grobbelaar went to Hong Kong to train under the great Choy Lay Fut master, Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung.

Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung visited South Africa around 1988 - 1990 and was accompanied by his close student, Master Yuen Hong Chow. During the early 1990’s, Master Yuen Hong Chow visited South Africa, and decided to stay here to teach Choy Lay Fut and Muay Thai. Master Yuen stayed in SA for about one year, and then decided to return to Hong Kong.

In 1993, Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung moved to the USA and opened the World Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Association USA. In 1994, he hosted an International Chinese Martial Arts Tournament and some of the South African students attended this tournament, and had the chance to train at Master Lee’s Ford Lauderdale school. In July of 1996, Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung hosted the 2nd International Chinese Martial Arts Championships, and once again a delegation of the South African students attended this event. Unfortunately during that time, Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung was in hospital with heart condition, and soon after passed away.

Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung's brother, Master Li Siu Hung took over his USA school, and continued to teach Choy Lay Fut kung fu to our US brothers and sisters. During 2001, Master Li Siu Hung followed in his brother’s steps and visited South Africa to teach a series of seminars and classes in Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu to our South African students. Another great Choy Lay Fut instructor, Sifu Joe Keit, accompanied Master Li. Sifu Joe Keit is the manager of the Lee Koon Hung Kung Fu Association and a close friend to many of the instructors of our academy. Master Li formally accepted our Academy as part of the World Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Association, of which he is the current president.

The Choy Lay Fut Chinese Martial Arts Academy is honored and grateful to master Li for his guidance and for awarding us with a plaque of recognition as part of the Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut family. We continue to host Master Li and Sifu Joe here in South Africa, in order to spread the great style of Choy Lay Fut to our rainbow nation.

The Choy Lay Fut Chinese Martial Arts Academy in South Africa, under Sifu Eduann Barnard follows the tradition of our heritage in promoting Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu in South Africa.

Sifu Eduann is a student of Master Li Siu Hung, and has also trained with various other Chinese Kung Fu Masters, such as Master Master Wong Guan Quan, who returned to China in April 2006, after spending about 13 years in South Africa. Sifu Eduann travels to the USA and Hong Kong regularly, in order to keep up with his kung fu training. Sifu Eduann is very active in the Chinese Community of Johannesburg, and assist in many fundraising efforts, demonstrations, functions and events.

We have been building the name of Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu in this country, and has won many awards for best over all team, as well as best over all individuals in both fighting and forms in the various local and national tournaments between 1999 and 2006. We are one of the fastest growing Kung Fu styles in the country, and we have proved to be amongst the top schools in our land.

The Choy Lay Fut Chinese Martial Arts Academy tries to bring Chinese Martial Culture, to the people of South Africa, and also offer various other regular courses as well as seminars, in related subjects, such as Chinese Language Courses, Cultural and History Classes, etc.

 

Left to right: Sifu Joe Keit (USA), Sifu Paul Fraga (USA & Brazil), Sifu Eduann Barnard (RSA), Master Li Siu Hung, and Instructor Giovanni (USA & Brazil).

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