History
Legend has it that an Indian monk known as Bodhidharma (Ta Mo) arrived at the Shaolin Temple and sat in silent meditation in acave for nine years in search of enlightenment. During these long yearsof meditation, he noticed that the lack of movement plus the bittercold and wind fatigued his body causing aches and pain. His disciplessuffered the same fate and often dozed off to sleep during meditation.
To combat these hazards Ta Mo created a set ofexercises known as 18 Lohan Hands. These exercises were based on:traditional Yoga; Indian dance forms; existing fighting arts of thetime; Chinese health and longevity exercises; and his observation ofthe natural movements of wild animals. The exercises were used by themonks to maintain their strength, fitness and ability to defendthemselves against bandits and wild beasts in the area. This system became the foundation for the development of Tai Chi, Wu Chi and Pakuaand the blueprint system for most of Asia’s Martial Arts.
Initially Lohan Qigong was practiced and keptwithin the confines of the Shaolin Temple until its sacking anddestruction by fire nearly 200 years ago. One of the surviving seniormonks Choy Fook (96 years) fled south to Kwangtung province. There hewas sought out by Chan Heung (an already accomplished martial artist),whom Choy Fook accepted as his disciple. Chan Hueng learned the entiresystem of Lohan Qigong, Shaolin Kung Fu and Traditional ChineseMedicine from Choy Fook. After perfecting his skill Chan Hueng was sentdown the mountain to form his own school. He named his style Choy Lee Fut in honour of his teachers Choy for Choy Fook, Lee for Lee Yau Sanhis second teacher and Fut (Buddha) in honour of the Shaolin Temple towhom all three of his teachers including his first teacher Chan Yuen Wuhad their roots.
Over the last two hundred years Lohan Qigong hadbecome a ‘folk qigong’ which is an orally transmitted tradition withinthe confines of a particular family. Master Chen Yong Fa thegreat-great grandson of Chan Hueng and custodian of the Choy Lee Futsystem has acknowledged his wish to make this live-saving treasureavailable to the world. As Shaolin Lohan Qigong is one of the few softmartial arts systems world wide that can trace its direct descendants back to the original founder, the system provides clear concisetransmission of training knowledge and the subsequent benefits.
from Wing Sing Tong Special Edition, Chen YongFa, 2006