CHAPTER IV

TRUE HISTORICAL FACTS OR
A MISCONCEPTION?

In order to make their story on CLF more “believable” and convincing, Chan clan historians had to furnish DATES to support their claims and their account of events in their CHAN FAMILY HISTORY on Choy Lay Fut and use it as “historical facts” (READ “Master Lacey Responds To The CLF Controversy” – Chapter II & III and the Chapter “Let’s Go Over The Chan Family History on CLF” in his JULY update on his website) to claim Sovereignty over Choy Lay Fut martial arts.

For ANY CLF branch to claim that “CHOY LAY FUT” was the adopted name for our martial arts in the year 1836 is absurd and any presumptuous notion to believe otherwise is a MISCONCEPTION in the minds of the ignorant. The year “1836” was a “BIRTH DATE” randomly chosen by past CHAN family historians to claim “ownership” of the Choy Lay Fut name, give more credibility to their story, to mislead the ignorant and build a “cult figure” out of a person who claims direct lineage to the over glorified ancestor.

No documented evidence written by a Chan family clan elder to support this belief (that “CHOY LAY FUT” was founded in 1836) can prove anything. It’s only “circumstantial” evidence and the Hung Sing elders of Hong Kong and Singapore are willing to dispute it if the Chan clan elders want to argue over the true historical facts. My sifu and elders will only be too happy to MEET with them if they are sincere in seeking clarification!

The fact is that the “Choy Lay Fut” name was never used or heard of until people (other martial artists) started to give Cheung Hung Sing’s martial arts that name. The “Choy Lay Fut” name was a MISNOMER and was not yet adopted till a much later date when people began to use this term to describe our fighting style for they had found out that it was a synthesis of the CHOY Gar, LAY Gar and FUT Gar martial arts taught by the monks of the Shaolin Temple. In time, the name CHOY LAY FUT became so overwhelmingly popular that eventually it was adopted for convenience and to avoid confusion – and this is no MISCONCEPTION. “Misconception” is a convenient and favorite word used by historians like Doc Fei Wong to DISPEL THE TRUTH!

SLANDER INVITES REPERCUSSION

My critics (on the internet’s Kung Fu Forum) have accused me of “trying hard to discredit the Chan clan and their historical records on their story on CLF’s history. They have forgotten that it was the Chan clan members that threw the first blow and began a slanderous campaign to insult and deliberately discredit the Buck Sing and Hung Sing CLF heritage. It started 17 years ago with Doc Fei Wong’s 1985 fabled book “Choy Li Fut”, published in English for the western market. Using the information given by this great storyteller (based on misconception), Chan clan activists believed they had all the “true historical facts” and correct answers for them to wage a “war of words” on the net.

But it backfired on them when I decided “enough was enough” and began to conduct my own crusade against these unscrupulous anti Hung Sing backstabbers on my website when the “One Style – Two Legacies” appeared in April 2002. When my ardent critics responded with personal insults and sarcastic criticisms on the Kung Fu Forum, I followed up with 3 updates on my website – “Master Lacey Responds To The CLF Controversy”, “It Doesn’t Make Sense To Throw Pearls To Pigs (Chinese Proverb)” and the last one in June, titled “1000 Foot Soldiers Do Not Make One General!”

E-MAIL FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

“MISCONCEPTION” -
AN ENIGMA IN THE MINDS OF THE IGNORANT

Since getting a rebound for their insolence and ignorance, die hard Chan Heung loyalists like joseph, fu pow, Serpent, Maestro and the other imbeciles (an adult whose intelligence is equal to that of a 5 year old!) by the name of “Sharman” have rallied to Doc Fei Wong’s side for they have finally come to accept and worship him as their newfound “SAVIOR” after reading his recent article “The Story on Choy Li Fut”, the man who once brashly dispelled the monk Ching Cho as a “fictional” and “non existent” character – but NOW has admitted he made a mistake because he has recently “discovered” that Ching Cho and Choy Fook are the same person! This can only be seen as a desperate attempt to save the Chan family CLF history which is under scrutiny. The Chan clan can thank Doc Fei Wong, joseph and other anti Hung Sing backstabbers for this, for it is them who have deliberately plotted to slander and discredit the Hung Sing CLF martial arts of Cheung Hung Sing and provoked retaliation!

YOUR BARK IS WORSE THAN YOUR BITE!

Someone (we suspect it’s joseph using another fictitious name) has stated he has received e-mail from students and masters from the Chan clan and Hung Sing branches and that they have enough info to make me look like an idiot. Well, if all these sifus have so much proofs and evidences, why has NOT ONE of them had the guts to take up Master Kong Hing’s challenge to meet him to thrash out the true story on Choy Lay Fut?! How come it’s that you loudmouths are still only willing to use the internet to convey messages and make argumentative statements?

You keep talking about written documents (documented by CHAN HEUNG’S DIRECT DESCENDENTS of course!) kept by the CHAN FAMILY as “historical records” to support the legacy of THEIR great Chan family ancestor Chan Heung (whom they claim is the founder of Choy Lay Fut). Are you telling us that these “FAMILY” records are to be accepted as the TRUTH just because one of their past CHAN ancestors have documented their family’s martial arts heritage? If the CHAN CLAN’S “historical facts” have such credible “evidences and proofs” to establish credibility to their CHAN FAMILY history on Choy Lay Fut why are the Chan clan elders not willing to defend their martial arts heritage, in person by meeting in council with the authoritative spokesmen of the 5th generation elders of the Buck Sing and Hung Sing?

Dave with Kong Hing, Hong Kong :::: 1986

CAN’T YOU HANDLE THE HEAT?

You like to vent your anger and frustrations at me by calling me names ‘cos you can’t handle the heat when I speak out to defend my Hung Sing martial arts heritage but when I “call you out” so you’d have the chance to show me and my sifu how tough you really are when it comes to a real “war of words”, you chicken out! Who’s the “pussy”, joseph? You called me that but it’s obvious who the real “pussies” are and I know of many who shares the exact sentiments as “Regulator”. Why are you making yourself into such a pathetic fool?

Master Lacey perfmorming at the Chow Lung(founder of Chow Gar)
Anniversary memorial banquet, Hong Kong :::: 1988

READ WHAT “REGULATOR” HAD TO SAY ABOUT joseph
& THE OTHER “PANOCHAS”

Thank you "Regulator”. I couldn't have said it better myself!

(Response on the Forum) Posted by bean curd 05-25-2002

fu pow,

I read what you write, but you not understand what edicate is, this is plain and simple to see. I wish to not go into another debate on such things, this I will say and I would kindly like your response.

I have read dave lacey sifu writings on his site. Fu pow you must look at how thing have been written, through whole writing, and let us not go strong words used, as you have done same, maybe in different way, but non the less, same intent.

Dave sifu speaks with elder thinking, this very clear, much of what he has written comes from faliel piety of elder and ancestors, if you don’t understand this then there is no way I can explain it to you, you must seek guidance from your sifu to show you the manner of thinking.

I do not wish to discuss the entire writing but wish to point out one thing and one thing only, dave sifu states clearly that you should take yourself, your sifu and sigung if not others to hong kong and discuss in person your issues with dave’s version of CLF history. I say dave’s version only to clarify that discussion is due to dave sifu coming out with version while others have not yet done so, except for frank, but this thread on dave sifu not frank.

What dave sifu ask, this is not a new request, this from old times and clearly show dave sifu complete understanding of decorum required to bring finality to such words being used in open forum.

He clearly also understand that this forum is a OPEN forum and as such indicate clearly that witness, protection can and will be forth coming, again this is very traditional design of meetings when things start in open and must stay in open, so nothing can be used or changed if in hidden speaking.

I say now to you, instead of bring such things up, which I now feel clearly you do to cause issue with dave sifu, please do that which is correct and now meet as dave sifu says, FACE TO FACE.

If your conviction on finding truth is as strong as you say it is, then this request by dave sifu is correct and you have only two choices. 1. Do not and therefore your words are worthless as your action show conviction for your belief, or 2. Go and confront, which again show clearly your conviction for truth.

Please do not say, “why should I go, what is dave sifu to CLF??”

I will answer this for you, dave sifu comes from very strong/loyal/true and correct lineage, his sifu, sigung and soforth is impeccable, dave sifu clearly also understand that the words he use also bring attention to his sifu and elders, if he therefore is not correct in truth or manner, then he not only bring shame to himself, but also his lineage all the way back to Tarm Sarm.

Dave sifu understand this but do you fu pow???

It is for this reason then you must decide to either meet as requested by dave sifu or you must walk away from your words to him.

Please remember we are talking gung fu here, not everyone treat gung fu as a game, there is much honour in the art we play, respect is paramount in both words we use and actions we take.

If joseph read this (are you back from hong kong??) I suggest the same to you, this has gone on far long enough, don’t you think??



Posted by bean curd 05/25/2002

fu pow,

sadly I read a response from you which I thought would come, from what you write, a predictable reply.

From what you write, your theme is clear, why should you meet with dave and what outcome will be of benefit to you. Would all you receive from dave is a “scolding” you write.

Strange words from someone of your conviction. If you go to OPEN discussion, and you are correct, then is it not clear that the scolding would come from you and your family. Where would dave and his family hide if they are wrong and you are right?

What he ask you to do is a gamble on his part, pure and simple, so again if you are right, then the loss of face to dave is extreme, so I do not see how you can say what you have.

You try to make out that your mission is to find the truth and you will never be stopped, again this sort of thing has been around for more years than can remember, all is discussed, so if you are implying that you are being asked to stop and follow a PARTY line, then you have delusion of thought in this matter.

It is apparent that whatever I write to you is on wasted ears or on a person who has yet to understand – family. I can only hope one day when you look back at the actions you have taken, you will realize what you wish is wrong, but how you have carried yourself is of not correct manner.

With joseph (yu) all I will say is if he is the generation he says he is, then he should know better and not lead the younger ones astray.

*FROM MASTER DAVE LACEY TO
“BEAN CURD” & “REGULATOR”:

Thank you for speaking out with such honorable convictions and having clarity of insight. It clearly shows your maturity in thinking and your understanding of correct decorum that is sadly missing in today’s new breed of arrogant martial artists.

Wasn’t it “fu-pow” that said that if you repeat something enough times, people will believe it to be “facts”! Isn’t that what the Chan clan “historians” have been doing over the past 30 years to propagate their propaganda to promote the Chan Family’s version of the history of Choy Lay Fut to the western world?! Who’s been busy with their campaign to brainwash the CLF followers in the west to accept their story as the truth and WHO started this conflict between the Chan Family and the Hung Sing clans by going public on the internet’s Kung Fu Online e-mail section?! READ OVER “IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE TO THROW PEARLS TO PIGS!” I warned them backstabbers what to expect if they want to continue with this “war of words” on the internet and that they better make sure they’re willing to take full responsibility, for their irresponsible actions.

To bring more clarity to this conflict at hand please read over the comments I made (in the CLF Controversy – April 26th 2002) in Chapter VIII under “Elders of CLF’s ‘Anti-Cheung Hung Sing’s Hardliners”, “Too conceited To Appreciate The Wisdom Of The CLF’s Early Elders”, “Closing Remarks” and “Footnote”.