THE LINEAGE
From the Root to the Branch
A direct and unbroken chain of living transmission spanning generations over centuries — from the Shaolin temples of Southern China to the present day.
Gee Sin — Hung Hei Goon — Luk Ah Choy — Wong Kei Ying — Wong Fei Hung — Lam Sai Wing — Lam Cho — Lam Chun Sing — Leon Dogan
† Also transmitted through Tid Kiu Sam — Lam Fook Sing — Wong Fei Hung
至善禪師 / Gee Sin Sim See
Shaolin monk and legendary founder of Southern Chinese martial arts. One of the Five Elders who preserved kung fu knowledge after the destruction of the Shaolin Temple.
◆
◆
洪熙官 / Hung Hei Goon
Shaolin monk and legendary founder of Southern Chinese martial arts. One of the Five Elders who preserved kung fu knowledge after the destruction of the Shaolin Temple.
陸亞采 / Luk Ah Choy
Transmitted Hung Kuen forward, preserving the system's integrity through a period of significant political upheaval in Southern China.
◆
◆
黃麒英 / Wong Kei Ying
Father of Wong Fei Hung. One of the Ten Tigers of Canton — a title given to the ten most formidable martial artists of the era. He passed the complete system to his son. Learned from his father Wong Tai and Luk Ah Choy
黃飛鴻 / Wong Fei Hung
The most celebrated martial artist in Chinese history. Physician, warrior, teacher and cultural icon whose story has been told in over a hundred films. Wong Fei Hung stands as the great convergence point of the Hung Kuen tradition. He received the complete system from his father Wong Kei Ying — himself one of the Ten Tigers of Canton — and further developed his understanding under Lam Fook Sing, student of the legendary Tid Kiu Sam, whose iron bridge training methodology became one of the defining characteristics of Hung Kuen's extraordinary power. From Wong Fei Hung, through his most senior disciple Lam Sai Wing, the unified lineage continues to the present day.
◆
◆
黃麒英 / Lam Sai Wing
Lam Sai Wing (1860–1943) was one of the most famous martial arts masters of his time and a key figure in the modernization of Hung Kuen. A senior disciple of the legendary folk hero Wong Fei-hung, he became renowned for his extraordinary strength and technical precision. He famously served as a martial arts instructor for the private army of the Republic of China and earned great prestige by winning a prestigious competition at the Ng Wah Association.
Beyond his prowess as a fighter, Master Lam was a visionary who broke traditional secrecy by publishing the first instructional manuals on Hung Kuen. By documenting forms like the Gung Gee Fook Fu Kuen and the Tiger Crane Paired Form, he ensured the art would survive and spread globally. His legacy was further solidified through his nephew and adopted son, Lam Cho, who continued to refine the family system for future generations.
林祖 / Lam Cho
Grandmaster Lam Cho (1910–2012) was the definitive authority of the Lam Family Hung Kuen lineage and a monumental figure in Southern Chinese martial arts. Orphaned at a young age, he was adopted and trained by his uncle, the legendary Lam Sai Wing. Under his uncle’s rigorous tutelage, Lam Cho mastered the complete Hung Kuen system and the art of Dit Da medicine, eventually becoming a "living legend" whose influence spanned over a century.
Throughout his life, Grandmaster Lam Cho was a tireless innovator who expanded the family repertoire into a globally recognized system. He was equally revered for his community service, notably leading a self-defense unit during World War II and running a renowned medical clinic in Mong Kok until his final years. His legacy continues through his children and thousands of students worldwide, ensuring that the authentic spirit and technical precision of the Lam Family remains a cornerstone of traditional Kung Fu.
◆
◆
黃麒英 / Lam Chun Sing
Grandmaster Lam Chun Sing, is the youngest son of the legendary Grandmaster Lam Cho and a preeminent authority on traditional Hung Kuen. Raised within one of the most revered martial arts families in Hong Kong, he began his training in early childhood under the strict and disciplined guidance of his father. This lifelong immersion allowed him to achieve a complete mastery of the system that few others possess.
Beyond his technical skill in Hung Kuen, he holds an exhaustive understanding of the family’s traditional Dit Da healing arts, including bone-setting and herbal medicine. His deep technical knowledge and clinical expertise have made him a vital link in the preservation of the system's internal and external principles.
With over 50 years of teaching experience, Master Lam has been instrumental in the global expansion of authentic Hung Gar, conducting extensive seminars and workshops across Europe and the rest of the world. He currently resides in Foshan, China, where he continues to run a full-time kung fu studio and medical clinic. His work ensures that the precise details and cultural heritage of the Lam family lineage remain vibrant and accessible to students from around the world.
Leon Dogan
This document, issued by the Lam Cho Gymnastic Association in Hong Kong, serves as a formal recognition of Leon Dogan’s dedication and position within the lineage. Personally signed and sealed by the Grandmaster's school, it bridges the gap between the historic studios of Mong Kok and the continuation of the art in the West.
Translation Summary:
"Mr. Leon Ahmet Dogan has traveled from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong with a sincere heart and a dedicated spirit to study the traditional arts of Chinese Kung Fu and Dit Da medicine.
Throughout his tenure at this Association, he has applied himself with great diligence, achieving a profound understanding of the techniques and principles of the system. Beyond his technical ability, he has demonstrated exemplary character and a deep respect for the traditional virtues of the school. He is a rare and valued practitioner who has earned the recognition of the Association for his commitment to the preservation of our heritage."
◆
