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History
Chow Ga ("周家拳")(also know as Jow Ga, Chow Ka, Chau Ka, Zhou Jia, Chou Gar, and Jow Gar) was founded by Chow Lung who was born in 1891.
This style of Kung Fu was labeled as having "the head of Hung, the tail of Choy (and Northern Shaolin)" and the patterns of the tiger and leopard, so it is often called "Hung Tao Choy Mei" ("洪頭蔡尾").
The Chow clan was farmers in Sa Fu Village, Guangdong. Chow Lung's uncle Chow Hung (who was a Hung Ga master) taught Chow Lung and his brothers Chow Hip, Chow Bill, Chow Hoy and Chow Tin. Chow Lung was especially hard working and won his favour, and just before the time of his death he taught Chow Lung the Pakua Staff.
After his uncle's death he learned Choy Ga from Choy Kau, who apparently was staying for a short while at where Chow Lung worked and saw the young Chow Lung practising, and to thank the Chows for letting him stay decided to teach Chow Lung Choy Ga kung fu (from the novel "Five Tigers of Chow Ga" "周龍五虎傳")
When Chow Lung was 19 years old he went to work in Malaysia; and in a fight at the port killed a gangster. He ran for his life into the jungles until he collapsed near a Buddhist monastery. The Abbot there was actually a master of the Northern Shaolin style and after healing Chow Lung decided to teach his knowledge to him. Thus Chow Lung was able to incorporate the three styles together.
After he returned to China. The general Lee Fook Lam was recruiting a martial arts instructor to train his army. An elimination match was set up. Chow Lung applied to the match, and won all his fights. Thus he became the new instructor; he called his brothers to help instruct Chow Ga kung fu to the army.
In 1919. Chow Lung caught a cold which later developed into pneumonia. By the time he sought treatment he was beyond medical help, and died at the age of only 29. After his death the Chow brothers continued promoting Chow Ga, especially outside the army. The disciples of Jow Bill came to Hong Kong to teach, then later on Chow Bill himself came. In 1936 the first school was established in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Chow Ga in Hong Kong were taught by several notable masters. Among them, Grandmaster Chan Man Cheung, Lui Chu Shek, Wong Kun Leung, Lee Au and many others. Chow Tin and Chow Hip also came down to Hong Kong to teach and many of their disciples are still teaching in Hong Kong today.
Forms
Empty Hand Small Tiger (小伏虎) The basic form of Chow Ga, teaching the most basic and fundamental techniques that are essential in order to master the system. Almost all the stances are included in this set. The majority of techniques are included as well.
Four-Square (四平拳) Another basic set, it is shorter than the Small Tiger form and sometimes is taught before the Small Tiger. Teaches many of the basics of Chow Ga (including some techniques not included in the Small Tiger). Also is the first basic form to include a jumping kick.
Lohan (羅漢拳) Lohan is a mythical figure in Chinese Buddhism, and many Chinese martial arts has a form dedicated to such a being. It is characterized by large powerful movements. It is also a form that emphasized the use of "Chong Chui" ("Rushing Fist"), it also introduces the "Lohan washing his face" (羅漢洗面)" which is actually 3 techniques (Cup Chui, Com Chui, and Jon Chui) done consecutively. This form was created by Chow Bill after he came to Hong Kong.
Eagle Claw (鷹爪拳) This form is teaches swift movements and quick attacks, this form is characterized by the 3 consecutive clawing movement and a claw movement on the ground after a flying kick.
Flower Fist (花拳) A mix and match form, supposed to be created during an impromptu performance given by Chow Bill at a banquet. Thus at the start of the form it looked like a mix of a movements from several forms.
Man Chi (萬字) A form that literally is "The Head of Hung, and tail of Choy". This form starts off at a slower pace with many Hung Ga movements, as the form progress the pace speeds up because of the use of rapid stance-changing. It is quite a long form and trains some Chi Kung and endurance as well. It also has the "Bill Gwa Jon" (標掛撞) technique, which is 3 movements performed consecutively.
Kwok Chi (國字) An advanced form which is quite long and incorporates most Chow Ga techniques. It has a distinct Northern Shaolin kicking technique in the end.
Big Tiger (大伏虎) An advanced form which has Hung Ga roots. It is a good form to practise a good stance. Usually a number of movements are done in one stance before moving. The first part (the longer part of the form) trains some Chi Kung and also the Kiu ("Bridge" "橋"). The second part of the form is much shorter and consists of rapid movements, which again emphasized the gist of the style "Hung Tao, Choy Mei"
Tiger Leopard (虎豹拳) The (usually) last form to learn. It is an advanced form teaching many combinations. It also has one ground technique which closely resembles a kneebar done on a standing opponent.
This are not all the forms in Chow Ga, there are many more (differences in lineage/streams). But most consists of the same style of technique which makes people recognize it as Chow Ga. Besides, no matter which lineage one comes from, the initial salute (a certain set of movements, also used as a polite gesture or greeting) done before a form signifies oneself as a Chow Ga practitioner.
Weapons Chow Ga has many weapons, including sword, sabre, Kwan Dao, whips, staff (short, long), spear, daggers, tiger-hunting forks, etc. It varies from lineage to lineage. But most consent that the double-sabre ("梅花雙刀") represents Chow Ga, and the Chow Ga logo usually has a set of double-sabre underneath a " Chow" ("周") written inside a plum flower.
Lion Dance Chow Ga is also very famous for its lion dance. Many Chow Ga schools participates or gets invited to attend ceremonies and are praised for their excellent skill.
Development Chow Ga has spread worldwide, and the style is sometimes referred to as Zhong Oi Jow Ga ("中外周家"). In Hong Kong, there is still a very large population studying this style. Sometimes Chow Ga schools are invited to attend martial arts performances such as the Kung Fu corner held on Sundays in Kowloon Park.
As this style expands globally, may all Chow Ga practitioners find what they seek in this wonderful art and all prosper together, at the same time refining and polishing the techniques of the style and pushing it to new heights all the time.
Development in Hong Kong Chow Ga is not a style that many people has heard of yet it still has a significant amount of practitioners. Within martial arts circles, it's well known and respected. Currently branches of 3 grandmasters (Chow Bill, Chow Tin and Chow Hip) have students in Hong Kong.
Many Chow Ga schools still keep to tradition, i.e. teaching in a school, which is often located inside apartment buildings. Many are on the top floor so they occupy the roof tops of these buildings as well. However, there are changes that are made to suit the new era, Chow Ga is taught at universities in Hong Kong. The City University of Hong Kong has a Chow Ga club. While The Chinese University of Hong Kong also has a number of Chow Ga practitioners, though they mostly train privately.
Every year there are celebrations for the birthdays of the five Chow Ga grandmasters. "Chow Lung Dan" (Birthday of grandmaster Chow Lung) is the biggest of these celebrations in which many schools come together in a restaurant for performance in lion dance and kung fu, then followed by a banquet.
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