The Story of Tee Ley & How Tiger-Crane Kung Fu Became Famous
It was Tee Ley who brought the Tiger-Crane style to high renown throughout
China. He was a master of the iron palm technique (see
end note) although
he only trained his right hand. It was said that whatever he gripped in
this hand he could turn to dust.
In years gone by, it was the custom of China for Kung Fu masters to challenge
each other to fight. Such fights were held on raised platforms called Lei
Tais. There were no rules - it was an all out fight. Tee Ley was famous
for fighting many Lei Tais, usually killing his opponent. Wherever a Lei
Tai was being held, he would travel there. Eventually he had defeated all
challengers - no one remained who dared to confront him. He was acknowledged
as the champion of Southern China. Since he was getting older, he retired
from fighting and became a shoe maker.
Some time after Tee Ley had retired, the champion fighter of Northern
China challenged him to find which was best: the Northern style of fighting,
which uses many high kicks and long range hand techniques, or the Southern
style, which uses a strong stance, close range hand techniques and emphasises
blocking. Tee Ley refused the challenge as he had retired from fighting
and stopped training. The Northern champion would not give up, however,
and kept threatening Tee Ley. Eventually, Tee Ley decided that he must
act, so he travelled North to take up the challenge. He made careful preparations
for a quick escape, since he knew that if he beat their champion, the Northern
Chinese would want to take revenge: he had a boat waiting, ready to take
him back to the South.
Tee Ley sought out his opponent and took up the challenge. The two champions
fought on a Lei Tai. Tee Ley fought using his Tiger-Crane style and his
deadly iron palm. The Northern champion was no match for him and soon lay
dead at his feet. Tee Ley had to escape quickly through the commotion,
but was lucky enough to make it back to his boat. He sailed back to Southern
China to a hero's welcome.
News of what had happened soon spread throughout China. Tee Ley became
very famous and so did the style of Kung Fu with which he fought - the
Tiger-Crane combination.
This is the story of how the Tiger-Crane combination Kung Fu became famous.
Note on the Training of The Iron Palm Technique:
Iron palm training is intended to harden the hand, thus enabling the practitioner
to deliver more devastating blows. Masters of the iron palm technique are
often famous for their breaking demonstrations. There are different variations
on the iron palm training, some concentrating purely on external strength,
while others are more internal. Many martial artists toughen their hands
to some extent, but few go to the extremes of training. Those that do often
train only one hand. In its extreme form, training of the iron palm may
involve ramming the straight fingers into a wok full of iron filings, which
are heated strongly over a burner. This training results in incredibly
strong hands, but can cause long term damage such as arthritis. This is
why few people now train this way.
Master Ang Lian Huat, the founder of Nam Yang Pugilistic Association trained
in the iron palm. Club members no longer perform the more extreme levels
of this training, but do toughen their hands, arms and legs with such items
as sand bags, bundles of bamboo and iron/brass poles. This type of training
should never be performed without the guidance of a good instructor or
without the proper medicine.
Use of the correct medicine is vital in all forms of Chinese body conditioning.
The formulae for medicines are often jealously guarded secrets of the masters,
passed on only when they are nearing their end. The medicine recipe used
by Nam Yang Martial Arts is known only by Master Tan Soh Tin. It contains
twenty-two
different ingredients obtained from a Chinese herbalist and two special
ingredients.
Bottles of medicine can be supplied by instructors.
Further
Information on Chinese Martial Arts
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