Many years ago, I was looking through my
Grandmother's photo album where I found a
picture of my Grandmother's brother. His name
was Leung Wing Hang.
Leung Wing Hang was a traditional dit da doctor
and kung fu teacher in Hong Kong. He had
studied Hung Gar style under Lam Sai Wing,
and wrote a book on a style he created himself
called the "Snake Cat Crane Combined Fist"
Grandmother's photo album where I found a
picture of my Grandmother's brother. His name
was Leung Wing Hang.
Leung Wing Hang was a traditional dit da doctor
and kung fu teacher in Hong Kong. He had
studied Hung Gar style under Lam Sai Wing,
and wrote a book on a style he created himself
called the "Snake Cat Crane Combined Fist"
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Leung Wing Hang
In 1980 a movie was released with
the Chinese title "Snake Cat Crane
Combined Fist", with English title
"Lackey and the Lady Tiger" starring
Mars Feng Sing, Hwang Jang Lee
and Sek Kin. The movie plot was very
similar to the 1978 Jackie Chan
movie "Snake in the Eagle's
Shadow" (incidentally also starring
Hwang Jang Lee) both of which ends
with the secretive and surprisingly
superior Cat style kung fu, which was
completely unrelated to Leung Wing
Hang's Snake Cat Crane style. It is
obvious that the name was borrowed
from Leung's book, but this was not
endorsed by Leung himself as he had
passed away a few years before the
film's production.
the Chinese title "Snake Cat Crane
Combined Fist", with English title
"Lackey and the Lady Tiger" starring
Mars Feng Sing, Hwang Jang Lee
and Sek Kin. The movie plot was very
similar to the 1978 Jackie Chan
movie "Snake in the Eagle's
Shadow" (incidentally also starring
Hwang Jang Lee) both of which ends
with the secretive and surprisingly
superior Cat style kung fu, which was
completely unrelated to Leung Wing
Hang's Snake Cat Crane style. It is
obvious that the name was borrowed
from Leung's book, but this was not
endorsed by Leung himself as he had
passed away a few years before the
film's production.
Leung Wing Hang's Original Book
"Snake Cat Crane Combined Fist"
"Snake Cat Crane Combined Fist"
1980 Film "Snake Cat Crane Combined
Fist" AKA "Lackey and the Lady Tiger"
Fist" AKA "Lackey and the Lady Tiger"
| 1978 Film "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" |
In the 1980's, two "copy cat" books were published on Leung Wing Hang's Snake
Cat Crane form, a blue book and a yellow book, however both of them are
obviously unauthorized transcribed copies that neither explains the correct origin
and meaning of the style, nor gives credit to the creator of the style itself.
The blue book version was published by Douglas Hsieh, who was notorious for
re-publishing martial arts books about styles that he was not an authority figure
on. There is a very obvious misprint in Leung Wing Hang's original orange
covered book, that Hsieh unknowingly carried over into his copied version. Also
in Hsieh's explanation of the origin of the style, he does mention a "Mr. Liang" as
having learned this style from a monk named Yi Cheng. The "Mr. Liang" could
very well be Leung Wing Hang, however Leung did not learn this style from a
monk. He created the style himself from combining Lam Sai Wing's Hung Gar with
Mian Kuen (cotton fist), a style that he had acquired from Yeung Han Git.
Cat Crane form, a blue book and a yellow book, however both of them are
obviously unauthorized transcribed copies that neither explains the correct origin
and meaning of the style, nor gives credit to the creator of the style itself.
The blue book version was published by Douglas Hsieh, who was notorious for
re-publishing martial arts books about styles that he was not an authority figure
on. There is a very obvious misprint in Leung Wing Hang's original orange
covered book, that Hsieh unknowingly carried over into his copied version. Also
in Hsieh's explanation of the origin of the style, he does mention a "Mr. Liang" as
having learned this style from a monk named Yi Cheng. The "Mr. Liang" could
very well be Leung Wing Hang, however Leung did not learn this style from a
monk. He created the style himself from combining Lam Sai Wing's Hung Gar with
Mian Kuen (cotton fist), a style that he had acquired from Yeung Han Git.
The yellow book version was published in Taiwan by someone under the
mysterious name "Chu Wan San" or "Cloudy Mountain Chu". Only half of this
139 page book is dedicated to the Snake Cat Crane form, while the other half to
general health and well being. The diagrams of the form techniques are
exceedingly poor hand drawings, that follow the postures of Leung Wing Hang's
original book exactly, but are depicted so poorly that the true essence is
completely lost. There is no credit given at all to Leung Wing Hang.
Leung Wing Hang had said himself that he disliked "copy cat" authors as they
were one of the main causes of false teachings. They were thieves and con
artists who stole from the original authors, and swindled money from eager
students.
mysterious name "Chu Wan San" or "Cloudy Mountain Chu". Only half of this
139 page book is dedicated to the Snake Cat Crane form, while the other half to
general health and well being. The diagrams of the form techniques are
exceedingly poor hand drawings, that follow the postures of Leung Wing Hang's
original book exactly, but are depicted so poorly that the true essence is
completely lost. There is no credit given at all to Leung Wing Hang.
Leung Wing Hang had said himself that he disliked "copy cat" authors as they
were one of the main causes of false teachings. They were thieves and con
artists who stole from the original authors, and swindled money from eager
students.
| Leung Wing Hung c.1930 |
Over the years, I have received digital scans
of copies of different printings of Leung Wing
Hang's original book, thanks to D.Shane of
Plum Publications, C.Goodin of the Hikari
Institute, The University of Hawaii, and F.
Bolte of Ng-Gwoon in Germany.
I am still in search of an original copy for my
family's collection. If you have a copy that
you are willing to part with, I would very much
appreciate an email:
eric@kungfubrothers.com
of copies of different printings of Leung Wing
Hang's original book, thanks to D.Shane of
Plum Publications, C.Goodin of the Hikari
Institute, The University of Hawaii, and F.
Bolte of Ng-Gwoon in Germany.
I am still in search of an original copy for my
family's collection. If you have a copy that
you are willing to part with, I would very much
appreciate an email:
eric@kungfubrothers.com
Leung Wing Hang was also involved in
the Hong Kong film industry and was the
martial arts director on several movies of
the 1940's and 1950's including the first
five Wong Fei Hung movies starring
Kwan Tak Hing. Below is a list of the
films that Leung Wing Hang worked on
including a few that he actually acted in.
Leung Wing Hang Filmography:
1947 Hot tempered Leung’s
adventure in Hong Kong
牛精良大鬧香港
1949 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part one 黃飛鴻正傳
1949 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part two 黃飛鴻傳下集
1950 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part three: the battle by Lau Fa
Bridge 黃飛鴻傳第三集 : 血戰流花橋
1950 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part four: the death of Leung Foon
黃飛鴻傳四集: 梁寬歸天
1950 How ten heroes of Guangdong
slew the dragon 廣東十虎屠龍記
1951 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
grand conclusion 黃飛鴻傳大結局
1951 The three sieges of Chuk Village,
part one 三打祝家莊(上集)
1951 The three sieges of Chuk Village,
part two 三打祝家莊(下集).
1951 The five heroes' deadly spears
五虎斷魂槍
1951 The brave archer 百戰神弓
1952 Soul of the tiger 虎膽英魂
1952 Battle in Lotus Valley 血染芙蓉谷
1953 Crossing Yuanyang River by night
夜渡鴛鴦江
1954 The Rescue of Cloud-Piercing
Swallow 鐵橋三義救穿雲燕
If you have copies of any of the above
films, please send me an email me at:
eric@kungfubrothers.com
the Hong Kong film industry and was the
martial arts director on several movies of
the 1940's and 1950's including the first
five Wong Fei Hung movies starring
Kwan Tak Hing. Below is a list of the
films that Leung Wing Hang worked on
including a few that he actually acted in.
Leung Wing Hang Filmography:
1947 Hot tempered Leung’s
adventure in Hong Kong
牛精良大鬧香港
1949 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part one 黃飛鴻正傳
1949 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part two 黃飛鴻傳下集
1950 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part three: the battle by Lau Fa
Bridge 黃飛鴻傳第三集 : 血戰流花橋
1950 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
part four: the death of Leung Foon
黃飛鴻傳四集: 梁寬歸天
1950 How ten heroes of Guangdong
slew the dragon 廣東十虎屠龍記
1951 The story of Wong Fei-hung,
grand conclusion 黃飛鴻傳大結局
1951 The three sieges of Chuk Village,
part one 三打祝家莊(上集)
1951 The three sieges of Chuk Village,
part two 三打祝家莊(下集).
1951 The five heroes' deadly spears
五虎斷魂槍
1951 The brave archer 百戰神弓
1952 Soul of the tiger 虎膽英魂
1952 Battle in Lotus Valley 血染芙蓉谷
1953 Crossing Yuanyang River by night
夜渡鴛鴦江
1954 The Rescue of Cloud-Piercing
Swallow 鐵橋三義救穿雲燕
If you have copies of any of the above
films, please send me an email me at:
eric@kungfubrothers.com
Leung Wing Hang (on left)
in The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part 2.
in The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part 2.
May 2010 Eric (centre) grand nephew of Leung Wing Hang, holding the
University of Hawaii's original copy of the Snake Cat Crane Combined Fist
book. The library's curatorial staff on both sides.
University of Hawaii's original copy of the Snake Cat Crane Combined Fist
book. The library's curatorial staff on both sides.
Photos of Leung Wing Hang
from his original Snake Cat
Crane Combined Fist book.
from his original Snake Cat
Crane Combined Fist book.