A Brief History of Lau Gar Kung Fu

Lau Gar Kung Fu is a traditional Southern Chinese Kung Fu system, based on the movements of several animals, as originally taught to the monks of the Shaolin Temples.  The forms, or sets, of Lau Gar are based on the five original animal styles of Shaolin Kung Fu, often referred to as the 'Five Ancestors'. These are: the Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Snake and Leopard.

The Master acknowledged as founder of Lau Gar, (sometimes pronounced Liu Jia, depending on the dialect being used), was a tiger hunter called Lau Sarm Ngau (or Liu San Yan). The name means "Three-eyed Lau", for Master Lau had a deep scar in the centre of his forehead, which looked from a distance like a third eye.

Master Lau learned the fighting arts at the Kuei Ling Temple, situated in Guang Xi province in South West China from a monk who was on retreat there. The style subsequently became very popular over a large part of South West China.

Initially Lau Gar was a "closed" style, taught only to the master's family.  However, towards the end of the last century, a man called Yau Luk Sau had the desire to learn Kung Fu. At the age of thirteen, he left his home, in Kowloon, and travelled to Kong Sai Province, where he trained under Master Tang Hoi Ching. After nine years had passed, he was given the right to teach independent of Master Tang. Yau Luk Sau subsequently met Master Wan Goon Wing, with whom he continued his studies for a further six years.

The present holder of the style is Master Jeremy Yau who is the grandson of Yau Luk Sau.  Master Yau began his training at age 6 and studied for 16 years, training 4 hours per night, 360 nights per year.  He brought the style from Hong Kong to Britain in 1961 and formed the British Kung Fu Association in 1973 and being the current holder of the style was invited to be Chief Instructor. Since then, the style has become extremely popular, and has spread throughout Britain and Ireland.

Irelands first Lau Gar club opened in 1977. Mr. Bobby O'Neill is the Head Instructor of Lau Gar Ireland and holds a 5th Degree Black Sash. He is also one of the Guardians of Lau Gar.

Boyne Valley Martial Arts opened its first club in Navan in March of 2003 under the instruction of Mr Derek Dawson, 4th Degree Black Sash and 5th Duan Wei. Since then further schools have been opened in Drogheda, Ratoath and Kilskyre.

Master Jeremy Yau