Brief History Of Si-Gung Alan Low

  

Low Shiu Lun / 師公盧紹麟

Alan Low started Hak Fu Mun in the summer of 1979 at the age of 19 at the Kwai Fong Youth Centre, which was located on the Kwai Fong Estate and part of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. This was initially to accompany one of his best friends called Wilson Man. He was initially training once a week under Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝, and shortly after would travel to the North Point Youth Centre which was located at the end of Shu Kuk Street in North Point on Hong Kong Island to train as well on a Wednesday evening. The North Point venue was a very large hall and classes were held here  twice a week from 7 till 10pm.

In 1982, the class moved from Kwai Fong to the Cho Yu Youth Centre. This was located on the Cho Yu Estate and was also part of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. It was during this period that Alan entered many competitions testing his abilities winning numerous awards within the HKFYG.

From 1982, Alan's Sifu, Franco Lok Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 organised an annual competition covering the Five basic skills of Chinese martial arts / 國術五項基本功比賽. These competitions attracted an average number of just over 20 students participating in the various categories each year. The five basic skills categories of these competitions were broken down into the following events :-
1. 四平大馬/ 紮四平馬 / Riding Horse stance
2. 腰力驚人 / 仰臥起坐 / sit ups
3. 無影快腳 / 快速側踢 / side kicks in a minute
4. 伏虎 / 掌上壓 / press ups
5. 天旋地轉 / 旋風腿 / spinning tornado kick

Alan won the category for 四平大馬/ 紮四平馬 / Riding Horse stance in 1982.

 

During the early 1980s, Alan would go to the Annual Dinners in March for Wong Cheung's birthday. He stated that the participants for the martial arts performance at the dinners occupied over ten tables and around one third of them were the guests from other schools or famous persons of the community. The Lion dance performances from Hak Fu Mun and the guest schools took over one hour, and these performances would elevate the mood of the audience to a high level.  He enjoyed these shows very much and would take the opportunity to assess what he could do to improve himself. A lot of senior students of Wong Cheung would perform the routines including Franco Lok, and even Wong Cheung would still perform routines occasionally now in his 80s. After the performances, he stated Wong Cheung would be very busy talking with his guests, friends and senior students. Wong Cheung had a lot of students who had a very high level of martial arts skills at these dinner parties which Alan enjoyed watching. They were exciting and gave him many unforgettable memories.

Several times between 1986 to 1989, Alan followed his Sifu, Franco Lok to practice at the roof of Bute Street gym. He stated that Wong Cheung did not teach him directly and that he would just practice the routines by himself in the corner. Wong Cheung would be teaching Franco Lok and other brothers.  Alan’s impression of Wong Cheung was that he was not a very talkative person, but he had his own teaching method which was not easy to be understood unless a person had a deep understanding in martial arts. He thought that this may be due to his age, as he was in his mid-eighties at the time. Wong Cheung enjoyed teaching, and he would correct any wrong movements, easily expressing the characteristic of each technique. Alan recalls that Wong Cheung was often smiling and that he could see the passion in his eyes during these times. This was possibly why he was able to build a very close relation and respect with his students.

Alan also trained with the Lion Dance troupe and was involved in a lot of performances for the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups in various locations around Hong Kong. Initially, Alan performed the rear of the Lion during these demonstrations. These performances were mainly for community services or charity events and covered important occasions such as the New Year festival, Middle Autumn festival and Christmas. In the mid to late 1980s, Alan was often involved with performing at the Hak Fu Mun Annual dinner. At these he took part in the lion dance and would also perform a routine for the martial arts display. 

 

From 1991 to 1993, Alan travelled to the UK, studying Civil and Structural Engineering at Sheffield University in England. In this period of time, he organised a Lion Dance troupe of students from the university which did various performances for the university, the local Chinese Society, local schools and the opening of a department store.

 

From 1994, Alan would often train on a one to one basis with his Sifu, Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝. He also continued taking part in the lion dance troupe doing many performances for various occasions. 

(Alan standing in white t'shirt) after a performance for Chinese New Year

 

In 1997, Alan became the main coach at the Cho Yu Youth Centre when Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 handed the class over to him. He continued to do Lion Dance performances for the local community while at this venue. From 2000 until 2002, Alan was asked by his Sifu, Franco to help Eric Tsai relearn several Hak Fu Mun routines. Eric had trained from 1978 untill around 1988 at the North Piont centre with his Kung Fu brother Franco Lok. Eric had initially asked Franco to help him but due to family issues, Franco had asked Alan to take on this responsibility. Franco had started to teach Alan the Nine Pin Greinder Dummy and he continued this with Eric Tsai joining in to learn as well.

 

In 2002, Alan moved to the Mui Wo Community Centre on Lantau Island and used this venue until 2010, when Alan then relocated the class to the North Point Vehicular Ferry Pier Playground (北角汽車渡海輪碼頭遊樂場), just off Java Road. (This is still current location of his Hak Fu Mun class running on Sunday mornings 9am till 12noon.) North Point is the area that Franco lives in and so this move enabled him to actively get back involved with coaching within the group.

Also in 2010 the The Hong Kong Wu Shu Union invited Hak Fu Mun to promote their style at a Martial Arts Gathering (Once a month, The Hong Kong Wu Shu Federation offers different clubs the opportunity to promote Chinese Martial Arts to the general public with a lecture and performances of their styles). Franco Lok and Alan had only two weeks to put a program together and prepare for this performance. Alan and a couple of other students performed several different routines while Franco talked about the structure, techniques, and uses of the Nine Pin Grinder Dummy.

 
Alan demonstrating the rattan ring

 

The Hong Kong Hepatitis B Foundation responded to the World Health Organization's "World Hepatitis Day" on 28^th July 2012 in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. A press conference was held in Area C of the Open Square of the Cultural Centre. The Traditional Martial Arts Association of Hong Kong, China performed its own "Eight New Postures to Protect the Liver", and disciples from various associations including Hak Fu Mun performed martial arts. This form of exercise helps to defeat hepatitis B.

 

  
Alan performed the Fan routine as part of the martial arts demonstration

In 2012, Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝re-structured the Wong Cheung Alumni Association and also renamed it to “Siu Lum Hak Fu Mun Wong Cheung Martial Art Association 少林黑虎門益群堂黃祥體育會”. As part of this restructure, Alan was awarded the position of the “Head Coach”. This role has involved Alan in organising and taking part in numerous martial arts demonstrations over the last few years to promote Hak Fu Mun.

In 2012, Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 realised that it would be advantageous to also have an English webpage so they could connect to the wider World outside of China. Alan was assigned the translation work because his English skills were the best within the members of the association. Alan completed the work very quickly, and also became the online contact person for this English site.

 

In December 2012, Robert Buckler (who is a senior long-term student of Sifu Paul Burkinshaw in the UK and on his behalf), emailed Alan after seeing this website. Alan and Franco invited Paul to come to Hong Kong for the Annual Dinner so they could meet face to face and discuss Hak Fu Mun. Paul and Robert travelled to Hong Kong in March 2013 and their first meeting was over morning dim sum, at a restaurant on Java Road in North Point. Alan and Franco were already there and were waiting at a table when Paul and Robert Buckler arrived.

 

Paul had brought some DVD's over that conatained many photos and movies of various open hand and weapons routines which had been recorded in the early 1970s. These were performed by Si Jo Wong Cheung and his students of the time which had been recorded by Eric Wu before he left Hong Kong around 1973 and he moved to El Paso, Texas, USA. (Eric and his student, Jerry Davis had shared these with Paul and Robert when they had visited them in El Paso in 2007.) They then went across the road to the North Point Vehicular Ferry Pier Playground where Paul demonstrated several Hak Fu Mun routines he had previously learnt.

Alan and Franco stated that it was obvious that Paul had studied under Eric Tsai, and went through the routine offering their corrections. Paul  understood their explanations and so he corrected these errors quickly as he was keen to improve so that their future progress together would be positive. Paul and Robert attended the annual dinner at the London restaurant on Nathan Road where Paul performed the Hak Fu Mun Front Dummy.

Alan performing the closed Umbrella routine at the Annual Dinner 2013

During the remainder of their visit to Hong Kong, Alan and Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 took time off work to accompany and share Hak Fu Mun with their brothers from the UK. 

Alan, Franco, Paul and Robert visited the site of Si Jo Wong Cheung's gym on Bute Street, in Mong Kok to see what had become of the place. Paul had been to this site several times in 2006 when the old gym was still standing. It was demolished in early 2007 before Paul returned in April 2007.

At the door entrance to the building that was the site of Si Jo Wong Cheung's gym

  
On the rooftop which is where the old gym was located.

Shortly after Paul and Robert's return to England, Alan Low had a business trip there. Franco asked Alan if he could also visit Paul while he was there and assess his school, students, and methods. In April 2013, Alan spent four days with Paul Burkinshaw at his academy in Bedworth. Alan was showed around Paul's academy in Bedworth and was very interested in many of the photos and certificates that were displayed around the walls. From Paul's first visit's to Si Jo Wong Cheung's gym in 2006, he had taken copies of the certificates displayed on the walls of the Bute Street gym and had an area in his academy where these were displayed.

 
Alan explaining what each certificate if for toRobert Buckler

Most of his time with the UK association was spent practicing routines including Single Elbow, Hak Fu Mun Front Dummy, Iron Wire, Iron Rod, Lion Dance etc. Alan also gave advice and demonstrations to UK members who were preparing for a traditional competition. 

 

 

 

During Alan's time in the UK, Paul took him to visit the site of Coventry's old Cathedral.

 

 

After this time with Paul at his academy teaching and observing, Alan returned back to Hong Kong to discuss what he saw with Franco Lok.

 

In March 2014, Paul returned to Hong Kong to study and take part in the annual dinner. Alan worked with Paul improving his technique and his  understanding of Hak Fu Mun methods.  For the annual dinner, Alan performed the open umbrella routine.

Paul had brought three students with him and Alan and Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 taught them various Hak Fu Mun routines at the North Point Vehicular Ferry Pier Playground (北角汽車渡海輪碼頭遊樂場) each morning during their visit.

Many of the afternoons were spent sight seeing around Hong Kong.

 

During Paul's trip in March to Hong Kong, he spent every mornings studying Hak Fu Mun under Alan, while Franco observed. So, when Paul returned again for a second time in October 2014, Franco proposed a choice of two paths to him. The first was to continue improving his skills and techniques from what he had previously learnt from Eric Tsai and be friends. Or the second was to become a disciple under Alan following the traditional Chinese etiquette. Paul chose to become a disciple under Alan. The Bai Si / 拜師 ceremony was held at the Tai Kok Tsui Food Center / 大角咀熟食中心豐樹圍飯店 in Kowloon with the committee members as witnesses’, where Paul officially joined the Siu Lum Hak Fu Mun Wong Cheung Martial Arts Association.

  
Paul first pours tea for Alan before then presenting him with the red envelope / 紅包

Alan leading the class at the North Point Park

 
Alan teaching Maggie a routine & Paul the Single Dummy

Alan performing the Lion Dance

Si Gung Alan Low / Sifu Paul Burkinshaw / Si Tai-Gung Franco Lok 2014

Paul had decided to write a book about the lineage of Hak Fu Mun and also include the Ten Tigers of Canton and the Southern Shaolin Temples. As part of this research, Paul continuously contacted Alan to translate information he had found and get his opinion about various facts and ideas. Alan also helped to organise a trip to Gaungzhou (Canton) so they could visit several sites there to collect information and photos with Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 and Paul for the research of his book.

 
The area of So Hak Fu's gym on Wong Sa Road

 Temple of the Six Banyan Trees / 六榕寺

 
Guangxiao Temple / 光孝寺

 
Hoi Tong (Honam) Temple / 海幢寺

 
Hualin Temple / 华林寺
 

 

 

In March 2015, Alan and the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to the Hong Kong Western Baptist Church Neighborhood Centre to do a performance for the 2015 Chinese New Year of the Ram Gathering. 

香港西區浸信會長者鄰里中心《2015喜氣洋洋新春團拜》大年初八活動(二)。

Alan was the head of the Lion and afterwards he performed the Hard Fan routine.

 

On the 15th March 2015, Alan and the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to attend the dinner of the Hong Kong Southern & Northern Martial Arts Association. Alan performed the Hard Fan

 

 

In April 2015, Paul returned with a group of his students which included his children. (Charlotte Burkinshaw, Cameron Burkinshaw, Callum Burkinshaw, & students Paul Cowley, Sean Krauth, Marius Dunkley, Andrew Docker & Daniel Nghiem.) Everyday would start with Alan and Franco coaching them at the North Point Vehicular Ferry Playground, just off Java Road at 9amm until lunch time. After lunch the group would spend the remainder of the day sightseeing and or shopping visiting the amazing places around Hong Kong. One of these was to the site of Si Jo Wong Cheung's old gym on the eighth floor in Bute Street, Mong Kok. 

 

 

  

Several members of the UK Branch (Sifu Paul Burkinshaw, his daughter Charlotte Burkinshaw, Marius Dunkley and Andy Docker) accompanied Alan with members of the Hong Kong Branch to visit the home and family of Si Jo Wong Cheung and also to sweep his grave. (also known as Tomb-sweeping / 掃墓節) 

 

When Paul returned to Hong Kong in November 2015, he discussed his syllabus with Alan and Franco wanting to have everything the same in the UK as it was in Hong Kong. Alan and Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝 also told him about which routines were the core of Hak Fu Mun and then also about the traitors and the logo Paul was using. This was a surprise to Paul, but he accepted their advice and when he returned to the Uk made many changes so as to be in harmony with the Hong Kong association.

Practicing the closed umbrella routine

 

Also during this trip, Paul was researching the sites of three of the Southern Shaolin Temples at Quanzhou, Fuqing and Putian in the Fukien Provence of Southern China. Paul had been talking to his Sifu, Alan Low about these sites and so Alan organised a trip to visit these temples at this time. Paul was accompanied on this trip to Hong Kong with one of his high ranking students, Andy Shenton. Besides Alan, the other members of the Hong Kong branch included, Franco Lok / Lok Wah Fai / 駱華輝, Li Wai / 李偉, Ho Wai Man / 何偉文, Maggie and Fen. From Hong Kong, they caught the train across the border into China and up to Fukien Provence. They sent a few days visiting each of the three temples and Paul collected as much information as possible at these sites taking numerous photos to aid the research and development of his book.

Fuqing Shaolin Temple

 

Putain Shaolin Temple

 

Quanzhou Shaolin Temple

 

On the 13th of January, 2016, Alan and the association put on a Lion Dance performance and martial arts display for the Hua Wing Club palliative therapy department of Ruttonjee and Wu Shiu Kin Hospital

 

Alan was the head of the lion for the Lion Dance and he then performed the Hak Fu Mun Double Daggers routine.

 

On 18th February 2016, Alan and the group were invited to the Hong Kong Western Baptist Elderly Neighbourhood Senior Centre to celebrate the Chinese New Year with performances in Lion Dance and martial arts.

2016年2月18日（ 大年初十一） 香港西區浸信會長者鄰里中心《 新春表演》

 

 

In April 2016, Paul Burkinshaw (UK Branch) was accompanied by several students, Marius Dunkley, his wife Kim and Daniel Ryman to attended the annual dinner and train under Alan and Franco Lok. 

 

Alan performing the Double Daggers for the Annual Dinner 2016

 

Around the end of April 2016, Alan and the group were invited to attended the Hong Kong North and South Chinese Arts Festival "Gala Dinner". At this event, Alan performed a Hak Fu Mun routine.

 

On the 1st May 2016, the President Dr. Luk Wai Sum of Natural Health Qigong Association , invited the Hak Fu Mun group to attend the Hong Kong Qigong Health Day 2016, which Alan also attended.

 

Alan with the group, were again invited by the Treatment Relief Division (TRD) of the Ruttonjee Hospital to host a lion dance performance on Thursday 4th August 2016. Apart from a lion dance and Hak Fu Mun martial arts performances, the main objective of the event was to teach the participants some simple Kung Fu movements. By sharing the joy of practicing the movements, the participants can improve their health condition. The event was running in an interactive way with a lot of fun and laughing. Everyone had an enjoyable afternoon. 

On the 1st November 2016, Alan and the Hak Fu Mun association celebrated the 92nd birthday of their first generation of Kung Fu big brothers of the Shaolin Black Tiger Gate Wong Cheung Martial Ats Association.
今日慶祝我哋少林黑虎門益群黃祥體育會，第一代大師兄92歲生日

 

 

On The 11th November 2016, the Hong Kong West Point Baptist Church Neighborhood Elderly Centre invited Hak Fu Mun to perform a Lion Dance at their event to celebrate their 25th Siver Anniversary of the Opening.

In late March 2017, Paul Burkinshaw and his son, Callum Burkinshaw (UK Branch) travelled to Hong Kong and attended the Annual Dinner. Alan and Franco would meet Paul every morning at the North Point Park to continue his tuition in Hak Fu Mun untill lunch time. Franco Lok and Alan felt confident in Paul's loyalty and taught him the Hak Fu Mun Chopstick and Bowl routine. 

 

After lunch they would help Paul and Callum explore Hong Kong introducing them to its culture and traditions

 

On 24th April, 2017, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to attend the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Association Health Express (East Kowloon) to perform a Lion Dance and martial arts demonstration again.
2017年4月24日本會再次獲得香港聖公會福利協會健康快車（東九龍）邀請表演

 

 

On 30th April 2017, Alan with several members of the Hak Fu Mun Association attended the Malee Hong Kong Qigong Health Day. This event was held at the Wai Tsuen Sports Certre which is located at 6 Miu Kong Street in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

Paul returned in September 2017 to train under his Sifu, Alan, and polished up his Hak Fu Mun weapons including the Chopstick and Bowl.

 

During Paul's visit, Alan with the Siu Lum Hak Fu Fu Mun Wong Cheung Martial Arts Association had organised trip to Panyu China. This trip was to visit the home and family of Si Jo Wong Cheung and also to sweep his grave. (also known as Tomb-sweeping / 掃墓節) 

At the family home of Si Jo Wong

At the grave of Si Jo Wong Cheung

 

 

On the 29th October 2017, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to attend the Eighth Anniversary Ceremony of the Hong Kong Taoist Quanzhen Longmen Boxing Association and the Birthday Dinner of Master Chen Biqi.
 

 

 

 

On the 5th November 2017, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to attend the birthday banquet of Tai Chi Master Man Ho. At this celebration, Alan performed the Hak Fu Mun Rear Dummy routine.

 

 

In mid May 2018, Alan with several other members of the Hong Kong Hiking Club visited Scotland for their annual walking trip. After Alan had completed this, he then travelled south into the Midlands area of England to visit his student, Paul Burkinshaw. Alan spent several days here training in Hak Fu Mun with Paul and his students. Some time was also spent visiting local historic sites such as Stratford-upon-Avon and the William Shakespeare places there.

At Paul's Academy in Bedworth

At Paul's Bulkington class

Toby Foxon, Sifu Paul Burkinshaw, Andy Shenton, Si Gung Alan Low, Robert Buckler & Marius Dunkley

 

Shortly after Alan's return back to Hong Kong, he attended the the Samsung 61 Festival of Sports Wushu Demonstration, "SPORT FOR ALL" event. This was held on 27th May 2018, and several other members of the Hak Fu Mun Association attended.

 

 

On the 6th October 2018, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association attended the World Ostomy Day 2018 event and performed a lion dance. 

世界造口日2018.

 

 

 

 

   

 

At the beginning of February 2019, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to perform for the Christian Family Service Centre, at the Day Care Centre for the Elderly. This performance was part of their Chinese New Year celebrations.

 

 

 

 

 

On 20th February 2019, Alan with the Association returned to the Day Care Centre for the Elderly at the Christian Family Service Centre to perform a Lion dance and martial arts show for Chinese New Year.

  

  

 

In March 2019, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association were invited to attend the Hong Kong Chin Wo Sports Association Spring Cup celebration.

 

  

 

At this event, Alan again, peformed the Hak Fu Mun routine, Green Dragon Moon Shadow Kwan Dao.

 

On 16th September 2019, the Hong Kong Wushu Federation and the Hong Kong martial arts community celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association attended this event.

2019年9月16日 香港武術聯會 香港武術界慶祝中華人民共和國成立70週年晚宴

  

  

Alan performing the Hak Fu Mun Chopstick and Bowl routine

 

On Sunday 13th October 2019, Alan with the Hak Fu Mun Association returned back to Panyu, Guangzhou, to worship Master (Si Jo) Wong Cheung. They received a warm welcome and were shown great hospitality from the descendants of Master Wong Cheung. They first visited the family home before then travelling to the site of Si Jo Wong's grave. After paying their respects at the grave they then went to a local restaurant to celebrate the memory and times of Wong Cheung and catch up with his decendants over dinner.

 

On 10th December 2019, Franco and the Hak Fu Mun Association attended the The annual "Work Fair" Exhibition. The fair ran from the 10th to the 31st December, and Hak Fu Mun had the great honor to be sponsored by "Imada". As part of this sponsorship, Hak Fu Mun sold Nanyang Imata Safety Oil products at this trade fair.

  

   

 Several members of the group performed various Hak Fu Mun routines as part of the performance. There were many other Martial Arts groups there also that performed their own routines and styles.

 

On Saturday 27th July 2024, Alan with Franco Lok and several members of the Hak Fu Mun Association travelled to Shunde, China for the Opening ceremony of the Chunlong Cultural Museum ( called the Torch Legacy Ceremony). This event was organised by the World Wing Chun Cultural Exchange Association.

  

At the celebration dinner, Franco Lok was awarded the position of Honorary President of the World Wing Chun Cultural Exchange Union.

 

 

Alan has been instrumental from 2013 in building up closer and strong ties with the UK Branch. Alan has often taken time off from the work to teach and accompany Paul and several of his students during their visit to Hong Kong and has also travelled to the U.K several times. 

Please Contact Alan via - http://www.ykwcaa.com/