It was founded by Jow Lung who was born in 1891, on the eleventh day of the third lunar month (April 16, 1891) in Sa Fu Village of the Guangdong province, and died in 1919.
Hung Ga kung fu is a southern style that was developed for close to medium range defense.
Kicks are generally low and hand techniques are powerful and direct using the strong stances to deliver formidable blows, namely, a tremendous thrust punch.
Choy Gar kung fu is also a southern style emphasizes long reaching hands and wide horse stances.
The present system of Northern Shaolin kung fu specializes in long range fighting techniques.
This system maintains that kicks are more effective than hand movements because the legs are longer than the arms thereby keeping the opponent further away.
To attack the Jow Ga practitioner can rely on Choy Gar long reaching arm techniuques combined with Northern Shaolin kung fu kicks and mobility.
Training includes an internal breathing form called Iron Wire Fist, which is used to strengthen muscles, organs and bones.
Jow Lung was born during 1891 in Hsin-Hui Sheng Sha Fu village in the Canton Province of China.
Jow Lung fled to the mountains and found a temple named "Gi Leu" ("Kek Lok Si" in some accounts).
When Jow Lung went back to Kuala Lumpur, he felt like centuries had gone by, but he never stopped practicing kung fu.
Jow Lung felt that he would not be able to spread his family's kung fu in Kuala Lumpur, so he went back to his hometown in China.
Jow Lung (周龍) began his martial arts training with the local town master Zou Geng (邹耕).
Due to family hardships, Jow Lung (age 19) left home (first to Singapore then to Malaysia) to find work.
After several months of keen observation, the Abbot had no doubt as to Jow Lung’s character and began teaching him the Northern Shaolin kung fu that he learned in Henan Province.
The Abbot encouraged Jow Lung to combine all 3 of the Kung Fu systems he had mastered into a single style.
[4] In four years they taught and steadily refined the teaching methods and material into a new system which they decided to call it "Jow Ga Style".
Due to the system’s effectiveness and the fame of their fighting abilities, the brothers were honored with the title "Five Tigers of Jow Ga" (周龍五虎傳).
Among them, Chan Man Cheung, Lui Chu Shek, Wong Kun Leung, Lee Ngau and many others.
Siu Fook Fu Kuen - Small Tiger (小伏虎拳) – The oldest and foundational form of Jow-Ga, teaching the primary fundamental techniques that are essential in order to master the system.
Dai Fook Fu Kuen - Big Tiger (大伏虎拳) – An advanced form used to practise strong stances.
Say Ping Kuen - Four-Level Fist (四平拳) – Also known as Four-Square, this basic set is sometimes taught before the Small Tiger because it is shorter.
Fa Kuen - Flower Fist (花拳) – A mix and match form, supposedly created during an impromptu performance given by Jow Biu at a banquet.
Kwok Gee Kuen – China/Country Fist (國字拳) – An advanced form which is quite long and incorporates almost all of the Jow-Ga systems primary techniques.
One thing all Jow Gar schools have in common is their focus on martial virtue seen in their distinctive bow that is executed before any performance.
Daan Tau Gwun - Single Headed Stick (單頭棍) Seung Tau Gwun - Double Headed Staff (雙頭棍) Daan Dou - Single Sabre (單刀) Daan Tau Cheung - Single Headed Spear (單頭槍) Seung Tau Cheung - Double Headed Spear (雙頭槍) Seung Dou - Double Sabre (雙刀) Bau Jong Seung Dou/Wu Dip Seung Dou - Elbow-Guarding Knives/Butterfly Double Knives (保踭雙刀/蝴蝶雙刀) Dai Dou - Bladed Polearms (大刀) Daai Pa - Cudgels (大巴) Daan Gim - Single Sword (單劍) Daan Bin - Single Whip Chain (單鞭) Seung Bin - Double Whip Chains (雙鞭) Sam Jit Gwan - 3 Section Staff (三節棍) Seung Pei Sao - Double Daggers (雙匕首) Chor Tau - Farmer's Hoe (鋤頭) Gau Chi Dai Pa - 9 Toothed Big Lance/Rake (九齒大巴) Ma Kiu Dun - Horse Bridge Bench (馬橋櫈) Lung Wan Sin - Dragon Cloud Fan (龍雲扇) Weapon forms vary from lineage to lineage; some have many more different weapon sets.
Spear Two-Man Set (大刀對槍) Seung Bei Sau Deoi Cheung – Double Daggers vs.
Spear Two-Man Set (雙匕首對槍對折) Dani Fu Pa Deoi Darn Dou – Tiger Lance/Trident vs.
Their participation can be seen in numerous performances at various important ceremonies, primarily Chinese New Year, weddings, and government functions.