Grandmaster Chow Hong Hing (1911-1969) was a native of Kai-Ping Ma-Kong in mainland China. Since he was a small child, Grandmaster Chow had been very zealous and enthusiastic about Chinese martial arts. In order to provide the best training for his son, Grandmaster Chow’s father found many great martial arts instructors. When Grandmaster Chow was a teenager, he went alone to GuangZhou to learn more advanced martial art techniques. He studied in many different schools including: Tam Gar San Zhan, White Crane, Hung Gar, and master Lu Ken, and Law Ka Choi. With his talent in martial art, Grandmaster Chow learned and mastered the techniques very quickly. Due to his attitude of hard-working and perseverance, Grandmaster Chow was able to master many different styles of martial arts and Chinese medical techniques. Within a few years, Grandmaster Chow had become very popular among the Chinese martial art community in GuangDong. At the age of eighteen, Grandmaster Chow was invited to begin teaching martial arts. After three years, he opened his own martial arts training school in GuangZhou.In 1935, Grandmaster Chow was invited to come to Hong Kong to teach martial arts to the members of Hong Kong Yau Ma Tai Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Commerce. With a strong desire to explore new territories, Grandmaster Chow decided to accept the offer.
Two years later, Grandmaster Chow opened his own martial arts school in Shan Wan, Hong Kong. At the beginning, there were about 70 students studying in his school. As Grandmaster Chow became more popular, the number of students grew dramatically. He opened many additional schools in different districts in Hong Kong, like Abredeen, Tin Wan’ club.Grandmaster Chow was also very enthusiastic about changing people’s prejudice against the traditional Chinese martial arts school. In his teaching, Grandmaster Chow emphasized self-discipline, self-confidence, as well as perseverance. He also encouraged his students to participate in community affairs and charitable activities including Hong Kong Festival, Industrial Festival, and 618-Flooding Relief. Grandmaster’s enthusiasm, kindness and concern about the general public earned him numerous praises from the community.Grandmaster Chow taught his students with very strict rules and regulations. His students were required to be abided by the rules. Grandmaster Chow also advertised his school using his reputation as a strong and respectful marital arts teacher. As a result, Grandmaster Chow opened additional schools and a Chinese medicine clinic. Grandmaster Chow had over 500 students at the height of his martial arts teaching career.
Grandmaster Chow died on Jan 3 of Chinese Lunar calendar in 1969 at the age of 58. After his death, his students spent days and nights kneeling at his funeral to pay last respects for their martial arts teacher. Grandmaster Chow’s friends and people from the community also expressed their deep sorrow in losing one of the greatest martial artist.