A Brief Historical Background

 

In Chinese mythology, the 2 Imperial symbols are the DRAGON AND THE PHEASANT. Like the western belief about spirits, the Chinese symbolise this belief by the representation of a “Pearl”, in conjunction with the animal. The Chinese believe that there is a spirit or essence in every living thing and each and every living thing therefore has a “Pearl”. To gain control over the particular animal, one has only to capture it’s “Pearl”.

 

The name LOONG means DRAGON and the other name CHOO means PEARL, therefore the Western translation of our Society literally means DRAGON PEARL. Our Society therefore incorporates the Dragon Form of Kung Fu, with the base of SIL LUM (SHAOLIN).

 

In the olden days, the DRAGON symbol is restricted to Imperial use. It was rumored that our Society was once upon a time very exclusive, and restricted to the Royalty, Nobility and the higher ranks of the Imperial Palace Guards. This could be presumedly true as the style is very obscure and the name is virtually unknown throughout the world of Chinese Martial Arts, with the exception of very few old Masters, many of whom had only heard of it through indirect reference.

 

Our Society as it is now, commenced in the island of Penang, Malaysia. The name of the Head of the Society is Soo Hoo (Professor) Li Ah Yu, who migrated to Penang with his father at the turn of the century. His father was one of the Commanders of the Imperial Palace Guards who fled China after the fall of the Imperial Dynasty, to escape execution. Being an expert of this form of Kung Fu, he passed his skills on to his son, Li Ah Yu who mastered the Art and went on to teach a few others. Not much is known about his father Li Senior, as Ah Yu was not inclined to talk too much about his father or their histories, probably because of the hardships they had encountered. It is a big step-down from being one of the Commanders of the Imperial Palace Guards, to being a small time pig farmer in a foreign country. Ah Yu became a butcher/ pork seller and taught Kung Fu as a hobby.

 

Johnny Koay commenced training in 1946 and attained his Sinseh status in 1958.  Then in 1960, Sinseh Johnny Koay commenced training in Australia with a group of close friends. That group later became a private club which in 1966 officially became the Australian Chapter of the LOONG CHOO KUNG FU SOCIETY. Sinseh Johnny Koay was then elevated to the 4th Quadrant (Upper Level) and conferred the title of Soo Hoo (Master), as the Principal of an affiliated International Organisation.

 

The present Soo Hoo (Master) Johnny Koay, is therefore considered a Third Generation Exponent in the strict sense of the word as Li Senior will be considered as the Originator of the Society in Malaysia, even though he had only one known Disciple. Li Ah Yu has several Disciples and taught them up to the 4th Quadrant of the Society, before he eventually returned to Taiwan to try to achieve his ambition of aiding the Taiwanese Government fight and defeat the mainland communist regime.

 

 

 

The Australian Chapter

 

In 1974 at the instigation of Seniors, the Society opened its doors to the public and accepted students within its ranks, rather than only friends. The aims were to give the people of Hobart a chance to experience a very unique style of Martial Arts, as compared to the other established Japanese and Korean schools, and hopefully to create better understanding between other styles. Irrespective of styles, Martial Art is a family and Tolerance & Harmony are keys to healthy growth and success.

 

The Australian LOONG CHOO KUNG FU SOCIETY is now considered to be a semi-traditional school. Prior to this, only the Traditional style of Kung Fu was taught and practised by all LOONG CHOO exponents. However the saying “Adapt to changes or stagnate and wither” is very true. One has to bend with the wind or snap off at the trunk. All martial arts have undergone enormous changes both in outlook and techniques and methods of teaching. In this light, The LOONG CHOO KUNG FU SOCIETY in Hobart has deviated slightly from the Traditional School and has become a Semi-Traditional system, emphasizing on the more functional aspects of techniques, rather than some of the more flowery but ineffectual movements practised in the past. However some of the traditions are maintained, the Ceremonial Bow, the methods of Grading (the prime 4 Quadrants), the more effective techniques, to teach for non-profit and to perpetuate the Art and its ideals etc.

 

Heads of school

 

 

 

 

 

Instructors Honor Roll

 

International Master

 

Johnny Koay

 

4th Quadrant Chief Instructors

 

Darren Jones & Jim Paradisis

 

3rd Quadrant Deputy Chief Instructors

 

Peter Hill & Andrew Southorn

 

Instructors (Past and Present)

 

Michael Bannister, Nils Blitchfeldt, Collin Chia, Michael England, Leslie Fennell,

Andrew Fulton, Kerry Gleeson, Cameron James, Michael ‘Ned’ Kelly, Joe Nuttal, Mark Paul,

Mark Phillips, Kevin Ralph, David Spilsbury, Cameron Thomas, Ryan Frawley, Tony Trdin, (the late) SS Yoong.

 

 

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