Curriculum

The student learning Choy Lay Fut is guided in his training by studying taos (forms). Our school’s curriculum is divided in twelve levels, each dealing with 5 taos. There is no need to know every single form, as the following progression only aims to give the student a general training direction.

Level 1 – BEGINNER

This introductory level is a preparatory training whose objective is to allow the beginner student to learn the technical fundamentals (stances, movements, basic techniques…), and to prepare his physical condition (flexibility training, more particularly for the waist and the shoulders). This level also includes an introduction to staff techniques.

Levels 2 & 3 – INTERMEDIATE

Here is where things actually take off. In addition to a better understanding of the previously acquired skills, the student may learn the roots of Choy Lay Fut, through a more thorough work on both empty-handed forms and weapon forms, including staff, broad sword and spear techniques; as well as combined empty-handed forms (pre-arranged fights between two partners).

Levels 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 – ADVANCED

This section corresponds to advanced techniques leading to further development. The different forms in levels 4-9 allow the student to truly master the different concepts addressed in the previous levels, and to develop his versatility by learning new forms, including empty-handed ones, short weapons, long weapons, double weapons forms and two men sets (sword, halberd, chain, double butterfly knives, three-section staff…).

Niveaux 10, 11 et 12 – EXPERT

These levels include taos from Kung Fu styles other than Choy Lay Fut, as well as weapons not as common as the ones learnt in the previous levels. Indeed, at advanced levels, it is important not to focus only on one’s own style, but to also learn others, in order to broaden one’s own general knowledge, and have a better understanding of Kung Fu. Therefore, we chose not to describe in detail the specific forms of these levels, seeing as the exact contents might vary greatly depending on the direction the student wishes to give to his training. Still, here are a few examples which caught our attention, and which will prove of interest to the advanced Choy Lay Fut student.

• Tang Lang Seung Sau Guim – Praying Mantis Double-Handed Sword
• Won Hop Tcheurn – Spear Techniques Synthesis
• Sup Ien Kune – Bak Sing School 10 Animals Form
• Wang Tau Tang – Bench Form
• Tune Lam Guim – Sword Through the Forest
• Seung Sam Dji Bin – Double 3-Section Chain Whip
• Liu He Men Seung Fu Guim – Liuhemen Tige Double Swords (6 Harmonies Style)
• Baiji Lok Hap Tcheurn – – Baiji 8 Harmonies Spear (8 Poles Style)
• Wudang Guim – Wudang Sword

BEGINNER

1 Dan Shi Fan Lin – Drills Lai Ma Cho – Stances Exercise Mm Lun Kune – 5 Rotations Punching Sequence Gay Boun Kune – Fundamentals Siu Lam Gwan – Shaolin Staff

INTERMEDIATE

2 Siu Mui Fa Kune – Small Plum Flower Form Mm Hang Dan Do – 5 Elements Broad Sword Tcha Kune – Two men set Sup Sam Tcheurn – 13 Lances Spear Mm Ien Kune – 5 Animals Form 3 Bin Gwai Gwan – Crutch Staff Sup Dji Kao Da – Cross Pattern Grabbing Fist Yao Tcheurn – Right Spear Tu Tsine Kune – End of War Form Tcha Gwan – Two men set Staff vs Staff

ADVANCED

4 Ba Gwa Sum Kune – Eight Trigrams Heart Fist Loong Han Guim – Dragon Sword Peing Djarn Kune – Level Elbow Form Loong Dahn Gwan – Dragon Staff Dan Do Tcha Tchern – Two Men Set Spear vs Broad Sword 5 Mui Fa Ba Gwa Sum Kune – Eight Trigrams Plum Flower Form Lok Hap Seung Do – 6 Harmonies Double Sword Peing Kune – Level Form Tai To – Halberd Fu Mei Dahn Do – Tiger Tail Broad Sword 6 Hok Ien Kune – Crane Form Seung Do Tcha Tcheurn – Two men set Double Broad Swords vs Spear Kau Dji Bin – Nine Sections Chain Whip Form Fu Ien Kune – Tiger Form Joh Tcheurn – Left Spear 7 Fu Pau Kune – Panther & Tiger Form Seung Gap Dahn Gwan – Single and Double Ended Staff Woo Dip Seung Do – Double Butterfly Knives Pek Kwar Dahn Do – Pek Kwar Broad Sword Fei Loong Sin – Dragon Fan 8 Bak Mo Kune – White Hair Fist Seung Loong Do – Dragon Double Broad Sword Dai Hung Kay Gwan – Great Banner Staff Kwan Do – Halberd Form She Tcha Hok – Two men set Snake vs Crane 9 Won Hop Kune – Empty-Handed Synthesis Form Sam Dji Gwan – Three-Section Staff Hang Djie Gwan – Monkey King Staff Kwan Do Tcha Tcheurn – Two men set Halberd vs Spear Sam Dji Kwan Tcha Tcheurn – Two men set Three-Section Staff vs Spear