Martial Art Class - Vagabond Tiger Fist

Vagabond Tiger Fist

In ancient Chinese culture and history, the Street Peddlers or Wanderers (Beggars) play an important role. They are well known for their martial arts prowess. Some of the system came down to Malaysia, example Spider Fist, Feng Yang Five Animals Fist, etc.

Hakka Tiger Fist is actually an obscure style brought down by Hakka migrants who came from China to settle down in West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaya). This style was taught by Sifu Low Yong Ten who was a policeman in Seremban in the 1950s and 60s. He learned from three people before he put them together to teach others.

(1) Chong Fatt:

Chong Fatt is supposedly the first instructor of Sifu Low Yong Ten. He was a teacher of one of the many obscure styles of Hakka Kung Fu and was also a Tit-Tar (bone setting) specialist. He also taught San Shou and a Double End Pole Form.

(2) Chin Fatt:

Chin Fatt can be considered the main teacher of Sifu Low Yong Ten. He was a migrant from Ka Yin Chu District, China. In their village, almost everyone is encouraged to learn some form of self defense. Chin Fatt settled down as a farmer in a state called Negeri Sembilan. He taught Sifu Low Yong Ten Tiger Body Fist, Tiger Elbow Fist, Piercing Arrow Fist, Butterfly Knives and Single Headed Staff. He passed away somewhere in the early 1960s around the age of 90+.

(3) Street Peddler:

Unfortunately, his name is lost. From what is told, this person taught self defense, 9 Sectional Whip and a Belt Fighting Form.

Sifu Low Yong Ten taught a few students before his retirement as a policeman. He taught it in a small room in his wooden house in a village. He also taught his son, Mr Low Kin Wan when the latter was a young teenager. However, due to studies, Mr Low Kin Wan could not complete the system. He was transferred elsewhere to be trained as a teacher. However, Mr Low Kin Wan showed keen interest in other fighting systems and he learnt ITF Tae Kwon Do, Silat Tongkat Pak Long Terengganu, and Silambam to enhance his knowledge.

In the mid-1990s, Mr Low Kin Wan used to learn Bujinkan Ninjutsu from Sifu James LeePK. Due to a shared interest in martial arts, and a yearning to preserve the traditional arts in Malaysia which can't be found in China, Sifu James LeePK decided to pick up what can be remembered of the system from Mr Low Kin Wan. This style has lost a lot of its original patterns.

There was no official name for this system, which is based on the Tiger Claw and Back Hand whip-like slaps. It used to be called Tiger Fist or Hakka Tiger Fist. Since there are so many styles using Tiger Fist, and the Hakka ancestors are wanderers or migrants, this system is given the name Vagabond Tiger Fist to distinguish it from others. Sifu James LeePK also incorporated two obscure Guang Dong based Vagabond patterns which he picked up in TAR College and enlarged upon it to make it more rounded and complete.

(see Malaysian Vagabond (Wanderers) Tiger Fist on Facebook)

(see Vagabond Tiger Fist Training)

(see 2013 World Minnan Cultural Festival/International South Shaolin Kung Fu Invitational Tournament-4)
(see Chin Woo Athletic Association : 2nd Martial Arts Festival 2013)
(see Vagabond Tiger Fist: Piercing Needle Single Headed Staff 1)
(see Vagabond Tiger Fist: Piercing Needle Single Headed Staff 2)
(see Malaysian Wanderer Tiger Fist Belt Pattern
(see Vagabond Tiger Fist Twin Butterfly Swords)
(see Wanderer Tiger Elbow Fist (Hakka))
(see Wanderer Tiger Body Fist (Hakka))
(see Wanderer Plum Flower Tiger Fist (Cantonese))
(see Wanderer Single Head Staff (Hakka))