02/05/2025
Grandmaster Kong Hoi has passed in the year 4722 of the lunar calendar. He will be missed.
Kong Hoi was born in the Foshan province of China. His birthdate is unknown he gave us various ages when we visited him ( he was 71 in 2004 and 88 in 2024 by his word).
He began Lai Tung Pai under his father’s direction at the age of 10. When the Japanese invaded the area, Kong Hoi was injured during a resistance battle. Worried for his son he sent him to the Hoi Tung temple on the Pearl River.
Kong Hoi found his Father’s master Fa Hoi at the temple. Grandmaster was able to learn under Abbot Fa Hoi (who Kong Hoi was named after) and three other teachers. This continued until around 1949-1950.
During the “Song of 100 Flowers” where anyone could criticize Mao for 100 days, Kong Ki (Kong Hoi’s father) knew it wasn’t safe and moved his family to Hong Kong. Kong Hoi started his education as a Doctor earning one of the first to mix Eastern and Western medicine.
Kong Hoi also opened Kung Fu schools, owning three at one point. He fought at least twice in the Hong Kong martial arts championships. He won two years in a row. These were platform fights and was a King of the Hill style. If you won you started first the next year. Grandmaster Tat Mau Wong told me in 1995 of how great a fighter Grandmaster was. Kong Hoi is still known in Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dancing Association. I was able to be a member on his recommendation.
Kong Hoi was unique in he trained anyone and not just Chinese. He was a doctor so unlike some other martial artists he did not have to turn to crime. He did train police in Hong Kong during the 1960’s.
Kong Hoi was considered one of the great masters to come to Hong Kong from China. He had pictures of him drinking tea with Yip Man, Wong Fan Hong and others during the time he was active with the association.
Kong Hoi closed his schools in the 1970’s but did have one last indoor student class and trained a young man named Li Keung. This man later lived with Grandmaster and moved to the USA, becoming our teacher. Sifu Li passed in 2017.
Kong Hoi allowed some of us to come back to Hong Kong starting in 2002. I was able to go from 2004 to 2018 every other year and once in 2015. He stopped training us in 2014 teaching the 9 Dragon Horse Legs Cutter and the 5 Ring sword.
I was able to go back last November, my 20 year anniversary of first going to see him. A stroke had him in the wheelchair but his eyes were bright and he touched hands with me.
I loved grandmaster and I will miss him. I am so glad I got to go back. Rest In Power Grandmaster!
