I Liq Chuan Malaysia: History & tradition as told by Master Jimmy Heow
By Master Jimmy Heow
Translated and written by Wyatt Chow
The Starting Point
I started learning kung fu around the age of eight or ten. It has been a long time and I forgot the exact year when I started practicing. All my family members practice Kung Fu at that time. Kung Fu was the talk of the town during that period of time. Everybody practiced at least a form of kung fu in my neighbourhood. When I asked my uncle, Chin Lik Keong to teach me, he introduced me to a few masters around the neighborhood. That was how I started.
My kung fu training began with Master Len. He taught the plum bosom 12 points system, a form of Phoenix Eye Kung Fu that emphasized strikes on meridian points. Master Len learnt the art from Chen Teck Fook, where he learnt from Chai Yen Seong from
The Beginning of I Liq Chuan
In those days, learning Kung Fu was not as easy as now. The Sifus won’t tell the students everything he knew. So, we crossed train. It all started with a group of martial artists, practicing and researching on Master Lee Kim Chow’s art. The formation of I Liq Chuan Association started with our group of practitioners when we decided to give a new name to Master Lee Kim Chow’s art. I was the co-founder of the I Liq Chuan Association in
Fighting Years
My first fight was with a Thai Boxer in the year 1974. This was the first time in the ring that they introduced rules with boxing gloves and the use of ointment. The fight didn’t proceed. We are not use to it. How to fight when you wear gloves and your opponent are covered with oil? Thereafter, we adapted and start to train with gloves, etc.
The most memorable fight happened in the year 1982. Master Jimmy Heow pointed to an old picture taken during the competition. Why I can remember so clearly? The opponent is tall and he got long, strong arms. In Chinese kung fu, particularly in the external route, the determinant of success is a pair of strong forearms – “Kiu Sao”. I won the fight because my defense was strong.
- In 1975, he won the International Karate Open Championship Group B.
- In 1977, he won the Heavy Weight Group B championship in the
- In 1978, in the First All Malaysian Chinese Wushu Tournament, he was the Heavy Weight Group B runner-up.
- In 1980, he was the second runner-up, Heavy Weight Group B, in the Fifth International Chinese Martial Arts Championship organized by the Malaysian Chinese Wushu Federation.
- In the same year, he was the Champion, Class B, in the Third Selangor KL Chinese Wushu Association Championship and was the First Runner Up in the Hong Kong Open Champion of Champions Tournament, Heavyweight Division.
- In 1985, he was the Push Hand Champion in the KL Selangor Chinese Wushu Federation Tournament.
- In the same year, he was the Champion in the
- In 1986 to 1990, Jimmy challenged in the media, any and all Tai Chi exponents in
On the System and “Liq Hok”
When we first started, training is more like the hard style as compared to the later years. We do not give our opponents any chance when we touch their hands. Once we touch, we either stick to our opponent’s hands, guarding him closely, or we issue energy and that guy will fly off. People train differently back in the old days. Now, it is more sports oriented.
Sifu Jimmy proceeds to touch my hands and showed me some moves. I got bounced off, nearly hitting the wall. I gave it a second shot and this time, I can’t move. Sticking and controlling my hands, he asked me - So, do you dare to release your hands? Somehow or rather, he is giving me some hints that if I release my hands, I will get hit. He controlled my whole person and directed me to forward and backward like a puppet.
Now, the training is based on physical sensitivity and sensorial mind awareness – not thinking of any techniques for dealing with particular situations. It is an art of unifying the mind and body of an individual. There are a set of basic movements and only two forms in the system to cultivate ‘chi’ and for health preservation. Other than that, we practice sticky or spinning hands for sensitivity and applications. Sifu Jimmy Heow stressed on understanding of “Liq Hok” - the use of force using body mechanics to control the opponents.
A New Era
I stopped teaching at the year 1990 and went into business. Also, that was the year my cousin brother, Sam Chin migrated to the
My focus and training now is on “Yi Dao”. It is more towards the development of human potential using the mind – “Yi”, Energy – “Hei” and Ging “Power”. It is the understanding of human body mechanics – “Liq Hok”. As times have changed, besides offering traditional martial arts classes, I also teach sports push hands with the focus in competition. As for another group, I concentrate on the forms and some basic exercises for health preservation and improvement. Also, in martial arts, we always try to cultivate and foster unity among the martial arts community and we welcome those who martial artists from various backgrounds to come and train with us.
