Here is a rare video of the entire newsreel of the famous fight between Wu style Tai Chi Chuan master Wu Kung Yi (1898–1970) and White Crane Kung Fu master Chen Ke Fu . The bout was held in Macau on January of 1954. Wu Kung Yi felt that the honor of Tai Chi Chuan as a martial art needed to be defended and agreed to take part in an organized fight with all the proceeds to go towards charity.

One of the highlights of this old newsreel is the footage of the famous Yang Tai Chi Chuan master Tung Ying Chieh (1898–1961). In this video he is seen in what may be the only footage of him in a friendly exchange with Eagle Claw Kung Fu master Lau Fat Man to demonstrate the rules of the bout, as well as Tung Ying Chieh demonstrating a portion of his Tung’s Fast set of Tai Chi Chuan!

There is much controversy about the martial ability which both Wu Kung Yi and Chen Ke Fu demonstrated during this fight. At the time, Wu Kung Yi was 53 years old and the younger Chen Ke Fu was in his thirty’s. One thing to remember is that neither of these martial arts were designed to be fought in a ring with rules to limit their techniques, for example it was agreed upon that there would be no kicks during the bout.

The fight soon started to escalate in its intensity, and was stopped after Chen Ke Fu received a bloody nose from a punch by Wu Kung Yi. It was also reported that the arms of Chen Ke Fu were extremely bruised by the Hammer Fists of Wu Kung Yi.

Click on the image below to see more about this book on the Wu style of Tai Chi Chuan by Yang Jwing-Ming!

If you enjoyed this rare Tai Chi Video, please click on the “Like” button!

Don’t forget to leave a comment!