The Jow Ga or Jow Family System of Kung Fu can be considered one of the youngest traditional systems of Kung Fu in existence, as well as one of the most widely practiced Kung Fu styles in the world, with schools in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Australia, Poland, Canada, Italy, Vietnam, Thailand, France, Holland, and of course the United States. Depending on the dialect spoken, the Jow Ga system can be referred to as Chow Gar, Zhou Jia, Chau Ka, and Jau Ka.

The Jow Ga System was founded in the early 1900’s, by Jow Lung. Jow Lung was born in the year of 1891 in Hsin-Hui Shing Sa-Fu village in the Canton Province of China. He was the fifth in a family of ten to his father Jow Fong Hoy and his mother whose maiden name was Li. Jow Lung had four younger brothers. Jow Hip, the sixth son, Jow Biu and Jow Hoy, eighth and ninth sons, “who were also twins”, and the tenth son Jow Tin.

The people in Sa-Fu village loved Martial Arts so naturally the village youth all practiced Kung Fu. Jow Lung and his brothers were no exception. At a very early age, Jow Lung started learning Kung Fu from his Uncle Jow Hung a top exponent of the Hung Ga System. Jow Lungs training was very rigorous, however he never complained and because of his natural disposition for Kung Fu his Uncle took a special liking to him and taught Jow Lung his best techniques. 

Jow Hung one day told Jow Lung that he was very ill and didn’t have much longer to live. Jow Hung told his nephew that he was going to teach him a unique set of Bat Gwa Staff techniques before he died.

In just a month’s time, Jow Lung mastered the Pa Kua Staff Techniques and shortly after, Jow Hung died.

After his uncle’s death Jow Lung studied the rare Choy Ga style from Master Choy Kau (Chi Ching Tsai Kong) and in just a few years Jow Lung completely mastered the Choy Ga Style. 

When Jow Lung was 18, he left Sa-Fu to look for work in Malaysia. Along with others, he got work as a miner in Kuala Lumpur. The working conditions were very poor and the bosses would treat the employees badly and would often beat them. One day Jow Lung got into a fight with one of his bosses and fatally wounded him. To save himself Jow Lung fled to the mountains where he came across the Gi Leu temple. When Jow Lung reached the temple he was exhausted and hadn’t eaten for several days The temples Abbot Chian Yi took pity on Jow Lung and agreed to provide shelter and food. Chian Yi could tell that Jow Lung knew kung fu and decided the teach Jow Lung the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Style and medicine. Jow Lung stayed at Gi Leu temple for five yearrs, mastering the Northern Shaolin Style he was taught and at the encouragement of Chian Yi, he left the temple and returned to Kuala Lumpur. Jow Lung continued to practice his kung fu. Through hard training and a great deal of self-exploration Jow Lung discovered the many strengths and weaknesses of the three styles he mastered. He then decided to combine them to form a unique new hybrid style, which was later called Hung Tao, Choy Mei, the head of Hung, and Tail of Choy.

Jow Lung decided to leave Kuala Lumpur and return to Sa-Fu where he could effectively spread his new system. Jow Lung first started teaching his brothers; Jow Biu, Jow Hoy, Jow Hip, and Jow Tin, each one all ready proficient in kung fu; the new style Jow Lung created. Through diligent practice, they quickly mastered their brother’s style and then aided their older brother in the promotion of this great new achievement

The brothers opened their first school “Zhou Ren Yi Tang” in Canton, with Jow Lung as Chief Instructor and Jow Hip, Jow Hoy, Jow Tin, and Jow Bui as Assistant Instructors. As there schools grew, so did the brothers fame and eventually the brothers were given the nickname “The Jow Ga Five Tigers”.

In 1911 General Fu-Lin Li was ordered to hire a martial arts master to coach the military. In order to find the most qualified Martials Artist General Fu-Lin Li held a Martial Arts competition, the winner would be awarded the position. Jow Lung signed up for the competition in order to bring even more fame to his families Kung Fu. The competition was broken up into 10 groups and used elimination bouts to determine the winner. Using his new style Jow Lung fought and won each of the elimination matches and made it to the final round. Jow Lungs opponent was Guan Gin Sze, one of the best martial artist in the area. Jow Lung defeated Guan Gin Sze and became Military Martial Arts coach. Jow Lung again enlisted his brother’s aid in teaching and the Five Tigers fame grew even more. Jow Lung was a very strong leader and his brothers and students would look to him to solve problems and dissolve disagreements. However, in 1919 tragedy struck the Jow Family, when Jow Lung contracted a severe cold. Because Jow Lung did not rest, his cold quickly developed into pneumonia and Jow Lung died at the very young age of 29. Jow Lungs students mourned his death as they would their own father, and the Martial Arts Community lost a great hero. Jow Bui, Jow Hip Jow Hoy and Jow Tin, also mourned their brothers death. On the day of his funeral, they all vowed to continue Jow Lungs dream of spreading their families Kung Fu so that it may live on forever.

The brothers worked hard and opened schools all over Southern China. Branches were opened in Canton and Hunan. In 1927 a branch was set up in Chen Tsun. A branch was also opened Fo Shan and two more in Nan Hi Shi Giao and Guin Shan.

In 1928 Jow Biu set up branches in Jian Meng, Tai Shan Hsin Chin and another in Jiang Men headed by his two top students Zhu Hua and Li Ngou.  In 1929, Jow Tien went to Shi-Guan and set up branches in Du-Tsen, Yu-Tsen, Nan Fu and Guan-Shi. Because of Jow Tien’s efforts well over 20 schools were established under the Jow Family Banner. By 1930 over 80 schools were established in Shanghai alone. In a very short time Jow Ga was known all over Southern China, there growth was unprecedented.

In 1941the Jow Family suffered a tragic loss with the passing of Jow Hip at the age of 48.

Because of political unrest in China, Jow Bui along with Li Ngou, Chan Man Cheung and other students imigrated to Hong Kong and today there are over 50 branches now operating in Hong Kong.

In 1947 the Jow Family suffered yet another loss with the passing of Jow Hoy at the age of 48.

Jow Ga Lion Dancing are also very well known. Before World War II, during the inauguration of King George II. Hong Kong held a huge parade in his honor. The Hong Kong government requested a group from the Jow Ga School, led by Jow Biu to perform at the ceremony. The Jow Ga Lion Dance team has performed for several large parades and events in Hong Kong. During Queen Elizabeth 25^th Silver anniversary, the Jow Lung Branch sent a 300 person Lion Dance Team to perform at her parade.

Jow Ga has enjoyed unparralled success in the Martial Arts field, however in 1961, on March 14^th the Jow Family mourned the passing of the recognized leader of the Jow Ga Style Jow Biu at the age of 62, and in 1971 Jow Tien the last of the Five Tigers died at the age of 69.

Because of the incredible dedication of the Jow Family, the Jow Ga System of Kung Fu is one of the most widely practiced and most traditional Kung Fu Styles in the world today. It’s success can be attributed to the inovation, courage, discipline, and since of family of the Jow Ga Five Tigers and their diciples.

A special thanks to Sifu Derek Johnson for his dedicated efforts in researching Jow Ga History.