A Vanishing Treasure in the Heart of Manila
In Manila’s Chinatown, a centuries-old tradition quietly fades. The ancient Chinese martial arts preserved through three generations of the Lo family at the Kong Han Athletic Club now teeter on the brink of being forgotten in the Philippines. This cultural treasure, embodied in the Five Ancestor Fist (Ngó Chó Kûn) and exemplified by Dr. Lo Yan-Chu, Dr. Lo King-Hui, and Grandmaster Lo Zu-Ming (Henry Lo), urgently needs recognition and protection from the Philippine government.
The Historical Roots: A Legacy Born in Fujian
Dr. Lo Yan-Chu was born in 1878 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. When his father passed away and Yan-Chu was only thirteen, he was forced to abandon his education. At fourteen, he began training under Zheng Da in Grand Ancestor Boxing. Five years later, after his teacher’s death, the young Lo Yan-Chu assumed the instructor’s role while remitting all fees to his late teacher’s wife—establishing the ethical foundation that would characterize Kong Han for generations.
Dr. Lo also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine to enhance his martial knowledge. At twenty-one, in 1899, he traveled throughout Asia—Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam—further broadening his expertise.
From China to Manila: The Establishment of Kong Han
In 1937, when Japan invaded China, Dr. Lo Yan-Chu renamed his Manila school Kong Han Kok Sut Guan to express patriotism and established the guiding principles of Lin, Ngi, Le, Di, Sin—benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and faith.
Dr. Lo also founded a medical clinic and, with community support, opened a martial arts school that grew rapidly, later relocating to No. 631 Tomas Mapua Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila. The Philippine Kong Han Kok Sut Guan, known as the Kong Han Athletic Club, taught Grand Ancestor–Five Ancestor Fist. Acceptance required good moral character and two member vouchers; violence meant instant expulsion. By 1941, branches had opened in Dagupan under Lo King-Hui and on Jaboneros Street under Hsu Chiu-Yao.
During the Japanese occupation after December 7, 1941, Dr. Lo refused to instruct Japanese infantry and remained under surveillance, while many Kong Han members joined the resistance. He fled to Manaoag, Pangasinan, until the war’s end. Kong Han’s main school was destroyed by American bombings in 1944. Shortly after liberation, Dr. Lo Yan-Chu died of heart failure at sixty-six.
Master Lo King-Hui: Guardian of Tradition
Lo King-Hui, born January 19, 1921, began training under his father at age seven. He returned to Manila in 1939 to join his father’s clinic and school. After his father’s death in 1945, Lo King-Hui assumed responsibility for both the medical clinic and the Kong Han headmaster position, assisted by his brother Lo King-Chiok. Dr. Lo King-Hui furthered Kong Han’s reputation through competitions and conferences while practicing traditional Chinese medicine.
The mid-1980s brought crucial challenges. Dr. Lo King-Hui faced pressure to include Contemporary Wǔshù in Kong Han’s curriculum but refused, knowing Wǔshù was a demonstrative performance art without combative merit. This principled stance led senior members to leave and form the Wǔshù Federation of the Philippines. Though costly, Master Lo understood that some principles matter more than popularity, demonstrating the same integrity his father showed when he refused to teach Japanese troops.
Despite this setback, Dr. Lo King-Hui sought to unite all Five Ancestor Fist sects globally. This dream was realized with the inauguration of the International South Shaolin Wǔzǔquán Union in 1990 in Quanzhou. Dr. Lo was elected its first chairperson, and the South Shaolin Temple officially adopted Ngó Chó Kûn as its martial art. The organization expanded from 14 to approximately 22 member countries. Dr. Lo King-Hui passed away in 1995 at seventy-five, having been inducted as Honorary Chairman for Life and enshrined in the association’s Hall of Fame.
Grandmaster Lo Zu-Ming (Henry Lo): Carrying the Torch
The third generation rests with Lo Zu-Ming, better known as Henry Lo, born in 1961. Beginning formal training at age eleven, Grandmaster Lo inherited responsibility for preserving an entire cultural tradition. In 1996, he entered a Zhèngzhou City tournament’s lightweight sànshǒu division, earning a silver medal. In 2003, as Philippine Wǔshù team captain, he won two gold medals in traditional hand forms and weapon categories. In 2010, he received a 10th Duan ranking from the International South Shaolin Wǔzǔquán Union.
Under Grandmaster Lo’s leadership, Kong Han expanded internationally. Between 2000 and 2011, branches opened in Iloilo under Rene Lao, Caloocan under Vicky Co, Vancouver under Daniel Kun, Canton under Jeffrey Yang, and São Paulo under Renata Armago. Today, Grandmaster Lo Zu-Ming continues to operate the Kong Han Athletic Association, carrying forward a legacy spanning three generations and over a century.
A Diminishing Culture and the Call for Action
Despite these achievements, traditional Chinese martial arts face existential threats. The generation that learned directly from the founders is disappearing. Modern youth show little interest in learning traditional disciplines. Commercialization prioritizes flashy performance over authentic systems. Most critically, no systematic government support exists. While the Philippines recognized the indigenous Arnis as the national martial art, equally important Chinese martial arts brought by Filipino-Chinese immigrants remain ignored and unprotected.
The Philippine government’s attention to recognizing Filipino-Chinese martial arts as an integral part of national heritage should be considered. Kong Han should be designated a Living Cultural Treasure, acknowledging its masters as repositories of irreplaceable knowledge. The government could fund comprehensive documentation projects—recording techniques, histories, and oral traditions before the last generation of authentic masters passes—creating video archives and written manuals that preserve not only techniques but also philosophical and cultural contexts.
These martial arts should be integrated into physical education curricula, particularly in areas with significant Filipino-Chinese populations, ensuring transmission through formal educational channels. Schools preserving authentic traditional styles should receive funding to offset commercial pressures, allowing masters like Grandmaster Henry Lo to focus on quality instruction. The government could also pursue UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage nomination for Filipino-Chinese martial arts, bringing international recognition and additional preservation resources.
Conclusion: A Legacy Worth Fighting For
The story of three Lo family generations embodies everything noble about martial arts: discipline, integrity, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to preserving authentic tradition. From Dr. Lo Yan-Chu’s refusal to instruct Japanese troops, to Dr. Lo King-Hui’s rejection of Contemporary Wǔshù despite losing senior members, to Grandmaster Henry Lo’s continued dedication to authentic Five Ancestor Fist, this family has demonstrated that principles matter more than popularity or profit.
The Filipino-Chinese community has contributed immeasurably to Philippine society—economically, culturally, and martially. Their martial arts traditions represent not merely fighting techniques but philosophical systems, cultural identities, and living connections to ancestral wisdom. To allow these traditions to vanish through neglect would be a tragic loss for both the Filipino-Chinese community and the Philippines as a nation. Time grows short—masters are aging, students are few, and modernization pressures grow stronger daily. If the Philippine government acts now with the courage and conviction the Lo family demonstrated across three generations, this precious heritage can be saved, ensuring that ancient wisdom continues guiding and enriching Filipino culture for generations to come.
The Philippine Kong Han Athletic Club expresses its heartfelt appreciation to President Jose Go, Mr. Zhou Kong Ming, and Mr. Larry Villarreal for their steadfast and continuing support.
(The author is a Director and member of the Philippine Kong Han Athletic Club since 1981. The opinion expressed here is personal and does not reflect the official position of the club. Materials for this article were sourced from the book Kong Han Ngo Cho authored by Henry Lo and Daniel Kun.)
