Born November 8, 1926 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China, Kwong Tit Fu started studying kung fu at the age of eight. His first teacher was his uncle, Kwong Cheung Sau, who taught him the Shaolin system, Hung Gar kung fu and Gum Gong qigong. During China’s Cultural Revolution, he uprooted his family, moved to Hong Kong where he continued his Hung Gar training under Lam Cho, nephew of the legendary Lam Sai Wing. With Lam Cho’s sanctioning, Kwong opened a Hung Gar school in Hong Kong and also took over another branch from his teacher. Eager to increase his understanding of the martial arts, he learned Wu style tai chi from Ng Wai Nung of the Eagle Claw system. Ng studied under Cheng Wing Gong, a disciple of Wu Chien Chuan, the founder of Wu tai chi. Kwong also studied under various masters to develop his qigong. Most notably he studied under Ma Bin and Ng Kum Lau a Wudang system called, Mu Dong Yat Hei Ngm Hahng Morn. Ng was the top disciple of Ma Duc Sun, grandmaster of the system. Following in the martial arts tradition, Kwong also trained to be an herbalist and was president of the Hong Kong Herbal Society.

In 1970, Kwong immigrated to the United States in order to secure a better future for his family. He left them behind with the promise to bring them to the States when he was financially able. Kwong came to live in Boston, Massachusetts, and like many Chinese immigrants, his first job was in a Chinese restaurant. On occasion, management would ask Kwong to intervene when patrons became intoxicated or tried to dodge the tab. Sometimes, they would be physically engaged, giving away his martial arts prowess, and his reputation in Boston’s Chinatown became known. That same year, he was introduced to Calvin Chin, a martial arts enthusiast who became one of his first students in Boston. At Chin’s request, Kwong began his martial arts career in the U.S. by teaching kung fu at the Knights Athletic Club, a Chinatown youth organization. Chin, a black belt in the Uechi Ryu system, and also a martial arts instructor was ordered to give up all past experience to learn from him. Intrigued with Kwong’s abilities, Chin complied, flourished under his tutelage and become his top-disciple.

A foreign country provided just the right environment for Kwong to focus more on his martial arts and develop deeper insight. In his solitude, he practiced harder and researched further. Due to his external and internal arts training, Kwong had a wide perspective of martial arts and came to the conclusion that at the higher levels, the principles and concepts were common. Constant pursuit, expansive training and the curiosity of his students, enhanced Kwong’s ability as a martial artist and a teacher. His reputation as a Hung Gar master garnered the highest respect from his Chinatown community, and soon he was able to send for his family.

In 1974, with the aid and encouragement of Chin and other earlier students from Boston, Kwong opened his first school in Boston’s Chinatown, the Academy of Chinese Martial Arts. Kwong discovered that there were other Hung Gar lineage in the Northeast and wanted to distinguish the Tiger Crane system. Since the Lam lineage descended from the legendary Tiger Crane master, Wong Fei Hung, Kwong suggested that Lam Cho establish Fu Hok Pai, translated as Tiger Crane Alliance. As a result, Kwong’s school was the first Hung Gar Tiger Crane school established on the U.S. East Coast. That same year, Kwong founded Fu Hok Tai He Morn to commemorate the three prominent systems he studied, the Shaolin system, Hung Gar Fu Hok and the Wudang systems, Wu tai chi and Mu Dong Yat He Ngm Hahng Morn. Fu Hok Tai He Morn also became a training basis to practice sequences and to interpret the common principles and guidelines of the three martial arts. Integral to the training method was his emphasis on using natural strength, unheard of during that era when brute force in martial arts was the norm. Additionally, during his tenure in Boston’s Chinatown, Kwong Tit Fu was much sought after for his herbal and qigong healing remedies and this aspect of his business flourished alongside his martial arts.

Kwong Tit Fu was the connection that brought his kung fu brothers, Tang Kwok Wah and Lee Yip Ming to Boston; thus creating additional Tiger Crane branches in the area. It was a happy and productive period in his life, surrounded by his Hung Gar colleagues. Kwong was one of the original pioneers of the United East Coast Kung Fu Federation and was president of the New England Regional head quarters in the early 70’s. During his term, he promoted many of the New England Regional full contact tournaments in the Greater Boston area. Always in pursuit, Kwong continued to research and train in higher level martial arts. In subsequent years, Kwong returned many times to Hong Kong and Taiwan to further his knowledge. After many years of study, Kwong was accepted as a disciple of the Mu Dong Yat Hei Ngm Hahng Morn system under Ng Kam Lau.

In his later years, the popularity of kung fu waned and he moved his school to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1987. There he started to teach tai chi and focused more on the theoretical and spiritual aspects of martial arts. Kwong became more involved in qigong practice and healing. In 1996, Kwong Tit Fu announced his semi-retirement from teaching. With Kwong’s sanctioning, Chin gave up his business of 25 years, and established Calvin Chin’s Martial Arts Academy in Newton, Massachusetts. On May 31, 1999, Kwong fell into an irreversible coma after suffering an aneurysm and died on August 19, 1999.