Tse Biu and the Butterfly Palms

Chan Wah had not learned from Leung Jan for a long time, but because of his natural talent it was very easy for him to learn. Jan liked him very much, and he had a very strong body. Jan taught Wah many special things. Jan had one secret technique called the Wu Dip Cheung (Butterfly Palms). Leung Bok-Lao had only taught it to Leung Jan, and had told him it was a secret technique - very deadly. Jan knew if it was used, it would harm someone, maybe even kill them. Bok-Lao had told Jan that he should be very careful never to teach the Butterfly Palms to students with bad tempers. Jan was very careful, and only taught the technique to Wah.

Leung Jan had another student, a butcher by trade, who was named Tse Biu and was known as "Fai Jai" ("Fat-man") Biu due to his large size. Every night when he finished work, Biu went to Jan's to learn. Biu was a strong guy and Jan liked him a lot, thus he progressed very quickly and within five years he had learned all Jan's techniques, except for the Butterfly Palms.

Tse Biu was a fiery guy, always fighting with others, so Leung Jan did not want to teach him the Butterfly Palms in case he would use it to harm people. When Biu finished his lessons and graduated, he did not want to leave Jan's school, even though Jan assured him his knowledge was complete and there was nothing else to be learned. Jan told Biu he was ready to go off into the world. Although Biu left, he would often return in order to ask Jan questions and ensure he remembered his lessons properly.

People knew that Tse Biu was Leung Jan's senior student. Because Biu often went at the same time as Chan Wah, the two became very friendly, even though Wah had joined much later. When Wah came for lessons, Biu always helped out with his instruction. When Wah later opened his own school, Biu would often come buy to chat and would help Wah train his students.

One day, while Chan Wah and Tse Biu practiced together, Wah asked Biu a question about the Butterfly Palms. Biu responded that he had never heard of such a technique, and that Leung Jan had never taught it to him. Wah said Jan had explained that the Butterfly Palms were a very deadly technique which Leung Bok-Lao asked Jan to keep secret and not to teach to temperamental students, which was why Jan had not taught it to Biu. Biu was very surprised to hear this because he had learned from Jan much before Wah and so was not happy to hear he had not learned the secret technique.

Chan Wah tried to reassure Tse Biu, and said he should not worry. Wah maintained that Leung Jan liked Biu a lot, but worried that since he was always fighting and had a bad temper, he might cause harm to others with the technique. Wah added that if Biu asked Jan to teach him the Butterfly Palms, it would be very difficult for Jan to refuse. Biu felt his teacher did not truly believe in him.

As usual, during the festival time, Tse Biu went to Leung Jan's pharmacy and asked his teacher to take tea with him. Biu brought with him one side of beef, and one chicken from his shop, which he told Jan were for the festival. Biu informed Jan that he wanted to make a special feast for him at the pharmacy. Biu told Jan that as soon as work ended that day, he would return to the pharmacy and celebrate with his teacher.

Leung Jan thought that since Tse Biu was a butcher, meat was a normal gift to give his teacher, and Jan asked one of his workers to cook the food. That night Biu returned and he and Jan drank together. Jan was not normally a big drinker, but he was happy to celebrate so he drank a few cups. Suddenly Biu asked Jan if, since he had learned from him for many years, he had learned everything. Jan responded that he had already told Biu he had learned all of his skills. Biu then inquired of Jan how he compared with Chan Wah. Jan replied that Biu had been learning longer and had become successful before Chan Wah, and had attained good martial skills.

Tse Biu was a little bit drunk and told Leung Jan he did not think Jan was being honest with him. Jan was quite surprised and asked Biu how he could say that. Tse replied he had heard someone say Chan Wah had learned a technique called Butterfly Palms, which was very deadly, yet Biu, a longtime student, had never heard of it. Biu then said, if Jan maintained he had taught him everything, he must not be telling the truth.

Leung Jan thought that if Tse Biu were saying these things, he must have a reason. Nevertheless, Jan responded that Biu was mistaken. Jan maintained there was no Butterfly Palm technique, and if there were, he would certainly have taught it to Biu. Jan told Biu not to believe everything he heard. Tse stated it had been Chan Wah who told him this story. That the technique was very dangerous, able to harm or kill people, so he said Jan did not like to teach it, especially to fiery individuals like Biu.

Leung Jan informed Tse Biu that he should know Chan Wah had opened a school, and in order to attract students, he was probably making his skills sound very special. Jan told Biu not to believe Wah and that to say Jan had not taught him something was very foolish. Biu was confused. Jan emphasized that it was not good to think his teacher had not taught him. Jan said he had taught every student the same, and that Biu was the equal of Wah. Jan maintained that Biu's skills were very good and that he was ready to go out into the world and open up his own school and teach his own students.

Tse Biu heard this and relaxed. He had drunk too much and eaten too much, and students were beginning to enter in order to practice, so Leung Jan and he ended their talk and Biu went off. After he left, however, Biu still had some lingering doubts, so he decided to go by Chan Wah's school and talk to him again.

Chan Wah was at his school teaching some students when Tse Biu came in. Biu would often come by to watch Wah's classes, so Wah was not surprised to see him. When Wah's class ended, Biu asked him to go out to eat. They went together to a tea house and sat down. Biu asked Wah if what he said earlier had been true. At first, Wah did not understand what Biu was referring too, and asked him to explain. Biu asked if what Wah said about the Butterfly Palms had been true. Wah responded that of course it had been true, he would not lie to Biu.

Tse Biu told Chan Wah he had asked their teacher, Leung Jan, about the Butterfly palms and Jan had said it was not true. Wah was surprised and asked if Biu was sure. Biu explained that after he spoke to Wah he had doubts so he went to talk with Jan over dinner, and there Jan had said it was not true. Biu elaborated that Jan said Wah made up the story to attract students. Biu informed Wah that he was determined to find out the truth and so had come back to see him and ask him again.

Chan Wah finally realized he should never have mentioned the technique to Tse Biu, but he also understood that now it was too late. If he denied it now, Biu would think he was a liar; but if he stood by his story, it would create problems with their teacher. Wah pondered the problem for a long time, then asked Biu if he wanted to learn the technique. Biu asked if Wah was offering to teach him. Wah responded that Biu was his senior and he would never dare teach his senior anything, but he thought there may be a way to help Biu get the technique from their teacher. Wah told Biu, however, that doing so may be more than a little dangerous.

Tse Biu asked Chan Wah what he had in mind. Wah said he thought Leung Jan had always liked Biu, so he doubted he would seriously harm him. Wah said Biu was very good with the Chuen Sum Cheung (Heart Piercing Palm), which was also a very deadly technique. Wah suggested that Biu start a fight with Jan, and use the Heart Piercing Palm. Wah maintained that the only way for Jan to stop it, would be to use the Butterfly Palm to counter. That way, Wah said, Biu could get the technique. While the Butterfly Palm was lethal, Wah thought it unlikely Jan would use it to seriously harm Biu.

Tse Biu thought it was a risky, but workable plan, and made up his mind to do it. Biu knew it would not be easy, however. Leung Jan would never willingly fight with him so, if he went to the shop, Jan would just refuse. Biu knew, however, that Jan almost always went to the famous Sun Juk Goi tea house to take tea during the day. In order to get to the teahouse, you had to pass through a small alley. This gave Biu an idea.

The next day Tse Biu went to the tea house early to wait for Leung Jan. Because Biu regularly sold meat to the tea house, the staff there was always very friendly towards him. While sitting and waiting in the tea house, Biu asked one of the staff to tell him when Jan approached. Jan was very punctual and was always on time.

When Leung Jan came, because it was summer, he was wearing a long white robe and carried a fan in his hand. Jan walked slowly down the alley, and the staff member quickly told Tse Biu that Jan was coming. Biu quickly tied up his clothing and went out of the tea house to face Jan.

When Leung Jan approached, Tse Biu shot forward and attacked him right away with a charging punch. Jan was very surprised and had no time to defend, so he quickly stepped back. Biu continued, striking again. Jan did not understand and asked Biu why he was acting this way. Biu continued his attack and replied that it was because Jan had not taught him the Butterfly Palms. Because Biu was young and very strong and had good technique, he was dangerous. Jan told Biu that he was crazy, that they could discuss things and did not need to fight. But Biu continued his attacks.

The alley was a dead end, and Leung Jan soon could retreat no more. Jan told Tse Biu to stop his attacks, or Biu would die. Biu continued, nonetheless, and struck at Jan with the Heart Piercing Palms. Faced with the dangerous technique, Jan had no choice but to use the Butterfly Palms to counter. Biu was very careful and closely watched Jan's technique.

Leung Jan extended his Butterfly Palms and Tse Biu was slammed backwards almost 20 feet. Within an instant Biu lay unconscious on the street. Jan rushed forward immediately to try and save Biu. Although Biu lay as if dead, he was not dead yet. Jan rushed to a washroom and came back with some ammonia which he put in Biu's mouth.

Many people had gathered around. They knew that Leung Jan was Tse Biu's teacher, and did not understand how the two could be fighting. Biu began to slowly awaken. When he revived, he begged his teacher's forgiveness, saying he knew he had not been polite, but since he had not been taught the secret technique, this was the only method he could think of to get it. Jan told Biu to be quiet and to relax if he wanted to recover. Jan went to the tea house and asked some of the staff members to bring a litter for Biu and to take him back to Jan's pharmacy so his injuries could be taken care of.

Tse Biu's heart had been damaged by the Butterfly Palms, and Leung Jan said it must be fixed quickly. Jan told Biu that the Butterfly Palms were very deadly, and could kill people, but that since Biu had attacked him with the Heart Piercing Palms, Jan had been forced to use it to save himself. Jan informed Biu that if he had not kept in mind Biu was his student, Biu certainly would have died.

Tse Biu explained that he knew Leung Jan would not hurt him, and that now he had the technique. Jan replied that though Biu had the technique, when he recovered, he would have to practice it. Biu asked Jan if he would teach it to him properly. Biu then returned home to rest for a couple of says. When he returned, Jan completed teaching him the Butterfly Palms.

These stories were translated by Rene Ritchie, and have been included here with his permission. Visit the Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun home page to see the originals.