According to legend, Zui Ba Xian Wushu originated in the northeast province of China round about the end of the Ming and beginning of Qing Dynasty. The history of its spread from northeastern China to Southeast Asia would involve the special friendship between the protagonists as well as between master and disciple. Over its hundred-year history, many fascinating tales about it have been told.

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During the Qing Dynasty, in Emperor Guang Xu's time, there was a massive flood in Cang Zhou. Civilians evacuated from their villages and sought refuge with relatives and friends. Two wushu masters, Li Tai Zhen and Li Mao Hua, evacuated to the south from Cang Zhou. They chanced upon Master Yap Chun Tai at Xing Zhuang of Jing County in Hebei Province. Upon the persistent invitation of Yap, they both decided to stay over till the floods have subsided and they were able to return to Cang Zhou. The three had much in common and enjoyed each other's company. Soon, they became close friends. Yap's family all enjoyed martial arts. They would often spar in the practice grounds in the Yap compound day and night together with the neighbours. Yap's two sons, Yap Feng Ting and Yap Feng Qi, both admired the two Master Li's very much and asked to be accepted as their disciples. With the approval of Chun Tai, the two brothers went up north to Cang Zhou together with Li Tai Zhen after the floods. Li Tai Zhen observed Feng Ting and Feng Qi over the next few months to get a better understanding of their personality, moral standards, physical condition, loyalty, potential and patience. Only then did he accept them formally as his disciples. Li Tai Zhen even agreed to move to the Yap compound to teach martial arts. Li Tai Zhen devoted himself to tutoring the two brothers. Coupled with their patience, perseverance and strong wushu foundation, they made vast progress. Their radical transformation brought them to an exceptional level of martial arts prowess. Two years later, as Li Tai Zhen was getting old, he recommended that Feng Ting and Feng Qi continue their martial arts training under Master Zuo Rong Chang.

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Zuo Rong Chang had unique skills that had won him great reputation in the martial arts world. A contented man, Zuo would often act the fool. He loved to practise his wushu skills in the middle of the night or at dawn. No one really knows the depth of his true feelings or the level of his skills. He was thus unpredictable and unfathomable. He had studied Zui Ba Xian intensely and had a good grasp of the techniques. He is adept at the jerk, releasing immense energy throughout his body. His maneuvers were outstanding. Indeed, Zui Ba Xian stresses technique, gestures and movements, posture, and footwork. The changing of direction alone is different from the usual long punch boxing technique. One must be quivering in the upper body yet remaining grounded. As one stumbles and turns, one appears to be drunk yet sober. The attack is executed from the side, breaking through at a moment of weakness and often gaining the upper hand as a result. Feng Ting and Feng Qi trained under Zuo Rong Chang for about half a year, and made tremendous progress. They made exceptional advance under the direct personal instruction of Master Zuo in Zui Ba Xian, the long spear and the Five Tiger Duan Men Spear (五虎断门枪).

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The Yap's were a prominent family in Xing Zhuang. Feng Ting and Feng Qi formed a wushu club back home and would often train with the neighbours day in and day out. Traditional martial arts repertoires with weapons and intense combats filled the air with joy and pleasure on the Yap's training ground. A good example was set in Xing Zhuang, where wushu was popular. Feng Ting and Feng Qi taught Zui Ba Xian to members of the family. The most diligent, agile and talented among the younger generation are Yap Shu Tian and Wei Yuan Feng.

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1920 Representatives from the Shanghai Chin Woo (Athletic) Association came to Southeast Asia on a wushu promotional tour. While in Singapore, they participated in the fundraising event for the South China Floods. The fundraising committee comprising organizer Huang Zhao Gui, Li Tie Chen, Mai Zhong Yao, Lin Wen Qing, Lin Yi Shun, Lin Tui Qian, Gan Qing Si, Eu Tong Sen, Wu Huang, etc decided to establish the Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association, modeled after the spirit, ideals, organization and membership rules and regulations of the Shanghai Chin Woo Association. Two nights of fundraising performance was held on 7th and 8th September at the Hua Ying Theatre.

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The program for the night included (1) Chin Woo martial arts performance (18 items); (2) The Shanghai Chin Woo Association produced 5000 feet corporate film showing representatives of Chinese Chin Woo Troupe performing 18 items of martial arts. Yap Shu Tian performed in five items, two being Zui Ba Xian and Zui Jiu Dao (Drunken Broadsword). This is the first time that the Chin Woo Association performed in Singapore. Yap Shu Tian demonstrated solid skills in a dexterous and thrilling performance. The audience was spellbound and full of admiration for his level of skills. This type of performance was brought to a few other Southeast Asian cities, thereby motivating the Chinese community leaders to set up the Chin Woo Athletic Association. All these exciting accounts have been recorded for posterity in books such as "The Founding of the Chin Woo Association in Southeast Asia"" and "How Chin Woo was brought Outside China". This is the first chapter in the history of how this northern martial arts form was brought to Southeast Asia.

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For several decades, the two Masters, Yap Shu Tian and Wei Yuan Feng, worked as wushu instructors in the Singapore and Malaysian Chin Woo Associations. They taught numerous sets of traditional Chin Woo wushu repertoires, helping Zui Ba Xian to take root in Southeast Asia, and thus benefiting many people.

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In 1955, instructor Chow Tong was very active in the Singapore Chin Woo martial arts scene. He had undergone many years of martial arts training, having completed Master Wei Yuan Feng's Chin Woo martial arts training courses. He was appointed assistant instructor from 1957 to 1960. An ardent follower of wushu, he was inspired to continue training and upgrading himself, thus fanning his passion for martial arts further.

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In recent years, Chow Tong shouldered the heavy responsibility of promoting traditional wushu. In 2004, he was invited by the President of the Western Australian Chin Woo Association, Dr Tan Kee Lee, to conduct a series of short courses at the Association in Perth. All this was made possible due to his sense of mission. In 2005, The President of the British Chin Woo Association, Lee Yoke Wan, invited Master Chow Tong to conduct classes in traditional wushu for some trainees. Master Chow Tong took time out to spend three months in London to conduct the training courses.

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The trainees at the Australian and United Kingdom courses included some young students from other nationalities. Master Chow Tong taught according to the aptitudes of the students. He imparted about 30 types of traditional wushu repertoires, among which included Zui Ba Xian. Master Chow enjoys cultivating new blood, especially hardworking students from the younger generation who are eager to learn. He keeps an open mind and shares his experience and knowledge with the young people and is thus greatly admired and respected by his students.

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Master Chow Tong brought the Chin Woo traditional wushu arts to a whole new level. He enlightened everyone to the traditional spirit of Chin Woo and put in a lot of effort in the promotion of wushu culture. He was a good influence on the Association members and students. His contributions were duly acknowledged, recognized and rewarded by both existing and new members. With Zui Ba Xian being taught and taking root in Western Australia and Britain, this martial arts form has most certainly shown excellent form even till this day!

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