Grandmaster Gini Lau
Grandmaster Gini Lau proudly carries on the tradition of her famous father, Great Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang as head of the Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Association. Much like her father, Gini Lau has carved out her own unique history and legacy in the Martial Arts World.
Grandmaster Gini Lau began studying Eagle Claw, Yin Jow Fan Tzu from her father at the tender age of four. Great Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang would train her mercilessly in late evenings and into the early mornings while having her do all of the movements and forms of the Eagle Claw system under his watchful eye. This training would continue for eight years until his untimely death in 1964. Based on a prior agreement with her father, Gini continued her studies in the Peking Opera which was run by Master Yu Jim-Yuen. The Peking opera is famous for it's martial arts tumbling and gymnastics, both of which form a primary part of Eagle Claw Kung Fu. The Peking opera training was more ruthless and severe than anything she had experienced with her father.
Gini Lau became a star of the Peking opera with other such notables in her class as Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. She would remain in the academy until 1973 and remain close with all other Peking opera classmates to this day. When the Opera was making a tour of the United States in 1973, Gini decided she was ready to strike out on her own and move to the United States.
Gini Lau became a star of the Peking opera with other such notables in her class as Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. She would remain in the academy until 1973 and remain close with all other Peking opera classmates to this day. When the Opera was making a tour of the United States in 1973, Gini decided she was ready to strike out on her own and move to the United States.
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Upon arrival in the United States, Gini did not have a job and could not speak English. She taught herself English and soon began to teach Eagle Claw at various local studios in the San Francisco Bay Area. Within a short time, Gini made a name for herself in the martial arts tournament scene by regularly winning Black Belt competitions against all male competitors. During this time (1976), she won Ed Parker’s Long Beach International Karate tournament against the top rated tournament competitors in the country. She routinely beat the number one male competitors on the Open Martial Arts Tournament Circuit. This is same tournament was where Bruce Lee was first discovered years earlier, is still considered to be the most prestigious tournament in the United States
With her unique blend of striking looks, traditional Eagle Claw training and years of performing at the Peking Opera Academy, it wasn’t long before she was spotted and asked to do work in movies. Gini Lau acted and did stunt work in such movies as Killer Elite, Falcon Claw, Weapons of Death and The Last Adventure. She was also featured in a KNBC TV Production entitled The Secrets of Martial Arts.
Gini Lau uses her years of extensive training now to teach others in the style of Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Chinese wellness and acupressure, as well as writing short stories.
Gini Lau uses her years of extensive training now to teach others in the style of Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Chinese wellness and acupressure, as well as writing short stories.
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