Such a great loss.
Indeed a great loss. 
May he RIP.
Sad News from Hong Kong: Grand Master Lau Kar-Leung has Passed Away
RIP to a LEGEND
i woke up this morning to some bad news. according to sifu mark houghton, his top student. Lau ka leung has passed away. rest in peace to this titan of kung fu cinema his like will never be seen again.
RIP Lau sifu
Doh jeh for the inspirations and memories
http://www.stickgrappler.net/2013/06/in-memory-of-lau-kar-leung-july-28-1936.html
Such a loss to the wulin
I’m sorry I never got the chance to meet him.
Hong Kong Director and Martial Arts Master Lau Kar-leung Dies at 76
3:15 AM PDT 6/25/2013 by Karen Chu
Lau Kar-leung, 1936-2013.
The director of landmark Kung Fu films “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin,” starring “Kill Bill”’s Gordon Liu, and “Drunken Master II” with Jackie Chan passed away after a two-decade battle with cancer.
HONG KONG – Martial artist, action choreographer and film director Lau Kar-leung died on Tuesday morning following a two-decade battle with cancer. He was 76.
Lau, a fourth-generation direct disciple of martial arts legend Wong Fei-Hung and a lifelong practitioner of the Hung Kuen discipline, was most famous for his directorial efforts The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), starring Kill Bill’s Gordon Liu, and Drunken Master II with Jackie Chan, which also won him the Best Action Choreography Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1994.
Lau began his career in film in 1950 as an extra and stuntman in the popular Wong Fei-Hung movies. He then joined Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1960s, forming Lau’s Stunt Team, and became one of the studio’s principal action choreographers. He was particularly renowned for his collaboration with director Chang Cheh during that time on films such as The One-Armed Swordsman (1967) and The Boxer From Shantung (1972).
In 1975, Lau made his directorial debut, The Spiritual Boxer, for Shaw Brothers. He was the first action choreographer to have transitioned to directing. The film proved a hit and was the seventh-highest-grossing movie of the year in Hong Kong.
Lau’s directing work was characterized by a strict adherence to the principles of martial arts. He continued his work as action choreographer and director until 1994, when he made Drunken Master II and III and was diagnosed with lymphoma. He survived the disease and made a directorial comeback in 2003 with Drunken Monkey, which he starred in along with his martial arts protégé Liu. In 2007, at the age of 70, he served as action choreographer and in a supporting role in Tsui Hark’s Seven Swords.
Lau was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2010 for his contribution to the martial arts film genre.
He is survived by his wife, former actress and solicitor Mary Jean Reimer, and their two daughters.
Gosh, what a loss,
When I went to Chinatown to see the fighting movies, I made it my business to see anything choreographed by him. His presence was a guarantee that I was going to have an enjoyable viewing experience. The only close American equivalent would be the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
I usually extend condolences, but I feel like I just lost family. Nevertheless, I extend condolences to all who loved him.
I am going to miss that guy.
All Thumbs up to The Pops,
mickey
The Greatest of inspirations…God Bless and RIP!
“Legendary Weapons of China”, and “Operation Scorpio” were two of his movies that stood out to me the most, Legendary Weapons of China particularly.
When I first started kung fu, these movies were really inspirational to me. After practice, I would go into my backyard in the evenings or at night and practice more with images from those movies in my head. My Sifu knew him, but I never asked too much about it.
I think a lot of us won’t forget Lau kar Leung. It’s a great loss for our life, but a great gain for the next one.
May he Rest In Peace
Rest In Peace Lau Sifu.
If it wasn’t for this man and his films I probably wouldn’t know much about Gung Fu or the Hung Style specifically. His films not only displayed real Hung techniques but also Hung Gar virtues.
He’s left an undeniable blueprint for future generations.
He will be missed by many and wish his family and students the best.
Tiger & Crane Salute to “Pops”.
I was lucky enough to meet him back in 2005… he was exactly like he was in the movies..all gung fu, even at dinner table what a great gung fu man and what a great loss ! R.I.P
a little dedication I put together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em3nj5Dhdes
Lau Sifu’s work shaped and refined what the modern Kung fu film ultimately became at the height of the genre, and he was the undisputed king.
There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said, except that Lau Sifu’s work was a big inspiration to me in both my formative and adult years. His films defined an entire period of my life. I never got to meet him, so as much as he and his work meant to me and to all of his fans worldwide, I know that he was so much more to those who were close to him.
heres a rare documentary about Lau Sifu from 1991
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf6nmPfPLkI
R.I.P. Big loss.
He and his films, were one of the single biggest reasons I became interested in kung fu.
R.I.P.
Laid to rest at Sha Tin cemetery
It would be worth the pilgrimage to visit his grave and give offerings.
Final farewell for kung fu master and filmmaker Lau Kar-leung
Wednesday, 24 July, 2013 [Updated: 6:17PM]
Ernest Kao ernest.kao@scmp.com
Family members and friends attend the funeral service of late actor and Kung Fu master Lau Kar-leung at Universal Funeral Parlour, Hung Hom. Photo: May Tse
Legendary martial arts master and film director Lau Kar-leung was given a final send-off on Wednesday by family and friends, including Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, before he was laid to rest in a Sha Tin cemetery.
The three-hour funeral service, held at Hung Hom’s Universal Funeral Parlour under sombre skies and heavy rain, was attended by a medley of celebrities, including actors Lanna Wong Ha-wai and Adam Cheng Siu-chow.
Several of Lau’s apprentices and disciples – clad in kung fu attire emblazoned with the Chinese character “Lau” – provided security as a large press pack formed outside the ground-floor main funeral hall as early as 10am.
A large banner hung above Lau’s portrait read “grandmaster of a generation”.
Lau Kar-leung in 2003. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Lau’s wife Mary Jean Reimer gave a short eulogy during the service, which was followed by a white lion dance – a performance typically held for deceased martial arts masters.
Shortly after noon, Lau was carried out in a black casket to be interred in a crematorium at Po Fook Hill cemetery.
“He was sick with [cancer] for a long time… he really toughed it out all these years,” actor Nat Chan Pak-Cheung said after the service. “It is a great loss for the industry.”
Actor and former stuntmen Chin Ka-lok, who started his apprenticeship with Lau at the age of 10, said his sifu, or teacher, had “watched him grow up”.
“He was very willing to teach us new things, and we would always go to him for advice on martial arts choreography. He was a very important figure in Hong Kong’s martial arts circles,” said Chin.
Lau died late last month at age 76 after a two-decade struggle with lymphatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, brother, two sisters, a son and six daughters.
The fight for the inheritance
Seems like there is always estate issues with this generation of stars.
Shaw studio ‘owes late kung fu star millions’
Thursday, 25 July, 2013, 5:17am
Ernest Kao
ernest.kao@scmp.com
The service for Lau Kar-leung at the Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom. Lau’s wife (left) Mary Jean Reimer walks behind their daughter Jeanne Lau. Photo: Edward Wong
Shaw Brothers Studio owes the late martial arts master and film director Lau Kar-leung millions in bonuses dating back more than 30 years, Lau’s widow, Mary Jean Reimer, said at his funeral.
Reimer, also known as Yung Jing-jing, gave a short eulogy and pledged HK$1 million to start a charity in Lau’s name, to help struggling martial artists and actors.
He was sick with [cancer] for a long time but he really toughed it out all those years. It is a great loss to the industry ACTOR NAT CHAN PAK-CHEUNG
The three-hour service, held at Hung Hom’s Universal Funeral Parlour under sombre skies and heavy rain, was attended by a range of celebrities, including actors Lanna Wong Ha-wai and Adam Cheng Siu-chow. Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, who learned kung fu from a disciple of Lau’s master, also attended.
Several of Lau’s apprentices and disciples, clad in kung fu attire emblazoned with the Chinese character “Lau”, provided security as a large press pack formed outside the ground-floor main funeral hall as early as 10am.
Reimer claimed that Shaw Brothers Studio had failed to pay Lau guaranteed bonuses from overseas box offices for more than 30 years and wanted to get the message out to the public. She said the studio had insisted on “investing” the funds for Lau. The statements were confirmed by members of the procession, including lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung.
Reimer said the money could have amounted to “something like HK$10 million now, if not, at least HK$5 million” and added that Lau had never once complained. She urged Sir Run Run Shaw to be generous and to support the charity.
The eulogy was followed by a white lion dance, a performance typically held for deceased martial arts masters.
Shortly after noon, Lau was carried out in a black casket to the crematorium at Po Fook Hill cemetery in Sha Tin.
“He was sick with [cancer] for a long time but he really toughed it out all those years,” actor Nat Chan Pak-Cheung said after the service. “It is a great loss to the industry.”
Actor and former stuntman Chin Ka-lok, who apprenticed with Lau at the age of 10, said his sifu, or teacher, had “watched him grow up”.
“He was very willing to teach us new things and we would always go to him for advice on martial arts choreography,” said Chin, who last saw his sifu six years ago.
Lau died late last month at age 76, after a two-decade struggle with lymphatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, brother, two sisters, a son and six daughters.