Hung Gar is a major style of Chinese Kung Fu and occupies a significant place in the annals of martial arts. Many exceptional masters were practitioners of this style, more notable one being Wong Fei Hung, whose exploits are subjects of many motion pictures in recent years.

Kung Fu reached its high in the Ching dynasty; Shaolin Kung Fu was particularly treated with high regards. The art was looked upon as secret treasure and few were fortunate to learn it. The destruction of the Shaolin monastery by fire caused the monks to disperse and avoid prosecution and indirectly brought Shaolin kung fu to the lay people and people of Kwangtung in particular.

It is said that Te Kiu Salm (iron-arm Salm) also known as one of the Kwangtung Tigers (there were 10 of them, all were well known for their matchless kung fu skill) was a student of a monk named Kwok Yan of Shaolin. Kwok Yan was a giant of Hung Gar, he was widely known throughout large part of China. Te earned the trust of Kwok; in return, Kwok passed the art to him unreservedly. Te later also modified and incorporated changes of his own to create Te Sin Kuen, thus, adding a new dimension to Hung Gar.

Te Sin Kuen is famed for its development of horse stance and abnormal strength of the arms. Te Kiu Salm was reputed to have arms that could withstand the combined weight of six hefty men; he could also stand so firmly on the floor that the floor tiles cracked and his feet sank slightly to the floor.

Amongst Te Kui Salm's famous students were Choy Chan, Au Chu, Ng Hee Koon, Ma Gee Tim, Lam Fook Shing and Sze Yu Leung. Though few in number, but they were all stalwart adherent to their teacher's wish – not to teach Hung Gar indiscriminately, especially Te Sin Kuen. Only Lam Fook Shing taught the art to the illustrious Wong Fei Hong. From Wong Fei Hong, it went on to Lam Sai Wing.

This was the start of Hung Gar's emergence to public notice.