“This is not Wing Chun!”
“Original”, “traditional”, “orthodox”… Those are the words how (traditional) Chinese martial arts are often described. What does it mean? Same as hundreds years ago? Dated?
The word “traditional” comes for a latin word tradere, “to hand over”, “hand down”, from the Master to the apprentice, from one generation to the other – not only the techniques and sets, but concepts, principles and training methodology, often unique to a specific system or family.
The Four Basic Offensive Movements in Kung Fu
Chinese martial arts are often called Kyun Seut (lit. “Art of the Fists”), and translated as “Chinese Boxing”. However, Chinese martial arts arsenal is much broader – we strike not only with our fists, but palms, claws and elbows as well, use various kicks, sweeps, throws and locks. Let s not forget the use of various weapons – long and short, single and double, blunt and bladed, “hard” and soft.
As for the bare-handed fighting, the classical Chinese phrase goes: Tek – Da – Seut – Na, ie. Kicking, Striking, Wrestling and Holding. Below is a nice article about these 4 basic attacks of Chinese Kung-Fu, written by Wong Kiew Kit Sifu of Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu.
Jeet Kune Do Jerry Poteet sifu (1946-2012)
“It is with great sadness that another martial arts icon has passed away. Jerry Poteet was one of Bruce Lee’s original students and was considered one of the biggest advocates for promoting Bruce Lee’s philosophy of Jeet Kune Do throughout the world.
His legacy, his wisdom and his dedication to the arts shall forever be remembered.“
Michael Matsuda
Martial Arts History Museum, president
(source)
R.I.P., Poteet sifu!
The Story of Hung Ga Grandmaster Lau Jaam, Part 1
Cantonese martial art Master Mr.Wong Fei Hung (黃飛洪), among his inheritors, there were two famous names, one being verified as Leung Fun (梁寛), and the next was apparently Mr. Lau Jaam (劉湛). They both as known-brave and skillful in fighting, outstanding in the Wong Feihung. Leung Fun died early, and Lau Jaam (劉湛) healthy and still alive. In martial art Lau was in no way weaker than Leung. They treated Lau as junior to Leung. But actually Lau was not learning from Wong Fei Hung, instead he was the pupil of Lam Sai Wing (林世榮).
Kicking Skills of Lama Paai
We have already seen that the classical saying “Southern Fists, Northern Kicks” (Naam Kyun Bak Teui) is not exactly correct. Plenty of Southern Chinese styles have very extensive kicking arsenal.
Articles about Hung Ga No Shadow Kick and kicking techniques of Mok Ga Kyun were welcomed by our readers, so here is another ass-kicking article, this time devoted to the leg arsenal of the famous Tibetan kung-fu system, the art of Lama Paai of Lo Wai Keung sifu.
Introduction to the Hung Ga lineage Wong Lei – Leung Kam Kwong – Wong Chung Man, Part 2
Leung Kam Kwong (梁鑑光)
Grand master Leung is a long-time student of Wong Lei. Grand master Leung would always manage the lion dance performances by the school of Wong Lei.
Actually, Wong Lei did not perform or teach lion dance himself (just as Lam Cho). Therefore, the lion dance skills of grand master Leung did not come from Wong Lei, but from Chan Naam (陳南). Chan Naam was a good friend of Wong Lei and a kungfu master too. Chan Naam had learned his kungfu from a Buddhist monk; this kungfu looked a little like Jau Ga (Hung Tau Choi Mei).
After his sifu passed away, grand master Leung also trained for about 10 years in the school of Lam Cho, his sigung.
The Shadowless Kick of Hung Ga Wong Keiying
Wong Keiying’s “Small Deception-Kick” (Gwai Ji Geuk 拐子脚), commonly called the “Shadowless Kick”, includes the “Yin-Lifting Kick” (Liu Yam Geuk 撩阴脚), “Court-Sweeping Leg” (So Tong Geuk 扫堂脚), “Propping-Rooster Leg” (Chang Gaai Geuk 撑鸡脚), and “Single-Standing Golden Rooster Leg” (Gam Gaai Duk Laap Geuk 金鸡独立脚). Because issuing such a counter is so extremely fast that the opponent is unable to detect a shadow, these skills are therefore called the “Shadowless Kicks” (Mou Ying Geuk 无影脚).
The “Small Deception-Kick” of the Siu Lam Hung Ga system, likewise a “Shadowless Kick”, is referred to as a Gwai Ji/ “Small Deception”. The idea of it is to “Counter with Emptiness” (Heui Jiu 虚招). When issuing this counter-attack against an opponent, it is first necessary to strike forth by means of emptiness, “signaling the east to attack the west”, thus distracting the opponent’s ears and eyes. This type of empty counter is referred to as the “Small Deception” (Gwai Ji 拐子), and also called the “Shadow-Strike” (Ying Da 影打) as well.
Introduction to the Hung Ga lineage Wong Lei – Leung Kam Kwong – Wong Chung Man
I have the honour to introduce the lineage of Sifu Raymond Wong Chung Man to you. Sifu Wong Chung Man is a Hung Ga master in Hong Kong. He learned his kungfu from Grand master Leung Kam Kwong, who was a student of famous, late Grandmaster Wong Lei (also spelled as Wong Lee).
Wong Lei (王利)
Grand master Wong Lei lived in Gwongjau, China. He loved kungfu, but did not have any money to learn. He always helped his boss with many things, and this gave him the opportunity to start learning kungfu from the son of his boss. After a while, the son’s kungfu master saw that Wong Lei was very talented, and therefore this master accepted Wong Lei as a student.
The kungfu style he taught was Hung Kyun, but a version not the same as that of Wong Fei Hung and Lam Sai Wing. Many styles were actually called Hung Kyun at that time. This version, however, has more shorter stances, many tiger claws and many hand movements where the arm is extended in 3 strokes or repeats. (Often such styles are also called Saamjin, which means ‘3 extensions’.) It consists of two long sets: The first set is called Night Tiger Leaves the Forest (Ye Fu Cheut Lam 夜虎出林). This set focuses on unexpected, mostly attacking and defending movements from below coming up. The second set is called Fierce Tiger Leaves the Forrest (Maang Fu Cheut Lam 猛虎出林). This set is very direct/straightforward and uses hard power to ‘break’ the opponent.
Choi Lei Fat Full Contact Competition, November 1st 2011
Below is a footage from my friend Lukas Slavicek (Wing Chun, CLF and Bak Mei practitioner) from the 2011 Choi Lei Fat full contact competition – “World Choy Lee Fat Invitational Tournament 2011″ held in Hong Kong.
Rules were following:
- Head guard, chest protector, 4 oz boxing gloves, black pants, groin protector
- 3×2 minutes rounds of full contact continuous fighting, 1 minute rest inbetween rounds
- winner of 2 of 3 rounds will be declared a winner
- if somebody wins 2 rounds continuously, the 3rd round will not be held
I personally hope to see more Chinese martial arts full contact events in the future! Enjoy some highlights below.
How Lam Sai Wing Learned Some of His Weapons, Part 1 – Commander Sword
In the history of Hung Gar Kuen one famous master is Lam Sai Wing, he was a disciple of the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung. Lam Sai Wing’s students published 3 books with pictures of their master showing the 3 treasures of Hung Gar Kuen. There are more and more articles about Lam Sai Wing being discovered, here is now an article about how Lam Sai Wing learned some of his weapons. The original Chinese text was written by Jyu Yujai, student of Lam Saiwing, provided by Pavel Macek sifu, translated by Mr. Tony Ma of Hong Kong and edited and re-written by Frank Bolte sifu.
In regard to Lam Sam Wing’s skills, aren’t they all transmitted from Wong Fei Hung ? The answer is “NO”. Lam’s skills come not just from one person but taught by several masters, and thru his hard learning. He was a meat hawker, admired Wong Fei Hung’s skills, and followed him traveling here and there, days and nights studied hard. Wong Fei Hung did feel Lam’s sincerity and honesty, so taught him all boxing techniques. That’s why Lam was one of the most loved disciples.
Later Lam Sawing moved to Canton. In an incidental day-off, he went to West Hill Temple, hanging around and neighboring the temple, then met a shoemaker. Lam Saiwing saw he was strong and vital, aged around 50. Lam Saiwing was curious and approached him and chatted with him. The Shoemaker declared himself as surname Hong. His accent showed he was not local habitant, and on listening, he talked about his life experience.
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