Hung Gar Techniques.

[Eric Ling]

Okay folks,

Looks like we have many Hung Gar high-hands in our midst, so I think sharing techniques knowledge should be very fruitful.

My knowledge of Hung Gar is restricted to mainly Fu-Hoc. So it is here that I want to start.

2 techniques and let’s hear your contributions:-

1. Virgin Praying to Buddha.
2. Hungry Tiger seizes lamb.

Thank you.

[essence]

Good day Eric.

I have not been so far within Hung Gar yet as to know Fu Hock Seung Ying Kuen, but I am sure Evert and Hungfist will be able to shed more light on this matter.

One move I found which was very surprising when my Sifu broke it down was "Leading Horse to Stable" (I may be wrong in the name).

Technique:
Left foot in front, not particularly in stance, step forward with right foot into Hanging Stance, turning waist at the same time. The hands should swing around with the stance transition and twisting of the waist.

Both arms form a fist, left arm is parallel to your face and right arm is horizontal to ground. Move arms in that position from right across the body to left. At the end of the move, the right arm's elbow should close.

This move looks like you are throwing something when doing it.

Application:
As you step into stance and transit with power accentuated through the waist, the left arm, forming a "bar" parallel to your face guards against a punch.

The right arm, as you end the move, hooks at the elbow. Aided by the transition of the stance, this allows you to end up behind the opponent where optimally, a hold on the neck is applied with the forearm and bicep cutting off bloodflow to the head.

If a hold is not desired, this move can be applied as a forearm blow to the back of head/neck, which can kill/maim someone.

One of the Sup Dok Sau I have been told, Wong Fei Hong's 10 favoured techniques to end a fight.

Warmest regards,
Tze Hou

[essence]

Good day people.

Sorry Eric, haven't answered your question, but I have gotten so much from this forum I thought I'd give what I know back.

Hak Fu Jow (Black Tiger's Claws). Again, the name might be wrong, but this is how it was taught to me.

Technique:
In Say Ping Ma, either hand bridges, depending on the orientation of your stance, left in front, left bridge, right in front, right bridge. I will use a left front orientation in this example. Hand always forms Tiger Claws even during the transition.

Usually, done with 2 stance transitions (Hung Gar loves transitions to accentuate power). From a forward stance with left foot in front, come back into Sei Ping Ma.

With this transition, your left arm forms a bridge, again, parallel to your face but does not necessarily cross to the right. Rather, force is concentrated to go in front of you while you come into Sei Ping Ma.

Next, from Sei Ping Ma, turn back into left in front forward stance. Again, power goes from leg, hip/waist, hand.

In this transition, the left arm which was the bridge turns down at the elbow (fingers towards ground), while right hand Tiger Claw strikes at face/throat level.

Application:

I like this technique a lot asl the first bridge when you move back into Sei Ping Ma feels a lot like yielding to me, which is very unusual for a Tiger technique.

Punch comes in from opponent, left arm bridges. The transition from forward stance back into Sei Ping Ma yields (in my humble opinion) the space to the opponent. As stated, left arm, as you come back into Sei Ping Ma forms a bar parallel to your face. In this transition, you should "suck" your opponent into your stance, thus force is concentrated in front of you to lead your opponent into this space.

Transitioning back into forward stance, left arm bends downwards at the elbow. This can lead to numerous attacks. Attack on solar plexus, sternum, most importantly, left hand is in position to attack groin region.

Right arm attacks face/throat with a Tiger Claw application, again, dangerously high possibility of killing/maiming with the crushing of the windpipe a possibility.

These attacks, coupled with the transition in stance should also facilitate tripping your opponent if necessary.

Again, one of the Sup Dok Sau.

Warmest regards,
Tze Hou

[Hungfist]

Eric said:

...Fu-Hoc. So it is here that I want to start.

2 techniques and let’s hear your contributions:-

1. Virgin Praying to Buddha.
2. Hungry Tiger seizes lamb.

Thank you.

I think that these are the equivalents to how and what I learned.

Virgin praying to Buddha - A Child bows to Buddha

Hungry Tiger seizes Lamb - Hungry Tiger catches Ram.


The first is a block/attack to counter double hooks to your head, in a bow and arrow stance thrust with both hands (held together as if you were praying) to your opponents eyes, blocking his attack at the same
time with the outside of your forearms.

Then shift to horse and follow with Fierce Tiger presses Himself to Ground.

Hungry Tiger catches Ram.

This is a classic Tiger move - Shift back to cat stance to deflect punch, move left hand ccw on top of his punch, guarding yourself with right hand. Shift forward to bow and arrow stance - move his punching arm down and away - tiger claw to his face and groin - at least this is how I learned it.


I learned the Black Tiger Claws as a Chin Na move - but it is also a move
in Fu Hok.

[Eric Ling]

Just so we are all on the same page, let me describe how I do the 2 techniques:-

1. Virgin praying to Buddha: - I start with left hanging (cat) stance with hand opened drawn to side at the waist. Left leg stretches forward into a long forward stance. Both palms meet into prayer hands and with that I drive the hands upwards above the head. The side of the head must be fully covered.

2. Hungry Tiger seizes lamb: - Again starting with left hanging stance. Left hand does a clockwise circular palm downward block and the right hand an upper tiger claw thrust-up palm. The two hands touching as they pass each other i.e. inner edge of left palm touching outer edge of right palm. The posture ends in a left forward stance.

Like I said I do mainly Fu-Hoc and these 2 techniques are found in the Fu-Hoc taught to me.

Thank you.

[essence]

Eric said:

2. Hungry Tiger seizes lamb: - Again starting with left hanging stance. Left hand does a clockwise circular palm downward block and the right hand an upper tiger claw thrust-up palm. The two hands touching as they pass each other i.e. inner edge of left palm touching outer edge of right palm. The posture ends in a left forward stance.

Good day Eric.

There is a form I learnt called Sup Fu Jow (10 Tiger Claws) in which I first experienced the technique you described.

The set actually consists of 12 Clawing techniques, but the first 2 are actually Black Tiger, so it is called Sup Fu Jow.

There are many applicable stance transitions from which we launch this technique, but allow me, in my limited knowledge, to describe the application of this technique from the stance transition you described.

The left hand's circular block is to counter a punch, directing the energy downwards. The Tiger Claw with the left hand allows you to apply Chin Na if the situation permits to draw the opponent into your attack. As you draw your opponent into you, you move forward into a forward stance to meet him.

The right hand's Tiger Claw attack can be launched with a multitude of applications. I will list a few and I am sure Evert and Hungfist will be able to come up with many more.

Palm attack to chin, when the head is upturned, followed by a clawing action to drag the head back down. In this position, it is extremely easy for the fingers to find their way into the eyes.

Another palm attack to chin followed by the continued upward motion of the right hand which can result in elbow attack to chest/throat/chin.

Palm to throat to cut opponent's breath.

Tiger Claw to throat, again to cut breath by the crushing of the windpipe.

In what I have been taught, I have never been told to touch the left palm with the right, but from what I can see, this could be a means to break a hold on your wrist followed by an attack to the opponent's upper gate.

I hope that information was useful.

Warmest regards,
Tze Hou

[Eric Ling]

I will wait for Master Evert Hung's explanation before I put in my 2 coins.

Where are you Master Evert Hung ? Hopefully not waiting for our "3 invitations".

[Nataraya]

Eric, what to reply on your virgin and your little hungry tiger examples? Were you sober? Thank God that Hungfist did launch the correct names of these skills, a Lo an technique and a Tiger skill…….

Applications? I am afraid to spoil the pleasure but I do not like to isolate one posture and explain it. Take the previous action and the one after that, together with the Cheng Wu it will give you more information about interaction, and the taste/ quality of response. For instance: there is a rhythm in “Child pay respect to Buddha”; control (defense) attack, defense and finishing with Hu Yan Bao Chiu (Tiger’s eye, leopards punch). What we are doing is looking to the quality of the bridges, no matter what the attacking skill will be. It is up to the student to face all options and give a motivation for his choice/ A little example: ‘Child pay respect to Buddha’ is: Jik Kiu Sau (or straight bridge hands), The Faat/ Fa is penetrating or (in technical terms Chyun/ Chuan Kiu Sau Faat. Finally, the classification is kill, quality Diem/ Dian (pointing). To make the story complete, slightly before the Child pay respect to Buddha, we see the deflecting action, which is very important to understand the final application.

We can speak about the areas where the penetrating fingers are heading for, but I think that you are all advanced enough to notice that it depends if you are being attacked with: right arm, left arm, ri/ le kick, or simultaneous action. Main goal will be to attack the centerline because the mother of all Yin can be destructed, with a tremendous impact on all the Yin organs…………..

The same way you can make an analyze of the Black Tiger skill, in which the term “Black” explains in fact the ‘spirit’ behind my reply……..

Essence I sent a private mail to your yahoo address about the form Sap Fu Jau.

Kindest regards,

Evert.

[Eric Ling]

Nataraya said:

Eric, what to reply on your virgin and your little hungry tiger examples? Were you sober? Thank God that Hungfist did launch the correct names of these skills, a Lo an technique and a Tiger skill…….

Applications? I am afraid to spoil the pleasure but I do not like to isolate one posture and explain it. Take the previous action and the one after that, together with the Cheng Wu it will give you more information about interaction, and the taste/ quality of response. For instance: there is a rhythm in “Child pay respect to Buddha”; control (defense) attack, defense and finishing with Hu Yan Bao Chiu (Tiger’s eye, leopards punch). What we are doing is looking to the quality of the bridges, no matter what the attacking skill will be. It is up to the student to face all options and give a motivation for his choice/ A little example: ‘Child pay respect to Buddha’ is: Jik Kiu Sau (or straight bridge hands), The Faat/ Fa is penetrating or (in technical terms Chyun/ Chuan Kiu Sau Faat. Finally, the classification is kill, quality Diem/ Dian (pointing). To make the story complete, slightly before the Child pay respect to Buddha, we see the deflecting action, which is very important to understand the final application.

We can speak about the areas where the penetrating fingers are heading for, but I think that you are all advanced enough to notice that it depends if you are being attacked with: right arm, left arm, ri/ le kick, or simultaneous action. Main goal will be to attack the centerline because the mother of all Yin can be destructed, with a tremendous impact on all the Yin organs…………..

The same way you can make an analyze of the Black Tiger skill, in which the term “Black” explains in fact the ‘spirit’ behind my reply……..

Essence I sent a private mail to your yahoo address about the form Sap Fu Jau.

Kindest regards,

Evert.

Hi Crazy Dutchman,

Yes, I was totally sober when I started this discussion on the 2 techniques. No hidden agenda, just curious that is all.

Like I told you before, I am not a proper Hung Gar student – only picked up a couple of forms from a cranky old man – my schoolmate’s grandfather. Absolutely refused to say anything about his training except that he was with the army before the communist regime. Fled China because he refused to kowtow to their insane policies. His name was Leong Wing Fai.

The forms that I did learned – over the years, I noticed that they are done somewhat differently from the other Hung Gar folks in Singapore.

Take my salute for instance, I start with legs together and then stretch out left hand with palm facing skyward. I then bring my right fist up and smash into the left palm before drawing both hands back to side of waist. This is followed by the usual “Presenting Tiger Hiding Dragon” salute.

You could say I am tracing roots – I know what I learned is not mainstream Hung Gar.

Okay the 2 techniques and the application given to me:-

Virgin Praying to Buddha: - This is to counter a stick attack. Picture your opponent with a long staff and doing a downward “chopping Hua San” aiming at your head. If you could back off or move sideward to avoid, by all means do so. If you can’t (nowhere to run), you fold your hands together and move towards the incoming stick. Careful to let side hit only side of the arm and let it travel along outside contour of your arms and down the side of your body. You could drive your hands toward his face area doing this. This application is actually described in the poem you sent me. There is a line that says “With this technique, I dare to move into an attacking stick”. The head is protected by the side of the arm at all times. I know this sound crazy but try it – it is really very effective. In fact, I love performing using this technique. Always get my student to do a powerful ‘chopping Hua San” to accentuate effectiveness.

Hungry Tiger Seize Lamb: - This technique is executed almost like the other Hung Gar I have seen except the 2 hand touch as they pass each other. The idea is to use the left palm to block and push opponent’s hand downwards. The right palm then comes up and thrust his fist back causing it to bend at his wrist. You do this very fast to ‘break” his wrist and then continue the palm strike to his face.

I repeat, I am not a proper Hung Gar student – my knowledge is very limited. The little that I got, I am now trying to understand more.

So Crazy Dutchman, stop picking on me!

[Eric Ling]

Okay, these are the 2 poems sent by Evert.





The first poem is the correct one.
Roughly the words say this :=

Virgin Praying to Buddha, both palms joined.
Advancing, body bent, hands covering head.
Even with oncoming stick, I dare block.
Tiger kick executed, opponent's stick taken away.

The second poem is for the technique "Eight Parts Arrow Punch".
So maybe Evert is a bit drunk when scanning this? ;D ;D ;D

But it's okay, we still love him - hehehe.

[Hungfist]

Some crane techniques -

Flight of the Single legged crane.

Sweep both hands down and out - blocking midsection attack - going to hanging horse simultaneously, snap kick to groin.

Reincarnation of the Hungry Crane.

If attacked to face or chest - execute outside block with forearm - grasp wrist and force punch down and away - while shifting to outside 'cat' stance - attack with crane beak to neck just under the ear. According to Lam Sai Wing's writings, this is one of Hung Gars 10 killing hands.

[Eric Ling]

Hi HungFist,

Thanks for the post. I thought all of you decided to quite this thread. ;D ;D ;D

Hung Gar don't do a dedicated "Crane Form" right? In fact, if I am not wrong, the same Crane techniques are repeated in all your forms. If I am wrong, please be kind. Only had elementary training in Hung Gar.

I know for a fact that Choy Li Fut do a very long "Crane" form. In an old Hong Kong mag, this form was covered.

Know anything about this?

Besides, the 2 crane techniques above, you want to share the rest of Hung's crane techniques.

Thanks.

[Hungfist]

Hi Eric -

I was taught CLF in the early 80's and only know 2 sets. There is very little crane in them, so I dont know a lot about this. I know there are several techniques in the sets I know that could easily be adapted to crane. I do know there is a Crane Form (Hok Ying Kuen) in CLF, but I dont know it. My favorite technique in CLF is hammer fist.

In Hung Gar - the set Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen is the Hung Gar Tiger & Crane set and has crane techniques in it - as outlined in Lam Sai Wing's Fu Hok book from years past. There are four main sets (pillars) of Hung Gar and this is one of them. Gung Gee Fook Fu, Ng Ying Ng Hang and Tiet Sien Kuen are the other three.

Is there a dedicated Crane set in Hung Gar? I guess the answer would be, to my knowledge - no, not dedicated. Perhaps Evert can shed some more light on this. I am an enthused practioner, not a teacher.

[essence]

Good day everybody.

I don't think there is a dedicated Crane set in Wong Fei Hong's Hung Gar, but Ha Say Fu does have a Crane set, in fact, they have 5 animal sets, one for each of the Hung Gar animal. Unfortunately, my knowledge for Ha Say Fu ends there.

Warmest regards,
Tze Hou

[Eric Ling]

Please be very kind with me for saying this - I think the Crane is really "underdeveloped" in most Cantonese systems.

I tend to look at Hakka more to hunt the migratory Crane. Believe it or not, looking more at "Hakka Praying Mantis".

Even in Chou Jia - the Cantonese system that I have most access to, the Crane is not that prominent.

Opinions?