Tit Kiu Saam (“Iron Bridge” Three) was one of the best fighters of 19th century Southern China – one of the legendary “Ten Tigers of Gwong Dung”. He was famous for her “Bridges” (Kiu), firm stances (Ma) and incredible strength, developed thanks to his “Iron Thread Set” (Tit Sin Kyun).
We don’t have much information about his other techniques, but if: Continue reading
Today I would like to share my thoughts concerning the differences and similarities between Wing Cheun (Yip Jing and Yun Kei Saan lineage) and Hung Kyun (Lam Family lineage). In the first place, please note that it is not the intention of this article to assert whether these excellent arts are superior to one another or to any other styles of martial arts. My intention is to explore the similarities and differences between the two arts so as to expand knowledge and understanding of these arts.
Having trained in Wing Cheun for more than 20 years and Hung Kyun for nearly 10 years, it is quite clear despite some fundamental differences that both of these excellent arts have, they also share a number of similarities. Continue reading
Get the job done as quickly as possible, create the opportunity to escape, run – that’s our PHK reality-based self-defence game plan in case things go wrong, if you get involved in a fight.
We all know how different a real self-defence is from a sport – no rules, no referees, no weight classes, weapons and multiple opponents might be involved, etc.
To ilustrate some of the differences between sport and combatives, let’s check out an old chart of fouls from the Official Handbook of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, and compare it to what we do in PHK. Continue reading
One of the worst misconception in CMA is that CMA sparring and fighting needs to look different than [fill in any other art or combat sport]. What works looks surprisingly very similar – and what does not work looks very different.
Guess what – one of the frequently used idioms for martial arts was Kyun Seut, lit. “Art of the Fist”, or Kyun Faat, “Fist Methods”, i.e. “boxing” or “pugilism”.
Another old idiom for martial arts was Kyun Geuk, lit. “Fists & Legs” – basically kickboxing, just the other way round, “boxkicking”. Of course CMA cover also other modes of attack, such as elbow strikes, palm strikes, finger pokes, throws, grabs, joint locks, weapons, etc., but the message is clear – punching and kicking – “boxing” or “boxkicking” – is the foundation.
So – any time I hear “it is just kickboxing”, I wanna punch or kick the guy.
Continue reading
Power jabs, finger jabs, uppercuts, hammer fist groin strikes – right leg forward, right hand striking: that is our beginner’s PHK form “Cross Pattern Plum Blossom Set” (Sap Ji Mui Fa Kyun) in a nutshell.
Why right lead, so called “southpaw stance”?
Mark Hatmaker, of the proponents of southpaw guard, observes that there are more “deliberate southpaws” in today’s MMA (about 40%) than in boxing (about 10%), and explains his reasons why: Continue reading
There are a lot of stories on Tit Sin Kyun, the Iron Thread set, creating a mystic air. Some are nothing more than misconceptions and misinterpretations, partly because the Taoist holistic idea is not always easily translated into Western concepts.
This article will go into some often-heard misconceptions heard in the West and offers some references to other comparable current Western concepts. Continue reading
This is not going to be the most popular post on our blog.
Nevertheless, if you are a Chinese martial arts practioner or teacher, you have to know, think, and act.
Here is a transcript of the newspaper article above: Continue reading
Does Hung Ga Kyun have a Wooden Dummy (Muk Yan Jong)? The answer is – it depends.
We have already revealed a traditional Hung Ga Kyun Wooden Dummy in one of our previous articles… kind of, so our regular readers already know.
Let us expand the answer: If a Hung Ga practitioner uses whatever Wooden Dummy, it becomes Hung Kyun Muk Yan Jong. Folks, it is a tool, and if used correctly, it might be very useful tool, not only to condition your palms, fists, and “Bridge Hands” (Kiu Sau). Continue reading
Answers to the important questions that every martial artist should ask!
The second part of our installment got even more positive response than the first one – just wow.
I had to spend literally hours responding to all your emails. Scholars and warriors, thank you, I am very happy you found the practical examples and the short instructional videos useful, even though it is just a tip of proverbial (PHK curriculum) iceberg. Continue reading