Hung Ga Kyun is one of the most famous schools of southern Chinese martial arts, Naam Kyun (lit. “Southern Fist”). According to traditional history, Hung Kyun belongs to the 5 “family” styles of southern Chinese province of Gwongdung, which originated in southern Fukgin Siulam (Shaolin) temple – the four other styles are Lau Ga, Choi Ga, Lei Ga and Mok Ga.

Hung Kyun is a system based upon the principles of Yin and Yang (Cantonese: Yam Yeung). It incorporates both long range techniques with wide stances (Cheung Kiu Daai Ma, “Long Bridge, Big Horse”) and short range techniques with high, narrow stances (Dyun Kiu Jaak Ma, “Short Bridge, Narrow Horse”). The curriculum consists of hard and soft techniques, straight and circular techniques, long, middle and short range combat, self-defense against unarmed and armed opponents and combat with and without weapons.

Hung Kyun puts a firm emphasis on developing a good foundation. The typical features of Hung Kyun are stable stances and agile footwork, using the waist correctly, proper breathing methods and usage of concentrated explosive power. The system of Hung family uses a combination of 4 main offensive techniques:

• Kicks (Tek): Front kicks, side kicks, stomping kicks, sweeping kicks, knee kicks etc.
• Strikes (Da): Fist, palm, edge of the palm, fingers, forearms, elbows etc.
• Takedowns (Seut): Sweeps and throws etc.
• Submissions (Na): Holds, joint-locks, vital point’s attacks etc.

Hung Kyun is also known as the “Tiger and Crane System”(Fu Hok Paai). However, the complete Hung Ga Kyun arsenal includes:

• Five Animals (Ng Ying): Dragon (Lung), Snake (Se), Tiger (Fu), Leopard (Paau) and Crane (Hok)
• Five Elements (Ng Hang): Metal (Gam), Wood (Muk), Water (Seui), Fire (Fo) and earth (Tou)
• 12 Bridge Hands (Sap Yi Kiu Sau): Gong, Yau, Bik, Jik, Fan, Ding, Chyun, Tai, Lau, Wan, Jai and Ding

Skill and Technique

As the classical proverb goes: “It is better to learn one technique and practice it ten times than learn ten techniques and practice each of them only once”. Practical Hung Kyun concentrates not on the quantity of techniques, but variability, flexibility and universal usage of the techniques, combat tactic and strategy. Apart from the “technical” aspect (Faat), training of Practical Hung Kyun  concentrates more on “skill” aspect” (Gung) – power, speed, timing, spacing, feeling etc. In other words – it is not important “to know techniques”, but “to have Gung Fu”.

However, the combat aspect of Practical Hung Kyun is not over-emphasized at the expense of other aspects such as health and personal development. Specific strengthening methods, stretching, relaxation and breathing exercises of Practical Hung Kyun are consistent with the concepts of traditional Chinese and modern western medicine

The basic idea of Practical Hung Kyun is complex development on the level of self-defense, strength & conditioning and personal developement, individual approach to each student and methodical and logical training system.

• Practical Hung Kyun Mission Statement
• 3 Aspects of Practical Hung Kyun
• Practical Hung Kyun Graduation System

Practical Hung Kyun is characterized primarily by:

• Systematical and progressive curriculum
• Reality based self defense scenarios and combat drills
• Functional strength & conditioning
• Weapons practice, including application drills and sparring with weapons
• Research of various Hung Kyun lineages and other related Southern-Chinese systems
• Cross training/sparring with other martial arts styles and sports
• Terrain research in Hong Kong and China, film documentation of old masters
• Archivation, translation, publication and study of old sources