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
4 “secret” keywords of Mui Fa Kyun are “Advance, Retreat, Attack, Defense”. Notice the order of importance.
The set teaches basic boxing skills in the south paw guard of the ancient Siu Lam box, i.e. – for the majority of people – with the dominant right hand in the front, using mainly straight punches (Ping Cheui), uppercuts (Tung Tin Cheui), hammer fists (Pek Cheui) and right leg kicks. Continue reading
The “Plum Blossom Set” (Mui Fa Kyun) is a short and a very popular form, taught in many lineages and schools of Hung Kyun as the first, beginner’s/introductory form.
According to the legend, it comes from the Abbess “Five Plums” (Ng Mui Si Taai), one of the famous “Five Patriarchs of Siulam” (Siulam Ng Jou). In modern history, the oldest mention of this form can be found with master Pun Gwai Yat, a student of grandmasters Lam Sai Wing and Lam Jou, who taught this form to many of his students and peers.
One of the great promoters of the “Plum Blossom Set” was among others grandmaster Chan Hon Chung (1909-1991), a famous Hung Kyun master and a long-time chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association (please read more about Grand Master Chan in an excellent book Hung Ga Story: Me and Master Chan Hon Chung available for download HERE). Continue reading