I posted a similar question to this in the mantis forums sometimes I visit. Martial arts now days are going through an interesting period. Particularly here in the US. The popularity of the MMA has forced a lot of martialists to evaluate the skills of their chosen art as new methods of fighting are becoming more widespread. At the same time kung fu is going through a rather particular evolution as the shift of the future of the art is really, moving from China to North America and Europe as many a master have immigrated and set up shop in other countries. Of course the US is right in the thick of that as well.
So to get to the topic. Every martial art has its established rules so to speak. For mantis its the 12 keys. For hung gar its the 12 bridges. There are also the 5 elements theory. These are just concepts but the technical base of the art stems from them. So, in what ways on an individual technical level, or on a conceptual level have you found that Hung Gar or Hasayfu to be successful in the traditional tenets described, even in the face of the "modern" fighting? In what ways do you feel that some concepts might be antiquated? Its no secret, we don't fight in the US like they did in ancient China. How have you "modernized" certain practices? Where you successful in applying it?
For an example just to start things off, but no way limiting. Kui Sow. It has a similar problem that mantis faces in its Ou, Lou, Tsai concept (contact or hooking, grappling/grabbing, plucking/pulling). It is difficult to pluck a boxer. Just as bridging is difficult as boxing by its nature, avoids the bridge. How have you dealt with this issue or others you might think of? Its a very open ended question I realize.
Hung Gar in the mordern fight
How's it going Chris?
I think this is a very good question indeed. I'll start with the Kiu Sow portion. As you stated, the Kiu Sow is basically a bridge of sorts. Remember a bridge doesn't have to be a fixed object. It can be placed and removed as needed by the person that needs to be connected to the other object. It is easy to confuse the concept of "bridging" with the concept of "sticking" to someone. Once you block the on coming attack, for instance a jab, you have "bridged" to the opponent because you are no connected. The structure of the Kiu Sow is designed to make your "bridge" strong by making it possible to use the ligament strength instead of brute muscle. This in turn allows you to be able to now adjust that Kiu Sow to move to any of the other "bridges" in Hung Gar. From that Kiu Sow block you can easily move to the "bridge" concept of inch power (Chun kiu) or just a straight punch (Jik kiu). With this in mind I have been able to use the 12 bridge concept in fighting. I might add it has been years since I've been in a real "street" fight situation. But in sparing situations, it has worked well.
I don’t think MMA is causing a big shift in the “traditional” martial arts world sort of speak. I think it is causing a big shift in new practitioners’ desires for training. Most modern practitoners, including myself, tried our hand in different styles before finding the traditional school we were able to latch on to. I studied a little Karate, Judo, and Jui Jijitsu prior to my entrance into Hung Gar. I picked up some pretty good techniques or ideas from each of those stops. As you know we consider our school to be a traditional one indeed, but Sifu does not believe in abandoning things that work for you. He never told me to forget everything I had before coming to Lam Tang, but to use what works. I feel that by in no means take anything away from the true concepts of Hung Gar as a system. Hung Gar is my chosen system and all of my dedication goes to perfecting those concepts. Newer or younger practitoners may dabble in some of everything and never adopt a “traditional” style so they would then be true MMA.
I don’t think we fight in modern times like they did in ancient China either, but not because of modernization. I think it is because of the difference in training and emphasis on the Chi power. With the historical stories of how strong the ancient training was (Iron Palm, un-movable horse stances, Iron Shirt, etc.), there is no way the ancient fights could have lasted long. When I refer to fight I mean, strike for strike or blow for blow. Every strike would be considered a death strike in ancient China. Grand Master Wing Lam even said “fights” in old China would last for hours and days because no one would throw any strikes. Each fighter would study and watch the opponent for long periods of time because one strike ended the fight. These days we imitate movements and develop just enough power and strength to survive (due to our work day schedules or priorities), so our fights include blow for blow or strike for strike fighting. Very rarely these days would you have someone that could totally end a fight with “one” martial strike. We have people that can knock you out in one punch, but some of those strikes are just well place lucky strikes.
Like you said this is a very open ended question, but a good one indeed.
Si Hing Rob