Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun, the Tame the Tiger in an 工-Pattern Set, is the basic set of our Kung Fu style. The pattern of this set looks just like the Chinese character “工”.

This set has its origin in the Siulam monastery. A long time ago, a fire destroyed the Siulam monastery completely. The Chan* master Ji Sin stayed at the Hoi Tong temple in Gwongdung. He was afraid that the Siulam Kung Fu would disappear. Therefore, he started to teach his Kung Fu in the temple. This was the beginning of the spread of the Siulam martial arts throughout Gwongdung.

Luk A Choi was the first student of Chan master Ji Sin. He learned all of the techniques of Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun. Later, he taught the techniques to Wong Taai in Saichiu, Naamhoi. Then Wong Tai passed on his knowledge to Wong Leun Ying**, who in turn taught his son, Wong Fei Hung. My uncle, Lam Sai Wing, in his turn, learned the set from Wong Fei Hung. My uncle considered Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun to be the basic set of our Kung Fu style. He has taught it to many students. Therefore, the spread of Siulam Kung Fu will increase gradually.

Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun Calligraphy

Why is Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun chosen as the basic set? The stances of this set are very steady, the hand movements are vigorous and the rhythm is intense and rapid. The attack and defense movements are done in regular patterns.

If you practice this set intensively, your stances will become firm, even if you do not do stance training by sitting in stances for a long time. Moreover, your hand movements will be powerful by practicing this set, even if you do not condition your hands by hitting piles into the ground. If your foundation is good, learning other fist and weapon techniques will be much easier. For the above reasons, every new student must start with Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun. Through this they can acquire steady stances and vigorous hand movements. In addition, the set can help in correcting the body posture and the way one moves.

Thus, Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun is a very practical set and therefore chosen as the basic set of our Kung Fu style.

Gung Ji Fuk Fu Kyun performed by  Grand Master Lam Sai Wing

Notes:
* In the West the Cantonese term “Chan” (in Cantonese “Sim”) is better known under it Japanese name “Zen”.
** Wong Leung Ying is also called Wong Kei Ying.

Translation by K. van ‘t Slot, © 2009.