NaamKyun.com Discussion Forum

I read about that some Hungkyun masters or legends taught in the military during civil war in Mainland China but don't know to which extent and what they taught, just self defense or else? Is this just oral tradition about masters being part of the military staff or just teaching basic self defense?

Thanks,

Mig

Hung Gar is kind of military by definition; after all, it was created to wage war against the Ching. I believe Chan Hon Chung was involved in training soldiers, not just "basic self defence" but full-blown martial, art-of-war techniques. And in a similar vein, the current Hung Kuen lineage holder, Kong Pui Wai, is involved in training police officers in Hong Kong; there's a very interesting interview with him here: http://hungkuen-jingchung.com/wp/?p=143

both Wong Feihung and Lam Saiwing have very extensive and verified history as for teaching in the military; Grandmaster Ho Laptin has taught Daai Dou and Barehand-Fighting, as well Grandmaster Chan Honjung.

details - well, we do not know much. i personally think it was mix of those:

- discipline
- general physical fitness preparation
- weapons training
- practical self-defense
- honorary function

Perhaps the question might rather be what they would mean with 'military' back then
Big armies or just some small local groups?

Is there any historical evidence about any hungkyun master who parcitipated in military ranks. I read somewhere that some received medals but I haven't found if they were military officers or participated in military campaigns either with nationalists or communists. If they did how hungkyun techniques were introduced or did they just used regular self defense common to many martial arts. Just curious.

Thanks again,

Mig

Sifu Buck Sam Kong was a hand-to-hand combat instructor for the U.S. Army in the Korean War. I'll quote a segment from Sifu's book entitled Gung Gee Fook Fu Kuen: Taming the Tiger. It says" Kong has difficulty adjusting to the hand to hand combat techniques being taught in bootcamp...and resorts instead to the fighting art that he is already proficient in: Kung Fu. Because of his skills in open hand combat, and bayonet fighting, he was allowed to do things his way...And this led to an assignment as "Hand to Hand Combat" instructor for his division in Korea. A few years later, Kong receives his discharge and returns to Hawaii." I'm not sure if that answers your question but if you have more questions then feel free to ask

The following article/ post reflects the varied role of martial artists in the Chinese military, specifically in the army of General Lee Fuk Lam:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1722