NaamKyun.com Discussion Forum

Allright, here is a subjective question: Why HungKa? With the many choices you have today, styles, mma, self defense, youtube demos, tournaments and now the internet, what makes Hungka different? As for my example, I come from a generation where Karate and Judo were prominent and then full contact came along. The choices and resources were few and the little we knew about some styles were word of mouth or articles we could read from Inside Kung, Karate Illustrated and the new martial arts magazines that one could find in the market. Now since we have forums I am interested to hear from old and new generations the reasons you have chosen HungKa.

Thanks,

Mig

My reason is not as straightforward as you might expect. We don't have that many Chinese styles to choose from here. I had been involved with many styles in the past, but many turned out frauds with self made up styles, or they closed school, etc. So after having to restart at another school for several times over the course of more then a decade I gave up in my early twenties. When I was 33 I wanted to start practicing again, but made the decision I would pick something that is well known, so that even if the school I would pick closed up or anything, that I could continue in another school of the same style. Wing Chun might have been a choice, but when I found Hung Kuen was being taught I was sold immediately, as that style attracted me many years ago already!

(meaningful) coincidence

hungs focus on perfect structure, fighting and lion dance. all aspects of hung kuen mold together to form a powerful martial artist regardless of their objectives in training, so long as they train they will be relatively formidable and have a understanding of their own body that other martial artists may or may not be aware of

The area I am from has mostly Tae kwoon do and karate. Both of these styles as taught here have always seemed limited, useful, but limited. I had the great fortune in my early twenties to be working next to someone who when ask to work overtime said no I have 'art' to teach tonight. I heard about hung gar that day and was hooked from even before my first class. Though it is a fighting art, what I call brutal efficiency, it like others have said teaches you about yourself and for me helped me calm my rage at the world and find a place in it.

There is no simple answer to your question. But under ideal conditions, Hung-Ga is a "complete" system that incorporates a lifetime of learning.

There have been many styles of martial arts over the past thousand of years, but the human body has remained the same. Hung Ga is my personal bible to enlightenment and destruction of the human body.

I have started Kungfu at a very late age. However I started with a Sifu that was very much into the totality of Kungfu (External and internal). His demand was to follow courses at least 1 year with him, or you would not be granted access to the school. Also you were required to have an intake. This teacher was very good. However he doesn't teach anymore (not commercially anyway). For some years after, I could not find time to start with Kungfu again. Then I read (though having seen Vin Tsun/Wingchun schools around) about Traditional Kungfu by the school I now am part of. When I went there (being overweight at 100 kg) and it was hard. The Sifu was drilling the students and the first weeks I was running after the facts. The learning of Hung Gar was tough. But due to the 'enduring' state, when I finally got the grasp, I couldn't see any other style.

Recently I have checked out a WingChun school, to see if we can cooperate (which will be happening in the near future, doing workshops), I was strengthened in my believe that Hung Gar is a fundamentally correct Kung Fu form that, once 'perfected' is nigh unbeatable. However, you will not understand until you have conditioned your body and start to 'learn' by yourself.

The last sentence is the problem for modern society to learn the style. Once you have mastered the stances (something often forgotten in other styles) and learn Kiu Sau and concentration, only then you are not interested in the wishywashy style of jumpy Wushu anymore (my apologies to those that perform wushu, as I am pointing at the schools that say they do Wushu, but mostly do some quick acrobatics).
Young people want the fast stuff nowadays. They see the arts in the speed and the things that look difficult (partially fault of the many 'interesting' Kung Fu movies').

As of soon, I will be part of the Hung Gar style, which I am grateful for. I hope to learn as much from it as I can and teach the right values to others, using it.



I think

" Why Study HG?"

In simplest terms and in Keeping a Beginers mind...."Because it feels good"

The reason that I practice Kung fu now are the same reasons that kept me interested as a kid...It's D A M N cool and it makes me feel that way.

Self defence, heath, discipline....those are only convenient side effects for me.

It's so simple man, if it don't feel good and it doesn't make you happy, you'll never stick with it for long.

You gotta just keep on keepin' on man,

"O"

Hello all,

It seems that there is some particular points in common as liking HungKa rather than something else. One thing I forgot to mention is that the reason I have a preference is lower stances. Having practiced rock climbing I noticed that we tend to use only our upper body, go figure if the ape ancestry is haunting us, and the more I see fights in general I see humans tend to use their upper body strength either to pull, push, hit, punch but no basis in their stance. Now, if you look at surfer you will notice that balance and lower body is critical in surfing. I tend to believe that lower stances are very helpful in fights but I noticed that even myself (not a full time fighter or practitioner) tend to move up and down even playing a form. At least I found Hungka tend to have lower stances and works fine in fighting.

Best,

Mig

Why Hung Gar? Well for me it has changed over time. From the obvious "cool" moves to the various elements such as forms,weapons,Lion dance etc. But most of all the feeling that the more you know the more there is to learn.

There is also the people I have met within the Hung gar and from various other styles who have their own specific reasons yet hold the same fire within regarding their prospective art. So more power to those who have found their truth and continue the difficult journey.