HUNG GAR WEAPONS FORMS

The Lam Gar Hung Kuen Curriculum also includes 16 weapons forms. These weapons forms are practised alone. Practised correctly, these forms can offer tremendous health and self defence benefits to the practitioner.

These articles are intended to illustrate some of the key features of the weapons forms practiced in Hung Gar. Detailed knowledge about these forms will only come from diligent practice of Hung Gar under a qualified instructor.


A. Long Weapons

  1. Lau Gar Gwan (a.k.a Lau Sui Gwan)

  2. Lau Gar Gwan is usually the first weapons set to be taught in Lam Gar Hung Kuen Curriculum. The Form was absorbed into the curriculum by Grandmaster Lam Cho from the Lau Family style of Gung Fu. 

    This form is a singled headed staff form.  This means that the form predominantly emphasises on the use of one end of the staff for attacking and defending against attacks by an opponent.  The practitioner also uses different grips whilst training this weapons with the front grip facing upwards and the rear grip facing downwards.  The practitioner also assumes a southpaw position (ie right hand and right leg forward) in relation to the execution of techniques for the staff form.

    In Lam Family Hung Kuen, the practitioner is taught to execute his/her techniques with the pole being attached to the hip wherever possible to generate maximum power in striking or blocking.  Another point to note is that the rear hand must also be situated behind the hip whilst executing techniques.  Also, the tip of the staff must also be aligned with the practitioner's right shoulder.

    The main movements trained in the form include:

    1. Got Gwan  - a deflection movement with the Diu Ma used to defend the right leg;

    2. Kum Gwan – a movement used to knock the opponent's staff to the ground;

    3. Chau Gwan – a deflection movement used to defend the right side of the practitioner's head;

    4. But Gwan – a deflection movement used to defend against attacks to the practitioner's legs;

    5. Tarn Gwan – this movement is used to attack the upper part of an opponent's body including his or her head;

    6. Tiu Gwan – used to attack an opponent's grip on his or her weapon;

    7. Wang Sow – sideward swinging motion – used to attack an opponent's mid section;

    8. Biu Gwan – a movement used for spearing the mid-section or lower part of an opponent's body.

    With diligent practice, the staff sets a firm foundation for the student to learn the Ng Lung Ba Gwa Gwan and other weapons.  The staff form is also an extremely effective and direct self defence weapon.   The techniques from the form are direct, easy to use and apply.

  3. Hang Che Pang (a.k.a Hou Jee Gwan/Monkey Staff)

  4. The form was incorporated into Lam Gar Hung Kuen by GM Lam Sai Wing.

    This form is a double headed staff form.  This means that the practitioner uses both ends of the staff for attack and defending against attacks by an opponent.  The practitioner uses the same grip on both hands on the staff.  However, the practitioner would need to move his or her grip up and down the surface of the staff in executing attacking and defensive movements.

    Unlike the Monkey staffs practiced in Wu Shu which contain lots of acrobatic movements, the Hung Gar Hang Che Pang concentrates on application.   Hang Che Pang applications are essentially medium to short range attacks.  Attack and defence movements are executed rapidly and continuously.

    The main movements trained in the form include:

    1. Kum Gwan – sweeping movement from the top to attack an opponent's head or upper body;

    2. Wang Sow – sweeping attack to the side to attack an opponent's mid section;

    3. Got Gwan  - a deflection movement used to defend the legs;

    4. Dow Gwan – an upwards movement with the staff to attack an opponent's chin,  midsection or grip hands;

    5. Ngat Gwan – a movement used to knock the opponent's staff to the ground; and

    6. Cheung Gwan – a movement used for spearing the opponent.

    In Lam Family Hung Kuen, the Hang Che Gwan is practised with a lower stance than other weapons.  When executing Kun Gwan in particular, the movement does not finish until the staff reaches the knees.  This ensures that techniques are executed with maximum power generation. Practised properly, this form offers tremendous benefits to the practitioner in terms of stance stability and transition.  The constant need to change grips up and down the staff also improves the dexterity of the practitioner's hands.

    However, Lam Sifu says that the Hang Che Pang is not as relevant to self defence.  Not only is the weapon more difficult to use than the single ended staff, but also any staff picked up by a practitioner for self defence purposes would inevitably have splinters in it.  By sliding the hands up and down the staff to execute the techniques, the practitioner is likely to be injured by splinters unless the practitioner is wearing gloves.  Therefore, for self defence situations, Lam Sifu recommends use of the single ended staff.

  5. Ng Lung Ba Gwa Gwan
  6. This staff form is one of the most famous forms in the Hung Gar Curriculum.  The form was created by the fifth brother of the Yeung Family during the Song Dynasty.  The fifth brother was particularly adapt in the techniques of the Yeung Family Spear.  After his family's army was defeated by the Mongols, he fled to Ng Toi Mountain and became a Buddhist monk.  There, he converted his spear techniques into staff techniques and choreographed the Ba Gwa Gwan form.

    It is rumoured that GM Wong Fei Hung was particularly proficient in his use of the single ended staff.  When the form was first passed to GM Wong Fei Hung, the form only had 64 movements.  However, when the form was first passed to GM Lam Sai Wing, he added the Luk Dim Bun Gwan into this form.  Therefore, in Lam Gar Hung Kuen Curriculum, the Ng Lung Ba Gwa Gwan has 70 and a half rather than 64 movements.

    The principles of using the staff in executing attack and defence techniques are the same for this form as Lau Gar Gwan.

    The main movements trained in the form include:

    3.1 Yut Tai Gik Sung Leung Yi Section (Single Supreme State to Yin and Yang State)

    1. Tarn Gwan – These techniques are used to attack an opponent's head or grip hands.

    2. Huen Gwan (a.k.a Dai Wan Sing/Siu Wan Sing – Large Stars/Little Stars) – circling staff movements in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions.  The movement is executed to attack an opponent's frontal grip hand.

    3. Sow Gwan (a.k.a Dai Zhin Wong Kay – Swinging Yellow Flag)  – large swinging movements are executed by the practitioner at head level which are intended to keep multiple opponents away from the practitioner.


    3.2 Luk Dim Bun Gwan Section (Six and a half point staff)

    The Hung Gar Luk Dim Bun Gwan section is executed in a left handed manner (meaning left hand and left leg forward).  The techniques practiced in this section include:

    1. Cheung/Biu Gwan – spearing to the opponent's chest or side;

    2. Tiu Gwan – deflecting the opponent's staff to the left side of the practitioner;

    3. Zhum Gwan – pushing the opponent's staff to the ground;

    4. But Gwan – deflecting the opponent's staff to the right side of the practitioner;

    5. Karm Gwan – striking the opponent's staff to knock the staff out of the opponent's hands;

    3.3 Leung Yee Sung Say Jeung Section (Yin and Yang State to the Four phenomena State)

    The Four Phenomena are lesser yin, greater or tai yin (also means the Moon), lesser yang, great yang or tai yang (also means the Sun).  The main movements trained in this section include:

    1. But Gwan – a deflection movement used to defend against attacks to the legs;

    2. Got Gwan – a movement used to defend against attacks to the right legs;

    3. Yeung Cheung – an advance movement where by the practitioner evades an attack from the opponent's staff by positioning the body to the side (Pin Sun) and counterattacks the opponent from the side.

    4. Tor Biu Cheung – spearing attacking to an opponent's mid section;

    5. Dow Gwan/Kum Gwan Combination – teaches the practitioner to use the both ends of the staff for striking the ribs of an opponent followed by two strikes to the head in quick succession.

    3.4 Say Jueng Sung Ba Gwa Section (Four phenomena State to Eight Symbols State)

    1. But Gwan/Cheung Gwan/Siu Gwan/Biu Gwan Combination – introduces the practitioner to defend and attack movements in four different directions including:

      1. But Gwan/Cheung Gwan movement – the practitioner learns to deflect an attack to the legs by way of But Gwan immediately followed by a spearing counterattack to the opponent's head or mid-section;

      2. Siu Gwan/Biu Gwan movement - the practitioner learns to deflect a straight staff attack from an opponent immediately followed by a spearing counterattack to the mid-section.

    2. Leung Tin Check (Ruler to measure the Sky) – a movement which is executed after a spearing attack to retreat from and evade an opponent's counterattack and which immediately followed by a Kun Gwan (swinging downwards movement) to the opponent's head.


B. Bladed Weapons

    Lam Gar Hung Kuen also practices the following bladed weapons.

  1. Pek Kwa Dan Do

  2. This form is a northern Shaolin broadsword form. The form was incorporated into the Hung Gar Curriculum by GM Lam Cho from the Dai Shing Pek Kwa system of GM Ken Tai Hoi. GM Lam Cho has changed various stances of the form so that the stances are more consistent with the Hung Gar System. The form is one of the shorter forms of the Lam Family Hung Gar System.

    When practising this form, the practitioner is required to ensure that the broadsword is kept as close to the body as possible. The practitioner is also required to ensure that techniques are executed crisply with the correct body postures. Being a northern shaolin form, the practitioner may also adopt a higher stance so as to practice the quick transition between stances whilst executing the various techniques.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Jarm – Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's midsection;

    2. Pit – Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's midsection in the opposite direction to Jarm;

    3. Gut – Stabbing movement to the mid section of the opponent;

    4. Dow – upwards slashing movement;

    5. Long – Lifting movement used to defend against attacks to the head;

    6. Gow Do Fa  – the student is introduced to executing figure of eights slashing techniques; and

    7. Seung Fei Geuk – jumping outside crescent kick.

    Diligent practice of the form will provide the practitioner with agility in footwork which is commonly found in the northern styles of Kung Fu and lay a solid foundation for the practitioner to progress to the Broadsword vs Spear sparring form. The practitioner also trains his or her wrist strength in training this form.

    Sifu Lam also considers that Pek Kwa Dan Do is an extremely practical form for self defence. The reason is that the practitioner would be able to execute the same techniques from Pek Kwa Dan Do whilst using a baton or a short stick.

  3. Koi Chung Do/Dai Hang Seung Do (Butterfly Knives)

  4. This form was created by the Great Uncle of Lam Sai Wing. He was particularly adapt in the Butterfly Knives and created this form after years of practising the skill. The form was originally only passed to male members of the Lam Family. Lam Sarm Gung even refused to teach his own daughters the form for this reason. However, Lam Sai Wing was a generous Sifu and openly shared the form with his students. The form is one of the longer forms in the Lam Family Hung Gar weapons curriculum.

    When practising the form, the practitioner is required to apply wrist force in the application of the butterfly knife techniques and be aware of the finishing point of each technique. Being a Southern Shaolin form, the practitioner adopts stances at the same height at the Lam Family Hung Kuen Fist Forms previously discussed.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Dow Do – upwards slashing movement with the butterfly knives to attack an opponent's mid-section. This was apparently a favourite technique of Lam Sarm Gung;

    2. Seung Gut – double stabbing movement to the opponent's neck;

    3. Jarm – a movement whereby the practitioner blocks an opponent's attack in a downwards motion and executes a slash to the upper body of the opponent;

    4. But/Gut or But Jarm – a movement whereby the practitioner executes a parry to deflect an opponent's attack to the side and executes a stabbing movement or slashing movement to the midsection of the opponent;

    5. Mao Yee Sai Min (Kitten Washing Its Face) – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of blocking techniques in a familiar fashion to cheun kiu in Fu Hok;

    6. Mai Lui Saw Chong (Beautiful Girl Combing her Hair) – a variation of the Mao Yee Sai Min but executed at  head level;

    7. Gow Do Fa – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of upwards figure of eight motions consecutively with both butterfly knives;

    8. Che Lun Dai Jarm (windmill style double knives slashing) – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of slashing techniques from top to bottom in a manner similar to a windmill.


    Diligent practice of the form will provide the practitioner with strong wrists and agile footwork. The form also lays further foundation for the practitioner for learning further weapons forms in Lam Family Hung Kuen including Seung Long Do and Seung Do Chin Cheong.

    Sifu Lam also considers that Da Hang Seung Do is an extremely practical form for self defence. The reason is that the practitioner would be able to execute the same techniques whilst using a couple of baton or short sticks.

  5. Koi Chung Do/Dai Hang Seung Do (Butterfly Knives)

  6. This form was created by the Great Uncle of Lam Sai Wing. He was particularly adapt in the Butterfly Knives and created this form after years of practising the skill. The form was originally only passed to male members of the Lam Family. Lam Sarm Gung even refused to teach his own daughters the form for this reason. However, Lam Sai Wing was a generous Sifu and openly shared the form with his students. The form is one of the longer forms in the Lam Family Hung Gar weapons curriculum.

    When practising the form, the practitioner is required to apply wrist force in the application of the butterfly knife techniques and be aware of the finishing point of each technique. Being a Southern Shaolin form, the practitioner adopts stances at the same height at the Lam Family Hung Kuen Fist Forms previously discussed.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Dow Do – upwards slashing movement with the butterfly knives to attack an opponent's mid-section. This was apparently a favourite technique of Lam Sarm Gung;

    2. Seung Gut – double stabbing movement to the opponent's neck;

    3. Jarm – a movement whereby the practitioner blocks an opponent's attack in a downwards motion and executes a slash to the upper body of the opponent;

    4. But/Gut or But Jarm – a movement whereby the practitioner executes a parry to deflect an opponent's attack to the side and executes a stabbing movement or slashing movement to the midsection of the opponent;

    5. Mao Yee Sai Min (Kitten Washing Its Face) – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of blocking techniques in a familiar fashion to cheun kiu in Fu Hok;

    6. Mai Lui Saw Chong (Beautiful Girl Combing her Hair) – a variation of the Mao Yee Sai Min but executed at  head level;

    7. Gow Do Fa – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of upwards figure of eight motions consecutively with both butterfly knives;

    8. Che Lun Dai Jarm (windmill style double knives slashing) – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of slashing techniques from top to bottom in a manner similar to a windmill.


    Diligent practice of the form will provide the practitioner with strong wrists and agile footwork. The form also lays further foundation for the practitioner for learning further weapons forms in Lam Family Hung Kuen including Seung Long Do and Seung Do Chin Cheong.

    Sifu Lam also considers that Da Hang Seung Do is an extremely practical form for self defence. The reason is that the practitioner would be able to execute the same techniques whilst using a couple of baton or short sticks.

  7. Dan Chi Fai Do

  8. This form was incorporated into the Lam Family Hung Kuen system by GM Lam Sai Wing. It was said that he learnt the form from a ex-military officer that he met at West Hill Temple. Being a classical western sabre form, the techniques are practical and easy to learn.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Dou Do - upwards slashing movement;

    2. Long/Gut combination – movement by which the practitioner executes an upper block against a clubbing attack to the head whilst simultaneously executing stabbing movement;

    3. Jarm – Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's midsection;

    4. Pit – Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's midsection in the opposite direction to Jarm;

    5. Huen Do – circling the sword in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. The movement is executed to attack an opponent's frontal grip hand;

    6. Jumping slashing movements.

    Diligent practice of this form assist the practitioner in developing stable and mobile stances and hip movements. Sifu Lam recommends that a practitioner practice the form with a heavier sword for development of strength and using a lighter sword for performance.

  9. Seung Long Do

  10. Also known as Mui Fa Seung Long Do or Plum Blossom Double Dragon Board Swords, this form was originally created by Grandmaster Lam Cho. The form contains techniques which attack the mid section and the lower part of the body. The techniques of the form are executed in four directions. For proper application of techniques in the form, the practitioner is required to have light and agile footwork. The techniques of the form are also fast and rapid.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Jarm – slah movement for the neck, waist or midsection;

    2. Pit – Reverse slash for the midsection;

    3. Lin Siu Daai Da – Continuous attacking movements;

    4. Gow Fa – a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of figure of eights motions with both broadswords consecutively. The form requires the practitioner to execute these figure of 8 motions in both directions;

    5. Tong Do – upward cutting movements.

    Sifu Lam considers that Seung Long Do must be practiced so that the broadsword techniques are executed as close to the body as possible.

  11. Moi Fa Siu Tiu

  12. This form was incorporated into the Lam Gar Hung Kuen curriculum by GM Lam Sai Wing. Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Dou Do - upwards slashing movement;

    2. Dou Do with changing grips – upwards slashing movements in two directions whilst changing grips;

    3. Got/Jarm – execution of a block to defend the legs and then executing downwards slashing counter-attack;

    4. Gow Ga - a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of figure of eights movements whilst changing directions at the same time;

    5. Pit Do - Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's midsection

    6. Jumping Jarm Do – jumping and executing a downwards slashing movement at the same time;

    7. Jumping Gut Do – Jumping and executing a stabbing movement at the same time.

    In the Lam Gar Hung Kuen curriculum, the form is taught as a pre-cursor to Kwan Do movements. Being a lighter weapon than the Kwan Do, the form acts a stepping stone for the student to develop strength and agility before proceeding to learn the Kwan Do.

  13. Kuan Lan Gim/Sung Moon Gim

  14. These two straight sabre forms were incorporated into the Lam Gar Hung Kuen Curriculum by GM Lam Cho from the Dai Shing Pek Kwa system of GM Gun Dak Hoi.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Gut – Straight stabbing movement with the sabre;

    2. Jarm – Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's head or neck

    3. But – block to defend the lower legs;

    4. Gow Far - a technique whereby the practitioner executes a number of figure of eights movements;

    5. Gum Gai Dok Lap/Side Kick – a technique whereby the practitioner stands on one leg and executes a sidewards stabbing movement whilst executing a side kick at the same time which is then followed by a downwards slashing movement on the other side.

    Diligent practice of these forms develops a practitioners balance as the form requires the practitioner to stand on one foot on numerous occasions. The form also develops the practitioner use of Yau Ging (Soft Power) rather than Gong Ging (Hard Power) as in other Lam Gar Hung Kuen Weapons.


    C. Heavy Weapons

  15. Dai Kwan Do

  16. Contrary to popular belief that this form originated from GM Wong Fei Hung, this form was incorporated into the Lam Gar Hung Kuen curriculum by GM Lam Sai Wing. GM Lam Sai Wing learnt the form from a military officer who came first in his martial arts examinations for the Army and achieved the title of "Mo Jong Yuen" with this form.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Dou Do - upwards slashing movement;

    2. Got/Jarm – execution of a block to defend the legs and then executing downwards slashing counter-attack;

    3. Pit Do - Sideways slashing movement to attack an opponent's midsection

    4. Gow Ga - a technique whereby the practitioner spins the Kwan Do around his neck and behind his back. The movement is repeated three times consecutively during the form;

    5. But Do/Gut Do/Sweep and Gut Combination – similar to the combination in Ng Long Bat Gwa Gwan where the practitioner executes a lower block followed by a second lower block and sweep and then execute a stabbing movement to the opponent's neck;

    6. Jumping Jarm Do – jumping and executing a downwards slashing movement at the same time. At the end of the form, the practitioner is required to execute this movement three times consecutively.

    Diligent practice of this form would help develop the practitioner's power and endurance. Further, diligent practice of this form would also help develop the stability and agility of a practitioner's stance. It is said that GM Lam Cho used to give powerful performances with his Kwan Do techniques and he considered that performances of the Kwan Do is usually reserved for Sifu's.

  17. Yiu Gar Dai Pa

  18. This form was passed down by the Yiu Family. The form has its origins in the Southern part of China. The Dai Pa is classified as a heavy weapon. A practitioner must be strong and powerful in order to execute the techniques in this form in a proper manner.

    Some of the main techniques practiced in this form include:

    1. Dou – Used to block clubbing attacks to the head and to capture the opponents' weapon;

    2. Karm – Clubbing movement from above

    3. But – Blocking movement

    4. So – Sweeping movement used to capture an opponent's weapon

    5. Chee – stopping movement with the trident.

    Being a heavy weapon, diligent practice of this form would help develop the practitioner's power and endurance. Further, diligent practice of this form would also help develop the stability and agility of a practitioner's stance.