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
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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:
B. Bladed Weapons
Lam Gar Hung Kuen also practices the following bladed weapons.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
Sifu Lam considers that Seung Long Do must be practiced so that the broadsword techniques are executed as close to the body as possible.
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:
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.
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:
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
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:
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.
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:
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.
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