| The martial art known as Kung Fu is very old, | | | | time towards the more traditional block and |
| yet very powerful. There are several | | | | counter routines. |
| different forms involved with Kung Fu, that | | | | |
| only add to the power and mystique. Below, | | | | Hung Gar |
| we will go over a majority of the different | | | | |
| styles and forms that make up Kung Fu. | | | | Hung Gar is more or less an adaptation of the |
| | | | Tiger system of Shaolin that emphasizes close |
| White Crane style | | | | quarter techniques. Hung Gar isn't much on |
| | | | distance fighting, although it is very |
| The spirit of the White Crane has led to what | | | | effective in close quarter situations, such |
| many martial artists consider to be the most | | | | as alleys and in small rooms. It is a very |
| graceful system of Kung Fu. The pattern for | | | | strong system, teaching stylists to handle |
| the White Crane style was patterned after a | | | | themselves properly in areas where other |
| crane bird often found in marshes and open | | | | martial arts seem to fail. |
| plains. The White Crane defense forms and | | | | |
| attacks are nothing short of amazing, often | | | | Praying Mantis |
| known as "deadly beauty". | | | | |
| | | | Nearly 400 years ago, a man named Wang had a |
| Although the techniques within the White | | | | vision. Using a praying mantis that he was |
| Crane style can take years to properly | | | | able to capture, Wang studied it's movements. |
| master, they simple and to the point. White | | | | By using what he saw, he created and founded |
| Crane stylists are masters of self defense, | | | | the style of Praying Mantis. Wang perfected |
| although they are taught to avoid | | | | his own martial art style by continuing to |
| confrontations. Even though a stylist can | | | | observe both the offensive and defensive |
| handle himself in any situation, he will | | | | movements of the praying mantis, and using |
| avoid a fight at all costs and only react | | | | them with his style. |
| with physical action when he is left with no | | | | |
| choice. | | | | The Monkey style |
| | | | |
| Wing Chun | | | | Even though it is thought of a comical |
| | | | approach to martial arts, the Monkey style is |
| From a Chinese standpoint, Wing Chun is the | | | | actually one of the deadliest martial arts |
| essence that the opponent will attack, | | | | systems in the world. This style dates back |
| absorb, and then neutralize the attack. | | | | to the 1840s, when missionaries were first |
| Then, the opponent or attacker will back off, | | | | allowed passage into China. |
| pursue, then counter - disengage his | | | | |
| restriction from arms, and then retaliate | | | | The Monkey style all began when a peaceful |
| with a deadly and penetrating force. | | | | maned named See resisted arrested after |
| | | | accidentally killing an officer of the law. |
| This philosophy will take years to fully | | | | See was sentenced to prison for his crime, |
| understand, and years of practice to master. | | | | where he spent all of his time watching the |
| Technically speaking, Wing Chun uses a steady | | | | prison apes. He found them amazing, and |
| and never ending forward flow of energy | | | | would watch them from his cell, which his |
| that's based on the principle that a straight | | | | also helped to pass the time. |
| line is the shortest distance between two | | | | |
| points. | | | | Over his ten year prison sentence, he studied |
| | | | the way the apes moved, paying very close |
| Offensively, Wing Chun is all about a | | | | attention to how they defended themselves and |
| combination of intercepting and straight | | | | fought each other. Then, when he was |
| lines with deflecting arcs. In general, it | | | | released from prison, he adapted his style, |
| is an aggressive close quarter style that | | | | becoming known as the Monkey Master. A lot |
| pushes offensive attacks and takes the fight | | | | of people joined him along the way, and began |
| right to the attacker. In other words - Wing | | | | to learn his Monkey system which is still |
| Chun doesn't care nor does it put a lot of | | | | very effective today. |