Chow Gar

Chinese martial arts discipline
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Tung Kong Chow Gar Tong Long
東江周家螳螂
Also known asChow Gar
FocusStriking
Country of originChina
CreatorChow Ah Naam
Famous practitionersLau Soei (劉水), Yip Shui (葉瑞)
ParenthoodSouthern Shaolin Kung Fu, Shanxi kung fu
Olympic sportNo
Part of a series on
Chinese martial arts (Wushu)
Terms
  • Chin Na
  • Fa jin
  • Kung fu
  • Neigong
  • Neijia
  • Qi
  • Qigong
  • Shifu
  • Yin and yang
Historical locations
  • Kunlun Mountains
  • Mount Emei
  • Mount Hua
  • Shaolin Monastery
  • Wudang Mountains
  • v
  • t
  • e

Tung Kong Chow Gar Tong Long (Chinese: 東江周家螳螂; pinyin: dōngjiāng zhōujiā tángláng; lit. 'Dong River Chow Family Praying Mantis'), or simply Chow Gar (周家), is a southern Chinese martial art (kung fu) of the Hakka (客家) people.[citation needed] It is one of the four major schools of Southern Praying Mantis, the other schools being Chu Gar (朱家; 'Chu Family'), Kwong Sai Jook Lum (江西竹林; 'Jiangxi Bamboo Forest'), and Tit Ngau (鐵牛; 'Iron Ox'). It is an aggressive style of kung fu with an emphasis on close-range fighting. These skills are developed by utilizing a range of training techniques that have been developed over several centuries.

This style is unrelated to Jow-Ga kung fu (周家), a southern Chinese martial art founded by Jow Lung in the early 1900s. It is also unrelated to the Northern Praying Mantis systems such as Seven Star Praying Mantis (七星螳螂拳), Plum Blossom Praying Mantis (梅花螳螂拳), and Tai Chi Praying Mantis (太極螳螂拳).

Introduction

History

The history of Chow Gar was transmitted orally with little supporting documentation until the 1900s. The origins of the system are similar to other martial arts of the Hakka community with references to the Southern Shaolin Monastery and exploits centered around southern China. Information before the turn of the 20th century is speculative at best. In the modern era, Lau Soei is recognized by both Chow Gar and Chu Gar practitioners as the leading promoter of this style. The leading authorities on Chow Gar are the students of Yip Shui, and their schools can be found worldwide.

Lineage of past masters

Masters in Hong Kong

After the passing of Grandmaster Yip Shui in 2004, the legacy of Chow Gar continues to be taught and passed down to future generations. Listed below are some of the masters who are currently teaching the system in Hong Kong:

Masters around the world

In the UK, Paul Whitrod started training in Chow Gar at the age of 15 at Yip Chee Keung's school in 1975. Whitrod later visited and trained in Hong Kong where he stayed at Grandmaster Yip Shui's home and became a closed-door student (入室弟子), learning the finer details of the system and traditional dit da medicine. In the fall of 1986, Whitrod opened his first full-time school in London, and the following year invited his Sigung Yip Shui and Sifu Yip Chee Keung to London, where they made Whitrod the UK representative of Chow Gar.[7] Whitrod continues to teach at his school in Stratford, London, and has taught many students over the years, many of whom have gone on to spread the art in other countries, including Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Greece, and the US.

Australian Chow Gar practitioner Paul Brennan, an original student of Yip Chee Keung and his father Yip Shui, then became a closed-door student of Master Ng Si Kay and as of 2023[update] offers classes at several locations in Queensland, Australia.[8]

Chow Gar's Hungary branch has a following with many students. The school is led by Sifu Bálint Vitárius, who started his martial arts studies in 1996. He has been learning directly from Yip Chee Keung since 2005.[9]

In the United States, one of Yip Shui's first-generation students, Ngai Piu Tan, went to New York City in the late 1950s to 1960 in search of opportunity. He started to teach Praying Mantis, and by chance one of his kung fu brothers from Hong Kong also arrived in NYC and had a location for him to teach in Manhattan's Chinatown, where the exclusive club remains to this day.[when?] Over time other students of Yip Shui made their way to NYC. In the 1970s, Lee Kwun, Yip Shui's brother-in-law and one of his earliest students, emigrated to the city and took over the Chow Gar Praying Mantis club until his passing in May 2023. The club remains in its original location and is the first and oldest club in the country.

Forms

There are many different forms in the Chow Gar system and each instructor may teach a variety of them. In addition to the solo forms, there are also numerous pair forms for empty hands and weapons, and many two-person drills (樁; zhuāng) to train technique, sensitivity, and power.

The names for some of the solo forms found in the system include:[4]

Core fist forms

Chow Gar has a core set of basic forms that all instructors from different schools and lineages teach. The first three forms are known as the seed forms (拳種, lit. 'boxing') of the system and are usually the first three forms taught to beginner students to familiarize them with the correct mantis structure and shape. The last two forms in the list are also commonly taught by every school:

Intermediate forms

Chow Gar has a modular syllabus; the names and order of the forms may vary depending on the instructor. Some of the intermediate-level forms (中級) have relatively short sequences and can be trained in combination with other sections. Some of the intermediate forms are:

Advanced forms

Qigong sets

There are many internal energy (Chinese: 氣功; pinyin: qigong; Jyutping: hei3 gung1) exercises found in the system, which can be broadly put into three categories: exercises for maintaining health (養生功; joeng5sang1 gung1), exercises for protecting the body from physical attacks (護體功; wu6 tai2 gung1), and exercises for developing the body and power for fighting (博擊功; bok3 gik1 gung1).

Some of the key sets are:

Weapons

The main weapon in Chow Gar is a long pole, the dan tou gun (單頭棍; 'single-headed staff'). This type of polearm is typically around 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m) and is tapered.

The long pole forms include:

Other weapons include:

Weapons pair work includes:

Techniques

Basic movements

In 1965, Grandmaster Yip Shui published the book Mantis Boxing Basic Techniques (螳螂拳散手; Tong Long Quan San Sau), wherein he described the history of the style along with explanations and instructions for some of the most common basic techniques (散手; San Sau) and fundamental training methods found within the system.

There are at least 36 basic movements consisting of one or three moves, including:

  1. Bow Chong (包椿; 'wrap up punch')
  2. Gau Choi (絞槌; 'twisting punch')
  3. Yui Sau (搖手; 'shake off hand')
  4. Chuen Sau (傳手; 'passing hand')
  5. Cye Sau (拪手; 'deflecting hand')
  6. Narp Sau (押手; 'pressing hand')
  7. Saw Sau (鎖手; 'lock hand')
  8. Man Dan Sau (掹單手; 'single hand throw')
  9. Doa Sau (抖手; 'trembling hand')
  10. Kum La Sau or Kum Na Ja Jook (擒拿手 or 擒拿揸捉; 'grappling hand' or 'capture')
  11. Kum Jin Sau (擒箭手; 'seizing arrow hand')
  12. Ying Kum Sau (鷹擒手; 'eagle seizing hand')
  13. Got Sau (割手; 'backhand cut')
  14. Kok Choi (角槌; 'angled punch')
  15. Suet Sau (雪手; 'sweeping hand') or Mut Sau
  16. Yong Sau (lit. 'upward reaching hand')
  17. Pai Sau (批手; 'slicing hand')
  18. Chum Chung Sau (沉掙手; 'sinking elbow hand')
  19. Lim Chung Sau (拈掙手; 'picking elbow hand')
  20. Dun Chung (墩掙; 'backward elbow')
  21. Tai Sau (帶手; 'carrying hand')
  22. Chup Sau (插手; 'straight thrusting hand')
  23. Yum Yearn Kum Sau (陰陽冚手; 'yin yang covering hand')
  24. Jor Yau Biu Sau (左右標手; 'left and right finger thrusting hand')
  25. Din Sau (鼎手; 'ding hand'; a ding is an ancient Chinese three-legged ceremonial cauldron)
  26. Jin Sau (剪手; 'scissor or shearing hand')
  27. Soc Sau (索手; 'shock pulling hand')
  28. Lau Sau (漏手; 'leaking hand')
  29. Deng Choi (釘槌; 'nailing hook punch')
  30. Cheet Jeung (切掌; 'cutting palm strike')
  31. Yum Yearn Yuet Jeung (陰陽乙掌; 'yin yang second palm')
  32. Pin Chung (掽掙; 'bumping elbow')

Other techniques not mentioned in the book:

Training methods

The Chow Gar system has numerous training methods for both solo and partner training. There are a few very important exercises that every Chow Gar practitioner must practice from the beginning and continue to train constantly and consistently, even at the advanced levels. These are Sarm Bo Jin, Chy Sau, Doi Chong, and Chuen Saan Gap.

Sarm Bo Jin

Sarm Bo Jin is the first and most important form that is learnt in the system. It develops all the foundations required to progress in this system, and training in this form never stops.

Chy Sau

The Chy sau (搓手; 'grinding hands' or 'grinding arm') exercise is done with a partner and aims to develop the power of the body into the arms and the bridge. There are several variations of this exercise with emphasis on different aspects of training.

Pair drills

Doi chong (對樁; 'pair drills') are exercises that take the skills developed from Sarm Bo Jin and Chy sau, and teach how to use them on a partner and how to handle incoming attacks, both while staying balanced and with the correct structure and form.

The exercises are initially done with both arms together, Seong Chong (雙樁; 'double [arm] drill'), then progress to alternating each arm Dan Chong (單樁; 'single [arm] drill') which is done with increasing resistance, speed and intensity. Eventually, every technique within the system can be trained in this format as a pair drill.

There are many pair drills in the system that are used to help train different techniques, conditioning, sensitivity and power. They include:

Pangolin press-up

Chuen Saan Gap (穿山甲; 'pangolin') is a type of press-up where the practitioner dives to the ground and then back up again. The action resembles that of a pangolin when it burrows into the ground, hence the name. As this practice advances to later stages, this can be done on the fingertips with the hands in the shape of a claw, and also one-handed. Over time, this exercise can develop tremendous strength in the fingers, elbows and arms.

Special skills and characteristics of the style

All martial art styles have their own unique aspects and special skill sets that distinguish them from other styles. Chow Gar also has some unique skills which aim to give the practitioner an advantage during a physical confrontation. Some of these skills are described below:

Shock power

The short-range shock power or startled power (驚彈勁法) is a basic characteristic of this style. According to legend, this technique was created when founder Chow Ah Naam saw a praying mantis fighting off a blackbird using quick sudden movements.

In Chow Gar, there are three stages of achieving this type of power. The initial stage is referred to as cho ging or rough unrefined natural power and strength. The second stage is a type of refined and trained controllable power called um ging or hidden power. The final stage is the shock power geng tan ging.

Four directional power

This skill trains the techniques so that within each movement, the power is never only in one single direction or plane, but in multiple directions (四板勁; 'four plank power'). Essentially this skill allows defence and offence to be combined into one movement.

Principles and theory

There are many poems and maxims related to Chow Gar which aim to help students understand how the system works and how they should train and practice.

Morality and ethics

Poems and maxims

Each style has its own requirements on the body structure for application, which are expressed by the body, hands and steps. The Chow Gar system has some unique characteristics regarding its body structure that are passed down in poems.[10]

Characteristics of posture (莊頭)

Principles (心法)

Body posture (身法)

Five large and five small strengths

The Ng Dai Geng (五大勁; 'five large strengths') are:

The Ng Siu Geng (五小勁; 'five small strengths') are:

Three treasures of towns and mountains (三大鎮山之寶)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hong Kong Martial Arts Masters (香港武林名師)". Hong Kong Wushu & Art Service Centre. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ Yip Chee Keung. "London home of Chow Family Kung Fu". Tung Kong Chow Family Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  3. ^ Ng Si Kay. "東江周家螳螂國術協會". Chow Gar Mantis Association International. Archived from the original on 2007-03-25. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  4. ^ a b Li Tin Loi. "香港東江周家螳螂李天來拳術會". Hong Kong Tong Kong Chow Ka-Praying Mantis Li Tin Loi Martial Arts Association. Retrieved 2008-09-01.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Home". hakkakungfu.com.
  6. ^ Ng, Woon Hang. "周家螳螂國技會". Chow Gar Mantis Kung Fu Association.
  7. ^ Whitrod, Paul. "History". Hakka Chow Gar Southern Mantis Association UK. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  8. ^ Farlow, Dan. "Chowgar Home". chowgar.com.au. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  9. ^ "MyChowgar.com". Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  10. ^ "拳架造型和心法" [Boxing form and mentality]. Southern Mantis - Li Tin Loi (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
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