Chuka Southern Mantis Training

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This is a clip of Chuka (Chu Gar) Southern Praying Mantis practitioners going through their training routines and working out on home made training devices. Chu Gar (Chu Family) is one of the four main branches of Southern Praying Mantis known in the West, the others are Chow Gar (Chow Family), Jook Lum (Bamboo Forest) and Iron Ox. Note the emphasis on body and limb strikes.

The Spins of Baquazhang

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In this clip, Tom Bisio demonstrates the forms and applications of Liang Style Baguazhang. Watch out for dragon body spins and their use in fighting multiple opponents. More information on Liang Style Baguazhang:

Liang Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang descended from Liang Zhenpu, the youngest disciple of Baguazhang's founder, Dong Haichuan. In general, Liang style appears somewhat similar to both Yin and Cheng styles, yet has a unique methodology and training methods of its own. As its technical basis, Liang style baguazhang has the "eight old palms", from which more complicated linking forms are derived. Liang style is also known for its large array of weapons (such as the wind and fire wheels, seven star rod, and double-headed snake spears) [Wikipedia].

Silat vs Taiji

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In the West, diverse martial arts styles get to meet each other. Here, a Silat exponent takes on a Taiji practitioner in a push hand competition at the Master Liang He Qing Memorial Championship 2007 in UK. Guess who won?

Fukien Hasayfu Hung Kuen

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Hung Gar is normally thought of as a Cantonese art. But there is another 'older' version of Hung Kuen which is said to have originated in Fujian. The forms of this Hasayfu version of Hung Kuen is much simpler compared to contemporary versions. Here, simpler does not mean inferior or ineffective by any means. This clip shows the Hasayfu five animal set as demonstrated by Master Saleem  Alamudeen, a student of Grandmaster Wing Lam. [Notes: 1) The titles of the tiger and crane sets were swapped 2) the video is accompanied by jarring music.]

Related Post: Short Bridge Old Hung Kuen

Short Bridge Old Hung Kuen

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Popular lines of Hung Kuen trace their lineages back to Wong Fei Hung, a famous Cantonese Hung Ga master. It is said that Grandmaster Wong added flair and longer stances to Hung Kuen, which in its original form resembles more Southern Mantis and Wing Chun with its short bridges and stances. As seen here in this clip, of Sifu Leung Gaamg Wong performing an old Hung Kuen set named Night Tiger Emerges From The Forest.

Related Post: Long Bridge Hung Kuen

Long Bridge Hung Kuen

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The kung fu shown in Hong Kong movies were and are mostly from the Hong Kong Hung Ga school. We have a multiple part series on Hung Kuen (short for Hung Gar Kuen Kung Fu) starting with a clip of a Western practitioner performing at a Penang Hung Gar school in Malaysia. Note his fluid and power packed moves compared to the more staccato ones one normally sees in the cinema.

Related Post: Hung Gar Combat Applications

Silek Minang Kabau

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To round off this coverage of Silat, we have an eye catching demonstration of Silek Minang Kabau (Silat of the Minangkabau clan of Indonesia). The performance starts with a dance like preamble and then proceeds to simulated combat. Readers who think this is nothing more than a highly choreographed artistic routine would be most mistaken.  Evident is the  trademarked silat agility and fluidity, and combat techniques at multiple levels: high, medium and low.

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