jmd161

In my style of Black Tiger everyone wears a black sash,but it has no rank value at all.It's the color sash chosen for the school.Like Iron Arahat said earlier the respect is gained thru sparring and training.Also by the time you joined the school.Someone that joined before you is always shown respect as a sihing (big brother). At my old school we did have ranking sashes. white red blue green yellow black There was ten levels of black. jeff

stephen, You'll be surprised to know what's in your area that is not listed in the yellow pages.In my area there are no Hung Gar,Northern Eagle Claw,Choy Lay Fut or Black Tiger schools listed.Yet i know two sifu who teach Eagle Claw two that teach Choy Lay Fut one that teaches Hung Gar ,and my sifu teaches Black Tiger.Some teachers don't advertise or teach at schools.Just look around in some unusual places and you might find a teacher.My sifu was'nt teaching when i found him,but i was determined to have him teach me.So now he's teaching me Black Tiger. jeff

It is very relevent because you practice against a real opposing force at real speed.Not just walking thru these movements with lite force resisting you.It is totally different to try a technique at full speed against a real opponet. jeff

It's really just a matter of opinon.When i studied Bak Sil Lum (N.Shaolin) i could not see why anyone would want to learn a boring style like Hung Gar.Then i studied Cheung Kune Pai (Southern Longfist) and saw a whole new world in the Southern styles.Now i study Hak Fu Moon (Black Tiger) which is a mixture of both Northern and Southern China styles.So it's what works for you.The Northern styles are just as effective if used the right way as any Southern style. jeff

Well my style is Sil Lum Hak Fu Muhn (Shaolin Black Tiger) It is a mixture of northern and southern Shaolin kung fu.It was created by Su Hak Fu who is one of the Ten Tigers of Guandong (canton). Black Tiger has many different styles within it. Like 8 Drunken Immortals,Ba Gua,Monkey Style and White Crane just to name a few. jeff

Forms were designed as movements to show techniques within a style.Because there are so many movements/techniques within a style that this was the only way to remember all the techniques without losing them.The problem with forms is ppl think you're supposed to fight using forms.Forms are a guide to techniques they're not meant as a means to fight with the techniques. You have to practice and make the techniques you own to be able to apply them in combat. jeff

Well if you were going to be there longer i would speak to my sihing in cali,but for a few weeks he would'nt take the time.It's not a knock against you.It's just that everyone in our style of Black Tiger is picky as to who we share our style with. Hak Fu Moon is very rare and we want to keep it pure. You might have seen the articles he's written for Kung Fu Qigong and Inside Kung Fu Magazines? The latter has an article in this months edition written by him. jeff

The only praise you'll get from my sifu is "Do It Again" It was hard to get use to at first,but i've come to understand him now.I rather that then what i used to get at other schools. False Praise. Just to keep the payments rolling. jeff

aznkarateboi, Hung Fut is a very nice system.If it were me i'd go with the Hung fut.It's a mixture of Hung Gar and Fut Gar.My sifu used to share a school with a Hung Fut sifu in new York.If i was'nt doing Black Tiger and there was a Hung Fut school around.It would be a very tough choice between Hung Fut and Choy Lay Fut. Here's a Hung Fut link. My sifu and Tai Yim are good friends. http://sl.cometsystems.com/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kungfu1.com%2F&qry=hung+fut&rnk=1&aff=gg&v=2&origin=esearch&tmpl=0A jeff

I hope you would'nt be putting money on that outcome? Since Bruce Lee trained in Wing Chun and other real martial arts.Jet Li has trained Wu Shu his entire life.Maybe in a movie fight but never in a real fight. jeff

karate_woman, You missed my point. I was saying that Wing Chun can't fight against Karate or any other style for that matter.A Wing Chun stylist can fight against a Karate stylist.My whole post was actually a joke because there is noway to know which stylist would win. Like i said. jeff

I'd take no 6. "My Sifu" jeff

This is a funny thread i love everyones answer. First you can't match styles! Styles don't fight each other! Second you said karate there are so many different styles of karate.Not all karate use the same tneories. There are so many factors that goes into this than just what styles were used. With all that being said i'd take Wing Chun lol jeff

In Black Tiger we have. 1.Eight Drunken Immortals 2.Drunken Spirit Boxing In Cheung Kune Pai we have. 1.Drunken Monkey 2.Drunken Man Crossing the Bridge 3.Old Man Crossing Golden Mountains jeff

Lau Gar is part of Other systems in the U.S. It's not taught as a seperate style here.I learned one of the fist sets about 10 yrs ago in my old style of kung fu. You must be living in England to have a chance to learn Lau Gar style.That's the only place i know where it's still taught as a whole style.Lau Gar uses the Tiger Claw alot from the form i learned ,and from other forms i've seen.Lau Gar is not a big system ,but is very effective.That's why it was picked up by Hung Gar. I knew a site that had all Lau Gar forms on video clips that you could watch ,but they took them off because of so much traffic to the site. Lau Gar forms are short compared to Hung Gar forms,but Lau Gar forms require tension while doing them so you will be very tired and sweaty after doing one form.It will take some time before you can do a entire form without stopping to rest. jeff

Ali, Sadly it does seem to be a trend around the world with bad kung fu and phoney kung fu.I hate to see this kinda stuff ,but i'm powerless to do anything about it. People just have to be more aware of looking into styles before they go and join a school. jeff

rb, You're actually right on with your post. It's actually a mixture of the two endings you have.With #1 being the final ending.He then along with his senior helped to teach the style to the other monks. You have several schools of praying mantis of both northern and southern china decent.If i remember correctly their are like 7 different schools of Northern Praying Mantis.Named after the designs found on the back of seven actual living praying mantis.Some but not all mantis styles use Monkey styles footwork and kicks. Southern Mantis looks nothing like It's Northern brothers.It uses a lot of hand techniques and low kicks. Monkey Style - There are several schools of monkey style also.The most famous is most likely Tai Shing Pek Kwar.Monkey Style although comical at time is a very effective and firce fighting style. Is Wu Shu and Kung fu the samething? Yes and no Wu Shu means War Art Kung Fu means Skill In Around the world Chinese Martial Arts are known as kung fu ,but anyone can have kung fu in anything. Wu Shu - Has become known as the dance like performance kung fu with no combat application. Jet Li, Jackie Chan,and Sammo Hung all do Wu Shu. jeff

You'll be amazed at what training kung fu can do for you. With a style like Mok Gar (Mok Family Style) you cut down on the chances of running into a phoney teacher.It's a rare style to find in this day and age. Being taught alone as one style that is. jeff

Why do you wanna learn Wu Shu so bad? I'm not gonna bad mouth you or anything i just wanted to know. Are you talking Contemporary Wu Shu (performance) or Traditional Wu Shu (War Art/Combat). Maybe i can give you some info. jeff

What would make you think you can't fight with Snake Style Kung Fu on the streets? One would be very wrong if one did infact think that. Snake Fist kung fu take alot of skill because you are striking to very vital areas of the body. Here's some sites https://www.snakestyle.net/ https://www.shaolin.com.au/snake.html jeff

Well, Alot of that is correct. I can't really say nothing to counter that. I think it's still great to have a chance to train at the Shaolin Temple.You just have to realize it's a shell of what it once was. jeff

paolung, It's very clear that you have a solid background in kung fu. How long have you studied Hung Gar? You've either spent sometime in kung fu or have a great sifu or both? That is very true about finding a good sifu and a good student.Although i've been in martial arts 22yrs 18 in kung fu.I was not nearly the student i am now. jeff

Well, Wing Chun - is very effective ,and would make you an effective fighter alot quicker than most kung fu styles.Like within 1 yr you could be a very good fighter with Wing Chun.It's like karate in the way it's straight forward attacks and blocks.Wing Chun is more defensive most attacks don't take place unless someone attacks you. Northern Praying Mantis - Although very showy looking is very effective and one of the highest level styles taught at the Shaolin Temple.Northern Praying Mantis has alot of kicks and trapping techniques.Northern Praying Mantis styles (Most but not all) use the mantis for their hand and fists techniques,and Monkey style for their legs and kicks. Southern Praying Mantis - In reality does'nt resemble it's northern brother at all.It's an inclose fighting style with very little kicks.The kicks that it has are just about always below the waist. GreenDragon, Another thing you have to understand about kung fu is.That just because they say it's kung fu does'nt mean that it's kung fu.I've seen ppl mix TKD with some karate and call it kung fu.People call kenpo kung fu it's not.kenpo has kung fu flavor in some of it's forms/katas but it's still karate.Also there are alot of phoney made up styles and forms. You have to be careful in your search. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Alot of questions if someone gets mad at your questions or can't answer them then they're not the teacher for you. Also don't think that the teacher has to be Chinese to teach kung fu.There are many non chinese masters around that are very good.You have to see that money is money and even some chinese teachers can be fake.Also you have some ppl who learn a little of a style and then go open a school saying they know the whole style when they don't. Also when you visit a school find out what class you're watching.Because you could be watching newbies thinking that they are an advance class or vise versa. Hope that helps a little? jeff

" Great answer " paolung, You answered that very well.It makes me smile to hear a fellow Hung speak that way. So you all know what i mean by fellow " Hung " Hung Gar and Black Tiger are sister styles.Even Wong Fei Hung knew both styles. Many Grandmasters although they know the entire style.Only "Master" 2-3 forms from their style.Kung Fu is not like karate where you can learn everything and then move on to another style. I'm not bashing karate!. I come from a karate background Niesi Goju Ryu. Every movement in kung fu has hidden movements within it.That's why no one can ever master a style like Hung Gar.Everytime you apply a technique you find a hidden technique within it. Thus the reason i've been in kung fu 18yrs and still feel like i know nothing. jeff

First off if you're refering to me on the flame? I was'nt trying to flame you i don't get involved in flame wars.It's a waste of time ,and childish in my book. You have to be carefull when looking into kung fu schools.There are soooo many phonies out there waiting for someone like you. Not trying to be funny! By saying someone like you i mean someone who does'nt know much about kung fu.Not all styles of kung fu use circular movements.Wing Chun is very straight and direct in it's blocks and strikes.Xing I is another straight forward style.Some styles are both such as Choy Lay Fut,Hung Gar ,and my style of Black Tiger.Some styles trap you like Eagle Claw and Praying Mantis.Some styles use trickery such as Tai Shing Pek Kwar ( Monkey Style) and Eight Drunken Immortals ( Drunkards Boxing). There are so many different styles of kung fu that it is said that there are well over 1,000 different styles of kung fu.Most not known outside of China.Both of my main styles Hak Fu Muhn and Cheung Kune Pai are not that well known outside of China.My other style Bak Sil Lum ( Northern Shaolin Longfist ) is well known outside of China. I see some things that bother me about that school.I've never heard of the style they teach ,but that does'nt mean they are not legit.I will ask around and see if i can find out any info on the school and style. What city do you live in? Maybe i can lead you to another school that might be better suited to you. It really does'nt matter what i think about a style or school.What matters is what you think and feel about it.If it feels right then go for it.If you have doubts then there is a reason why you have doubts.If you wanna talk about different styles and Northern and Southern systems along with Internal and External styles. Just E-mail me or Instant message me.I try to help ppl see real kung fu.Not that crap being called kung fu. jeff