KF Dude

Your Sifu/Sensei has more than enough knowledge to share about the art you are currently learning. To not give the art 100% of your focused attention shows disrespect to your Sifu & prevents you from learning the true essence of the style. Which means it will never work when needed. Only leave your chosen martial art or instructor for sound reasons. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

so it does have mostly punches.Does it have any grappling?Hung Ga has the tiger claw. The grip is painful, used mainly to control the opponent & create openings before striking. There are some chokes/neck breaks but it's not a grappling style.

And trust me patherfists hurt like a mother. LOL We call them leopard fists & you aren't kidding. Most would-be-attacks are going down real quick hit with such a painful strike.

The name of the movie is called "The Executioners of Death". Hope this helps.

Just as uncomfortable it would be for me if I were to switch to Tae Kwon Do.

We rely on our hands & arms a lot more than TKD. You'll have to get comfortable getting real close to your opponent. Training will focus on stance/drill work & bridge arm conditioning.

If you love what you are doing & it produces results, then why even concern yourself what others think. Put all that wasted effort back in to training.

"He can be the biggest guy in the world, kick to his knee & he'll drop like a stone." Dalton - From the movie "Roadhouse"

You need to try out a class & see which one fits you best. Both are good KF systems so you can't go wrong. Do you have any specific questions about Hung-Ga that I can answer for you?

I've used dit da after hand conditioning or three star drill but only on the hands & arms. I've seen Sifu put other medicines on injuries of the body. What it was exactly I have no idea.

Here's two I know of: https://www.hsing-i.com https://www.emptyflower.com

GTF- I can only comment on my experience, to get good at using Hung-Ga you need to practice using Hung-Ga. I think you are making a mistake thinking another art will help you learn it well enough to use in a real situation. It's true sparring is not 'real' fighting but it simulates it closer than any other training method. As others have stated in this thread: timing, distance, creating openings for attack, & balance are just a few attributes developed by sparring. All have direct cross over into a real fight.

Iron Body is the ability to withstand a few blows to your internal organs & hitting points without suffering damage of any kind. Both external & internal trainings are used. A qualifed Sifu willing to teach, dedicated training & faith are required. Taking a hit & convincing yourself you are not in pain is not iron body.

Excellent & thorough description of CLF. Have you had an opportunity to use a CLF wooden dummy?

gtf- I started to spar with 6 months worth of training. I was horrible. I used name it beating class because that's what I took. Nothing was done to me with malcious intent just on recieving end of a properly executed technique, even with broken power it still hurt. With time & correct training I got better, no secrets just daily practice. My progression went something like this: -beating -block then receive counter beating -block no beating then counter attack -attack then receive counter beating -attack then coutner opponents counter - no beating -attack finally I'm the one giving the beating Spar classes are held weekly. It's not forced, only those who are interested participate. Informal bouts happen during open floor nights. We also do weapons sparring subsituting edged weapons with rattan sticks & poles. Since there's a high level of trust & respect through out the school we police ourselves when it comes to sparring. Sifu is always observing giving well heeded advice or instruction. The beginners have strict rules in place do to the lack of control.

GTF - I've been practicing for awhile. Hung-Ga is heavy on theory & principles not so much on specific tactics. No technique is writen in stone. Movement can be altered or changed depending upon the situation - even the inherently dangerous ones. Here's an example using different arts. An Aikido or Judo martial artist altering the angle of a throw that prevents the opponent from rolling out & has them land on thier neck. Both systems are known for 'gentle' techniques but could be modified to become 'too dangerous' to spar with. I look at sparring as another training tool. I pick one maybe two techniques & run only them during the entire session. I find it helps instil confidence in a tech when you can successfully pull it off on your uncooperative partner who knows exactly what you are going to do. Who wins is irrelvant, I'd rather get taken down in the school than outside on the street. Different lineages have different spellings. Ninjitsu - Animal techs are no different from any another. Read above.

I've been able to spar with Hung-Ga just fine. Believe it or not the other martial artists who I sparred with actually survived!!! You control the art not the other way around. GTF/Ninjitsu - Thanks for the compliments on the effectiveness of Hung-Ga but no art is 'too deadly' to spar with.

We use the brass rings quite a bit in my school. I've only known them to be used for training. While any object can be used a weapon. I think there are more effective gaurds/weapons to use. Fighting with brass rings is just good 'movie kung fu'. The actor in KF Hustle is a skilled Hung-Ga Sifu.

You've listed White Crane & Choy Lay Fut as arts you practice. They should have some kind of forearm conditioning, ask your Sifu about it.

If you find a good school you will have nothing to worry about. Listen to your body - nobody knows it better. Stance training in general is hard on the legs. They will be sore. Know the difference between good pain/bad pain. Best of luck.

Trust in your sparring partners allows the ego to be put aside & creates a great learning enviroment. If he/she happens to land a hard shot you won't question his/her intent. You can appreciate that while you weren't cooperating a good technique was sucessfully run on you. Which validates the practical application of your art.

I'm sure you will do just fine. Best of luck. Let us know how it went.

Don't dismiss TC as a fighting art because of the slow gentle movenments in the forms. Done correctly it's for real. TC fighters are relaxed which makes them fast & have excellent sensitivity skills. If you cross hands you've given them the advantage. Get the hand out of the way before you attack. Otherwise they will 'feel' where your energy/force is going & set you up for a counter. This has been my experience against Tai Chi. Without question a martial art. As for the palm strike, it's not exclusive to Tai Chi. Most kungfu styles have something similar. It's not a mystical technique like in the movies either.

Way to go!!! Be proud of the progress you've made. Let it motivate you to keep on training.

GTF2 Your Sifu should be your primary source of information. Especially since he's going to be the one grading you. There are different lineages of Hung Ga each with their own interpretation & philosophy. So keep an open mind & enjoy the different perspectives of our wonderful art.