Choy Lay Fut discussion

[KF Dude]

Hung Gar relies on "gum jing" which is "metal energy." They use "gong yiu" or iron hard waist and power to destroy their opponents. They also emphasize on bridging.

--- Yes for tiger movements you are going through your opponent as if he/she is not even there. The other animals use different principles.

The waist is usually locked so that the whole body will follow behind the blow by way of connection with the stancework.

--- For tiger movements the body is connected through a locked waist.

CLF on the other hand has a more flexible waist in order to develop the proper whipping power for strikes.

--- Crane uses this kind of waist.

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

[Infrazael]

hey Infrazael i have two more questions,does clf have animal forms like in other kung fu styles?And does it have any form of grappling?Also please tell me if the website I gave u sounds good or not please

Goju -- I will answer as best as I can.

1. Choy Lay Fut does have animal forms, the "5-Animal" form is present in most of the branches (not sure about Buk Sing though). However, depending on what animal and fighting dynamic you are into, CLF might not be for you.

Choy Lay Fut, in my branch at least contains Crane, Snake, Panther, Dragon and Tiger. However, Snake and Dragon are virtually nonexistent in our other forms and fighting applications. Tiger is present but is not that emphasized, except in our form Fu-Pow (Tiger-Leopard).

Crane and Leopard are the most popular animals, Crane due to all of our movements being similar to the Crane style (only the movements: methods of attacks still differ drastically from "pure" Crane systems and forms). Leopard, or Panther, is the most emphasized aspect, especially in the Buk Sing branch of CLF. In that branch they will use the Chop Choy (stabbing/drilling punch) with the Pantherfist over the other attacks, and the system contains a huge amount of forward driving energy. However, other branches of CLF, such as the Lau Bun Hung-Sing, is more "static" (e.g. Hung Gar-like at times), while my branch, Lee Koon Hung CLF (a mixture of Hung-Sing and Chan Family CLF) is extremely mobile, emphasizing speed, aggression and a driving energy similar to Buk Sing, although perhaps not as much, and our preferred techniques differ (Sao Choy vs. Chop Choy?).

2. As for grappling, you're better off taking something like Judo or Juijutsu. What Choy Lay Fut does contain are basic takedowns and throws, and very basic chi na I believe. However, they are not as advanced as the ones you will learn on the pure-grappling arts. In my school we spar using San Shou rules so takedowns and throws are a massive part, it is one of my primary weapons against larger opponents. However if a school does not learn San Shou, you should really learn some Judo or Juijutsu (I don't think BJJ will compliment as well as JJJ).

3. As for that school, it looks promising, however, he really knows 3 styles? There are CLF Sifus that know more than one style, but rarely do they teach all of them. Be careful how much he truly knows about CLF. And all of those titles on the website do not appeal to me one bit. Be sure their school offers sparring, and full-contact sparring, padwork, large amounts of drills, bagwork, and such. I cannot STRESS ENOUGH the necessity for a Choy Lay Fut, or any kung fu school for that matter to allow each student to develop his or her individual "flair" both training-wise, and technique-wise. Make sure the Sifu is up to par with the practical applications of the style. Make sure he drills basics continuously and intensely. If you are all about the practical side of kung fu, will he constantly badger you about how well your forms look? My sifu knows that I fight, and he doesn't corner me about my forms too much. I actually spends most of my time sparring, doing techniques, drills, and bagwork. Will he allow different dedications with different students?

These are all necessary, and crucial factors to consider when taking up a kung fu style. Kung Fu is too caught up in this fantastical world of "deadliness" and arrogance. Choy Lay Fut is not something for show, it is not flowery, nor is it meant to be beautiful (the aesthetic aspect of CLF, which is has, is simply a by-product of the techniques and power generation methods, but inherently still there). CLF is meant to be destructive, quick to learn, easy to understand, and simply an outstanding form of self-defense, which can easily be turned into the ring. I train for competition, and self-defense outside of ringfighting simultaneously, with everything I practice, whether it is forms, bagwork, drills, applications, etc.

Go and try that school, and don't forget to ask questions. LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

Good luck

PS -- PM me for more info, or email me at Infrazael_Daemon@hotmail.com

[Infrazael]

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

Thanks for the compliments. Although I had some help from friends on other forums, and some of the stuff was taken from their previous descriptions of Hung Gar. However by myself I was unable to answer that precisely, so I am glad you found my handicapped answers to be helpful.

I do not want to take full credit for being that knowledgable about Hung Gar. That goes to the many wonderful Hung Gar practitioners whom I have been lucky to meet on the internet.

Without digressing further, yes I have used the dummy before. I have not learned the dummy form yet, I am still conditioning, and I don't think I can handle it at my current state, nor am I that advanced in the system. However, I will always practice Sam-Sing Forearm conditioning on the dummy if a partner is not available. We have 2 at my Kwoon; I plan on getting myself one when I go to college, to have in my dorm or apartment.

Anyways, it would be great to hear from you Hung Gar players on what you think of us, how things differ, what you think we could improve upon, the weaknesses, strengths, etc. It is always great to have another perspective.

Peace

[Muaythaiboxer]

it sounds like one of the few chinese styles i would consider studying and considering that you do full contact you are already ahead of 80% of the martial artists in the U.S.

[Goju_boi]

thanks Infrazael for all the info and advice,hopefully next month if not in september I will go check out the kwoon I mentioned,but if it's a bad kwoon then I guess I can't train in clf because it's the only clf kwoon I have found in my town.

[Infrazael]

it sounds like one of the few chinese styles i would consider studying and considering that you do full contact you are already ahead of 80% of the martial artists in the U.S.

Thanks alot. I am also planning on joining a MMA/Muay Thai/Pankration school this coming winter (when I can legally drive). I really don't consider any move we have to be "too deadly" to use in sparring. Can't hold a proper Leopard Fist with gloves on? Use a normal fist instead. I don't see why we can't use all our techniques in sparring, like a lot of TCMA people are like.

If anyone has more questions I will be happy to answer.

[Goju_boi]

(when I can legally drive) how old are u?

[Infrazael]

I am 17

[Goju_boi]

I thought you were some 30 something martial arts veteran,you sure know your stuff,I'm only a few months older than you.

[Infrazael]

Lol hell no, I just do alot of research. MA is my life, besides MA I have no life lol.