10/04/2014
The Lineage of Yee‘s Hung Ga.
HUNG HEI GUEN
The Hung ga system began during the Ching dynasty during the reign of Yung Jing (1723-1736 A.D).Hung Ga was the number one style among the five family styles of the south.
These were:
HUNG GA : Founded by Hung Hei Guen LAU GA: Founded by Lau Sam Ngan
CHOY GA: Founded by Choy Gau Yee LEI GA : Founded by Lei Gum Lun
MOK GA : Founded byMok Ching Gui
Each of these systems is unique and possesses distinctive and special techniques. Originally, Hung Hei Guen’s surname was Jyu. His grandfather was an official of the Ming government and the family was well off. Hung was originally a Tea merchant before becoming a student of Master Jee Sim in the southern Shaolin Temple in Fulkien. As a staunch supporter of the deposed Ming regime, he changed his surname to Hung in honour of the first Ming emperor Jyu Hung Mo. Hung Hei Guen would have referred to his martial art as Siu Lam Kung Fu but out of fear that the Siu lam, (or Shaolin) connection would get him and his students in trouble he called the art Hung Ga or Hung Family Kung fu to hide its true source.
Later his followers would continue this in honour of their venerated master.After The burning of the Siu Lam temple in Fulkien, Hung met and married Fong Wing Chun, a former student of the Buddhist nun Ng Mui. Fong was knowledgeable in the Crane style of Kung fu. He later moved to Fa city in Gwand Dung Province and later died there at the advanced age of ninety years old where his tomb is still located. Historical records at Fukien Chan Jau Fu Ji indicate that Hung killed someone there with a single puch. In addition to this as evidence of Hung’s existence it also shows us the devastating power of Hung’s famous fist.
Hung ga became known for two things:
The “Thousand pound foundation” or Horse stance
The “Iron fist /Iron arm” where fists and forearms are continuously conditioned on sandbags and wooden posts.
For example, When Hung Hei Guen sank into a horse stance, more than 10 people with staffs were unable to move him. This is a difficult achievement , requiring three to seven years of practice.
Some critics say that Hung Ga is slow. This is not true. Like many systems Hung Ga emphasizes fast strikes. However, we believe that a firm root is the most indispensable feature of the style.
When people are mobile and flexible but do not have a solid foundation it becomes easy for them to loose, Therefore Hung ga emphasizes being solid first and then being flexible and mobile second.
