FIRE HAWK
06-25-2001, 08:48 AM
Southern praying mantis gung fu had its origins during the Ming Dynasty and was taught only to members of Chinas royal family. At the time, the system was known as "Jew Gar" (also known as Chu Gar and Chuka royal family gung fu). With the advent of the cold-blooded Ching Dynasty, the Emperor and his family fled to the Northern Sil Lum Temple to escape certain death at the hands of the Manchurians. But the forces of the Ching followed. Knowing that a revolutionary spirit was being nurtured in the temple, the Ching army burnt the temple to the ground. The royal family escaped to the Southern Sil Lum Temple located in Fukien Province. Knowing that the Ching were looking for Chu Gar practitioners they changed the name of the art to " Praying Mantis", in hopes of tricking the Chings into thinking that the style was the same as the more popular Northern Praying Mantis. Still the Ching army followed and destroyed the Southern Sil Lum Temple also. Still quite a few of the royal family escaped and went into hiding. They became known as "Hakka" or "Northern Guest". From that point on the art of Chu Gar was only taught secretly to Hakka people for fear of being betrayed and hunted down by the government. In Hong Kong Chu Gar was only taught to Hakka descendants. Later this rule expanded to trusted members of only Chinese heritage. It is only within the last 15 years that western students have been taught the Chu Gar art.
Unlike Northern Mantis, the southern style bears no resemblance to the insect, and is strictly a short hand system. It is both an external and internal style capable of delivering internal force similar to a bent metal spring that has an explosive force when released. It follows internal principles such as condensed breathing for energy, flowing relaxed hand techniques and borrowing the enemies force and using it against them. It also follows external principles in that it features a dynamic tension type of exercise to develop an elastic muscular strength for attack and defense. Although recognized as a short in fighting system with the ability to transfer explosive power in any direction, the system also extends the arms longer than most systems by constantly rounding the back, and stretching the arms, shoulder and rib cage, and by shifting body angles for extra extension. Thus the ability to use explosive power at longer and shorter distances than what is considered normal in other martial art forms.
Southern praying mantis is quick, direct and effective. Chu Gar practitioners do not give their opponent a chance to deliver more than one blow. The practitioner attacks rapidly until his opponent falls or is disabled. The theory is to get your opponent offbalance and not let him regain it; and at the same time shift in close with explosive rapid fire strikes. The opponent must try to ward off these blows, but so fast and many this is very difficult to do. Speed is essential. All attacks come from the elbows. The fist is not withdrawn to the hips as in many other kung fu and karate styles, this allows the exponent to hit multiple times non telegraphically. Chu Gar practitioners do not retreat much either. This is to slow. Instead, the practitioner slides forward and shifts his weight from side to side, backward and forward with each attacking punch. Instinctive reaction is vital due to the speed of a attack.
The Chu Gar practitioner is also hard to defend against. At one moment he may be upright, dodging quickly to one side and then the next moment he may drop into a kneeling stance to strike with a claw to the groin. The practitioner learns to attack and defend by feel and knows without thinking what his opponents next move will be. Knowing this he can attack openings and defend his lines as well. The Chu Gar stance allows for easy movement plus maximum stability in all directions. The on guard position, called "beggars hands", the arms are held extended palms up as if asking for something, relaxed and clingy when in contact with an attack. The stance, posture and arms open and close like a mantis to cover your body yet exploit the opponents weaknesses, giving a deadly potential for attacking the opponent. There are no actual blocks in this system, since the opponent is not given the opportunity for much counter attack. They do not use force against force either; again that wastes valuable time and energy, they redirect the blow and immediately counter attack.
Power comes from the feet through the legs, then the hips through the shoulders and up out the fists. The entire body becomes the driving force. Here is where Chu Gars unique method of generating power comes in. The exponent uses a technique of hallowing in and pushing out the chest. This sucking in of the chest combined with the previously mentioned movements, correct breathing and timing, and two man sensitivity exercises, enables one to develop an unbelievable spring like power which is characteristic of the Chu Gar art. Basically an in fighting system, Chu Gar is known for its one inch punches, similar to the one Bruce Lee made famous. It also uses a variety of open handed techniques and specialized hand maneuvers such as the ginger fist, three finger spear, and bamboo slicing hand, all of which attack the bodies vital points. These strikes can cause paralysis, as well as cutting off blood flow and distribution of chi to vital areas of the body.
However, at the heart of the rare Chu Gar style, is the phoenix-eye fist. The Chu Gar style makes no use of the clenched fist seen in other styles, instead preferring to use the extended index finger knuckle to strike the enemy. This one-knuckled attack allows the exponent to focus his energy on the one small area covered by the knuckle, rather than the larger area covered by the fist. It might be referred to as a kind of "acupuncture boxing" due to the fact that the phoenix-eye fist is used to strike vital acupuncture centers in rapid succession. When used in combination with various kicks, palm and finger strikes, Chu Gar becomes a very effective and deadly art which aims its attacks only at the opponents vital points.
Southern Praying Mantis kicks are all low below the waist. This is done to maintain balance and speed. Low kicks are harder to block because the practitioner always uses them in conjunction with simultaneous hand techniques. Using these kicks with hand techniques, or holding and opponent give the practitioner a kind of three legged stance that allows for more stability than if the kicks were thrown without the hands hitting or touching the enemy. Also, using the hands and feet together make it difficult to see the kick coming, lending them the name of "Mor Ying Gerk", or " no shadow kick."
Training equipment includes iron rings worn on the forearms, heavy metal shot puts and marbles of different sizes, wooden dummies, hanging bags, wall bags, throwing bags, iron bars rolled along the forearms and swung like a sword, and specialized springs and rubberbands pulled in different ways, all designed to improve the practitioners speed, power, coordination and balance.
Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis is a complete and effective fighting system with soft and hard aspects uniquely interwoven into the style. It is ideal for men and women of all ages, Simple, effective and basic body mechanics make it easy to practice regardless of age, physique, or sex. It is a highly devastating, easy to use method of self defense. And it is a superb form of training for both health and over all physical fitness.
Unlike Northern Mantis, the southern style bears no resemblance to the insect, and is strictly a short hand system. It is both an external and internal style capable of delivering internal force similar to a bent metal spring that has an explosive force when released. It follows internal principles such as condensed breathing for energy, flowing relaxed hand techniques and borrowing the enemies force and using it against them. It also follows external principles in that it features a dynamic tension type of exercise to develop an elastic muscular strength for attack and defense. Although recognized as a short in fighting system with the ability to transfer explosive power in any direction, the system also extends the arms longer than most systems by constantly rounding the back, and stretching the arms, shoulder and rib cage, and by shifting body angles for extra extension. Thus the ability to use explosive power at longer and shorter distances than what is considered normal in other martial art forms.
Southern praying mantis is quick, direct and effective. Chu Gar practitioners do not give their opponent a chance to deliver more than one blow. The practitioner attacks rapidly until his opponent falls or is disabled. The theory is to get your opponent offbalance and not let him regain it; and at the same time shift in close with explosive rapid fire strikes. The opponent must try to ward off these blows, but so fast and many this is very difficult to do. Speed is essential. All attacks come from the elbows. The fist is not withdrawn to the hips as in many other kung fu and karate styles, this allows the exponent to hit multiple times non telegraphically. Chu Gar practitioners do not retreat much either. This is to slow. Instead, the practitioner slides forward and shifts his weight from side to side, backward and forward with each attacking punch. Instinctive reaction is vital due to the speed of a attack.
The Chu Gar practitioner is also hard to defend against. At one moment he may be upright, dodging quickly to one side and then the next moment he may drop into a kneeling stance to strike with a claw to the groin. The practitioner learns to attack and defend by feel and knows without thinking what his opponents next move will be. Knowing this he can attack openings and defend his lines as well. The Chu Gar stance allows for easy movement plus maximum stability in all directions. The on guard position, called "beggars hands", the arms are held extended palms up as if asking for something, relaxed and clingy when in contact with an attack. The stance, posture and arms open and close like a mantis to cover your body yet exploit the opponents weaknesses, giving a deadly potential for attacking the opponent. There are no actual blocks in this system, since the opponent is not given the opportunity for much counter attack. They do not use force against force either; again that wastes valuable time and energy, they redirect the blow and immediately counter attack.
Power comes from the feet through the legs, then the hips through the shoulders and up out the fists. The entire body becomes the driving force. Here is where Chu Gars unique method of generating power comes in. The exponent uses a technique of hallowing in and pushing out the chest. This sucking in of the chest combined with the previously mentioned movements, correct breathing and timing, and two man sensitivity exercises, enables one to develop an unbelievable spring like power which is characteristic of the Chu Gar art. Basically an in fighting system, Chu Gar is known for its one inch punches, similar to the one Bruce Lee made famous. It also uses a variety of open handed techniques and specialized hand maneuvers such as the ginger fist, three finger spear, and bamboo slicing hand, all of which attack the bodies vital points. These strikes can cause paralysis, as well as cutting off blood flow and distribution of chi to vital areas of the body.
However, at the heart of the rare Chu Gar style, is the phoenix-eye fist. The Chu Gar style makes no use of the clenched fist seen in other styles, instead preferring to use the extended index finger knuckle to strike the enemy. This one-knuckled attack allows the exponent to focus his energy on the one small area covered by the knuckle, rather than the larger area covered by the fist. It might be referred to as a kind of "acupuncture boxing" due to the fact that the phoenix-eye fist is used to strike vital acupuncture centers in rapid succession. When used in combination with various kicks, palm and finger strikes, Chu Gar becomes a very effective and deadly art which aims its attacks only at the opponents vital points.
Southern Praying Mantis kicks are all low below the waist. This is done to maintain balance and speed. Low kicks are harder to block because the practitioner always uses them in conjunction with simultaneous hand techniques. Using these kicks with hand techniques, or holding and opponent give the practitioner a kind of three legged stance that allows for more stability than if the kicks were thrown without the hands hitting or touching the enemy. Also, using the hands and feet together make it difficult to see the kick coming, lending them the name of "Mor Ying Gerk", or " no shadow kick."
Training equipment includes iron rings worn on the forearms, heavy metal shot puts and marbles of different sizes, wooden dummies, hanging bags, wall bags, throwing bags, iron bars rolled along the forearms and swung like a sword, and specialized springs and rubberbands pulled in different ways, all designed to improve the practitioners speed, power, coordination and balance.
Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis is a complete and effective fighting system with soft and hard aspects uniquely interwoven into the style. It is ideal for men and women of all ages, Simple, effective and basic body mechanics make it easy to practice regardless of age, physique, or sex. It is a highly devastating, easy to use method of self defense. And it is a superb form of training for both health and over all physical fitness.