Hung Fa Yi

[r4cy]

I recently finished reading the book "Mastering Kung Fu" of the Hung Fa Yi system. Personally i found it to be a great book and it was quite an aye opener for me historically and technically. Apart from this, does anybody know is there any other book or video from this branch? Thanks

[Ultimatewingchun]

Did you say video?

Ha! Ha!

(private joke)

[Liddel]

Why not search Amazon ? if one exists, its bound to be there...

Funny - YongChun a HFY practitioner, is a man of his word and just sent me this book after another thread from earlier in the month....which i appreciate

Although i didnt perscribe to much of the material about the history, thier teaching method and application (the little they reveal) i found interesting.

As far as VT goes... No new material, just different packaging.

DREW

[anerlich]

Apart from this, does anybody know is there any other book or video from this branch?

Dude, learn how to search and look through old threads. You'll find all you ever needed to know and more than you ever wanted to know, plus some highly entertaining exchanges of insults.

Actually, you'll probably have started another of the latter with your thread

[JPinAZ]

I recently finished reading the book "Mastering Kung Fu" of the Hung Fa Yi system. Personally i found it to be a great book and it was quite an aye opener for me historically and technically. Apart from this, does anybody know is there any other book or video from this branch? Thanks

Hello,

Good to hear you enjoyed the book and found it useful. I also feel there is a great amount of information in this book, which as I understand, is to be an intorduction to the system.

At the moment, this is the only book written about HFY. And to date, there are no videos. I believe future books are either already in the works, or will be coming out sometime. I do know there have been articles written in several magazines, and more informations/articles on the main website: http://www.hungfakwoon.com/
And some forums you can find a lot more information: http://www.hfy108.com/

As far as videos: There are none at this time. To my understanding, since HFY has only come out to the public recently in the last 10 years, the primary focus of the HFY headquarters is teaching the art to it's students and setting up a way to preserve the system. There are a few threads here that cover the topic of 'HFY videos'. Again, this is just my understanding as a student on the subject/

If you are interested in seeing more, there are many school in areas around the country. A trip to one of the scools or clubs, or catching a workshop/seminar would be a great way to get some hands-on first-hand experience! Where abouts do you live?

I hope this helps, and look forward to further dialog with you!

Regards,

Jonathan

[t_niehoff]

Jonathan,

Is Gee writing these books or are others?

[JPinAZ]

T,

Do you mean MKF, or any future books that are either in the works or planned for?
If you are referring to anything new, I really don't know. I would assume either the previous writters of MFK, or someone else, but I am pretty sure that GM Garrett Gee approves and oversees anything written involving HFY and it's safe to assume he would be one of the authors.

If you mean MKF, then there are three authors: Garrett Gee, Benny Meng, and Richard Loewenhagen

haha, not sure if I should ask, but - why do you ask?

Jonathan

[passing_through]

As Jonathan mentioned about the topic of videos, here’s something else to add to the discussion:

When it comes to the HFY system, we really have a different approach than what you tend to see in the martial arts community and a different mindset about how to teach, present, and preserve our family’s traditions.

For example, look at Chi Sau. Wing Chun is known for having Taan, Bong, Fuk in Chi Sau but HFY Chi Sau is more than just a platform and sequence for teaching Taan, Bong, Fuk and certain reactions to attack the other person. Instead, we look at Taan, Bong, Fuk as just one expression of structure in time and space - and there is also energy cultivation coming from the muscles, tendons, and bones as well as application based on Deui Ying and Jeui Ying… and that’s only one season in the nature of Chi Sau training. Plus we have Kiu Sau Chi Sau, Chi Kiu Chi Sau, and Ji N Kiu Chi Sau… each with their own timeframes, natures, and seasons. The system is preserved and communicated through an approach called Hau Chyun San Sau which maintains a tradition of direct interaction.

This isn’t to say that putting videos out to the general public is a good idea or a bad idea. Instead, we see videos as an illusion because the learning process of HFY is a dynamic, living approach - when you try to capture something alive, you end up with something dead, instead.

So if you really want to understand what HFY has to say about things, you have to put yourself into actual, direct experience instead of looking from the outside and trying to understand. Again, this isn’t to say that what others do is wrong; it’s just that what we do is what we do.

Makes sense? To get more information, you can check out hfy108.com.

Sincerely,
Jeremy R.

[t_niehoff]

As Jonathan mentioned about the topic of videos, here’s something else to add to the discussion:

When it comes to the HFY system, we really have a different approach than what you tend to see in the martial arts community and a different mindset about how to teach, present, and preserve our family’s traditions.

For example, look at Chi Sau. Wing Chun is known for having Taan, Bong, Fuk in Chi Sau but HFY Chi Sau is more than just a platform and sequence for teaching Taan, Bong, Fuk and certain reactions to attack the other person. Instead, we look at Taan, Bong, Fuk as just one expression of structure in time and space - and there is also energy cultivation coming from the muscles, tendons, and bones as well as application based on Deui Ying and Jeui Ying… and that’s only one season in the nature of Chi Sau training. Plus we have Kiu Sau Chi Sau, Chi Kiu Chi Sau, and Ji N Kiu Chi Sau… each with their own timeframes, natures, and seasons. The system is preserved and communicated through an approach called Hau Chyun San Sau which maintains a tradition of direct interaction.

This isn’t to say that putting videos out to the general public is a good idea or a bad idea. Instead, we see videos as an illusion because the learning process of HFY is a dynamic, living approach - when you try to capture something alive, you end up with something dead, instead.

So if you really want to understand what HFY has to say about things, you have to put yourself into actual, direct experience instead of looking from the outside and trying to understand. Again, this isn’t to say that what others do is wrong; it’s just that what we do is what we do.

Makes sense? To get more information, you can check out hfy108.com.

Sincerely,
Jeremy R.

Then why write books or articles? Wouldn't they also be "an illusion" from your (HFY) perspective? If I watched a seminar and didn't participate (let's say I was injured), would that be "an illusion" too? If not, how is that different than watching a video?

[JPinAZ]

Then why write books or articles? Wouldn't they also be "an illusion" from your (HFY) perspective? If I watched a seminar and didn't participate (let's say I was injured), would that be "an illusion" too? If not, how is that different than watching a video?

IMO, one of the differences is the experience. You go to a seminar, even if you don't participate, you can still ask questions. The experience is 'alive'. It can grow and evolve depending on the energy from the participants (or, in the case of the injured, those present). A video is not the same. If you ask your DVD player a question on something you are watching, you get no further explanation.

I guess my question to you regarding books/articles vs. videos - what does one look to gain from each? As I understand, the books and articles aren't designed to teach per say, they are a medium to share a glimps into the system. Sure, a video could do that too. But if a video wasn't designed as instructional but more of an introduction, some might say 'oh that's just marketing' anyway. So would there really be any more benifit from an intro video vs. an article/book?

Besides, wouldn't first-hand experience be much more valuble? (like attending a seminar)

Jonathan

[anerlich]

Besides, wouldn't first-hand experience be much more valuble? (like attending a seminar)

Ah, but you can't replay a seminar to go over what you missed the first time, freeze frame it, vary the speed, etc.

If you ask your DVD player a question on something you are watching, you get no further explanation.

Sometimes you can get an answer by watching several times. And sometimes you can't get your questions answered at seminars either,

What if you videotape a seminar? Is that "alive" or "dead"? why or why not?

some might say 'oh that's just marketing' anyway.

On one of the other threads MKF was explained by Savi as primarily a piece of marketing, which matches my own evaluation.

SBG: You must train "alive"; Functional JKD 1,2,3 videos explain and demonstrate the concept of aliveness.

HFY: Videos are not "alive" but dead.

Explain rthis paradox, using words of as many syllables as you like.

You guys can do what you want, but the hifalutin stuff you come out with to justify your actions is just weird.

Why not just say, "BECAUSE WE DON'T ******* WANT TO!" I'd respect that.

[t_niehoff]

IMO, one of the differences is the experience. You go to a seminar, even if you don't participate, you can still ask questions. The experience is 'alive'. It can grow and evolve depending on the energy from the participants (or, in the case of the injured, those present). A video is not the same. If you ask your DVD player a question on something you are watching, you get no further explanation.

I guess my question to you regarding books/articles vs. videos - what does one look to gain from each? As I understand, the books and articles aren't designed to teach per say, they are a medium to share a glimps into the system. Sure, a video could do that too. But if a video wasn't designed as instructional but more of an introduction, some might say 'oh that's just marketing' anyway. So would there really be any more benifit from an intro video vs. an article/book?

Besides, wouldn't first-hand experience be much more valuble? (like attending a seminar)

Jonathan

You seem to be relying on a distinction between something being merely informative versus it being solely instructuctional -- and I think this distinction is much less clear than you propose. But I won't argue the point.

In any event, couldn't a video or DVD be informative and not instructional in nature (or design)? For example, it could show the forms being performed. Or show some HFY drills and how they apply to HFY theory. In other words, give people an overview of the training without being instructional. Couldn't you show HFY practitioners in action - fighting/sparring? It would seem to be that a video/DVD would be much more informative, since we could see "action", than simply reading words and looking at pictures.

[JPinAZ]

I recently finished reading the book "Mastering Kung Fu" of the Hung Fa Yi system. Personally i found it to be a great book and it was quite an aye opener for me historically and technically. Apart from this, does anybody know is there any other book or video from this branch? Thanks

Hello again! I am curious, anything in particular you liked about the book, or any questions about the book or HFY in general?

Jonathan

[r4cy]

Well, first of all this is the first time I ever hear about something at least realistic from the story of wing chun. I am just tired of hearing how many styles have the same story behind them. Monkey, Crane, Snake, even Duck!!! The monk medidates at some place private and all the sudden the monk sees this particular animal fighting another and voilá!!!!Kung Fu happens. This book helped me treasure even more the system I practice, once I got to know how many people was involved and how many people died and why, and how wing chun was the result of all those struggles and knowledge of so many years. Really amazing. Apart from that, the theorical part was really informative, and helped me make a more profound analysis of my "Battlefield" and "Structure". The centerline, the two points of reference of distance, the three points of height, chambers.... the five yin and yang lines....anyway, all that helped me to visualize and contemplate my body and structure in a whole other way. It is sad, that the book wasn't profound in examples of all these lines and points...I found it a little jive at that... but apart from that ....Well it explained stuff in a way nobody ever did in my years of practice. It is good to know that some things I figured out myself in my studies goes accord with what the book teaches. So it was a nice experience. A book on drills for each part of the theories would be really good.... or a DVD heheheh Even if it is only an illusion.

[t_niehoff]

Well, first of all this is the first time I ever hear about something at least realistic from the story of wing chun. I am just tired of hearing how many styles have the same story behind them. Monkey, Crane, Snake, even Duck!!! The monk medidates at some place private and all the sudden the monk sees this particular animal fighting another and voilá!!!!Kung Fu happens.

Realistic? Perhaps. But that doesn't make it true.

The origin stories, whether Ng Mui or the snake/crane fight or whatever are not IMO meant to be taken literally -- they are allegories. And so are trying to convey something about the method beyond the story itself.

This book helped me treasure even more the system I practice, once I got to know how many people was involved and how many people died and why, and how wing chun was the result of all those struggles and knowledge of so many years. Really amazing.

So you are saying that a book that has an uproven orgin story helped you "treasure" "the system" (I LOL when people call it that, btw)? Interesting.

Apart from that, the theorical part was really informative, and helped me make a more profound analysis of my "Battlefield" and "Structure". The centerline, the two points of reference of distance, the three points of height, chambers.... the five yin and yang lines....anyway, all that helped me to visualize and contemplate my body and structure in a whole other way. It is sad, that the book wasn't profound in examples of all these lines and points...I found it a little jive at that... but apart from that ....Well it explained stuff in a way nobody ever did in my years of practice.

Has this "theory" made you a better fighter? That's the only thing that matters.

It is good to know that some things I figured out myself in my studies goes accord with what the book teaches. So it was a nice experience. A book on drills for each part of the theories would be really good.... or a DVD heheheh Even if it is only an illusion.

My view is that until I see that a person can really do the things they talk about doing in fighting at 100% and against someone with decent skills/attributes (and not someone from their own camp), I'm extremely skeptical in accepting their theory, claims, etc. This doesn't apply to just HFY. There are now a great number of books, videos, etc. about WCK on the market.

The benchmark for this is IMO Mario Sperry's Vale Tudo 1 series, where he breaks the fight down into strategic steps, shows you waht to do at each step, how to train it, how it leads into the next step, etc. and then puts it all together. Then he shows footage of his actual fights, and he's doing in fighting exactly what he is teaching on the tapes. What he teaches (talks about), how he trains, and how he fights corresponds 1 to 1 to 1. I'm not suggesting we all fight like Mario, or that his way is best -- just that he does what he talks about doing. If he shows a technique, he actually uses it in fighting. As the Dog Brothers say, "if you see it taught, you see it fought." In my view if someone can't do that, they shouldn't be writing books or making videos. And if they can do it, there is no reason they should be unwilling to demonstrate that they can. Because that is the only way to know what is BS and what is not. It can sound profound, it can make "sense", it can be demonstrated, it can be done in chi sao, etc. and still collapse under the pressure of fighting. So, if you don't see it fought, don't believe it.