Nice clip Si-Hing. Surprisingly, this is the first time I've seen this entire clip.
I wanted to comment on the Muay Thai comparison. I don't know MT so I can't say how close or not it is but what O does is 100% TCMA up until he goes to the ground. Let's break it down.
Opponent charges, he counters with a front thrust kick. Done in TCMA style with body weight centered (not leaning back). This prevents the forward force from knocking O over.
O subtly shifts to the outside gate. He does not make a big movement that would allow his opponent to follow. Classic Hung Gar strategy.
O attacks the base and IMMEDIATELY follows up with a strike to the head. The kick is not meant to kill the leg. Notice he doesn't have a complete follow through on the kick. It is meant to disrupt the root (which it did). Again, classic Hung Gar strategy.
O then does gwa choi, ping choi. He calls it the pinoy combo but it is also the exact combo repeated many times in the first HaSayFu set. I don't think I have seen MT throw this the way it is thrown but as noted, I can't speak for MT. It's this combo that dazes the opponent. The claw did not strike the eyes. It's arguable that it didn't connect with much force. So for the cheating comments, take a closer look. Nothing there was illegal or even unsportsmanlike.
At that point, O goes to MMA mode and uses his wrestling training to take him down, mount and GnP to tap out. If O had thrown him to the ground without going down, that would would have been TCMA style but not suited for the competition.
I also want to comment on something that always comes up on these "hung gar" fighting clips. "Where is the bridging Hung Gar is so famous for?" or "See, you can't bridge in a real fight" This fight was short but the bridging concept was there. That's the real reason you disrupt the base and attack high. You expect the opponent to block but now with a compromised base. That would be the bridge. It's also why you don't fake the bridging attack. If he doesn't block and build the bridge, you hit him and make him pay for it.
Whew, I haven't posted in a while and I come out with a long one. I just got excited to see a clip of brother O. I will note, while I'm not a forms junkie, I don't think Ray would look at me and say I'm a fighter. I have sparred many times outside of TCMA (with O even) but never in competition. My comments are my own and may differ from what O thinks.
Look forward to any discussion this causes. Not sure how relevant it is to MMA. I think this belongs in the southern forum.
Gene Ching
Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
Author of Shaolin Trips
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I defer to your greater wisdom, si-hing. Let's give the MMA forum a little traditional love.
Looks more like a one night stand though.
I prefer to look at it as, "Friends with Benefits."
(dieu pung-yao)
"My Gung-Fu may not be Your Gung-Fu.
Gwok-Si, Gwok-Faht"
"I will not be part of the generation
that killed Kung-Fu."
....step.
"My Gung-Fu may not be Your Gung-Fu.
Gwok-Si, Gwok-Faht"
"I will not be part of the generation
that killed Kung-Fu."
....step.