Chow Gar

Tung Kong Chow Gar Tong Long (), or simply Chow Gar (), is a southern Chinese martial art (kung fu) of the Hakka () people. It is one of the four major schools of Southern Praying Mantis, the other schools being (), (), and (). It is an aggressive style of kung fu with an emphasis on close-range fighting. These skills are developed by utilizing a range of training techniques that have been developed over several centuries.

This style is unrelated to Jow-Ga kung fu (), a southern Chinese martial art founded by Jow Lung in the early 1900s. It is also unrelated to the Northern Praying Mantis systems such as Seven Star Praying Mantis (), Plum Blossom Praying Mantis (), and Tai Chi Praying Mantis ().

Introduction

History

The history of Chow Gar was transmitted orally with little supporting documentation until the 1900s. The origins of the system are similar to other martial arts of the Hakka community with references to the Southern Shaolin Monastery and exploits centered around southern China. Information before the turn of the 20th century is speculative at best. In the modern era, Lau Soei is recognized by both Chow Gar and Chu Gar practitioners as the leading promoter of this style. The leading authorities on Chow Gar are the students of Yip Shui, and their schools can be found worldwide.

Lineage of past masters

* ''Chow Ah Naam'' () is the traditional founder of Chow Gar in the 19th century. He is said to have spent many years in the Southern Shaolin Monastery under the guidance of the abbot Sim See Yan. He later developed a new style which he called ''Praying Mantis'' after watching a fight between a praying mantis and a bird. His style is not related to the Northern Praying Mantis style created by Wang Lang () during the Song dynasty (960–1279). Chow taught the style to many people in the region, including his student Wong Fook Go.
* ''Wong Fook Go'' () was initially a layperson but later became a traveling monk. He traveled throughout southern China including Waiyeung (Huiyang) village in the area of Tungkong (Dong Jiang).
* ''Lau Soei'' (; 1866–1942) was an accomplished teacher of martial arts in his home village of Waiyeung in Guangdong Province, before meeting Wong. Oral traditions suggest that Lau challenged Wong but was soundly defeated by him. Lau then became a student of Wong and became proficient in Chow Gar. Using this knowledge, he further enhanced his reputation and earned the nickname "Number one of the three Dongjiang tigers" (). In 1913, Lau moved to Hong Kong and established a Southern Praying Mantis school in Kowloon. Initially, he would teach his system only to members of the Hakka community. Near the end of his career, he opened up his teachings to the general public.
* ''Yip Shui'' (; 1912–2004), who was one of Lau's first non-Hakka students, perpetuated his tradition after training extensively with his predecessor. He established a reputation for the effectiveness of the Chow Gar style by meeting all challenges.

Masters in Hong Kong

After the passing of Grandmaster Yip Shui in 2004, the legacy of Chow Gar continues to be taught and passed down to future generations. Listed below are some of the masters who are currently teaching the system in Hong Kong:

* Yip Chee Keung (), the son of Yip Shui, continues the family tradition as the inheritor, gatekeeper, and Grandmaster of the system. Chee Keung emigrated to London, England in the 1970s, where he established a Chow Gar school. Chee Keung currently resides in Hong Kong but regularly travels abroad to teach in Hungary and the UK.
* Ng Si Kay (), Yip Shui's son-in-law, is the current head instructor for the Chow Gar Mantis Association (International) based in Hong Kong.
* Li Tin Loi (), a student of Yip Shui, teaches at the Hong Kong Tung Kong Chow Gar Praying Mantis Li Tin Loi Martial Arts Association (). In recent years, master Li has joined with other masters of Hakka kung fu to form the Hakka Kung Fu and Culture Research Society, with the goal of preserving and promoting the traditions of Hakka martial arts and culture such as the Unicorn Qilin dance.
* Ng Woon Hang (), a student of Yip Shui, teaches at the Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu Association () in Mong Kok.

Masters around the world

In the UK, Paul Whitrod started training in Chow Gar at the age of 15 at Yip Chee Keung's school in 1975. Whitrod later visited and trained in Hong Kong where he stayed at Grandmaster Yip Shui's home and became a ''closed-door student'' (), learning the finer details of the system and traditional ''dit da'' medicine. In the fall of 1986, Whitrod opened his first full-time school in London, and the following year invited his '' Sigung'' Yip Shui and ''Sifu'' Yip Chee Keung to London, where they made Whitrod the UK representative of Chow Gar. Whitrod continues to teach at his school in Stratford, London, and has taught many students over the years, many of whom have gone on to spread the art in other countries, including Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Greece, and the US.

Australian Chow Gar practitioner Paul Brennan, an original student of Yip Chee Keung and his father Yip Shui, then became a closed-door student of Master Ng Si Kay and offers classes at several locations in Queensland, Australia.

Chow Gar's Hungary branch has a following with many students. The school is led by ''Sifu'' Bálint Vitárius, who started his martial arts studies in 1996. He has been learning directly from Yip Chee Keung since 2005.

In the United States, one of Yip Shui's first-generation students, Ngai Piu Tan, went to New York City in the late 1950s to 1960 in search of opportunity. He started to teach Praying Mantis, and by chance one of his kung fu brothers from Hong Kong also arrived in NYC and had a location for him to teach in Manhattan's Chinatown, where the exclusive club remains to this day. Over time other students of Yip Shui made their way to NYC. In the 1970s, Lee Kwun, Yip Shui's brother-in-law and one of his earliest students, emigrated to the city and took over the Chow Gar Praying Mantis club until his passing in May 2023. The club remains in its original location and is the first and oldest club in the country.

Forms

There are many different forms in the Chow Gar system and each instructor may teach a variety of them. In addition to the solo forms, there are also numerous pair forms for empty hands and weapons, and many two-person drills () to train technique, sensitivity, and power.

The names for some of the solo forms found in the system include:

Core fist forms

Chow Gar has a core set of basic forms that all instructors from different schools and lineages teach. The first three forms are known as the seed forms (, ) of the system and are usually the first three forms taught to beginner students to familiarize them with the correct mantis structure and shape. The last two forms in the list are also commonly taught by every school:

* ()
* ()
* ()
* or ()
* , ()

Intermediate forms

Chow Gar has a modular syllabus; the names and order of the forms may vary depending on the instructor. Some of the intermediate-level forms () have relatively short sequences and can be trained in combination with other sections. Some of the intermediate forms are:

* (), (), or ()
* ()
* ()
* Banging on the drum
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
*
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()

Advanced forms

* Second and third level ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* Hall of light steps

Qigong sets

There are many internal energy () exercises found in the system, which can be broadly put into three categories: exercises for maintaining health (), exercises for protecting the body from physical attacks (), and exercises for developing the body and power for fighting ().

Some of the key sets are:
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()

Weapons

The main weapon in Chow Gar is a long pole, the (). This type of polearm is typically around and is tapered.

The long pole forms include:
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()

Other weapons include:
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* or ()
* ()
* Walking stick
* Umbrella ()

Weapons pair work includes:
* Pole vs pole
* Pole vs
* Empty hand vs butterfly knives
* Spear vs broadsword and shield

Techniques

Basic movements

In 1965, Grandmaster Yip Shui published the book ''Mantis Boxing Basic Techniques'' (; ), wherein he described the history of the style along with explanations and instructions for some of the most common basic techniques (; ) and fundamental training methods found within the system.

There are at least 36 basic movements consisting of one or three moves, including:

# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# or ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# () or
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# (; a is an ancient Chinese three-legged ceremonial cauldron)
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()
# ()

Other techniques not mentioned in the book:
* or ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()

Training methods

The Chow Gar system has numerous training methods for both solo and partner training. There are a few very important exercises that every Chow Gar practitioner must practice from the beginning and continue to train constantly and consistently, even at the advanced levels. These are , , , and .

Sarm Bo Jin

is the first and most important form that is learnt in the system. It develops all the foundations required to progress in this system, and training in this form never stops.

Chy Sau

The () exercise is done with a partner and aims to develop the power of the body into the arms and the bridge. There are several variations of this exercise with emphasis on different aspects of training.

Pair drills

() are exercises that take the skills developed from and , and teach how to use them on a partner and how to handle incoming attacks, both while staying balanced and with the correct structure and form.

The exercises are initially done with both arms together, (), then progress to alternating each arm () which is done with increasing resistance, speed and intensity. Eventually, every technique within the system can be trained in this format as a pair drill.

There are many pair drills in the system that are used to help train different techniques, conditioning, sensitivity and power. They include:
*
*
* (), or ()
*
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()

Pangolin press-up

() is a type of press-up where the practitioner dives to the ground and then back up again. The action resembles that of a pangolin when it burrows into the ground, hence the name. As this practice advances to later stages, this can be done on the fingertips with the hands in the shape of a claw, and also one-handed. Over time, this exercise can develop tremendous strength in the fingers, elbows and arms.

Special skills and characteristics of the style

All martial art styles have their own unique aspects and special skill sets that distinguish them from other styles. Chow Gar also has some unique skills which aim to give the practitioner an advantage during a physical confrontation. Some of these skills are described below:

Shock power

The short-range shock power or startled power () is a basic characteristic of this style. According to legend, this technique was created when founder Chow Ah Naam saw a praying mantis fighting off a blackbird using quick sudden movements.

In Chow Gar, there are three stages of achieving this type of power. The initial stage is referred to as or rough unrefined natural power and strength. The second stage is a type of refined and trained controllable power called or hidden power. The final stage is the shock power .

Four directional power

This skill trains the techniques so that within each movement, the power is never only in one single direction or plane, but in multiple directions (). Essentially this skill allows defence and offence to be combined into one movement.

Principles and theory

There are many poems and maxims related to Chow Gar which aim to help students understand how the system works and how they should train and practice.

Morality and ethics

*
*

Poems and maxims

Each style has its own requirements on the body structure for application, which are expressed by the body, hands and steps. The Chow Gar system has some unique characteristics regarding its body structure that are passed down in poems.

Characteristics of posture (莊頭)

* , referring to the arms which should be like a hanging noose that suddenly opens and contracts
* ; seize and catch
* , referring to keeping the chin tucked into the neck, in resemblance to the character
*
* , referring to the shape of the upper back being curved or rounded like that of a basket to engage the posterior back muscles and not just the superficial muscles of the arms when applying the techniques
*

Principles (心法)

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* , which refers to how the hands, upon making contact with the opponent, do not need to withdraw to attack again, but can stick to the opponent, to sense, adapt and change according to the situation

Body posture (身法)

* Dropping the shoulders and elbows is required ()
* Swallow the chest and arch the back ()
* Do not overdo the swallowing, do not spit ()
* Swallow if needed, but if not turn to the side (, )
* Get smart on the single and double (). This refers to turning half to the side on "single" and fully square on "double" and knowing when and why to switch back and forth during a fight.

Five large and five small strengths

The () are:

* 腰勁; waist power
* 馬勁; stance or leg power
* 橋勁; bridge or arm power
* 胸勁; chest or torso power
* 頭勁; head power

The () are:

* 額勁 forehead power
* 眼勁; eyes power
* 牙勁; teeth power
* 喉勁; throat power
* 頸勁; neck power

Three treasures of towns and mountains (三大鎮山之寶)

*
* ''But San Gong'' - 拔山功; 'Lifting the mountain power'
* ''Geng Tan Geng'' - 驚彈勁; 'Shock power'
*
* ''Chuen San Gap'' - 穿山甲; 'Pangolin press ups'
*

See also

* Southern Praying Mantis

References

{{Kung fu schools

Chinese martial arts
Guangdong Nanquan
Hakka culture

nl:Chow Gar