Hung Ga Kuen
洪家拳| Also known as | Hung Ga, Hung Gar, Hung Kuen, Hung Ga Kuen, Hung Gar Kuen |
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| Focus | Striking |
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| Country of origin | China |
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| Creator | Hung Hei-gun |
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| Famous practitioners | (see below) |
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| Parenthood | Shaolin Kung Fu, Nanquan, Five Animal forms, Bak Fu Pai (White Tiger Kung Fu), Fujian White Crane, Mok Gar (additional influence for Wong Fei Hung lineage) |
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| Descendant arts | Choy ga, Fut Gar, Hung Fut, Jow-Ga Kung Fu |
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| Olympic sport | No |
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| Chinese | 洪家 |
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| Literal meaning | Hung family |
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| Chinese | 洪拳 |
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| Literal meaning | immense fist |
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Hung Ga Kuen (Cantonese) or Hongjiaquan (Mandarin) (Chinese: 洪家拳, meaning "fist of the Hung family") - alternatively shortened as either Hung Ga (洪家) or Hung Kuen (洪拳) - is an ancient southern Chinese martial art, which roots lie in the Southern Shaolin kung fu. During the turn of the 3rd millennium, Hung Ga was one of the most widely practiced styles of kung fu from southern China in the world.
It is best known for its low and stable positions, its powerful attacks mainly developed with the upper limbs, many blocks and also the work of internal energy. Its techniques are influenced by Bak Fu Pai (White Tiger Kung Fu) as well as Fujian White Crane. In addition, the style takes up postures that imitate the other five classic animals of Shaolin quan: the tiger, the crane, the leopard, the snake and the bear, as well as hand forms of the dragon style qi-gong and it's simultaneous double strikes.
Hung Gar Kuen is represented in the world in mainly four family branches; Tang Fung, Lam, Chiu and Lau. What the four have in common is that they have branched out from the most famous Hung Gar master of them all, Wong Fei-hung. Despite differences between these family branches, they strive for the same goal, to preserve one of the richest martial arts from China.
