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Basic Training in Hung Gar Kung Fu
 
Basic training in Hung Gar traditionally consists of stance training. That is, a practitioner is required to sit in the Sei Ping Ma (Horse Riding Stance) for an extended period of time which may be up to the time for the burning of one stick of incense, which is usually approximately one hour. However, this sort of training is no longer practical for modern martial arts.
Unlike common misconceptions that the thighs and Kiu Sao (bridge hands) must be parallel to the ground when practicing Hung Gar, in Lam Family Hung Gar the Sei Ping Ma is practiced with the thigh being at an angle to the ground. The other main points to note whilst practicing the horse riding stance are:
(a) The weight must be evenly distributed between the two feet;
(b) The weight must be sunk downwards and the body relaxed;
(c) The two feet must be parallel to one another and pointing forward
(d) The knees must be turned outwards;
(e) The two feet must not be more than double shoulder length apart;
(f) The back must be straight and shoulders back;
(g) Fists must be chambered at the both sides of the waist.
In Lam Family Hung Gar, it is sufficient if a practitioner is able to sit in the Sei Ping Ma adopting the above guidelines for two to five minutes.
The focus in Lam Family Hung Gar is on smooth transition of footwork and agility in footwork. This could be trained by way of forms training or drill training.
Hung Gar may be practiced alone or with a partner. When practicing alone, Hung Gar may be practiced by way of forms or patterns (also know as Kata in Japanese Karate). These are series of movements that the founding fathers of the style have choreographed together so that later generations of practitioners could practice the core movements of the style and develop the key concepts of the style by simply practicing these movements.
A practitioner should remember that the core movements as set out in these forms are concepts only and should not bind limit the freedom of the practitioner in adapting these movements for his or her own use in self defence type situations.
The forms which are practiced in the Lam Family Hung Gar curriculum are as follows:
Some explanations concerning each of these forms are in the following pages.
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