Have you ever held an interest in the martial arts, whether openly or in secret, but have never taken a class before? The reasons why many never explore their interest in training are innumerable for sure, but I have often heard people say, "How can I know that the martial style or even the instructor are right for me?" Quite frankly this is a legitimate question. Some schools require the new student to sign contracts that lock them in to six-month or even one-year commitments. Most new students are wise enough to ask the question, "Well what if I don't like it?" Another example is the student that quickly figures out that the particular style is not suitable for their specific athletic ability (i.e. not challenging enough or too difficult to learn). It's not uncommon for many martial artists to sample different styles or instructors before they find "The Way" or the art that suits them best. It's for certain though that if you truly are interested there is a Dojo or Kwoon for you.

Before you decide on a particular school, do some research on the internet, or even better yet go watch a class. Compare the teaching methodology of one instructor to another. Also ask yourself, "Do I want traditional martial instruction or do I just want to learn fighting techniques?"

There is no time better to investigate your curiosity then the present. So get out there and satisfy that lingering desire to learn new skills in a manner that has proven health benefits!

Hung-gar Kuen...what is it?

China, during the late 18th Century, the Fukien Shaolin Temple opened its doors to laymen for the first time in order to thwart the oppressive Chin'g Dynasty. One of these lay followers was a tea merchant named Hung Hei-kwoon. He studied for many years under a Shaolin monk who taught him the fierce Shaolin Tiger form of kung-fu. Hung Hei-kwoon was an exceptional martial artist who always sought ways to improve his skill. After he left the temple he married a woman who was also a master of the White Crane system of Shaolin kung-fu. It should be noted that women were not excluded from Shaolin, in fact they were encouraged. Hung Hei-kwoon incorporated his wife's famous White Crane kung-fu with his Tiger system thus creating a powerful offensive form of martial arts with incredible evasive capabilities. He then added movements from Dragon, Leopard, and Snake forms of Shaolin kung-fu along with those of the five element fists. When it was all said and done the creator of Hung-gar had produced a very complete system of fighting.

Later on in the mid-19th Century a legendary martial artist emerged named Wong Fei-Hung, a man who is revered in China even today for his strict use of the martial arts for the purpose of  protecting the weak. Wong Fei-Hung was in the kung-fu lineage of Hung Hei-kwoon. He eventually fine tuned the Hung-gar curriculum as did his most famous student Lam Sai-wing. During the time of Wong Fei-Hung he was known as one of the "Ten Tigers of Kwantung" or in other words one of the ten best martial artists in all of Canton. As of date there are more than 100 films dedicated to Wong Fei-Hung and his legendary Hung-gar kung-fu, most noteably the "Once Upon a Time in China" series starring Jet Li.

Contrary to popular belief, Hung-gar kung-fu is the most famous martial art in Southern China, not the Wing Chun style that was made famous by the legendary Bruce Lee here in the United States during the early 1960's. Nor is Lee's own hybrid creation of fighting known as Jeet-Kune-Do aka "Way of the Intercepting Fist".

Hung-gar Kuen aka "Hung Family Fist" is a highly effective and efficent system of self-defense and a superior form of body building.