VINH XUAN NGO GIA HOANG PHAP

Nguyen Quy Jacques, Dufresne Thomas

Due to the films and books we learned about a man named Hoang Phi Hong and Hung Gar martial art school. The first film was shot in 1949, with Quan Due Hung as the main character. Another film shot in China in 1991-1993, revived this character in the memory of the martial arts adepts.

In Hong Kong at the end of 70th, producer and martial arts master Luu Gia Luong (born in 1936) shot a number of films on the same topic – about Thieu Lam Tu, ancient monastery widely known in China with its martial arts teaching, about Hung Gar School and about master Hoang Phi Hong. Before this time Luu Gia Luong worked as a martial arts advisor in the films of the producer Truong Triet, the most popular among them was Phuong The Ngoc & Hong Íó Quan... Luu Gia Luong invented many effective combat movements for those films relying on the Hung Gar techniques. Luc A Thai & Hoang Phi Hong, “Stone Wizard” (Than Da)... People who watched those films attentively could notice that some stands belonged to the Ten Stands from the Hung Gar Chanh Tong teaching – Truthfully Inherited Hung Gar Teaching. So, Hung Gar teaching can not be just the product of any author’s imagination, it is a martial art which has its roots in ancient times and which traditionally belongs to the 5 great martial arts schools from Quang Dong province, Guangzhou: Hung Gar, Ly Gar, Luu Gar, Ěîc Gar, Thai Gar.
 
According to the legends, Hung Gar teaching took its origin from Hong Íó Quan – a well-known person from Thieu Lam Thap Ho – 10 Tigers of the Thieu Lam pagoda, the disciple of Chi Thien Thien Su – good thinking monk-teacher. The only and the most ancient trace of Hong Íó Quan was found in the tale Can Long Tuan Hanh Giang Nam Ky – Notes about the emperor Can Long’s journey to the Giang Nam lands, published at the end of the XIX century. So, Hong Hy Quan is known only as a book-character from the Can Long’s period (1736-1796yy), nevertheless, due to the assumptions of different martial arts masters Hung Gar teaching exists for almost 2 thousand years.
 
Let’s return to the legend. After the fire in Thieu Lam pagoda Hong Hy Quan escaped to the Quang Dong province and imparted his knowledge to Luc A Thai. Luc A Thai taught Hoang Thai. After Hoang Thai, the Hung Gar teaching was conceived by Hoang Ky Anh, XIX c. – from Quang Dong Thap Ho – 10 Tigers form Quang Dong province. Hoang Ky Anh was contemporary of Thiet Kieu Tam. The favorite disciple of Hoang Ky Anh was his son Hoang Phi Hong (1847-1924) – a prominent master from the Quang Dong province of the end of the XIX c.
 
We assume that Hung Gar teaching comes from three people: Luc A Thai, Hoang Ky Anh and Luong Hon (1813 - 1886), called himself Thiet Kieu Tam. (See genealogical tree).

According to the notes we have, Hoang Phi Hong was a disciple of Luc A Thai. It was also mentioned in the film “Luc A Thai and Hoang Phi Hong” shot by Luu Gia Luong in 1976. Hoang Phi Hong had a lot of students in Quang Dong province, and Lam The Vinh was one of them. He was a great master and the author of three books: Cong Tu Ho Quyen, Ho Song Hinh Quyen, Thiet Tuyen Quyen, published in 1920.
 
In China, in 60-s, this trend (Hung Gar teaching) was one of the fundamentals for a modern teaching known as Nam Quyen or Nam Quan and many others. At present, Hung Gar teaching is popular in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, America, Europe, Viet Nam and Russia.
 
Hung Gar appeared in Viet Nam at the very beginning of the XX century. It was popularized by such master as Huynh Thuan Quy, 7-1973 in Cho Lon – Chinese District in Saigon: 5th and 6th districts.

Hung Gar genealogical tree:

• Quyen: Fist, boxing. Often used as a part of the martial art style or a trend name.
• Chieu: effective complex of pose-motion.
• Gar – the pronunciation depends on a province: it can be Zia, Jia, Cia:  family – Vietnamese word with a Chinese origin. It means usually a group of people or close corporation where all the members are closely connected to each other like in the family and strictly follow its rules.

1. «Cong Tu Phuc Ho Quyen»,
2. «Tiger-crane fist-forms pair»,
3. Five forms of the fist,
4. Fist of the ten forms,
5. Fists tangent.

Lam The Vinh gave us the description of the exercises: Mai Hoa Quyen, Luu Za Quyen, Suien Tam Chuong, Ho Diep Chuong, so you can imagine five basic Hung Gar exercises.

Pay attention to the main theme of the film “Phuong The Ngoc and Hong Íó Quan” and you’ll see two exercises, known as “Cong Tu Phuc Ho Quyen” and “Ho Hac Song Hinh Quyen”. They were corrected and expanded by Luu Gia Luong. These exercises were presented by Pho Thanh and Chan Cuang Thai, actors, who became very popular in China after the film was shown.  

1) Exercise «Cong Tu Phuc Ho Quyen»

The whole exercise is being demonstrated due to the letter Cong formula and basic forms of the school as Mi Nhan Shieu Kihn, Bang Thu, Ho Dien Shiuong. Bac Xa Ho Tain and Ho Chao Phan, grab the opponents arm and retaliate to the center line. Students train strength by exercising their tendons and using special breathing method. This exercise consists of four parts, so only advanced level students can practice it.

2) Exercise «Ho Hac Song Hinh Quyen»

Most of the adepts assume that Ho Hac Song Hihn Quyen was created by Hoang Phi Hong. The main attention in this exercise is paid to Ho Quyen (tiger fist) and Hac Quyen (crane fist). In almost all Hung Gar exercises you can develop your strength and learn how to use it. In Ho Hac Song Hihn Quyen (Tiger-crane fist-forms pair) you stand at the same place, but your arms move quickly changing various positions so you can improve your tiger and crane techniques. For example, Hac Khui Cham Chan (crane pecks), Doc Cuoc Phi Hac (crane stretches wing and kicks). Demonstrating Ho Quyen (tiger fist) you stand in Ho Chao in zodiac part Tien Ma and Ti Ngo Ma and you move in eight directions. The complex embodies and combines (“Tuy Tuu Bat Tien”) intrepid tiger and adroit crane.  

3) Five forms of the fist.

This lesson is divided into five parts in the following order: Dragon Fist, Snake fist, Tiger fist, Panther and Crane fists. In the film you can see that the dragon fist is not used in fighting but it is not right. In this exercise you have to use all your body, your tendons and bones work combined with the appropriate breath in Da Dien in low stands. You have to use your backbone. All the punches are made in three stands “Nhi Tu Kiem Duong Ma”, “Tu Binh Ma” and “Kung Tien Ma”. We recommend you not to use motions “Vinn Xuan Quyen Tan” with “Nhi Tu Kiem Duong Ma” in friendly fights. Training Tiger and Crane fists combining them with the Snake fist is extremely important. You work with your fingers uninterruptedly, it gives you an opportunity to hit the opponents body at the upper, middle and lower levels. The motions look like you are shaking your hands. Panther fist is used for effective punching techniques. You hit with four finger phalanxes and slightly touch Luong Quyen, making a big combo both at the upper and lower levels.    

4) Fist of the ten forms

This exercise is made of five animal powers (tiger, crane, snake, panther and dragon) and five elements of cosmogony (five elements in Chinese philosophy are fire, water, wood, earth and metal). Kim Quyen (metal fist) style uses slow punches made arduously – it increases your strength. Metal fist techniques contain short punches and synchronous blocks. Thui Quyen (water fist), while practicing this technique your hands use both fast rhythmic and smooth movements. One hand moves forward and the other – backwards, just like the waves, attacking the shore. Fire fist takes its characteristic features from the flame, so it is the unpredictable combination of the fast and slow attacks. You attack with your both fists. One hand can attack twice or even more times in a row. Earth fist uses low punches and all attacks are mostly directed bottom-up.   

5) Fists tangent

This exercise makes you use your tendons, your breath moves to the lower Da Dien, your backbone works hard while changing stands. This exercise increases strength and resistance. You partially use Dragon Fist. While practicing five forms of the fist you have to make many other co-exercises. You must train your inhalation and exhalation (Ha Ha, T’ich, Hj, Hu…) not less than for half an hour. In these exercises, created by Lam The Vihn we can see the influence of the Northern schools – you move your fist and palm to the left side after the bow. These positions are called Tuen Phong Cuoc and Zao Tien Cuoc. 

Weapons

The school has the following weapons for exercising: Hau Con, Luu Za Kon, Ngu Lang Bat Quai Kon, Doi Da Kon, Tu Mau Song Dao, Phan Quai Dao, Mai Hoa Thap Tu Tu Thuong, Suan Thu Dai Dai Dao, Mai Holl Tham Tiet Tien, Mai Hoa Song Tam Tiet Tien.

It is said that film “Luu Gia Luong” presented in 1984 could have been named like an exercise “Ngu Lang Ban Quai Kon”. There is also a story, that the fifth son “Ngu Lang” (master of the spear) of the Duong family was practicing this exercise secretly, because his family was rather religious, so he used a stuff instead of a spear and trained techniques in all eight directions. So, while practicing you also can use a stuff to make blocks in eight directions with your waist, torso and wrist in order to avoid or to destroy enemy’s attacking positions. In this exercise you use three positions, and pay attention to your hand’s power. Repeat this complex not less then 12 times.   

Fighting technique of the Northern Lands influence moving techniques of the spear, you hold the spear in the left hand. Many students presume that this technique belongs to Lam The Vinh.

Comments:
Due to the ancient legends, which came to us from the past at the beginning of our epoch (somewhere in 200-400 years) there was a master in India, who’s name is lost in times. Some people say that he was one of the Buddha’s reincarnations. He had two brilliant students, who were from the noble families. One was named as Da Mo (Dat Ma Su To), also known as Bodhidharma, another Thai Thuong Lao Quan. Each of them chose his own way. As we know now, Da Mo stopped in the Shaolin monastery where he developed his teaching known as Chan-Bauddhisme (Zen). Lao Quan had his practices at the La Phu Mountain in the Quadoung province. He was one of the Taoism followers. Centuries gone and now we have two great branches founded by the great master and presented by the prominent kung-fu masters. One of them, we belong to, is called Hong-Gia and it is the school of Thai Thuong Lao Quan. Another, which comes from Da Mo is presented by such schools as «Hung-Gar», «Luu Car», «Chîy Gar», «Ly Gar», «Moc Gar». In this article authors speak about Hung Gar School, which is our distant relative. Many people confuse this school with Hong-Gia because of the similar spelling and pronunciation, but these are different schools. Nevertheless, we tried to show that these schools are related.