CCKSF Election Results

2 members of the National Fut Gar Kung Fu Training Centre were elected for another term with the CCKSF executive.

CCKSF 2008 Election results

The C.C.K.S.F. held its seventh general election in Toronto on January 27th, 2008, Sunday.
6-21 Progress Avenue, City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, Canada M1P 4S6.


CCKSF 2008 President and Chairman Voting results:
President : John Lee
Chairman : William Kan
Vice President : Nelson Chan; Simon Leung;
Bruce Kinney; Tim Mrazek; Richard Chow
Vice Chairman: Henry Lo; Liza Lee; Zhifa Luo
Treasurer: Nelson Chan
Secretary: Nelson Chang; William Kan
Public Relations: Isaac Han; Wing Pong Chan;
Simon Leung; Jian Ping Ding; Nelson Chang
Recreation: Nelson Chang; Chiwai Lee
Honorary Senior members : Philip Mo ; Jimmy Chan ;
Chan Kwok ; Steve Ang ; Rong En Chen ;
Gordon Lee
Overseas counselor : JuBin Zhou ; Chen JinXia
Computer Department : Wing Pong Chan ;
Nelson Chan
Accountant : Robert Chan


Note:
Definition of Honorary Senior member : must be a CCKSF member, served at least 20 years, with age over sixty.

Fighting During Grading - What Are You Testing?

Many Martial Arts schools employ some sort of grading system to promote students up their rankings. These gradings can lead to a new belt/sash, promotion in title or simply a level or increase within the system. Often the grading process includes fighting to determine that the student is able to fight at an adequate level for promotion. I have seen gradings where there does not seem to be a purpose to them. What are we testing in our gradings? Within my school we actually have a few things that we are testing during the fighting portion of the grading:

• We try to determine that the student is able to defend themselves in a pressure situation.
• We try to press the student to ensure that they are able to control their emotions (fear, anger, doubt, etc.)
• We test to see how the student is able to control their techniques in full speed, pressure situations where emotions are trying to take over.
• We try to ensure that the students get a small taste of how things are in a real fight whether they are winning or losing.
• We test how students adjust and think through the different scenarios that are presented in the grading.
• We ensure that the student is able to use legitimate techniques in the fights.
• We make sure that the student has a very good chance of succeeding in a confrontation.
  

Our team of instructors all went through this to get to where they are today. All of us have these goals in mind as we train the next set of instructors.

Life Gets In the Way

Over the past 20 years of teaching Kung Fu, one of the most frustrating things that needs to be accepted is that life gets in the way. Today's Kung Fu instructor lives a difficult life. You need to develop your students to the best of your ability knowing that in the end very few will actually persist and make it through to your highest level. I have been fortunate enough to have several students that have trained with me since the beginning and still attend classes. I have however seen more than my share of talented, enthusiastic, promising students leave for various reasons outside of my control....life gets in the way.

It was probably much easier in the past when students lived at the school, trained with their instructors, acted as a family and worked together to support the school. Your instructor provided for you and in turn you were the loyal student.

In today's world we deal with losing students to family commitments, careers commitments, relocation and school commitments. Students have many more choices of what to do with their spare time...catch a movie or go to class, dinner with friends or go to class, go to The Home Show (sorry, had to sneak this one in there for one of the students - you know who you are) or go to class, etc. There are also many more sporting activities to choose from. Once again, life gets in the way.

The bottom line is Kung Fu takes effort, dedication and commitment. It is not the easiest path to take. The students that make it through to becoming an instructor probably think of packing it in many times before they get to that point. As the guide, the instructor can only teach and hope that the student will stick it out.

This seemed like an appropriate topic tonight as I sit here and take a break from studying for an exam in a course I don't want to take (and doubt I will ever apply) because some association has decided that it is relevant to the profession and is mandatory if you ever want to be certified (which I am not sure I even want). In fact, I had to miss teaching class tonight to do this. I have decided that this is about as enjoyable as horse stance training but possibly as necessary so will continue to study until the wee hours of the morning. Tonight....life is getting in the way.

The Techniques of Loong Chin Gim

In Fut Gar Kung Fu there is one straight sword (gim) form. This is the Loong Chin Gim or Dragon Well Sword form. The list of the moves contained in the form are:

1. Start
2. Left Hanging Stance
3. Immortal Pointing the Road
4. Goddess Giving Flowers
5. Kick, Hop, Dotting Sword with One Knee Up
6. Upper Thrust
7. Sweep Grass to Search for Snakes
8. Dragon Coming Out of the Sea
9. Horizontal Sweep
10. Golden Chicken Standing on One Leg
11. Golden Scissors (3 Times)
12. Old Immortal Carrying the Sword
13. Search Water for Fish
14. Female Stance, Upper Thrust
15. Golden Chicken Standing on One Leg
16. Twisted Body Forward Stab
17. Golden Chicken Standing on One Leg
18. Twisted Body Forward Stab
19. Back Leg Lift, Downward Chop
20. Lady Going Around (3 Times)
21. Tiger Stretching
22. Turn Around, Lady Combing Hair
23. Open Window (& Look At The Moon)
24. Horizontal Sweep, Right Bow Stance, Cut Upward
25. Turn Around, Forward Thrust
26. Horizontal Sweep, Right Bow Stance, Cut Upward
27. Turn Around, One Leg Stance, Forward Thrust
28. Back Leg Lift, Downward Chop
29. Golden Chicken Standing on One Leg
30. Small Steps, Circular Walk
31. Female Stance, Upper Thrust
32. Devil Going Under the Sea
33. Tiger Jumps Across River (3 Times)
34. Back Leg Lift, Downward Chop
35. Lady Going Around (3 Times)
36. Hop, Lady Combing Hair
37. Turn Around (With Cut), Golden Scissors (3 Times)
38. Tiger Stretching
39. Snowflakes Over Head
40. Finish

The Hand Forms of Fut Gar Kung Fu

Leung Tin Chiu's Fut Gar Kung Fu is still taught in its entirety by his disciple Chen Rong En. I was fortunate enough to become a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Rong En and learn all the forms in the style. Here is a list of the empty hand forms in the Fut Gar Kung Fu style that are designed to teach all the techniques of the style.

• Sup Bat Lohan - 18 Arhats
• Siu Bat Sin - Small 8 Immortals
• Dai Bat Sin - Large 8 Immortals
• Siu Lin Wan - Small Connection
• Dai Lin Wan - Large Connection
• Maang Fu Ha San - Fierce Tiger Descending Mountain
• Say Hung Fook Fu - 4 Heroes Taming Tiger
  
• Chin Jaang - Entire Elbow
• Loong Fu Seung Voy - Dragon Tiger Meeting (in Conference)
• Tai Gee Kuen - Prince's Form
• Gee Mo Kiu - Son and Mother Bridge

Some of these forms also have other name (nicknames) such as Dragon Claws (Loong Jow) for Chin Jaang but they are definitely the same forms. Although not all are contained in the curriculum for our school, all these forms will be taught to students over time. It is likely some time after the students become instructors that they would learn the forms not taught in the core curriculum.

The Traditional Way to Learn Fighting in Kung Fu?

In today's Kung Fu schools, you will often see free sparring as part of the training. This is the way that many classes practice fighting. Although this is not ideal, it is a way to simulate having an attacker who has some level of Martial Arts ability. I once had an old instructor watching classes who commented that in his day they would never do free sparring. In his school they trained on individual techniques from their forms and followed that up with 2 person set exercises that simulated a specific attack. Through constant repetition they were able to train their bodies to react in a certain way to an attack. I prefer free-sparring as a training method but do have some thoughts about the differences.

• Free sparring does not necessarily teach your style. Unfortunately, I have seen too many schools that teach free sparring as more of a kick-boxing style that incorporates none of the techniques in their forms. Free sparring without use of your style's techniques is useless.
  
• Free sparring does not allow for practice of all techniques, especially dangerous techniques such as throat punches.
• Free sparring is easier to use today due to the availability of good protective equipment. Years ago there may not have been the same equipment available and therefore some of the practice could not be done safely.
• Practice of individual techniques is a great way to train your body to react to specific attacks. I think it is great practice but does not involve different ways that lead to that situation. More is needed if you do not use free sparring (longer 2 person sequences or 2 person forms).
• In Fut Gar Kung Fu and our school we do have 2 person sequences that are quite complex that incorporate some of the more important techniques. These are fun and interesting but do not cover all techniques. Other training is necessary to complete the training.
• Free sparring taught properly will allow students to incorporate the techniques of your style. Unfortunately, there is work needed in many schools to train students not to hesitate to try new things. Most students are afraid to try new techniques because they are afraid to embarrass themselves or get hit while trying the techniques. Sparring should be done in most cases as a no winner situation so the fear is eliminated.