5 Elements

[blackmantis]

Hello,

I don't practise Hung Gar, but my Xingyi teacher used to practise it and I've always had a lot of respect for the system. I was just wondering if there is there a similarity between Xingyi's 5 Elements and Hung Gar's 5 Elements?

Any thoughts?

S

[PM]

both are based on traditional chinese wu xing/ng hang theory, but the techniques and concepts are different.

Hung kyun five elements techniques use purely fist techniques. practical and not to complicated southern style boxing.

gold/metal (gam) - horizontal/vertical splitting backfist strikes (fan gam kyun, gold splitting strike)

wood (muk) - short range simultaneous block and strike (gap muk cheui, wood squeezing punch)

water (seui) - long range "scissor" swinging technique (seui long cheui, water wave strike)

fire (fo) - long range continuous straight punches (fo jin cheui, fire arow punches)

earth (tou) - upward rising back fist strikes (tou paau cheui, earth throwing strike)

you can see those "five elements" of Hung Kyun here (in the beginning, there are "five animals"):

http://www.lghk.org/videos/lghk.org_LCHS_syk.wmv

performed by my sifu, Grandmaster Lam Chun Sing (Lam Jansing), the youngest son of Grandmaster Lam Jou

by the way, having some friends doing xing yi or yi quan, i really like wu xing quan of xing yi quan system - direct, useful and no-nosense techniques.

all the best

[ftgjr]

I have just started my journey into xingyi a few months ago but can tell you that the energy of the 5 elements in both systems is similar. The motions may vary, but the priniples are the same.

XINGYI
Metal= splitting like an axe
Wood=crushing
Fire=Pounding
Water=drilling
Earth=crossing

HUNG GAR
Metal=splitting and punishing blows
Wood=Simultaneous block and strike
Fire=Rapid straight punch
Water=long swinging upward movement
Earth=From the ground

Some of the explanations of the elements may vary from school to school, but the principles are similar.