My impressions of Hung Gar Kung Fu so far

[ammocase]

Its crazy. I was mainly a karate guy, i trained in shotokan karate an kickboxing.It did not prepare me for this particular sifus style of Kung Fu. I will also state that i was never a fan of kung fu, but lately i've been watching a lot of kung fu movies an it paved the way for me to try out some kung fu.

I am currently recovering from a sprained ankle, so i have a lot of limitations in my training within the kwoon. First Hung gar school i went to try out wasnt so tough. But the one im in NOW 9 an the one i joined ) has us doing 3 sets of 50 push ups two times on piles of bricks, all together it would be 300 push ups on bricks... then we would pile bricks on our legs an hold it there while our sifu stands on us for what seemed like hours. Then we finished off with a horse stance for 30 minutes.... with of course.. BRICKS on our thighs adding weight. Very hardcore.. as i type this my fists are blood red an my body is sore all over.

Most of the routines is odd to me, with all the odd wide attacks of kung fu. The weapons an forms are beautiful. I just hope my body gets used to the push ups... thats the only tough part to me... an the horse stance training.

[TenTigers]

wide attacks? explain.

[ammocase]

More like indirect attacks. In karate it was straight direct point a to point b strikes. Only attack we did that wasnt "straight" was the hook punch, some side back fist strikes, but they were never wide like in kung fu, yesterday we were doing these wide swinging strikes while torquing around our hips.

[gwa sow]

i study choy lay fut but it has a some of the same kind of strikes. a lot of people have trouble when they start with those wide swinging strikes. they feel real weird at first. keep practicing and you'll get it.

[TenTigers]

it's all in how you apply it. Knowing the strikes and knowing when, why, and how to use them is what will make them effective. Just as in all MA, skills mean nothing until you understand how to use them, and make them fit, make them real.
The worst thing in the world is watching someone try to land these by using them incorectly. I've seen WC guys try to close using chain punches and get nailed before they are within striking range. I've seen HG guys try to land element punches and get hit before they get the strike out. I've seen TKD guys get nailed trying to throw roundhouse kicks, or get jammed. Learn to recognize the difference.
If you are at a school that teaches all these technniques, but when they fight are doing something else entirely, it is a sure sign that the teacher does not honestly understand his art.