I never seen those pictures, I already heard that Bruce Lee had some lessons in Hung Kuen (not properly learned the style) but always wondered with whom he trained…anyone knows more ?
Wasn’t it a hung gar form/varient he performed for the movie screen testers?
There should be a video of it floating around if you havn’t see it before…
EDIT: video here if it’s new to u:
interesting comments.
That looks like a younger version of GM Frank Yee in the photo. Can anyone confirm?
As for Bruce and HG..I read somewhere that HG was one of the arts which he derided because he felt it was too traditional..
But I’ve heard him refer to “the classical mess” and other perjoratives..but never heard him mention Hung Kuen by name..
not for sure on this but, it may be james lee.
not for sure on this but, it may be james lee.
Definitely not pics of GM Yee Chi-Wai.
Those photos are of Bruce Lee and Taky Kimura, one of his original students.
I think the Frank Yee comment was referring to the partner , guy in blue, maybe?
Not sure, I think it’s taky kimura also, photo from Bruce’s first book … can’t recall the name at…
Btw… I just saw on this Doco where Bruce learned Gung Lek Kune and the end of this clip looks similar to what he demos in the screen test maybe
do a google-taky kimura pics and these will be among them.
Interesting how he talks about the kung fu punch being like the “ball on the end of a chain”. Sort of, but almost like a chain that is thrown out and then a ball magically appears at the end, as the chain reaches its full length.
EO
I have been researching Bruce’s connection to Hung Kuen for some time with little results as far as specifics. He definitely was trained in some of the classical stances and attacking movements (such as the crane beak picture).
Jesse Glover (first student of BL) was asked if in Bruce’s first book “Chinese Gung Fu” if those were karate postures and he said no, they were from the Hung.
Also, Jesse mentions learning a Hung form from Bruce that was very long and Jesse performed this at various demonstrations.
WHO Bruce learned Hung Kuen from I have never been able to find out. He would have learned it in Hong Kong before leaving, so circa 1957-1958. Since his father was a famous man, Bruce could have trained with anybody from a beginner to a seasoned master.
Id love to hear more thoughts on this subject!
In the video I posted above about gung lek keun, 4:20min mark and again at 9:00min mark the end after the wong sheung leung wing chun stuff) You can clearly see the “reverse punch” in the form, as well as a crane like technique, as well that teacher teaches many animal techniques looks like …
So I’m thinking he learnt these Hung like techniques from that teacher in the video or even just from that form.
Now whether or not that teahcer is a Hung Sifu, giggles 
err Hung Gar Sifu or not is a question… but i’m assuming some kind of “shaolin” or “southern shaolin” … Although the first form the teacher does is Northern Praying Mantis O_o … so looks like a mix of styles at the school …
I’m guessing Bruce either learned 1 single form of either Hung Style or had Hung Style like techniques in it rather than actually studied Hung Gar/Kuen
Im curious about the picture posted of Bruce doing a Crane beak attack on Taky Kimura…I know this technique is found in Hung Kuen Crane form, but how do you know its not a technique from White Crane gung fu? Or do both arts have that same attack?
5thBrother,
As far as the form at the 9:43 minute mark where Shiu Hon Sang is re-enacting teaching “Bruce”, I believe that is the Jeet Kune/Jie Quan form found in the Chin Woo Curriculum. There are photos and video of Bruce performing that form all over the place, it seemed to be one of his favorite forms to perform.
I’ll have to look at my notes on Shiu Hon Sang…I know he learned several southern arts including Choy Lay Fut, but I’ll have to double check to see if he got Hung training (Im guessing yes.)
You mention the first form he demonstrates is a Northern Mantis form! Could you tell me the name of it?
I see Shiu Hon Sang demonstrate several movements:
4:21-4:26
4:27-4:30
4:31-4:35
I dont know how familiar you are with various forms, but if you have any ideas of the art/form name, Id love to hear more (That goes for everybody to comment, not just 5thBrother!)
Thanks so much for the posts, please continue! 
[QUOTE=TopCrusader;1141238]Im curious about the picture posted of Bruce doing a Crane beak attack on Taky Kimura…I know this technique is found in Hung Kuen Crane form, but how do you know its not a technique from White Crane gung fu? Or do both arts have that same attack?
[/QUOTE]
Fukien White Crane has it, as does Tibetan White Crane. Techniques from both of those systems were absorbed into Hung-Ga, so it’s all three.
CLF also has it as well…
I’ll ask Jesse (and Taky) the next time I see them..
“but how do you know its not a technique from White Crane gung fu? Or do both arts have that same attack?”
Don’t forget…that Wing Chun was based supposedly on the arts of the snake and crane..
“but i’m assuming some kind of “shaolin” or “southern shaolin” … Although the first form the teacher does is Northern Praying Mantis O_o … so looks like a mix of styles at the school …”
I’ve been told that Bruce studied some southern mantis from GM Gin Foon Mark..but I have no way of confirming that.
I do know that Bruce learned some southern mantis and northern mantis from Master Fook Yeung(another prominent figure in Bruces’ martial arts syllabus who in my opinion gets far too little credit)
Hey, the Northern Mantis form is Bung Bo Kuen … I’ll chekc the video again later
[QUOTE=LaterthanNever;1141448]“but i’m assuming some kind of “shaolin” or “southern shaolin” … Although the first form the teacher does is Northern Praying Mantis O_o … so looks like a mix of styles at the school …”
I’ve been told that Bruce studied some southern mantis from GM Gin Foon Mark..but I have no way of confirming that.
I do know that Bruce learned some southern mantis and northern mantis from Master Fook Yeung(another prominent figure in Bruces’ martial arts syllabus who in my opinion gets far too little credit)[/QUOTE]
I have so many questions I would ask Taky and Jesse its ridiculous! I would overwhelm them LOL!
Bruce definitely learned Bung Bo (Mantis) form from Shiu Hon Sang. He has stated this himself in several interviews. And yes, Bruce did train with Gin Foon Mark, at least according to him. I have yet to come across any source of Bruce telling his early students that he did train with him, but that doesnt really mean anything as Bruce seemed to keep alot of that type of information to himself.
As far as Fook Yueng, I agree completely. There is much not known that should be known about their connection. If only I lived on the west coast…
LaterThanNever,
If you could ask Jesse or Taky about the influence of Hung Kuen on Bruce and his art, that would be fantastic. Id really like to know what form of Hung he taught to Jesse (Tiger/Crane?) and how much of an impact it had on Jun Fan Gung Fu.
Top Crusader,
" And yes, Bruce did train with Gin Foon Mark, at least according to him. I have yet to come across any source of Bruce telling his early students that he did train with him, but that doesnt really mean anything as Bruce seemed to keep alot of that type of information to himself."
Do you know offhand..I read something somewhere that Master Mark used to teach in NYC and for some reason or another..he moved to Minnesota. Was there an explanation for why he left?(maybe he likes the cold weather more?)
“As far as Fook Yueng, I agree completely. There is much not known that should be known about their connection. If only I lived on the west coast…”
Fook Yeung is still alive if you can believe it! As for it not being known..I wonder if they at least have given Fook Yeung an honorable mention in the Ving Tsun museum in Ohio.
“LaterThanNever,
If you could ask Jesse or Taky about the influence of Hung Kuen on Bruce and his art, that would be fantastic.”
Jesse is in Europe for at least another couple of weeks. I’ll see what I can do. You’ve got Master John Leongs’ school in Seattle too, but I don’t think Jesse learned any Hung from Master Leong and I’m somewhat having a doubting feeling that Bruce learned from Leong either. Taky is a hard guy to reach..he’s a rather private person(so is Jesse)…
“Id really like to know what form of Hung he taught to Jesse (Tiger/Crane?) and how much of an impact it had on Jun Fan Gung Fu.”
I couldn’t say. Keep in mind, Bruce also had a 2nd school in Oakland, CA so he could have learned some HG sets in Cali as well.
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Gin Foon Mark:
No idea why he moved. Believe it or not there are some people in the Jun Fan/JKD Community who dont believe that Bruce really did train with GFM and that he made it all up. At this point its hard to prove unless a photo exists of the two of them together or if the Lee estate still has some of the Jook Lum Mantis manuals he was supposedly given by GFM. I personally believe the story, but I have heard that in some peoples minds there are some questions. Its worth looking into.
Fook Yueng: No idea about the Ving Tsun museum. I actually live decently close to it so I plan to visit it someday soon. Red Boat Wing Chun, at least the kind Fook Yueng brought to Seattle is an interesting variant compared to Ip Man Wing Chun. A point of interest for me is what elements of Red Boat did Bruce absorb into his Jun Fan? Again, hard to say at this point but worth researching.
Back on topic to Hung Kuen 
:
I am hypothesizing that Bruce got most of his Hung training in Hong Kong before coming to the states and then in Seattle, or perhaps when he went back to Hong Kong in 1963 (he was there for many months and had plenty of time to train). He also spent some more time with Shiu Hon Sang on his trip back in 1963, so they could have trained more then.
By the time Bruce was in Oakland and especially LA, I think Hung Kuen was towards the back of his mind as he was evolving into what many know JKD now today. Jun Fan Gung Fu was as much of a flowing “process” as JKD was truly, so its hard to pinpoint and say “This is what Jun Fan is” just like its hard to do that with JKD. But by most definitely 1967-68 there is a definite switch to a more alive, fluid, savate/boxing/wingchun/fencing structure that continued to be modified and refined.
The biggest influence of Hung Kuen on Bruce and his art would be 1958 to 1965 in my opinion. The specifics to that is what needs to be uncovered.
Thanks for the posts, I hope to read more!
Siu Honsang was also a Hung Ga Kyun master, so i bet Bruce has picked up some moves from him. i doubt he has learned any set (he has leraned Bang Bou, Gung Lik Kyu and Jit Kyun from him if i remember correctly)
well, anyway, everybody in Hong Kong who does some gungfu can show a Wing Cheun pose, CLF Gwa Saau Chaap of Tiger/Crane pose