Is there a difference between these two? Or is it more of a regional thing. I ask for probably the silliest of reasons. I am currently looking for a uniform. I went to an online site, andd then to their fine selections of Southern style uniforms. On a whim, I decided to look through the Northern style uniforms and that’s where I saw a “Hung Ga” uniform, with the long sleeves indicative of northern style practicioners. I understand that clothes are clothes, and I could practice in sweats and tennis shoes if my sifu allowed it, but it got me wondering if there was a difference between Hung Ga and Hung Gar.
you say ga, i say gar
It is the same character in Chinese - it’s just hard to spell. In cantonese, it’s sounds something between gah and gar - the ‘r’ sound is very faintly voiced. Just to be more confusing, in mandarin, it’s hong jia.
Thank you!
Thanks for clearing that up. I really appreciate it.
Jables:
I now understand better the type of kung fu you’re training in. It is those ones where you have to dress in the appropriate costume to please your sifu. But to come into class dressed in a northern kung fu uniform in a southern kung fu class, your sifu would surely be very crossed with you.
As it is I’m sure sifu already quite displeased for changing your status from junior member on this forum to black tiger with her permission!
Becareful, sifu could br very stern and have you disaplined so serverly that you’ll be on all fours screaming and begging for her mercy. But I’m sure sifu would be well experienced not to go beyond what you can bare. when she is staisfied that you have learned the lesson on how to be an obidient student, she would bring out her kung fu and take great pleasure in training you the martial way. When her kung fu works you over and over again internally, you’ll feel the chi build within you and acknowledge the power of sifu. Only when sifu is satisfied with your achievement during the class session would you be permitted to release your chi.
After such an exhausting session, you should thank sifu for her diligence and probably come back for more the next day.
It’s called professionalism. If you wear a uniform, you wear the proper uniform. Try wearing whatever in the service and see how you fare. Wear those assinine chili pepper trousers and a baseball cap in my kitchen rather than houndstooth checks and a toque and see if I don’t talk you like an ignorant dog. If your part of a team or class, you dress and act like the rest of the team or class. If you want to be an individual you do it on your own time.
guohuen:
From your perspective, you should subject yourself to be trained like sheep. Obviously all you’ll need is to wear something practical, rembering that 13th c china didn’t have Nike trainers like we do today.
If your sifu says otherwise, don’t be frightened to tell him to “get with the times boy (you ignorant dog)”.
gentlemen,hahahaha
there are only uniforms in martial arts but in kung fu you are naked.
uniform is “standard dress”. If you school has one, get that. If you want clothing to work out your kung fu in, then loose pants and a tee shirt are enough.
peace
Ego, you ignorant dog
You sad, bitter, little man. You don’t understand anything. As evidenced by your posts on 2 threads that I started. But that is really your strong suit. You post out of ignorance and try to hijack threads from their original intention. You have no proof, yet you continue to post this garbage that you call truth. Your inflamatory remarks about my Sifu are all proof of this. You know nothing. You have no skill. And you are nothing, as far as I’m concerned.
Just because sleeves are long doesn’t mean that the uniform is “Northern” as opposed to “Southern”.
Any REAL kung fu professional who actually trains at a high level would tell you that the art is in the person that practices it, not in the clothes he wears.
If your teacher allows you to be an individual in your dressing patterns, then go ahead and do as your teacher allows.
Costumes
If a school insist on students wearing a uniform, it begs the question as to why we’re training in clothes and shoes that we won’t be fighting in - unless of course you wear that kung fu out fit in the streets.
Also rembering that professionalism is best practice as opposed to best dressed. Beginners like Jables have a lot to learn.
In the recent war in Afgan, the special forces from the US and UK dressed in a way to blend into the local surroundings. They may look scruffy but they are as ever bit as professional as soldiers can get. Uniforms or lack there of serve a purpose. If the school is truly intent on teaching combat techniques, there is no room for trival issues like who is not wearing “the traditional gear”.
If your sifu is padentic about such things, you must question as to whether he / she has the right focus in mind?
Those are formal clothes ego to honor the masters of the past and their customs as a chinese person you should know that.
well this thread detoured, didn’t it?
The wearing of a unifrom is largely symbolic, to show unity of the school and to provide a liminal state for the individual practitioner. By putting on your uniform, it signifies a transition into that special place - our martial arts practice. Here the rules change from our normal day-to-day life. We can punch and kick our friends and classmates with the knowledge that it is part of our mutual practice. Once we take off the uniforms, we return to our normal lives. Now surely there is some practicality to wearing street clothes every once in a while, just so you get the feel of it. But there more utility in wearing uniforms for the psycholoicgal role it serves.
And I generally consider my self a northern stylist, but will go sleeveless when it is hot enough.
Still the Ego?
Wow I can’t believe that guy’s still around, and as bitter as a sour orange.
EGOS DEFLATE!!!
Beginner’s mind is the ESSENCE OF MASTERY.
That’s a heck of a compliment you gave Jables, Ego!
In fact, I’d go so far as to say that his willingness to try new things is the example to which top-level martial artists should aspire.
I also agree with the questioning of things. Everything should be questioned.
Remember this, Ego. Every person has a lot to learn, but it’s the INCOMPETENT who would use that to degrade others.
Keep that in mind.
Northernmantis:
Being chinese or not is irrelevant. Honoring dead masters is futile. You learn kung fu to stay alive not to honor the dead. Sifus who insist on adhering to tradition have in my opinion out lived their usefullness. BJJ has taughted us that one can learn to fight without the cultural baggage.
When you next go to your kung fu class, please demolish that g@d d@mn shrine and refocus yourself on the fighting techniques you’re trying to achieve.
Geneching:
You’re better off wearing protective gear instead of that silk uniform which will do a lot for you in hard sparring. And clicking your heels 3 times would also transport you to that special place!
HuangKaiVun:
I don’t doubt that you can be a beginner and gain mastery over a wooden dummy in a sparring match.
Poor Ego
It’s not your fault that you are so bitter and frustrated. You can’t help but to act out against people you know are correct with your lies and ignorance. But as you are ignorant, you don’t know any better, and therefore should be pitied rather than reviled. So go ahead Ego, you say whatever you feel like saying. It’ll be all better after you say it and we’ll all move on to real conversation after you’ve said whatever lie or ignorant statement that you’ve made. Much like the child who is ignored after an outburst. Go ahead and soak up the attention while you can during this outburst. That way the rest of the adults can continue their conversation.
super ego
Actually I seldom wear silks, usually cotton or hemp. Now I prefer these - http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/11kunfuunkun1.html .
But back to your initial intent, is it just about fighting for you then? Why wear protective gear if your that into it? I’m sure you can find a fight club and go for real. Or just go mix it up in a dive bar. That would certainly give you more credence then posting here on a web forum.
In fact, Ego, why don’t you come and see ME?
Let’s see how awful I really am.
Give me some contact information so that we can make this happen.
GeneChing
Same reason as why soldiers do not train by shooting each other with live rounds. does that answer your question?
Huangkaivun:
I don’t doubt that you have mastered sparring against a wooden dummy. I think by now you’ll be quite proficient at it.