Lau Kar Leung - 28 July 1934 – 25 June 2013

Well, what can you say (that hasn't already been said by better and more knowledgeable than me!) about the sad news of the passing of LEGENDARY fight choreographer/director and Hung Ga Sifu Lau Kar Leung? All I can say is how sad I was to hear the news and just state that he was the MAIN reason that I started training in Chinese Martial Arts.
It was after watching the region 3 Celestial/IVL dvd release of Challenge of The Masters that I decided to get off my fat arse and find a Southern Kung Fu class. Unfortunately I was unable (at the time) to find a Hung Kuen class but I did manage to find a class that taught Lau Gar Kuin (a hybrid southern style of kung fu). This led me 5 years later to start studying Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis kung fu, a style that is now the only system that I train in. If it wasn't for watching Challenge Of The Masters (and all the other Shaw Brothers movies he either choreographed or directed) I wouldn't be where I am now. For that Lau Sifu, I thank you with all my heart!!

Also don't forget the influence that Lau Kar Leung has had on kung fu practitioners around the world.

What I will do is post a few links to tributes to the MASTER of Hong Kong Kung Fu Cinema as they have done a far better job of it than I could ever of dream of doing.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201117360192577&set=a.1540528269587.2074451.1126337130&type=1

http://www.avclub.com/articles/rip-lau-karleung-legendary-martial-arts-choreograp,99429/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hong-kong-director-lau-kar-574372

http://www.kungfucinema.com/news/lau-kar-leung-1936-2013

this final link has the Lau Kar Leung Appreciation Society facebook page. Thanks to Chris Mercer for this!!

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/190065781154478/

Good Lesson

Had a good lesson tonight. Making the most of the gorgeous weather my Teacher took me through Doy Chong followed by various 2 man chongs: Soc Sau, Gau Choi, Man Dan, Moot Sau, Elbow picking hand. We then followed this with the staff fighting form (which is good fun!).
After this we went through the 36 Section 2 Man fighting Form and ended on some lovely chy sau.
Really enjoyed the lesson tonight. Got home and had a snack of Chorizo and Peppered Salami washed down with some ice cold Erdinger Weissbrau.

Complete Iron Palm Method DVD Review

Sifu Chris Lomas, a student of James McNeil shows you  his method to develop "Iron Palm". This 2 dvd set comprises training and conditioning exercises and combat applications of the Iron Palm.

 This is an excellent dvd set. It takes you through it step by step to develop Iron Palm. Disc 1 comprises all you need to train your Iron palm from how to fill your Iron Palm bag to use of Iron Palm liniment, striking the bag, massage and chi kung exercises. It also includes supplementary conditioning exercises to help you to train your Iron Hand effectively.
Disc 2 looks at power development drills with a partner and applications of different Iron Palm/Iron Hand techniques against the most common types of attacks. Sifu Lomas also demonstrates some breaks just to show that this training (if followed correctly) does work. Chris Lomas is very skilled and is also a very good instructor because the material presented here is very simple, sensible and well presented.
This is an excellent purchase for those of you who want to develop increased striking power what ever your chosen style of MA.
This 2 disc set is superbly filmed an edited and has chapters so you can skip to which ever part of the dvd takes your fancy.
This is one of the best DVD's I have in my collection.

Highly recommended.

Format: DVD
Run time: 76 mins - disc 1
               66 mins - disc 2
Cost: £69.99
Available from:  ironpalmproductions.com/

Playing Mantis

Had a Chow Gar session at home tonight. Due to the nice weather (hope it lasts!) did some staff work: Dook Sare Gwun and Ng Hung Gwun. Some wrist strengthening exercises using catch bag filled with steel shot and some plastic supplement jars filled with steel shot. Went through Sarm Bo Jin for the third time today followed by Sern Teow sau, Law Shuen Sau, Tow Mo Kuen, Da Deng sau. Follwed with Say Bun Gen sau and Nip Kui. Ended with dip gwut gung exercises and finished with Sup Baat Um Gen Sau.
Sitting down now to watch some new dvd's (reviews to follow): Wudang Kung Fu, Wudang Taiji and Taiji 37 Postures Martial Applications. Won't watch ALL of them tonight.
Went to a Tai Chi class a few weeks ago with my wife. The people there were very nice but I don't think I'll continue. My wife is going to continue it but I'll stick with the Chow Gar!

Nice night for a form.

Had a nice time today going through Sarm Bo Jin, Sarm Jin Yui Kui in the garden making most of the nice weather. Followed this with some staff power drills and some wrist strengthening exercises using the staff.
Went through the first section of the Chow Gar spear a few times just to get it down in my head.
Spent some time this afternoon polishing Fut Sau, Say Bun Gen Sau, Sern Teow Sau, Law Shuen Sau, Tow Mo Kuen, Da Deng Sau. Spent a little time with grip training and finished off with Dook Sare Gwun and Ng Hung Gwun. Also did some spontaneous shin conditioning yesterday by getting my left leg shut in the car door.

Miss Mantis

Finally got to do some more training with my 16 year old daughter. It's been a while. We started with 6mins of Chy Sau followed by conditioning - saam sing, gau choi, tuk jeurng, pok jeurng. Went throught the baat sic and started to show her the first part of Sarm Bo Jin. Repped this a few times and did some basic applications. Showed her cye sau and ended on some doy chong. She did very well.

Mantis Spear

Good Mantis lesson last night. I enjoyed it. Started learning the Chow Gar Spear and managed to get about 3/4 way through it until I got to the spinning part. This bit I'm going to have to work at. This was then followed by Dook Sare Gwan, Ng Hung Gwan, Walking Stick and the Butterfly Swords form. I need to polish these as well!! Ended with some 2 man stick drills. It was a lovely day and was nice to train outside for a change. Hope the weather is nice for next weeks lesson.