Hong Kung phooey
I found about a Tai chi class given by the Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) 3 or 4 times a week which was free to tourists. So of course I went along.
The class was given on the Avenue of Stars just next to the Kowloon Star ferry pier. It was taken by a very kind and small native Konker. His name was William though and his assistant Pamela of all names. They made a funny pair, but all good fun.
While William conducted Pamela was busy either running between demontrating or organising the Tai chi music or handing out customer service surveys.
William had a lovely Chinese accent, and then a sudden flash of a colonial past. In the middle of demonstrating he would pause to explain it after which, in the poshest Colonial accent, would say, “Carry on!”
The class was made up of the basics, breathing, form and demonstrations of application. I thougth the whole affair was jolly well run.
While at the HKTB I found another leaflet on an intensive Teacher Training Course in Wing Chun (the 1st Martial Art I practised way back when we were living in Crowborough). I was curious and so went along. The teacher was Sam Lau who eventually turned up rather late. His teacher, Master Yip Man also taught Bruce Lee – fancy that! (Will put a link on the blog to Sam Lau’s website if you’re interested).
Anyway, he gave me the lowdown on the course and of course the money side of it… What is it with these Chinese Martial Artists? It gets my goat!
Anyway, nice to see some southern Chinese Arts.
I also went to a bit of a Martial Arts show in ‘Kung fu Corner’ in Kowloon park that the HKTB organise (thanks again HKTB). All the students were quite young and some quite embarassed. The standard wasn’t as high as that of Zhengzhou but it was intersting to see the difference between north and south for myself.
Basically the difference between North and South Chinese Martial Arts is, quite generally, North is quite leggy with lots of jumps and kicks and the South styles are quite army, with lots of grips and punches. The reason quite simply is because in the South, it’s a lot wetter and so any disputes would be fought out in the paddy fields where you’re knee-high in mud and your feet can’t move much, therefore it’s all pretty army. In the North however, it’s a lot dryer and the ground a lot harder, meaning that you have the possibility to move about a lot more, jump higher and kick faster, therefore a lot more leggy…. Well that’s what I heard anyway and it seems to make sense. I am sure it’s a lot more complicated than that but there’s my take.
Although it could be something to do with the North being a lot colder so they moved around a lot to get warm and in the South where it’s far too hot, they didn’t want to get heat exhaustion… could be – who knows.
Tags: King Kong Hong!
Administrator
wow, it s really interesting that the styles are different between South and North because of the weather! and it makes sense!!
glad you are seemed to be having a proper Martial Art trip. and hope you continue to have it in Japan too.