History
of MO Gar Boxing:
MO-Gar
or MO family boxing is quite rare in the United States. To be a rare martial
art is a dubious honor. Is it rare because it has no value or because it
has great value but can only be found through extra effort? MO Gar is certainly
a rarity in the United States. But make no mistake, MO Gar has all the qualities
that give it great value. And yes, it does take more than the average effort
to find.
MO-gar is one of the five family styles of south China, centered in and
around Guangdong province. The other family styles are Hung Gar, Lau Gar,
Choi Gar and Lee Gar ("Gar" means "family"). It came out of the southern
Shaolin temple in Fujian about 300 years ago. When the temple was destroyed,
one of the monks from Fujian, Huey Jeng settled in Guangdong in the city
of Hai Feng in Dong Gwan county. The people of that area were all surnamed
MO, so what the monk taught them became known as MO Gar boxing. MO Gar boxing
was passed down within the MO family for many generations until Lin Yum
Tong received the responsibility of carrying the MO family boxing tradition
as its Grandmaster. |
|
The
Masters
Lin
Yum Tong was one of the five tigers of the south. Along with Lam Yiu Quia
(Dragon style), Cheung Lai Chun (White eyebrow), Lee Sen-Ji (Lee gar)
and Huang Shui Sharp (Arhat boxing).
Lin Yum Tong, in turn, taught his children including his second son Lin
Zhong Wei who became the Grandmaster when his father died.
Lin Zhong Wei started his training at the age of 8 in 1924. Having a thirst
for kung-fu that was insatiable, Lin Zhong Wei was introduced by his father
to some of the finest teachers of his time.
In addition to MO -Gar boxing, he learned Dragon style from Lam Yiu Quia,
Yau gar fist from Yau Dashen, Tan Toui and Gung Lik Kuen from Chen Tieh
Sheng, Yang Tai Chi from Yang Chen Fu and Wu Tai Chi from Wu Jian Quan.
He also learned several more esoteric styles.
Grandmaster Lin Zhong Wei has studied kung-fu for over 75 years, constantly
learning and perfecting his arts. He was named one of Guangdong's Hundred
Martial Heroes, and sits on numerous martial boards and associations.
Sifu Lin currently lives and teaches in Guangzhou, China.
|
|
Principles
of the Style
The
essential characteristics of MO Gar include
1) postures that unite offense and defense into intertwined motion
2) Flexible stepping
3) Forceful and powerful fists joined with fierce strength
4) Long and short attacks to match the postures used
The strategy is to combine postures that are both offensive and defensive
into a fluid and unhesitating motion that can be delivered in a variety
of heights, directions, and from either long or short distances. The result
is that the practitioner becomes a whirl wind of fierce and devastating
power. The practitioner attempts to complete five moves within a single
second.
MO-Gar
is famous for it's kicking techniques. MO-Gar legs are as fast as most
peoples hands. One of the verses about MO Gar refers to " MO Gar lighting
legs". What most styles do with their hands, MO gar does with its legs.
It uses legwork for trapping, breaking, blocking, and attacking.
Since MO boxing favors legwork, flexible stepping is a critical element
for the success of any movement. Initially, the practitioner has no control
over the opponent's attack, therefore in MO Gar the ability to engage
and respond to a attack is dependent on the legwork. A practitioner's
flexible stepping causes a continuous change in the presentation of the
body to the opponent. This constant changing of the angle and presentation
of the body is part of what gives MO Gar its effectiveness.
Each posture can be performed at three heights and in eight directions
and from long and short distances. Combined with flexible stepping the
practitioner who learns which postures to use, when, and how to adjust
them to the opponent's movements becomes quite elusive and is able to
deliver a fierce, fluid, and continuous offense and defense.
MO
Gar style uses eleven kicks, six stances, eight stepping patterns, nine
fists, six palms, and five elbows. Traditionally, the student learned
one posture at a time and only progressed to the next posture when all
three heights and eight directions were mastered.
As is common for all kung-fu, there is a paradox in the mastering of the
postures. To understand and master a posture, it must be in its proper
context, but proper context is only truly understood if the postures are
comprehended. First you learn the alphabet, then words and finally sentences.
Just like one word can have many meanings until it is defined in a sentence,
one posture can have many meanings until it is put in a form. When you
are well versed in the postures, then you link the postures together to
create the form. The form is a way to remember the postures as memory
is greatly aided by repetitious patterns.
|
|
Training
Patterns
Beginning
MO Gar forms are a way of transmitting the basic principles of the system:
flexible waist with rooted stances and proper weight distribution.
The intermediate sets start linking principles with ideas: How the hands
and feet work together, why the postures are in the order they are in,
and the limits of each posture. Each posture can become ten other postures
and each of those can become ten more.
At the advanced level, all the influence of the style's nature and essence
is combined with the student's spirit. This creates the ability to harmonize
the postures with the student's strong and weak points, body type and
size.
Early in the training process, weights are added to increase the power
and strength of the techniques. The type of weights used are very important.
They are traditionally iron rings and stone locks . Through the use of
specific exercises with weights unique to MO-Gar, speed is enhanced.
MO-Gar rigorously trains the whole body because technique without substance
leaves the training unfinished. MO-Gar training includes body conditioning
so that you can withstand a punch or kick. If you want to deliver in a
fight, you better be able to receive.
|
|
Forms
and Weapons of MO style fist
The
first set of MO Gar is called "Yeu goon lin za". It teaches
the basic strikes and stances of MO Gar. Early on, the student begins
to see the flexibility of the style and the linked whipping power, as
well as the basics of spirals.
The second set teaches the MO Gar kicks and unifies them with the hand
work. The student starts to see how the fist and foot can attack or defend
together in the same posture. The kicking set increases a student's flexibility
and opens up the hips, knees, and ankles. The kicks in the second set
range from sweeping kicks to head height. This form teaches balance, root
and power generation through the waist.
The third and fourth sets are introduced at the intermediate level. They
continue to teach the union of the hands and feet in all manner of attack
and defense postures. The intermediate level teaches the tight hand method
or infighting techniques. These are elbow strikes, shoulder strikes, and
short range palm and fist work.
Weapons training begins during the intermediate level. The first weapons
learned are the staff and sword. A variety of other weapons, including
spear, double swords, mother-son knives, three section staff , bench and
twin rods, are then introduced. MO gar is famous for it's tiger fork set
(Dai Pa).
The
advanced form of MO Gar is called "108 kick set". It includes
dozens of kicking combinations (using the seven sides of the foot, lower
leg, knee and upper leg) plus jumps, leg locks and sweeps.
|
|
Traditional
Maxims of MO-Gar:
One kick is far better than three punches,
for our arms measure less than two feet,
but our legs measure more than three feet
One
kick can put out about ten times more power than a punch
Fist, waist and legs shall always be used together to achieve maximum
results
Punch with a tiger's power
Kick
high, low, and middle
Use
swift movements and quick steps
Attack long or short - but always vigorous
|
