Your Opinion.....

[PeeJ]

Hey,

I live in north east England (Middlesbrough) and I'm just starting to learn kung fu.
I was just wondering what your opinions are of the Lau Gar style. I ask because as I have been reading through the posts on this forum I've come accross a couple of statements which seem a little derogatory/dismissive of the style. Is this an accurate take on the general attitude toward the style or am I just reading too much into things. Also, If it is accurate could you please explain why?

Cheers.

[YODA]

It depends what your goals are and what else is available to you.

What are your goals?

What are the alternatives?

*Sits down with popcorn & beer to await the flood of Lau Gar based opinion. :D

[Andy Murray]

Originally posted by PeeJ
Is this an accurate take on the general attitude toward the style or am I just reading too much into things. Also, If it is accurate could you please explain why?



Hi Peej, it would helpful if you could give an example of comments you have found to be derogatory. There are many members here with extensive knowledge of Lau Gar.

[PeeJ]

Right, now I'm back from work :D .....

YODA ~ My goals are, to become morre fit/flexible and to have fun whilst doing it. myself and two other friends are just starting to train and i have done martial arts to some extent before so i know that this should be a fun way to get fit. I also like to challenge myself which also has something to do with it.

Andy ~ there were a couple of specific comments that i have seen, they wern't flame-like comments just things which seemed to have undertones to them, but I just ment that quickly reading through a few posts there just seemed to be that general attitude to it. It wasnt 1 or 2 specific things that made me ask this question, if you get what I mean, and I would prefer not to single any comments out. Addmitadly I am new and it wasnt anything glaringly obvious so just ignore me if I'm getting the wrong end of the stick here but if im on the right end of the stick could you tell me why this style is seen as such. Also, in your opinion is it is a good enough reason for myself and my friends to change style before we are commited to Lau Gar.

[Andy Murray]

Originally posted by PeeJ
Andy ~ there were a couple of specific comments that i have seen, they wern't flame-like comments just things which seemed to have undertones to them, but I just ment that quickly reading through a few posts there just seemed to be that general attitude to it. It wasnt 1 or 2 specific things that made me ask this question, if you get what I mean, and I would prefer not to single any comments out. Addmitadly I am new and it wasnt anything glaringly obvious so just ignore me if I'm getting the wrong end of the stick here but if im on the right end of the stick could you tell me why this style is seen as such. Also, in your opinion is it is a good enough reason for myself and my friends to change style before we are commited to Lau Gar.

The first questions I'd like to ask you, are who is your Sifu, and do you know whether you are a member of the BKFA?

There are many groups teaching Lau Gar in the UK who are no longer affiliated to Master Yau. I'm unwilling to go into the why's and what's of it all, because it shouldn't affect your enjoyment of the style. There have been clashes on this forum between the different groups in the past.

There's a lot of enjoyment to be had from Lau Gar, and it gives you some good all round skills. It's by no means the answer to all of lifes problems. If you are new to the arts in general, you should really be looking around at what else is available to you anyway. Going out on a limb somewhat, much of what Lau teaches as Self Defence is poop.

Check out the various TMA vs MMA threads here for another perspective on what works etc.

[PeeJ]

Originally posted by Andy Murray
The first questions I'd like to ask you, are who is your Sifu, and do you know whether you are a member of the BKFA?


I dont know who the Sifu is, I'll find out on Tuesday, I'm pretty sure they are a member of the BKFA

As for the other thing, the downside to trying to look around for another style is that we want to do some form of kung fu and we live in middlesbrough and its pretty much devoid of most things. I'm surprised we found one place, I doubt we'll find another lol. I would consider trying to go further affield if lau gar was total pants like (no offence to anyone who does it) the karate that I learnt was.

[YODA]

YODA ~ My goals are, to become morre fit/flexible and to have fun whilst doing it.

In that case, from what I've seen of Lau Gar in my area it would make an excellent choice.

[PeeJ]

I found out who the trainer is, Keith Thomas. he is registered with the BKFA too.

[Fightgear]

I was around when Lau Gar was invented... I remember it well. It was 'developed' in about 1972 contrary to what a lot of people think. There was a Lau Gar system in existence in Hong Kong but it was distinctly different from what was developed over here which was initially a cross between karate and basic kung fu. That isn't to say it hasn't developed nor is it saying it isn't and excellent martial arts in its own right. And before anyone starts having a dig I knew the likes of George Wellington, Steve Babbs, Frank Lynch very well. These guys were the people who put Lau Gar on the map. So my knowledge doesn't come from heresay or gossip but rather from sources.
Lau Gar changed rapidly over the years taking bits from all sorts of different martial arts (such as chi sao from Wing Chun, weapons from Hung Gar/Kuen, grappling from Shua Jiao, etc). Many of the 'old timers' around when I was during those years know the same things. People like Master Sam Kwok of Wing Chun, Dicker Hopkins, Victor Kan, Paul Boyer of Mok Gar, Victor Kan, Austin Goh, Raymond Goh and Simon Lau all are pretty gened up on what happened.
Like I said, thats not to dis the style; just to put it in perspective. Any martial arts which a student feels is of benefit to them IS a worthwhile endeavour.

[fizz-lau]

sorry but it was not "invented" in 1972 :woo: :bang: :rolleyes:
also this topic is almost 2 years old,if you think this stuff maybe you should start a new topic :)

[CCM]

It was 'developed' in about 1972, initially a cross between karate and basic kung fu.taking bits from all sorts of different martial arts (such as chi sao from Wing Chun, grappling , etc).

Sounds a bit like jeet kune do to me mate, Bruce would be so proud.

Don't really care that much whether art is 1000 years old or 1 year old myself, but out of interest where does Master Yau fit into your potted history ?

cheers

CCM

[rocky]

Lau Gar was invented by a hunter called Lau Sarm Ngau (or Liu San Yan).I believe it's called Liu Jia Quan in mainland China.
Master Yau's grandfather taught it to Master Yau who came to this country in 1961(?) and set up the BKFA in 1972.
There have been changes in the syllabus as i'm lead to believe he original system,as created by Lau Sarm Ngau had only 3 sets.
All this means to me though(i study Lau Gar myself) is that it now encompasses other systems to give more variety to what i do.

[Infrazael]

BTW, just asking about Lau Gar is it like Hung Gar???

Sorry I'm ignorant of Lau Gar stuff. . . . hehe. . . . .

[CCM]

www.laugar-kungfu.com, should enlighten you.

Or www.mackf.co.uk mustn't forget the plug

[fizz-lau]

also www.raptorskickboxing.info or www.laugar.info :love: