Lau Gar Kung Fu

[Rich Will]

Hello all

Im kinda new to martial arts. I found a Kung Fu class near where i live and i joined just to see what it was like. I love doing it.
The style that i am doing is Lau Gar and the instructors are brilliant. ive found a webstie about it http://www.laugar-kungfu.com basicly tells you everything about it :D

Does anyone else train in this art? would u like to share your oppinions? or educate me more regarding this art.

Regards
Rich

[YODA]

There are some pretty senior lau guys here Rich. Including Admins & Moderators.

Watch this space :D

[Rich Will]

Thank You :D Id like some advice :D

[Andy Murray]

What would you like to know Rich?

[Rich Will]

Well as i am new to this i only know the White Sash grading skills. How different does it get further on in this art? is it one of the best arts? what kinda fitnes level is required the more advance it gets? any advice will do really.

Thanks, Regards
Rich

[Andy Murray]

It'll depend to a certain extent on who's training you.

Lau Gar is one of the most common forms of Kung Fu to be found in the UK, so there are many people teaching it, and thus varying standards to be found. If you let us know where you are, and who you are training with, I may be able to go into more depth.

Some LG clubs are very focussed on Semi Contact fighting. Not to be sneered at, as some of the LG point fighters are very fine athletes indeed, competing to World standard. Names that roll off the tongue would be people like Sean Viera, Pele Reid, Wayne Turner, Dave Baptiste & Neville Wray. Believe me these guys can fight on, or off the mat.

There's been a recent effort to control and standardise the core teachings of Traditional Lau Gar, with the appointment of 12 Guardians, who are responsible for maintaining standards taught.

Over the years of LG in the UK, there are now many splinter groups, so find out if you are in, or affiliated in some way to the BKFA, which is Master Yau's business name for Lau Gar.

The different sections of lau Gar syllabus take on different themes. It's very eclectic, so the different forms all introduce new ideas. Just make sure your Sifu is up to speed on explaining what everything is for, and shows you application.

I'd also take a good look round your area and see what else is available. You'll quickly gather from this forum, that no one system offers all the answers, or indeed knows all the questions.

Regards

Andy

[Rich Will]

thanks for all the info :D

im in north wales and my Instructor is Chris Edghill. he's a very good instructor explains everything to the last detail :D

If you go to http://www.wuma-uk.com Chris is in the hall of fame!

i liv in a small place as u can imagine so there isnt much classes here. but i will look harder. ill ask my instructor where else he teaches.

[hongkongfuey]

Rich,

Some quick answers - I think Andy has covered most of it.

How different does it get further on in this art?

The forms are all fairly different, and use different themes as Andy has said. Some are slow and 'soft', some fast and 'hard'. The second form that you will learn is similar to a Wing Chun form and incorporates dynamic tension.

is it one of the best arts?
No such thing, (as has been said a few times on this forum!). Definitely one of the better styles for semi-contact fighting. Sean Vera that Andy mentioned won BBC's Martial arts challenge game (cant remember what it was called), and Nathan Lewis was an instructor on 'Fight club'.

As with any art, it has areas it does not cover so well and I would also look at some cross training once you have gained a few belts.

what kinda fitnes level is required the more advance it gets?
I think Lau Gar is fairly demanding physically, again depending on instructor. I've trained with a few of the guys Andy mentioned, and the lessons were brutal to say the least. Other instructors are not as punishing. In general the more the emphasis on tournament fighting, the harder the club will be physically.

[stump]

Hi Rich,

Lau Gar is a really good martial art depending on what your looking for.

In my opinion it's limited in what it teaches but it's very good at what it does teach and if you've got a good instructor you'll have a lot of fun and learn loads too.

Best of luck with it and of course...enjoy it!!!:D

Welcome to the board

[tkd_master]

It'll depend to a certain extent on who's training you.

Some LG clubs are very focussed on Semi Contact fighting. Not to be sneered at, as some of the LG point fighters are very fine athletes indeed, competing to World standard. Names that roll off the tongue would be people like Sean Viera, Pele Reid, Wayne Turner, Dave Baptiste & Neville Wray. Believe me these guys can fight on, or off the mat.

Andy

After reading this, I rejoiced! Sean Viera is my instructor and a very well accomplished one at that!

[robertmap]

Hi,

I trained in Lau Gar about a million years ago (Well about twenty-five years ago) - in Banbury with Steve Faulkner - I also did a few classes after I'd moved to Luton about nineteen years ago...

I enjoyed Lau Gar a lot - it's an interesting and varied martial art - the people were friendly and competing in competitions was HUGE fun - Though I do remember Steve telling me off - for smiling at an opponent during competition - BUT I was enjoying it!!!!!

My only negative comment (based on my experience - Your experience may be different) is that it is VERY fitness and sport orientated and someone who was less fit (less able to be/get fit) or more interested in the practical self defence aspects of martial arts might do better elsewhere.

All the best.

Robert.

[tkd_master]

Well, I'd have to say that I understand your point. That's the reason I gave up Tae Kwon Do as it was too "sporty". I then looked for a kung fu club and joined.

I'm looking at joining a wushu club as well, what do you think?

[robertmap]

I'm looking at joining a wushu club as well, what do you think?

The MOST important thing is that you enjoy what you are doing - I have never trained in Wushu but would expect it to be very acrobatic and exciting - probably not very 'street effective' at the beginners level - but then what is


<o> Crouches down to await the onrush of Wing Chun and Ju-Jutsu people saying - my art :) :) :) :)

All the best.

Robert.

[fizz-lau]

re the fitness side it really depends on the instructor.
the guys who are into the fighting side will drive you hard,others who love the kung fu will take it slowly but you will get fit,just takes a bit longer.
sean is a great instructor & if you want to fight then your with one of the best, i will never forget summer camp,7am run along the beach,look into the distance & all you can see is sean & nev with dayglow orange & green wooly hats on :eek:
our chief instructor is sifu steve newby who is well known for his love of the 'art',he understands the need to have the fighting but the need to preserve the art is what he is interested in,after ll Master Yau will not be here forever

[tkd_master]

i will never forget summer camp,7am run along the beach,look into the distance & all you can see is sean & nev with dayglow orange & green wooly hats on :eek:

So I guess that my instructor (sean viera sifu) is part of the BKFA then! Where can I get some info on this?

It's my understanding that you need a BKFA liscense to attend the summer camp.

By the way, when and where will the next summer camp be or have the dates not yet been announced.

[never]

I started studying scotish lau gar about two years ago (which as far as I can tell is almost exactly that same as normal LG except its not trademarked - correct me if im wrong). Anyways I train under Derek Dudgeon and occasionally Angus I-cant-remember-his-second-name.

When I first went I found out pretty quickly that I wasnt fit and that Id have to get in shape damn soon to do as well as I wanted to in the class. Other not so fit people have been and gone who've done well at the club, but I felt that I really needed to shapen-up to do really well.

And im glad that I did! I cant imagine what id being doing and what condition id be in if it wasnt for LG, Ive tried traditionally MAs and modern MAs but nothing come close to LG, of course this is very much to do with the teacher and rest of that class. I look forward to each and every lesson! :D

[Tseek Choi]

You don't strictly need a BKFA licence to attend Master Yau's summer camp, but if you're a member of a BKFA club, you'll eventually get one anyway, s it's is also your grading/course attendance book.

Hey fizz, you must mean Nevilles own summer camp, as he's never attended (to my knowledge) Master Yau's camp.
Sean only been a couple of times too.

Nevilles camp is very competition focused, while Master Yau's is far more traditional.
It all depends on what you want to do.
Thats why Lau Gar / BKFA has so much to offer different people.

Down here in smelly Londinium we focus more on the traditional kung Fu, although saying that; two of the senior instructors were BKFA squad members, and I trained for over 10 years with Neville before I relocated 5 years back. (way too old to fight in tournies now!!)

have fun!!!!!!!!
TC.....

[tkd_master]

is anyone doing the Shaolin Dragon Sword on the 30th of this month?

[fizz-lau]

nah we were suppposed to be doing our acs but the date got swopped & the course is fully booked.
doing the fan course though

[Tseek Choi]

The Jian course looks very interesting.
Hopefully a couple of us will be there.

[Tseek Choi]

I'm gonna be there.
Got my conformation yesterday.

Anyone else on here going to the Jian course?

cheers
TC..........

[David Faulkner]

Hi,

I trained in Lau Gar about a million years ago (Well about twenty-five years ago) - in Banbury with Steve Faulkner - I also did a few classes after I'd moved to Luton about nineteen years ago...

I enjoyed Lau Gar a lot - it's an interesting and varied martial art - the people were friendly and competing in competitions was HUGE fun - Though I do remember Steve telling me off - for smiling at an opponent during competition - BUT I was enjoying it!!!!!

My only negative comment (based on my experience - Your experience may be different) is that it is VERY fitness and sport orientated and someone who was less fit (less able to be/get fit) or more interested in the practical self defence aspects of martial arts might do better elsewhere.

All the best.

Robert.



steve is my dad he still teaches although not in banbury any more he hasent taught there in a long time haha if you want to now more about how he is doin now i will gladly talk :cool:

[illegalusername]

Thanks for the dad update on a six year old thread

[robertmap]

Hey 'illegalusername',

I saw it and THANKS to David - it IS of interest to me...

David, PM me and let's chat.

[digitalfanatic]

Welcome aboard to the ship, not all of the trainees enjoy this type of learning process. Let's hope for a good change in you!