What is Lau Gar Kung fu?

Discussion in 'Kung Fu' started by Rataca100, Feb 26, 2017.

  1. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned

    I have heard of Lau Gar (also have a class nearish me i think) but i have no idea what it is in relation to other styles of kung fu, if its its own thing, what styles it comes from, if its a northern or southern based one etc. The only thing i know from it, is apparently it is the most popular form of kung fu in the u.K and the person did boxing as well (from memory)


    Could someone enlighten me as to what this is and the details of it and how it compares to other kung fu styles.
     
  2. Pretty In Pink

    Pretty In Pink Moved on MAP 2017 Gold Award

    It's just the full name of the style with description.

    Lau Gar= Lau Gar Kung Fu

    Just like:

    Wing Chun = Wing Chun Kung Fu
     
  3. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned



    :ban:

    The only way i can response to that one. :p
     
  4. SpikeD

    SpikeD At the Frankenstein Place

  5. ned

    ned Valued Member


    First try using the search function and enlighten yourself. There's a ton of stuff on this in the kf forum.

    My own view(having initially trained with one of Jeremy Yau's early students and accomplished competition fighter Clive Parkinson who later went his own way) is that it has, shall we say, less than clear origins but actually better pressure testing than many more trad.schools.
     
  6. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    iirc its not a traditional style but Jeremy lau's own invention based on what he knew when he moved to the UK.

    LG used to be big in the semi contact points fighting scene.
     
  7. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned



    I looked at that one a while ago i think. Has it been updated?



    To all of you, when i finish this expect questions if i have them. :p
     
  8. SpikeD

    SpikeD At the Frankenstein Place


    Without knowing when you looked at the site and the last site update i cannot answer that question. The site does have all of the answers to the questions you asked above though.
     
  9. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    It doesnt really address why LG in the UK is different to LG in china though does it.
     
    Lau Sifu likes this.
  10. Ben Gash CLF

    Ben Gash CLF Valued Member

    The more kung fu I see the less I feel that's a relevant question. Hung Gar from Maoming looks completely different to Hung Gar from Futsan and there are three entirely different systems called Li Gar in Guangdong.
     
  11. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    It is when they claim direct lineage with only 40 odd years separation.
     
    Lau Sifu likes this.
  12. Ben Gash CLF

    Ben Gash CLF Valued Member

    AFAIK they claim neither thing.
     
  13. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

  14. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

  15. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    "BL.: One point that's been raised is that there seems to be several different versions of Lau Gar, with yours being far and away the most popular. There seems to be a separate version on mainland China, another version in America. Can you explain this?

    J.Y.: There have never been different Lau Gars. However, at least as far as the British version goes, there have been IMPROVEMENTS. For example, most kung fu techniques were originally designed as being right-handed, with most people being forced to use their right hands. I have done a few things that enable left-handed people to train, and that ensures that people train both sides of the body.

    B.L.: I understand that the established Lau Gar in this country will, of necessity, have evolved over the years, but what I’m particularly interested is the route that Lau Gar took from Shaolin, seen as the birth-place of Chinese kung fu, to Hong Kong.

    J.Y.: First, let me say that there are no DIFFERENT kinds of Lau Gar. What has happened is that, later, people have claimed that they are Lau Gar because it was one of the lesser known of the Shaolin styles. The practice of Lau Gar was restricted. It was only taught to a limited amount of people. Now, Lau Gar originated in Shaolin, obviously, but our specific founder was a man named Lau Sam Man, "Three-Eyed" Lau, from the
    Kongsi Province. My grandfather actually went into China to learn it.When he came back to Hong Kong he found another master of Lau Gar, whom he served until the man died. Of the older generation, no-one would question our authenticity. The masters in Hong Kong knew my grandfather well, and none would deny his origin. However, today, with people in this country who are more commercially oriented, you hear them say “untraditional”, "unoriginal", “ungenuine", and other such slang terms."
     
    Lau Sifu likes this.
  16. Ben Gash CLF

    Ben Gash CLF Valued Member

    Nowhere in those links does he say he shares lineage with the Lau Gar teachers in China with only 50 years of separation. Even if they are the same style (which Yau may genuinely believe they are, and remember before 10 years ago no one had even seen the Chinese Lau Gar. Yau may also be correct that they're not actually Lau Gar, or his style might not actually be Lau Gar for the reasons he gives). Indeed the lineage given by Yau would mean a lineage divergence from the Chinese style in the 1880s (if they're the same style) as his Grandfather's teachers weren't the ancestors of the Chinese school.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2017
  17. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    so by saying "J.Y.: First, let me say that there are no DIFFERENT kinds of Lau Gar"
    You think hes not saying hes teaching authentic LG?

    Ive nothing to do with LG, but I do think your being disingenuous about this!
     
    Lau Sifu likes this.
  18. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    Lau is a common name in china. Gar means family. Keun means fist and also boxing or kung fu. Lau gar kuen means, Lau family kung fu. It is likely that there are many legitimate styles called Lau gar that actually originate through different families.


    In the uk there are two different families of Lau gar commonly found. The Lau gar associated with Jeremy Yau. Originally known as Lau gar then for a brief period known as UK Lau gar. Now known as Lau gar again.

    And

    The Lau gar family system that is included in many Hung family schools, Hung-Lau gar if you will. So as a hung gar teacher I teach Lau gar but it is not the same as UK Lau gar.

    Personally, given the choice, I would pass on Jeremy Yau's Lau gar and look for either Choy Lee Fat, southern mantis, or Hung gar. But I would say that because I teach Hung gar (and southern mantis is cool).
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2017
  19. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    So if theirs at least two different forms, but JY says theirs only one, which one of you was misquoted/telling a fib?
     
  20. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    Anyone know if the British kung fu association includes any lineages of kung fu outside of Mr Yau's ?
     

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