By: Lee Casebolt
Created on:January 30, 1998
Hung Gar is the most widespread and popular of the five dominant Southern Chinese kung fu styles (the others being Lau, Choy, Lay, and Mok). "Gar" translates as family or clan, while "Hung" refers to the style's creator, Hung Hei Goon. Hung Gar, then, is the kung fu of the family of Hung. Legends say that Hung originally learned the Shao-lin Tiger system from Master Gee See. From this basis, Hung added elements from the White Crane, which he learned from his wife, as well as movements and techniques from the Dragon, Snake, Leopard, and Five Elements Fist systems.
Techniques were added and modified to reflect both Hung's own personality and the enviornment in which he lived. Southern China is a land of river cities, where wet ground and crowded spaces are the rule. For this reason, Hung Gar employs strong stances, low kicks, and a variety of ambidextrous, simultaneous blocks and strikes which are best employed in tight quarters.
Hung Gar physical training is grueling, building both strength and endurance, while it's philosophical aspect stresses honesty, directness, willpower, and righteousness in all matters.
Hung Gar is one of the most popular of kung fu styles, with training available in most densely populated areas.
Entrance Requirements: Any alignment, but tends towards Principled, Scrupulous, Aberrant, and others with a strong sense of honor. Minimum P.S. and P.E. of 12 required.
Costume: Standard kung fu uniform.
Stance: Many stances are used, but tend towards very deep, strong stance. See Horse Stance under Special Katas.
Character Bonuses:
Add 2 to P.S.
Add 1 to P.P.
Add 1 to P.E.
Add 2 to Spd.
Add 15 to S.D.C.
Combat Skills:
Attacks per Melee: Three (3)
Escape Moves: Roll with punch/fall/impact, maintain balance
Basic Defensive Moves: Dodge, parry, automatic parry
Advanced Defenses: Multiple Dodge, Power Block/Parry, Combination Parry/Attack
Hand Attacks: Strike (punch), Power Punch, Claw Hand, Palm Strike
Basic Foot Attacks: Snap Kick, Kick Attack, Tripping/Leg Hooks
Special Attacks: Death Blow, Elbow, Knee, Forearm, Combination Grab/ Kick
Holds/Locks: Arm Hold, Elbow Lock
Weapon Katas: Select one from W.P. Straight Sword, W.P. Sabre, W.P. Staff,
W.P. Butterfly Swords (PAIRED), W.P. Trident, or W.P. Chain Whip
Modifiers to Attacks: Pull punch, Knock-Out/Stun, Critical Strike, and
Critical Strike from Behind
Special Katas:
Horse Stance: One of the most basic of martial arts stances, the Horse Stance
can provide a devastating fighting foundation when mastered. A master of the Horse Stance
cannot be moved if he does not wish to be moved, and this same strong root adds power to his
strikes. Bonuses: +8 to Maintain Balance, +2 to Damage. On the downside, the character
cannot move, kick, dodge, or perform any other action which would cause his feet to leave
the ground.
Skills included in training:
Martial Arts Abilities and Powers: Select two (2) abilities from Body
Hardening Exercises (including Demon Hunter) and Special Katas (not including Chi Katas).
These powers may be exchanged, on a one-for-one basis, for basic skill programs (excluding
physical).
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese dialect)
Physical: Swimming
Philosophical: Taoism
Level Bonsuses
Why study Hung Gar Kung Fu?
A well-rounded system, with powerful offensive and defensive techniques, as well as basic
weapons training, that excels at short-range combat. Its primary weakness is a lack of
internal skills.
HungGarKungFu.php -- Revised: January 27, 2021.