Yau Kung Moon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yau Kung Moon (also Yau Kung Mun and YKM)(Chinese: 柔功門) is a Southern Chinese martial art that originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) with a Shaolin monk named Ding Yang (~800 CE) and is closely related to Bak Mei.
The name 柔功門 is Cantonese and roughly translates to "the style of flexible power". The Hong Kong and US schools usually use the romanization "Yau Kung Moon" or "Yau Kung Mon", whereas the Australian schools use the romanization "Yau Kung Mun".
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[edit] Origins
For much of its history, this style was taught only within the confines of the Shaolin Temple and then only to confirmed monks. During the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 CE) the temple was again destroyed and many of the monks were hunted and killed. One of the surviving monks was Doe Sung – a skilled Yau Kung Moon disciple. Doe Sung then taught a Buddhist monk named Tit Yun. Tit Yun was the first to pass the tradition on to a layperson when he accepted Ha Hon Hung (1892-1962) as a disciple in 1915. Ha Hon Hung had also studied Choy Lee Fut with his brother, Ha Sang and Bak Mei with Cheung Lai Chun.
In 1924, Ha Hon Hung opened up the first Yau Kung Moon Academy at the Pearl River Martial Arts Club in Guangzhou (Canton) and formed the Ha Hon Hung Sports Association. Yau Kung Moon primarily gained popularity in the Cantonese-speaking region of China, but remains somewhat uncommon outside of the region. It is taught in several countries but is most active in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, the US and Australia.
[edit] Stylistic Distinctions
The Yau Kung Moon System is representative of southern styles in being based on a low, stable horse stance. It employs many upperbody techniques and most kicks are kept low. The YKM stance resembles the familiar "ding gee ma" or Kung-Fu side horse but back arch is more pronounced and the shoulders are thrown forward with arms and hands protecting the chest and groin area. Defense is natural since the critical areas of the body are behind the protective wall of the shoulders and arms. Kicks or punches delivered within range of the practitioner would still be out of range of vital areas. This same stance also lends itself readily to offense as the arms are already in the attack position and the back leg has the distance of leverage required for powerful kicking.
Yau Kung Moon has both an external and internal training. However, like most other styles of Kung-Fu renowned for their internal power, the individual systems' manifestation of internal power are still, somewhat secretive. The majority of early forms are primarily external while the most advanced forms evolve into primarily internal. The external training consists of 13 fist and 28 weapon sets. Besides the 18 classical weapons (see the Eighteen Arms of Wushu), weapon sets using common farm implements (the hoe, long chair, spade, etc.) are also part of the system.
[edit] Yau Kung Mon in Hong Kong
The original organization started by Ha Hon Hung is still in operation in Hong Kong.
[edit] Yau Kung Moon in the United States
During the 1960s, two of Grandmaster Ha Kwok Cheung's top disciples, Wong Cheung, Wan Tak Kei immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong... Master Wong in San Francisco and Master Wan in Los Angeles.
Master Wong and Master Wan passed on their art and knowledge to their top disciples, Bill Lee, Loi Lok Fu, Lok Sang Lee, Michael Lau, David Louie, and Bob Gin. In 2000, Sifu Lok Sang Lee promoted two of his top students to the rank of Sifu, Susan Yee and Richard Ow.
If you are interested in learning Kung Fu and the sport of lion dancing, YKM SF is the place to learn it. Sifu Lok Sang Lee has taught over thousands of students. He is dedicated, knowledgeable, low key and truly cares about his students. He used to (probably still does) take his students out to lunch after practice. He could have turned his studio into a multi-million business operations by now, but he chose to keep his organization local and accessible to students from all walks of life. I joined YKM SF when I was 5 years old, and attended weekend practice off and on for a few years; however, my heart was with the "American" sports such as baseball and soccer at that time. I eventually quit, and focused on soccer. My cohorts who stuck with Kung Fu and loin dancing are probably the most underrated world class athletes. I have competed against some of the top soccer players in the world, and the top lion dancers at YKM are equally skilled and athletic in their sport. YKM SF has also added some cutting edge choreography into their loin dance performances. I know that Sifu Lok Sang Lee does not want to commercialize his studio, but I encourage him to make it a 501(c) non-profit organization (if it isn't already one) so that his past students, foundations and corporate sponsors can contribute more readily to his studio and YKM's legacy as a top rate community/youth sports organization.
For further information, check out http://www.ykm-sf.com/gallery.htm#
[edit] Yau Kung Mun in Australia
Yau Kung Mun Australia was created by Leung Cheung, a top disciple of Ha Hon Hung, in the 1970s. It was the first to perform Southern and Northern style Lion Dances in Australia.
Yau Kung Mun Australia is now led by Sifu James Leung and Sifu Percy To.
