The principles (The Boxing of the Tiger and the Crane, its spirit and its essence, the inheritance of Shaolin)

Hung Gar or boxing of the Tiger and the Crane is not only a set of forms, but especially a spirit inherited from the boxing of Shaolin, it is translated by the long boxing and the short boxing, by the tiger and the crane, by the power and the flexibility, it is represented by two symbolic animals but also by the boxing of five animals and by the theory of five elements.

The Five Element framework is ancient and Universal in what it embodies. The Five Elements are deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese culture. In fact, the Five Element theory is the foundation of Chinese disciplines such as feng shui or martial arts...

The Five Element Theory is the study of relationships in nature. This theory is one of the major systems of thought within Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is used in varying degrees by acupuncturists, and is especially helpful as a guide for balancing our emotions, as well as our physical health. Ancient Chinese healers observed the cyclical patterns in nature, such as the changes of seasons and the cycle of life and death, and applied these patterns to the dynamics of human rhythms. Being in harmony with the universe and with nature is integral to Daoist theory. Each of us is a microcosm of the universe, and our systems follow the same phases that the Chinese found in nature.

The Five Elements are a comprehensive template that organizes all natural phenomena into five master groups or patterns in nature. Each of the five groups Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water include categories such as a season, a direction, climate, stage of growth and development, internal organ, body tissue, emotion, aspect of the soul, taste, color, sound . . . the categories are seemingly limitless. The Five Elements reflect a deep understanding of natural law, the Universal order underlying all things in our world.

Water

The WATER element is associated with conserving resources and the dormant phase of winter. It corresponds to the Kidney and Bladder meridian systems, the color black/blue, and the emotion of fear.

The water is connected with the North as the east (in Nadir) and in winter as season, thus in the somber, in the Big Yin, in the black color and in the fear as the emotion, its appearance being tears (this is very important to know in the realization of the form Tid Sien Kien or the feelings and sounds play a leading part), its animal of fastening it is the monkey (which in other branches corresponds to the snake).

The energy of the water engenders the techniques of the monkey which allow as external energy form (Wai Chi Kong) to tone up loins and to strengthen the bladder and as (Nei Chia) interns, to awaken the internal listening and to increase the balance of the ancestral or essential energy (Yuan Chi), the sensation it is the cold, these aspects are developed in particular within the framework of the said Dar or the traditional medicine; favorise the flexibility of the joints and be weighed the bones, his favorite strategy it is guile, but its virtue it is the wisdom.

Fire

The FIRE element is associated with growth and summertime. It corresponds to the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, and Triple Warmer meridian systems, the color red, and the emotion of joy.

The Fire is bound with the South as the orient (in the Top), in summer (and in the clear-sightedness), in the big Yang and in the red color, its emotion is the cruelty and its appearance the destructive madness, its symbolic animal it is the leopard. The energy of the fire engenders the techniques of the leopard which allow as external energetics to tone up the heart and to strengthen the small intestine as energetics interns to strengthen the circulation of Jing (the essence or the strength), its sensation being the heat and favors the development of the speed and the blood influx, its strategy it is the strike and its virtue the self-sacrifice and the integrity.

Wood

The WOOD element is associated with new beginnings and springtime. It corresponds to the Liver and Gall Bladder meridian systems, the color green, and the emotion of anger.

The Wood is an element bound in the East as orient (at sunrise), in spring (and in the revival), in the small yang and in the color green-blue, its emotion it is the anger its appearance being a certain aggressiveness, it is connected with the tiger. The energy of the Wood engenders the techniques of the Tiger which allow as external energetics to tone up the liver and to strengthen the gall-bladder, as energy interns to awaken the sensibility and to increase the internal vision, the sensation it is the freshness and favors the strengthening of muscles and tendons, its strategy it is the projection, its virtue the generosity and the martial courage.

Metal

The METAL element is associated with the harvest of the autumn season. It corresponds to the Lung and Large Intestine meridian systems, the color white, and the emotion of grief.

The Metal is connected on the West as east (at sunset), in autumn, its color and white and its emotion the coolness, its symbolic animal the Crane or Heron. The energy of the Metal engenders the techniques of the Crane which allow as external energy to strengthen lungs and to tone up the large intestine, and as energy interns to awaken the sensation and to favor the intention (Yi), its virtue is the sincerity.

Earth

The EARTH element is associated with balance and transition, such as Indian summer. It corresponds to the Spleen and Stomach meridian systems, the color yellow, and the emotion of worry.

The Earth is bound with the center as the orient (in the sun before of the rise but also in the sun after sunset), in the fifth season also called Indian summer and by extension to any inter seasonal passage in Tai Ji or Big Summit (the mother of the Yin and the Yang), its color it is Yellow imperial (it is why certain schools connect to it the Dragon as the emblem), its emotion it is the reflection or the introspection, its symbolic animal the Bear.

The energy of the earth engenders the techniques of the Bear which allow as external energetics to strengthen the spleen and to tone up the stomach, and as internal energy to strengthen the general balance, its strategy is the crushing (famous legs of the bear) and the explosion of the strength (Fa Li), its virtue the just action.

Kung Fu Sui Lam Hung-Gar Khin, 8 Ferry Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 6SE, United Kingdom.

07460 867 168 | info@hunggar-scunthorpe.com | Join us on Facebook