HUNG GAR KUNG FU (TIGER-CRANE STYLE)

4 points

Legend has it that one of the Five Masters who survived
the burning of the Shaolin Temple in the 17th century
passed along his kung fu skills to fellow rebels against the
Manchu in the form of Hung Gar. Later, one of the style’s
most famous practitioners – Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-
Hung (p. 22) – created the tiger-crane variation described
below. The actual history is hard to verify. Hung Gar cer-
tainly existed in Wong Fei-Hung’s time, as he built upon an
existing system rather than inventing his own. It might
stretch back as far as the 17th century, but that’s conjecture.
Today, Hung Gar is taught worldwide. It isn’t difficult to find
a master, but the style has a reputation for extremely stren-
uous apprenticeships.
There are many forms of Hung Gar, but all include the
tiger as the basic animal form. Tiger-crane combines the
physical power and courage of the tiger with the committed
strikes, deceptive movements, and counterattacks of the
crane (see Pak Hok, p. 188). Hung Gar is a southern Chinese
style, and emphasizes firm stances, close-in tactics, low-line
kicks, and high-line punches. It teaches fighters to use both
hands equally, to fight armed and unarmed, and to keep
their balance on slippery planks and rocking boats. Students
study deep breathing and remain in deep stances for long
periods of time in order to learn to hold firm against a foe.
Stylists prefer to use Aggressive Parry to ward off attacks,
and then follow immediately with a Counterattack. This
counter is very strong and often a Committed Attack or even
an All-Out Attack. The style’s teachings consider evasion less
important than the ability to withstand attacks and counter
them in place.
Hung Gar also has an armed component. Masters some-
times reserve this training for advanced students. Weapon
forms include staff, spear, broadsword, paired broadswords,
paired butterfly swords, whip, polearm, knife, and double
whip.
Hung Gar holds chi development in high regard, as its
deep breathing and strong stances suggest. Thus, cinematic
masters should be capable of great feats. They should also
be strong, fit, and possess remarkable patience and
endurance. Exceptional physical abilities – including high
ST, HT, and FP – are as likely as chi powers.
Skills: Breath Control; Karate; Philosophy (Buddhism).
Techniques: Aggressive Parry (Karate); Counterattack
(Karate); Exotic Hand Strike; Hammer Fist; Jam; Stamp
Kick.
Cinematic Skills: Body Control; Immovable Stance;
Power Blow; Pressure Points; Pressure Secrets.
Cinematic Techniques: Pressure-Point Strike.
Perks: Iron Body Parts (Any); Naval Training; Off-Hand
Weapon Training (Any); Sure-Footed (Slippery).
Optional Traits
Secondary Characteristics: Improved FP and HP.
Advantages: Ambidexterity; Fit or Very Fit; Language
(Cantonese); Striking ST.
Disadvantages: Overconfidence.
Skills: Broadsword; Judo; Knife; Polearm; Shortsword;
Spear; Staff; Whip.
Techniques:
Dual-Weapon
Attack
(Broadsword,
Shortsword, or Whip).