The Five Families of Kung-Fu San Soo

Tsoi (Sei-yap or Toisanese) - Choy (Cantonese; Hong Kong) - Cai (Mandarin; Beijing).

Dialect variations:

 

Tsoi
Tsai
Toi

Toy
Choy
Choi
Coi
Cai

 

English: = [1] (n.)- A species of large tortoise or turtle, whose shell was used in divination.  [2] (n.)- Name of an ancient state in the Spring and Autumn period.  [3] (n.)- A Chinese family name.

 

Li (Sei-yap or Toisanese) - Lay (Cantonese; Hong Kong) - Li (Mandarin; Beijing).

Dialect variations:

 

Li
Lay
Lai
Lei
Lee

 

English: = [1] (n.)- A plum; a prune.  [2] (n.)- Judge; justice.  [3] (n.)- A Chinese family name.

 

Hoi (Sei-yap or Toisanese) - Ho (Cantonese; Hong Kong) - He (Mandarin; Beijing).

Dialect variations: 

 

Hoi
Ho
Hoc
Hok

Hor
Haw
He

 

English: = [1] (pron.)- Who? Which? What? [2] (adv.)- Where? Why? How? [3] (adv.)- How! (in exclamation). [4] Equivalent to a negative. [5] (n.)- A Chinese family name.

 

Fut (Sei-yap or Toisanese) - Fut (Cantonese; Hong Kong) - Fo (Mandarin; Beijing).

Dialect variations:

 

Fut
Fu
Fat
Fhatt
Fout
Fo
Bat
Bi
Bo
Hut

 

English: = [1] (n.)- Buddha.  [2] (prep. phrase)- Of Buddhism.

 

Hung (Sei-yap or Toisanese) - Hung (Cantonese; Hong Kong) - Xiong (Mandarin; Beijing).

Dialect variations:

 

Hung
Hsiung
Hiung
Hioung
Hiong
Hiac
Syong
Xiong

 

English: = [1] (n.)- A male.  A hero; a chief.  [2] (adj.)- Masculine; male; virile.  Martial; heroic; brave; valiant; strong; ambitious.  [3] (n.)- A person or state, having great power and influence.  [4] (v.)- Win; triumph; victory.  [5] (v.)- Scold others with insulting words.  [6] (n.)- A Chinese family name.

 

Ga (Sei-yap or Toisanese) - Gar (Cantonese; Hong Kong) - Jia (Mandarin; Beijing).

Dialect variations:

 

Ga
Gar
Gu
Ku
Ka
Jia

 

English: = [1] (n.)- A household; a family; a home.  A house; a dwelling; a residence.  [2] (adj.)- Domestic.  [3] (n.)- A specialist (in any branch of art or science).

The proper, or specific, name of Kung-Fu San Soo is Tsoi Li Hoi Fut Hung Kung-Fu San Soo.

 

Kung-Fu San Soo is comprised of "Five Families," using concepts and qualities uniquely individual to each family.  Each of these aspects is an art unto itself; and yet, incomplete without the others.  When combined together they compliment each other to create an effective system of self-defense. The powerful dynamics created through the proper use of motion, along with the specific contributions from each family, transform all the individual concepts into an extremely practical and versatile combat martial art.

It is important to understand that the “Five Families” work together to form Kung-Fu San Soo; therefore, the art of Kung-Fu San Soo is never just one or two of these families isolated, but all five working together in a synergistical manner.  They cannot be separated without compromising the integrity of the entire system.  If you overlook any one of them you will lose an integral part of the art.

As each area is explored you will see how they overlap each other, and how they work together to form the devastating style known as Kung-Fu San Soo.  When we say the families overlap, we mean that the bounds between them are not very definite.  To get a mental picture, think of the Olympic flag and the five colored rings interlocked and interwoven with one another.  No matter which aspect you begin with, if you employ one, another one will come into play.

Tsoi ga = The first family of Kung-Fu San Soo is Tsoi ga.  Tsoi is a Chinese surname.  Tsoi ga deals with the art and science of striking.  Striking by means of blocking, punching, back fists, back hammers, hammer blows, open hand chops, palm strikes, forearm strikes, fore knuckle strikes, finger pokes, claws, kicking, shin kicks, elbowing, kneeing, and head butting; as well as incorporating other body areas as striking surfaces.  Mainly utilizing powerful, or hard, blows designed to injure the opponent through the force of impact (kinetic energy).  Tsoi ga gives the Kung-Fu San Soo practitioner an endless number of possibilities when it comes to striking.  He (or she) need not rely on just punching and kicking alone.

Li ga = The second family of Kung-Fu San Soo is Li ga.  Li is a Chinese surname.  Li ga deals with the art and science of leverages, and the proper use of leverages, also known as Chin Na.  Leverages found in wrist-locks, elbow-locks, shoulder-locks, ankle-locks, knee-locks, hip-locks, submission holds & breaks, chokes & strangles, neck-cranks, spine-cranks; as well as leverages in takedowns, sweeps, trips, throws, flips, and grappling.  In grappling situations, or when one wishes to subdue and control his opponent without injuring them, Li ga techniques are very effective.  Li ga is often referred to as "high art" because it uses the momentum of your attacker against himself.  Li ga also specializes in throwing & felling techniques, also know as Shuai Jiao.  The techniques of Li ga are designed to use the limitations of the joints, and body weight against an opponent.  This aspect deals with the interplay of balanced movement and the use of leverage for throwing & felling techniques.  One very important principle is the removal and manipulation of your opponent’s balance; as well as replacement of his center of balance with your own center of gravity.  Another use of this principle is the utilizing of your line of strength against your opponent’s line of weakness.  Takedowns, sweeps, trips, throws, flips, and pushing / shoving techniques can be accomplished on a larger opponent by a smaller person when applying these principles correctly.

Hoi ga = The third family of Kung-Fu San Soo is Hoi ga.  Hoi is a Chinese surname.  Hoi ga deals with the art and science of pressure points, nerve points, and pass points.  It is studying human anatomy and understanding the areas that can bring about pain, injury, or death when struck properly.  Hoi ga is concerned with vital points and the accuracy necessary, and methods used, in delivering effective attacks, striking or seizing, to vulnerable locations of the human anatomy; for controlling, injuring, or killing.  Pressure points, nerve points, pass points, muscles, the skeleton, the vascular system, and the internal organs are all targets considered.  The idea is to disable the opponent quickly with the least amount of strength and effort used as possible.  It requires much less energy to inflict pain and injury to someone if the Hoi ga family is properly used.  Regardless of a person’s size or strength, there are points on the human body that cannot be strengthened.  This knowledge helps to equalize opponents.

Fut ga = The fourth family of Kung-Fu San Soo is Fut ga. Fut literally means Buddha.  Fut ga deals with the art and science of psychology or "internal power."  Fut ga is understanding proper breathing and concentration, balance in movement, sudden execution of decided action to end a confrontation before it has begun, and also the psychology of fighting.  Fut ga deals with survival instincts and the maxim, the best defense is a good offense.  In his book, Predator Training: The Inner Beast of San Soo, Master Greg Jones agrees by saying that, "...the Fut ga family is entirely offense-oriented in its application." (pg. 1)  The Fut ga family of Kung-Fu San Soo is also the philosophical base of San Soo.  It is the relationship of the mind in unity with the body.  The idea is to have a higher plane of thought, allowing the mind to control the body to effect mind & body unity; thereby, directing the movement of the body, with the mind.  Fut ga covers the psychology of human combat, proper fighting attitudes, and strong offensive techniques.  Fut ga instills in the Kung-Fu San Soo practitioner a strong confidence that can never be destroyed.  This can be strengthened by training in Kung-Fu San Soo with an offensive, deliberate, and assertive attitude as you prepare to encounter an aggressor.  This will build your confidence which may enable you to end a conflict on a verbal level before it becomes physical.  That is true victory in conflict.  Your confidence will be apparent when you stand firmly in your position.  With consistent training, you will begin to prove to yourself, through performance, that what you have practiced will work on the day you need to defend yourself.  This is a "proven performance" and true confidence only comes through knowing that you can do it.  As Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo always used to say, "You can take my life, but not my confidence."

Hung ga = The fifth family of Kung-Fu San Soo is Hung ga.  Hung is a Chinese surname.  Hung ga deals with the art and science of physical dynamics or "external power."  It is the application of physical conditioning in order for the mind and body to perform up to maximum potential.  Hung ga covers the use of the body as a complete whole.  Hung ga teaches the Kung-Fu San Soo practitioner how to use his body weight to generate remarkable power.  Hung ga emphasizes dynamic power through proper use of body motion, body dynamics, concepts and principles, which all deal with the development of power through proper breathing, body alignment, and momentum.  Proper breathing is understanding that timing one's exhalation to last the duration of the body's exertion equals power.  Hung ga is the utilizing of body rotation, shifting of weight, and generating power through pivoting and flailing motions.  Physical conditioning is part of this training.  Exercise forms (kuens) are an excellent way of training in body dynamics.  Forms (kuens) increase flexibility, circulation, and overall physical fitness.  Also, Dynamic Tension can be done in forms (kuens) or as individual exercises.  (In addition, Chi Kung can be done in forms [kuens] or as individual exercises.)  This strengthens the muscle tissue associated with the motions used in Kung-Fu San Soo.  The use of geometry, trigonometry, and physics help deliver maximum power; and also composes part of this family.

Here are the individual family styles of Kung-Fu, which use only one family name in their title.  Each individual family style of Kung-Fu has a description, so the reader can compare and contrast that with the “Five Families” of Kung-Fu San Soo.

Choy Gar was established by Choy Gau Lee and is a long arm style, and was further developed in Southern China.  It is a self defense style that practices low stances with low foot positions, and swift footwork like that of the rat.  The body and the arms are meant to resemble the quick attacking movements of the snake.  The low body position and the power in hand techniques will in time, develop an inner strength within the practitioner.  This is the basic foundation for creating effective movements, abilities, and actions of the body.  Choy Gau Lee added more kicks to his style, differentiating some of its longer range techniques; thereby, from those of its Snake Kung-Fu origin.  This martial art makes for very good, fast closing in, movements.

Li Gar was established by Li Yau Shan (Li Yao San) and is a strong medium-range fist system, which utilizes a lot of hands.  Not often taught, Li Gar is one of the famous five family styles found in Southern China, around Canton and Hong Kong areas.  Li Yau Shan (Li Yao San) was also responsible for teaching Chan Hueng of the Choy Li Fut lineage, and is honored as the “Li” in the Choy Li Fut style.

Ho Gar is a complete Chinese fighting system, which incorporates punches, kicks, elbows, knees, sweeps, throws, takedowns, self-defense, forms, weapons, and sparring.  As well as using many striking techniques with the hands, feet, elbows, and knees; Ho Gar also incorporates many sweeps, throws, and takedowns.  As a student progresses we incorporate more traditional Kung-Fu techniques such as the tiger claw, leopard fist, and phoenix eye fist.  As well as teaching the fighting side; we also use many traditional exercises, such as Chi Kung (breathing exercises), Dynamic Tension exercises, and stance training.

Fut Gar is a Southern Chinese martial arts system that uses both hard and soft techniques, and utilizes many palm heel strikes.  Fut Gar has its origins in Shaolin Buddhism.  It accentuates hand techniques, and low kicks.  Fut Gar contains softness within the hard, and hardness within the soft.  Fut Gar has both internal and external aspects; and uses simple, effective, and powerful techniques for self defense.  The practice of its forms (kuens), and Dynamic Tension exercises; combined with meditation and Chi Kung are also beneficial for a person's fitness, health, and general well being.  Fut Gar has a wide variety of tactics, and is strong in fighting theory.  Fut Gar has a heavy focus on hand techniques.  Long range, medium range, and short distance palm and fist strikes are employed.  Maneuverability, evasive footwork, circular moves, and circular blocks are used for self defense.  Fut Gar has flexibility of techniques for all body types.

Hung Gar was established by Hung Hei Gung, and is a hard external Southern Chinese system that uses external strength and Dynamic Tension exercises, and is excellent for developing muscles by utilizing strong low stances.  Hung Gar uses strong hand techniques, notably the bridge hand, and the versatile tiger claw.  The Hung Gar student traditionally spends anywhere from several months, to three years in stance training; often sitting only in horse stances between a half an hour, to several hours at one time, before learning any forms.  Each form then might take a year or so to learn, with weapons learned last.  Hung Gar utilizes a variety of weapons.  Hung Gar is sometimes mischaracterized as solely external -- that is, reliant on brute physical force rather than the cultivation of Chi -- even though the student advances progressively towards an internal focus.