ACTIVITY: Lau Gar Kung Fu
VENUE: Mapplewell & Staincross Village Hall Large Hall
TIME: Every Thursday 7:15pm – 9:15pm
PRICE: On application
CONTACT: Stewart Hunt: 07760 273342
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What is Lau Gar Kung Fu?
Kung Fu – Origins
The term ‘kung fu’ (or ‘gung fu’) literally means ‘achievement through great effort’ but is also taken to be the name of a group of Chinese martial arts which typically feature sharp blows and kicks. The term ‘kung’ means something like achievement or merit, and ‘fu’ can be translated into man.
History of Kung Fu
Although many people believe that the Chinese martial arts originated at the Shaolin Temple there is some evidence to suggest that the Chinese martial arts were well developed before the Shaolin Temple was built. The temple was built in the third century A.D. but there are references to such individuals as the physician Hwa Tuo who was using exercises based on animal movements to improve the physical health of his patients well before that date. Hwa Tuo lived at the time of the Three Kingdom, around A.D. 220-65.
Hwa Tuo is said to have created a set of exercises based upon five animals: the tiger, bear, monkey, stork and dear. The reason this is significant is that there is even today a strong relationship between animal movement and the Chinese martial arts.
Lau Gar Kung Fu was introduced to the UK in the early 1970’s by Grand Master Jeremy Yau. Two years later he set up the first Chinese martial arts association open to non-Chinese students in the UK, The British Kung Fu Association (BFKA).
The Lau Gar Guardians
The Guardians, such as Stewart Hunt, are appointed by the Head of the Lau Gar style, Grandmaster Jeremy Yau.
Their mission is to support, represent, promote and develop the style of Lau Gar Kung Fu as it is taught within the British Kung Fu Association for the benefit of current and future generations of students.
Guardian Initiatives
The Guardians are responsible for raising the profile of Lau Gar by:
- Establishing a Centre of excellence
- Seeking opportunities to demonstrate the highest standards of public performance
- Developing and implementing a market strategy
- Maintaining a website suitable for the 21st Century
- Developing internal and external communication systems
- Establishing Lau Gar as leaders in the market place for DVDs and Chinese Martial Arts equipment
Our objective is to improve standards within the style by:
- Securing accreditation of a new coaching course by a recognised national body
- Ensuring the technical skill and competence of potential instructors through set criteria
- Ensuring coaching competence through participation in the coaching course
- Producing DVDs covering the whole syllabus plus additional training material
The Lau Gar Trust Fund
The Guardians will identify ways of raising funds and establishing a programme of sustained income. This will be held in the Lau Gar Trust Fund for the creation and running of a centre that befits a large, national, martial arts group.
As the fund is held on behalf of members of the British Kung Fu Association, the Guardians have adopted a constitution to provide fundamental governance principles for running and managing the Lau Gar Trust fund with professional integrity in the best interests of all members of the Association.
The Lau Gar Kung Fu Classes
Everyone is welcome to attend, so why not come along and speak to the instructors and students, or alternatively why not try a free introductory class.
We look forward to seeing you.