Incursioni e riflessioni di Alberto Biraghi – online dal 7 febbraio 2001
I threw my first “roundhouse kick” in September 1971 in the Kenyukai gym in Milano, lead by Luciano Panciroli and kept training the karate Shotokan until I conquered my “black belt” in 1976.
In the same year I discovered the “Hung Kuen” kung fu thanks to an Hong Kong friend who later introduced me to master Chan Hon Chung. From 1977 al 1990 I spent all my free time (30 to 45 days per year) in Hong Kong studying the Hung style with master Chan Hon Chung in the historical Hon Chung Gymnasium located at 729 Nathan Road. When the gym closed and master Chan retired I kept training with my “si-hing” and friend, doctor Cheung Yee Keung.
I still train the Hung Kuen every morning: the Tit Sin Kuen that i learned from master Chan Hon Chung, the straight sword and the other six bare hands sets. I am still in touch with my Hong Kong brothers: Cheung Yee Keung, Kong Pui Wai, Lee Yun Fook, Seto Wing, Raymond Lau.
From 2016 to 2018 I studied the Tai Chi form of the Chen Ming branch with my old friend Fulvio Fiori. In January 2019 I started training the fascinating “Kung Fu Evolution” (a hot rodded Wing Chun) with mr. Dorillo Rota.
In the sad days of the COVID-19 first lockdown I decided to share with the world the Tit Sin Kuen that I learned from master Chan Hon Chung in a series of live videos that I collected in this YouTube playlist.
Western students of Chinese martial arts, especially those who make a life out of them, are in big troubles with the inflation of the term “sifu”. The problem: if you accept that any muscled poser who learned three moves on YouTube can define himself “sifu”, . . .
Continua a leggere
Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen (“tiger and crane double fist”), or “Fu Hok” as it is usually referred to, is an icon of the Hung school and one of the best known Chinese sets in the martial world. In this article, connected with the videos . . .
Continua a leggere
The Twelve Bridges join the two basic martial elements, deeply interpenetrated and inseparable, foundation of every martial art: the internal element (i.e. the emotional attitude and the connection between thought and action) and the external element (i.e. the physical action and the connection with the . . .
Continua a leggere
In the days of the COVID-19 pestilence, after a long reflection, I decided to share with the world in a series of 27 videos the Tit Sin Kuen form that I received from my master Chan Hon Chung in 1984. I gave the reasons in . . .
Continua a leggere
Ho conosciuto il fratello 溫雄 nel 1977, in occasione del mio primo soggiorno a Hong Kong. Dopo l’emozione iniziale l’Hon Chung Gymnasium cominciava a diventarmi familiare. E dopo la diffidenza iniziale i ragazzi della Hon Chung Gymnasium Stdent Union diventavano sempre più cordiali e accoglienti.
Continua a leggere
What is the Tit Sin Kuen meaning and its technical value in the martial evolution of the Hung Kuen school practitioner?
Continua a leggere
A significant number of Hung Kuen common errors appeared as a consequence of the social and cultural transformation of Hong Kong. Back in the last Century learning some good Chinese kungfu was straight forward: select a style (Hung Kuen, Tang Lang, Wing Chun, …) and . . .
Continua a leggere
Tra tante degenerazioni subite in Italia dalle arti marziali cinesi, una delle più sgradevoli è quella che riguarda gli appellativi tradizionali. Usati in Cina per indicare le relazioni di parentela marziale (come in una famiglia: tipo nonno, zio, fratello, nipote…), sono stati arbitrariamente trasformati da . . .
Continua a leggere
In my 47 years (ouch!) of constant practice, my perception of the martial arts evolved. But the trigger that launched the reflection that brought to these considerations was meeting Dorillo Rota, an awesome martialist of great human value, who has devoted his enormous experience to . . .
Continua a leggere
Hung Kuen stances: a correct execution is the most important assumption for the serious student. In every martial art the forms are basically a symbolic (if not “metaphoric”) way to avoid the contaminations, aimed to keep and hand down the set as pure as possible. But every student . . .
Continua a leggere
Agter more than 44 years training the kung fu learned from master Chan Hon Chung, I still consider the traditional methods of teaching and training as the only way to preserve the conceptual nature of Hung Kuen and to understand its fundamental principles. Some considerations . . .
Continua a leggere
This article considers the necessity of a conceptual approach to Hung Kuen forms execution to preserve the purity of the style as taught by master Chan Hon Chung in his gym at 729 Nathan Road. I studied with master Chan from 1977 until the shutdown . . .
Continua a leggere
You can be European or Chinese, you may have been born 20 years ago or in 1945, you can call yourself a beginner or a “grandmaster”, but if your advanced position is unnaturally low, your hip is open and your back foot points out, you . . .
Continua a leggere
This post is about how I got hold of this original picture taken in 1969 at the fist official meeting of the “Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association Ltd” (renamed “Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association Ltd.” in 2006), inspired and . . .
Continua a leggere
After the passing of the master, the Hung style of Chan Hon Chung has been undergoing an heavy contamination and modification by external influences, sometimes openly conflicting with an uncontaminated handing down of its pure essence and tradition.
Continua a leggere
I heard of a recent flame about “honour and respect” in Chinese martial arts that hit my Hung Kuen brother Che Kong Mak. According to what I understood, he has been criticized for posting a video of him teaching Hung Kuen kung fu to some . . .
Continua a leggere
Ricevo un inaspettato numero di richieste da persone interessate a imparare l’Hung Kuen che ho appreso da Chan Hon Chung e perfezionato con il mio “fratello maggiore” Cheung Yee Keung dopo la chiusura dell’Hon Chung Gymnasium al 729 di Nathan Road.
Continua a leggere
Again with this great Hung style performer. In the previous article I explained as this video confirms my theory of of a few movements added by my brother Cheung Yee Keung to Chan Hon Chung’s Tit Sin Kuen just before the first unicorn step. But . . .
Continua a leggere