“Hands are doors, legs reach out.”
Hou Quan, or Monkey Fist, is a style of Kung Fu that imitates the attack and movements of monkeys. According to Kung Fu experts,
Wang Lang is the founder of this style. It was created during the Ming Dynasty around 1368-1644.
Forms in Hou Quan imitates the movements and expressions of monkeys coming out of cave, prying about, picking fruits, fighting, in joy,
caught by surprise, and returning to caves. Hou Quan have a lot of similarities with Tai Shing Pek War, which is another style of Kung Fu
that imitates a monkey’s movements. Some of its similarities are the leaping, scratching, biting, and screaming common to monkeys.
Hou Quan’s upper body techniques are mainly to block, protect, or undo the attacks of the opponent. Counter-attacks are executed with
the legs most of the time. Coordination with hand and leg movements is very important in Hou Quan.
Low stances and fluid motion are some of the major characteristics of Hou Quan. Techniques are executed with blinding speed like the
monkey. Although mostly a fighting style, Wang Lang set some rules on what body parts to hit or not hit for morality’s sake. He believes
that to develop a supreme Martial Art means to value high morals as well as excellent fighting techniques.
|
