Monkey Kung Fu (Hou Quan)
Monkey Kung Fu (Hou Quan) is a Chinese martial arts that is famous for its ape-like movements and attacks. This very unorthodox and acrobatic Kung Fu style is used to disorient and attack opponents from unusual angles and positions. There are many variants of this style of Kung Fu including Angry Monkey Style (Nau Hau Kuen), Drunken Monkey, etc.
This martial arts is known for techniques such as Monkey Claw, Monkey Fist, Monkey Hook, Monkey Roll, etc. Furthermore, many other Chinese martial arts have copied elements and techniques from Monkey Kung Fu. For example, Praying Mantis Kung Fu uses footwork techniques from Monkey Kung Fu.
According to the American Shaolin Kung Fu, Monkey Kung Fu (Hou Quan) “taught in Mainland China includes running on all fours (the hands and feet), various difficult acrobatic movements such as flipping sideways in the air, front flips, back flips, back handsprings, hand stands, walking on the hands, forward lunges/dives, backward lunges, spinning on the backside, spinning on the back and many kicks and strikes”.
Elements of Kung Fu and Monkey Kung Fu
- Chinese Martial Arts Weapons such as Liu Xing Chui (Meteor Hammer), Sheng Biao (Chinese rope dart), etc.
- Kung Fu Stretches
- Kung Fu Conditioning Drills
- Kung Fu Warm-Up Exercises
- Traditional Kung Fu Strength Training such as Eagle Claw Push-Ups, Iron Palm Training, Rice Bucket Training, etc.
- Chinese Training Equipment such as Mei Hua Zhuang (or Kung Fu Plum Blossom Poles), Wing Chun Wooden Striking Dummy, etc.
- Kung Fu Terminology
- How To Count In Chinese For Kung Fu
Video Demonstration of Monkey Kung Fu
Video of Monkey Kung Fu Techniques
References
- American Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Animal Styles, http://www.americanshaolinkungfu.org/shaolinAnimalStyles.php, Added – 10/10/14