Chow Gar by Neil Horton

  

Chow Gar by Neil Horton

 

Chow Gar is a Chinese martial art system that belongs to the Mantis Kung Fu category and holds many aspects of it. A Chinese monk named Chow Ah Naam in the 1800's, who took residence in the Southern Shaolin monastery, created Chow Gar. 


The system favours close range fighting techniques with the hands and short fast kicking applications at low levels and targets vulnerable areas of the opponent's body. Rapid linear strikes are paramount and key to being effective at short range. Internal power and energy is favoured in order to deliver powerful and fast punching techniques. The internal body training is known as ‘chi'. Here, students are given the education in how to inhale and exhale correctly when performing an application. 


Power training and flexibility are important features of this Chinese form. Strong stance and posture is created to enable the exponent to switch from an attack or defence depending upon the situation. There are numerous finger and thumb strikes aimed at vulnerable areas of the opponent's body. Hand strikes are made with either the open hand or clenched fist. The student requires balance and body co-ordination and keeps these elements to the fore when performing both attack and defence.


Pupils are taught the vast array of the vulnerable areas and pressure points of the opponent's anatomy, which will induce a specified or desired result. Mental conditioning is sought and develops through practise and simulated sparring connotations. Students increase their knowledge with the advent of experience. There are numerous elements contained within Chow Gar where one can see the influence of the mantis, which according to legend, was observed and copied when faced with a fighting situation. Here, the mantis employs fast movement on pre-determined targets. 


Chow Gar is popular throughout the world and many of its facets have been absorbed into other fighting systems. ‘Pre-arranged sequences' or ‘forms' are featured and emphasised in different ways depending upon the instructor concerned. By employing such ‘forms' the student is introduced to many important elements of the system, for example, attack and defence, mental and physical focus, distancing and rhythm and timing. Traditional Chinese weaponry may also be incorporated into the overall training programme and also taught with the effective use of ‘forms'. The style was originally devised for self-protection and many observers note the ability of this method to highly efficient in a close-quarters scenario. 

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