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Hou Quan or Monkey Kung Fu
By Chris Crudelli
Nowadays Monkey kung fu routines can be seen most regularly in modern day China Wushu competitions. However, the original style is quite different to the acrobatic flipping, somersaulting and handstand type routines that we are familiar with. In original form most of the attacks were aimed at the groin area, eyes, nose, throat and knees of the opponent. One of the special characteristics of the style is that players typically adopt monkey expressions and make the noise of monkeys when they are fighting. They may express anger, fear, fright, confusion, bewilderment and happiness during their confrontations. The style is known for its deft movements and open hand strikes. If we
look at the natural movement of monkeys and the way that they fight we can see the connection between this style of kung fu, and the genuine movements of monkeys and apes. Monkeys and apes tend use their palms to slap raising their hands up high and unleashing their fists in a violent, twisting, bludgeoning motion to hit their opponents they may then roll to the side, scream and shriek loudly intimidating and humiliating their opponent. Although not found today these unusual tactics would have all been incorporated into the style.
The style drunken monkey which is a derivative of monkey kung fu has spurned many a Hong Kong Film. It is an interesting style which is very deceptive relying heavily on tumbling, falling and strikes to vulnerable areas. It is called drunken money because it gives the impression the monkey is drunk, off balance, falling swaying and rocking uncontrollably. Drunkard monkey stylists may try to let opponents feel that they are getting the upper hand however, at a moment of choosing he will launch into a deadly attack. It is said to be one of the most difficult styles of monkey kung fu to understand and to do but it is also according to popular myth, one of the most deadly styles of monkey kung fu.
Typically, monkey kung fu practitioners wear yellow, silk uniforms and as their studies advance they may learn weaponry. The most common weapon that practitioners use is the staff usually a 6 or 6.5 foot length staff which is slightly flexible and feels similar in size, weight and looks the typical staffs used in northern Wushu. They may also learn the Chinese broad sword, straight sword and spear. During the form you will often see the player acting as if he is picking fleas from his body, scratching his ears, nervously looking from left to right, jumping, rolling and also eating or drinking. According to popular legend the style was developed by a prisoner who whilst serving his sentence from a small window observed monkeys fighting. He studied their movements very closely and found then to be effective in his prison skirmishes discovering that monkeys had an enhanced ability to frighten their opponents before striking them, he incorporated these observations into the traditional kung fu he already knew. Shortly after being released from jail he re codified everything he knew about martial arts under the simple new name, Monkey Kung Fu.
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Hou Quan/Monkey Kung Fu - Chris Crudelli Martial IQ Forums
Chris Crudelli is a China Expert, Graduate of London University SOAS & Beijing Shi Fan University. He is a Kung Fu & TaiJi Master, Author & TV Host best known for his self penned BBC TV series 'Mind Body Kick Ass Moves' broadcast in over 180 countries world wide.
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