Hello

[Gary Steuer]

Still didn't work..Now I made it smaller........ This is a group photo at Stoner Park March '06

[blackravin]

Love that picture, thanks Uncle Gary.. Hey if you take a look at Daniella's and Kristals face it looks like their ready to beat up on someone.. Steve and I are very proud of our daughters...

Blackravin (a.k.a. El Cuervo) ;D

[mark]

Hi Blackravin,

I've been out of town from last Saturday until Tuesday, and now I'm having computer troubles at home. I just had a minute here at the office. Please send me your e-mail address. I 'd like to talk with you off line as well.

Mark

[mark]

Hello everybody,

Sorry I haven't been able to respond to the answers to my questions. We just got our home computer up and running again a few minutes ago. I intended to post at the office but we've been super busy.

George,
Thanks for the clarification regarding the Geroge's. :)I appreciate your insights. That goes for Sifu Seming as well. Seming, I was wondering if you ever considered reprinting your granfather's books?

I have a question for Sifu Seming and Sifu Gary: I remember George Castro writing one time that GM Wong once said that if one knew the butterfly form he would be able to defend himself. Would that be true for all of the 5-Family beginner forms or was there something special or unique about the butterfly form?

Gary, I realize that as a teacher one must know many or most of the styles forms. However, if you had to pick, what would your top 5 be? I know I've always had certain favorites that just felt more natural or right for me. I'd be curious to know what favorites everybody else has as well.

Well, its getting late and I work a half- day tomorrow. I better get to bed. Sergio, I plan on emailing you sometime tomorrow. Talk to you then.

Mark

[Gary Steuer]

Thanks for all your help Sergio, I appreciate it ! Yeah, the kids are great !
Mark, if I had to pick one form in our style it would have to be the Butterfly form which is the second form learned. We have a Salute but that doesn't really count as a form. Our first five forms are , the small cross ( Small plumblossom ), butterfly, combination, blackbird, and palm.
Whenever I am in a stressful situation I do the butterfly form in my mind. It relaxes me and helps me to cope with everything from pain in a dental chair to having trouble falling asleep.....
There are many, many forms in our style. GM Wong never taught these out of order. Except, when there was a private student who paid for a particular form to learn and then it was guaranteed that the form was put together by GM Wong on the spot ! Careful, sometimes you get what you pay for !!

[G.S. N.G.K.]

Hello Mark there is a reprint of 'The Secret of kung Fu' I will ask Se Ming if it is still for sale and let you know tomorrow. As far as the forms go starting with the Salute. It starts you off with basic front horse stance and side stance or "bow and arrow stance" and basic blocks and punches. The Small Cross has you moving in 4 different directions, uppercuts,elbows,back-fists,new blocks [windmills] and a snap kick and in this form you are also learning how to make better balance and power in punches, blocks and stance as you change directions. and if you are doing this form correctly you will make a Small Cross "try it in the dirt and see what happens" Now the Butterfly has you making quick transitions, combination punch, blocks and kicks.and again more power and better balance.With this form if you practice you should have good basic power and balance." Fighting skill is up to the person" Master Wong told me "At this point you know just enough to get yourself in trouble" He then Laughed. This is just a basic idea of the forms, but as you move on with the basic forms you learn more about balance,power, offense and defense.Then you start with the Animals and begin all over again. George Sanchez Ng Ga kuen

[G.S. N.G.K.]

Mark, By the way my favorite forms are The Palm and the Tiger. George Sanchez Ng Ga Kuen

[blackravin]

Hey Mark, good to hear your online again.. Well as for me, my favorite forms are the BlackBird (go figure), the Palm, the Bull and one Northern Form not from our system. As far as weapons are concerned I love the mellon hammers they really build your harms if you like the burning feeling.

Sergio

[G.S. N.G.K.]

Hello Sergio, Do you happen to have any video of you doing the Blackbird or the Palm? I would like to see it if you do, Thanks. Also I have most of the books containing the original sign-up sheets for school [Ord and Daly st,] if you give me the year and membership #, I'll see if I can find yours and make you a copy for your records, I have already done this for a few of the students. George Sanchez Ng Ga Kuen

[G.S. N.G.K.]

Mark I talked to Se Ming he does not plan on reprinting the books at this time, but I know that Mario Figueroa has made copies of both books and is selling them. I'm lucky I still have mine that I bought in 75' for 5 or 7 dollars apiece, A copy of one of books sold on e-bay for a couple hundred dollars. Have a great one! Paz [peace] George Sanchez Ng Ga Kuen

[blackravin]

That would be fantastic.. The number on my student card is: 18462-6-1983 and next to my name on the card is the number 13.

Actually, I am putting the videos of me doing most of the forms in the order I've learned them. They will be on the El Cuervo forum shortly.. If you register on the forum, I will give you special access to the that thread. I don't really want to post most forms on the open forum out of respect to the various sifu's that have taught me... Keep in mind that my forms have a hung gar feel to them.. It just feels better for me that way..

Mark, I have a pdf. version of one of the books, but if it's okay with Se Ming and out of respect to his family and to everyone that has spent money on purchasing these treasures, if they are okay with it, I will send you a copy..

El Cuervo

[G.S. N.G.K.]

Sergio Thanks for your I.D. # I will look for your signup sheet. I am already signed up on your forum as 'Sanchez' so let me know when you post your videos. On the subject of breathing, Here is a video where you can here the sounds being made while doing forms at normal speed. The first person is a Sil-lum [Shaolin] monk, The second person does Wodang [Wodong] Then Se Ming doing Ng Ga Kuen. Hope it helps with the Breathing questions Gorge Sanchez Ng Ga Kuen www.kungfu5family.com/sillumwudangnggakuen01.wmv

[nggakuen]

Hi Mark,
I think George already told you that we don’t intend to reprint the books soon. If Sergio is kind enough to send you a PDF version of one of the books, it is OK with me. Actually the 2nd book contains many reference materials of our system; but you have to be bilingual in Chinese and in advance level of the system to fully understand them.

In regards to knowing the Butterfly form is good enough to defend yourself is correct; but mostly against normal non martial art expert. Look at it this way, before you learn the Butterfly, you have to know the basics, its application, The Salute, Small Cross form and its applications; probably had some experience in punch / kick to bags already. By then you already have 1 ½ year of training, should able to defend yourself. All and all it still depends on you, how well you were taught, and how hard you’ve train.

Seming

[blackravin]

Thanks Guys. - Mark, I will have to send it to you in batches the file is quiet big and if I send it in one whole peace, you will have trouble downloading it.. Or if you have a PO Box I can mail you a copy of the CD.

Serg

[blackravin]

Would you guys mind if I post the above video on my forum?

Serg. (a.k.a. Blackravin/elcuervo) ;D