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The Hung Kuen National Championships take place twice a year and are open to all Hung Kuen clubs in the UK. The winter tournament takes place in December and the summer event is usually held in May; our club participates in both, often with the largest attendance of all clubs and frequently with great success!
Each National Championship consist of three different groups of events, and any club member is free to enter any event they wish to. There is the forms competition, the individual sparring categories, and the open sparring tournament.
Forms
Kung fu ‘forms’ are choreographed sequences of movements which we use in our training to perfect good technique and learn how to string together fluid, patterned movements. Forms competitions are a traditional element of kung fu training, giving practitioners the chance to demonstrate their advanced techniques without having to hurt anyone in the process!
In the Hung Kuen competitions, forms are performed by competitors and judged by Master Ang, with the most seamless and technically sound demonstrations earning the highest place. There are categories for traditional ‘Tan Tui’ forms, animal forms, advanced forms, and weapons forms.
Individual Sparring
Men’s and women’s sparring categories are determined based around individual competitors’ height, weight, and belt grade, to match competitors evenly. Competition takes place in groups of three or four, in the form of a mini knockout tournament, with two initial matches before a group final for the winners.
Sparring here usually consists of one two-minute round, with a second round in the case of a draw. This is a popular choice of event for new members wanting to get their first taste of sparring competition, although anyone below black belt level can enter.
Open Sparring
The tournaments’ prestige events, the men’s and women’s Open take the form of knockout tournaments with entrants competing against each other regardless of grade or physical size. Unlike the individual events, each match is two rounds long with a third in case of a draw. These events are usually won by black belts, but in recent years there have been a few surprise victories by lower-ranked competitors, making the Open an enjoyable contest for spectators as well as for those participating.
Winners of the Open are awarded with the Hung Kuen trophy, while all other entrants in every event are given a commemorative medal.
Sparring Rules
Hung Kuen sparring is officially limited to semi-contact rules, for safety reasons. This means that all competitors must wear padded equipment – helmets, gum shields, chest protectors, gloves, foot/shin pads, groin guards – and there are restrictions on the types of strikes allowed:
- No punching to the head or neck
- No striking below the belt or to the back
- No striking a downed opponent
- No hitting with the elbows, knees, or head
- No grabbing, throwing, or holding
A black belt referees each fight, and will issue warnings or point deductions for rule breaking, while corner judges record points for successful strikes. At the end of the fight, Master Ang (or another head judge) will collate the scores and determine the winner, also accounting for technique, control, and aggression during the fight.
The competitions are always great fun, whether you are competing or just supporting your club mates. Since the club pays for travel and entry fees, they are FREE to attend and always make for a memorable day out.