Grading
Gradings are carried out once or twice a year. Students are tested in a variety of ways including: performance of a form, knowledge of a form’s applications and training purpose, Cantonese terminology, Chinese philosophy, sparring, and horse stance.
All students wear a black sash as part of the regular uniform, every new level (two tests) allows the student to sew on one red arrow until the Jo Gow level (four tests) is reached. The Jo Gow sash is a black with a red border on all four sides. The levels and corresponding forms are:
- Yat Cup Junior: Gung Ji Kuen
- Yat Cup Senior: Fook Fu Kuen
- Yee Cup Junior: Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen
- Yee Cup Senior: Hang Yuet Dan Dao
- Saam Cup Junior: Ng Ying Kuen
- Saam Cup Senior: Ng Lung Ba Gwa Gwan
- Jo Gow I: Ji Mo Seung Dao
- Jo Gow II: Ng Lung Ba Gwa Cheung
- Jo Gow III: Chuen Choy Dai Dao
- Jo Gow IV: Yu Ga Dai Pa
Forms
Each form develops different aspects of the practitioner’s movement and strength. The weapon forms not only teach the usage of the weapon but add greatly to the practitioner’s skill with hand techniques. The system has been put together with great care and thought, to lead the student from basic foundations to advanced movements and concepts. The forms are studied in the following order:
- 工字拳 – Gung Ji Kuen – “I” Pattern Fist
- 伏虎拳 – Fook Fu Kuen – Taming Tiger Fist
- 虎鶴雙形拳 – Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen – Tiger Crane Double Pattern Fist
- 月沆单刀 – Hang Yuet Dan Dao – Moon Flowing Single Broadsword
- 双炮棍 – Seung Pao Gwan – Double Cannon Pole
- 五形拳 – Ng Ying Kuen – Five Animal Fist
- 五郎八卦棍 – Ng Lung Ba Gwa Gwan – Fifth Brother Eight Diagram Pole
- 子母双刀 – Ji Mo Seung Dao – Mother Son Twin Swords
- 春秋大刀 – Chuen Choy Dai Do – Spring Autumn Great Knife
- 五郎八卦枪 – Ng Lung Ba Gwa Cheung – Fifth Brother Eight Diagram Spear
- 瑤家大扒 – Yu Ga Dai Pa – Yu Family Tiger Fork
More information about the forms can be found on the Hand Forms and Weapon Forms pages.
In addition to the main system, the following forms are also taught:
- 鐵線拳 – Tiet Sing Kuen – Iron Wire Form
- 達摩易筋经 – Dat Mo Yit Gung Ging – Dat Mo Muscle Changing Classic
- 牛骨扇 – Ngauh Gwat Sin – Beef Bone Fan