This webpage is dedicated to the promotion of Nanyang Kuntao and Weaponry Training offered by James Lee, the founder of Suigetsu-Mon Combat Academy™.
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Nanyang Kuntao 南洋拳道
Kuntao – read 拳道 in Mandarin – is a colloquial Hokkien term that first referred to the martial arts of the first Chinese settlers in the Southeast Asia region, dating back as far as the 10th century AD. These were mostly Hokkien, Hakka and Hainanese people from Southeastern China, who came as farmers, fishermen, miners, labourers and traders, and the martial arts they practiced for self-defence were the first systems of Chinese Kungfu to put down roots in this part of the world. Of these three, the Hakka people, in particular, were renowned for their martial valour. An unrelentingly harsh existence in China as indigent squatters with no homeland of their own hardened them admirably for frontier life, and their warriors and systems of training were justly feared for their ferocity and effectiveness.
Tested under fire for generations in the harsh conditions of frontier émigré life, these arts interacted with native arts of combat across the region – through both warfare and friendly exchange – spawning numerous hybrid systems, as well as giving rise to later lineages fully native to the region. Also, they escaped the ravages of China’s Cultural Revolution mostly intact. As a result of the all of the above, they have retained most of their combative flavor. |
Technically, most Southern Chinese Kungfu styles are characterized by low, stable stances, conservative movement, and intricate hand and foot techniques that rarely extend to full reach – a result of their origins in the treacherous mountain slopes and muddy river valleys of Southern China, and the swaying boats used for work and travel.
In modern terms, this has often been called ‘dirty boxing’ or ‘fighting in the phonebooth’ – optimized for fending off determined and violent assault at extreme close quarters, often in a confined space, these arts translate well to fending off predators in urban jungle deathtraps – lifts, public toilets, narrow alleyways, and so forth. Impenetrable close-quarters defence can ward off a flurry of blows, rock-solid body mechanics can seal off an ambusher’s movement and redirect it into obstacles, and short, sneaky attacks can take out a knee or an eye long enough to effect a quick getaway or hit the panic button to the police on one’s mobile phone.
Nanyang Kuntao is a blend of the most successful common principles and techniques – called by some ‘high-percentage techniques’ – of several closely-related Southern Chinese systems, mostly of the Hakka lineage. This is the classical heart of James Lee's method, and teaching resembles as closely as possible the classical system of learning while remaining true to his pragmatic vision. Students can expect to learn exercises to build essential biomechanics and conditioning to master the deeper aspects of the art, as well as the foundational techniques of Kuntao through partner drills and controlled sparring. Once students have reached a satisfactory level of proficiency, they will have access to training in the Nanyang Kuntao forms and Qigong exercises.
James Lee has classed practical weapon usage according to length – short, medium, and long. In the end, a weapon is simply a tool – an aid to assist the work of combat by providing reach, protection, leverage and cutting, piercing or smashing power. With that in mind, his training focuses on the weapons that most pragmatically represent each class on the spectrum – the dagger, the sabre, and the staff/spear.
Students will spend their time training this component through solo and partner drills, as well as non-contact and weapon-on-weapon contact ONLY sparring, all with safe practice weapons. In so doing, they will learn the appropriate angles, ranges and rhythms of each class of weapon. Once they have achieved a satisfactory level of proficiency, they will then be considered ready for training in and interpreting the classical forms of Nanyang Kuntao.
Please contact James Lee at ( Hp +65 84618022 ) to find out more about the Cost and Training Schedule of Nanyang Kuntao.
In modern terms, this has often been called ‘dirty boxing’ or ‘fighting in the phonebooth’ – optimized for fending off determined and violent assault at extreme close quarters, often in a confined space, these arts translate well to fending off predators in urban jungle deathtraps – lifts, public toilets, narrow alleyways, and so forth. Impenetrable close-quarters defence can ward off a flurry of blows, rock-solid body mechanics can seal off an ambusher’s movement and redirect it into obstacles, and short, sneaky attacks can take out a knee or an eye long enough to effect a quick getaway or hit the panic button to the police on one’s mobile phone.
Nanyang Kuntao is a blend of the most successful common principles and techniques – called by some ‘high-percentage techniques’ – of several closely-related Southern Chinese systems, mostly of the Hakka lineage. This is the classical heart of James Lee's method, and teaching resembles as closely as possible the classical system of learning while remaining true to his pragmatic vision. Students can expect to learn exercises to build essential biomechanics and conditioning to master the deeper aspects of the art, as well as the foundational techniques of Kuntao through partner drills and controlled sparring. Once students have reached a satisfactory level of proficiency, they will have access to training in the Nanyang Kuntao forms and Qigong exercises.
James Lee has classed practical weapon usage according to length – short, medium, and long. In the end, a weapon is simply a tool – an aid to assist the work of combat by providing reach, protection, leverage and cutting, piercing or smashing power. With that in mind, his training focuses on the weapons that most pragmatically represent each class on the spectrum – the dagger, the sabre, and the staff/spear.
Students will spend their time training this component through solo and partner drills, as well as non-contact and weapon-on-weapon contact ONLY sparring, all with safe practice weapons. In so doing, they will learn the appropriate angles, ranges and rhythms of each class of weapon. Once they have achieved a satisfactory level of proficiency, they will then be considered ready for training in and interpreting the classical forms of Nanyang Kuntao.
Please contact James Lee at ( Hp +65 84618022 ) to find out more about the Cost and Training Schedule of Nanyang Kuntao.