Mok Gar

Mok Gar (莫家) is one of the five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts. It was developed by a Shaolin monk named Monk Mok Ta Shi as an inheritance of the Southern Shaolin Fist in Guangdong province in China.

It gained fame three generations later, in the Qing Dynasty, with Mok Gin Kiu/Mo Qing Chiu (莫清矯; also known as Mok Sau Cheung/ Mo Ta Chang) who learned supposedly from a famous kicker, Choy Kao Yee. Mok's reputation was so high after defeating many other boxers that the style, formerly known as Southern Shaolin Quan, was renamed for the Mok family (Mok Gar). Different generations through Guangdong boasted masters such as Mo Lin Ying, Mo Fifth Brother and Mo Ta Fen.

The Hung Gar lineage from Wong Fei Hung has influences of Mok Gar from his fourth wife Mok Kwai-lan, who after the death of Wong Fei Hung ran his medical clinic and school until her death many years later.

At present there are said to be two branches of Mok. The first is a direct lineage from Mok Qing Chiu and the other traces to Mak Shing Mo.

Techniques

Mok Gar emphasizes clinch fighting techniques and also powerful low kicking techniques. Mok Gar fighters fight so close, it is said they fight chest to chest, cheek to cheek, breath to breath. Some of the kicks from this style include: guo Men Jiao: Pass the Gate Kick, zhi Jie Ce Jiao: Direct Side Kick, she Jiao: Absorbing Kick, pao Jiao: Hurling Kick. Mok Gar training also includes a full range of weapons training. Special stances include Mu Ren Chan: Wooden Man Stance, pian Shen Ma: Deflecting Stance. Mok Gar techniques are based on simplicity and using maximum leverage. These techniques are used for a smaller, weaker person to combat someone who is bigger and stronger. Some forms include:zhong Quan; lau Gar Kuen, a "borrowed" form from the Lau Gar style;Lian Tui Quan.

References