“A
martial arts style is defined by the problem it seeks
to solve, and the quality of a martial artist is measured
by the earnestness with which the practitioner applies
him/herself to the solution.” –
Source Unknown
"Knowing
something could work is different to
ensuring something will work." -
Source Unknown
Lei
Quan Gong Kung Fu is a style focussing on the Art
of Survival. Practitioners at the Club learn and develop
through the application of the style to the challenging problem
of surviving realistic encounters with both single
and multipleopponents. This
focus on the Survival Spirit and the awareness of multiple attackers
distinguishes Lei Quan Gong and The University of Queensland Kung
Fu Club as a unique Art and training organisation.
Through
studying the Art, the practitioner of Lei Quan Gong learns to
extend and movebeyondpersonalbarriers, be they physical
or psychological, to see the realityof
one’s circumstances. The Art of the Thunder
Fist is a style emphasising the preservation of energy
while meeting resistance.
The style consists of versatile handwork with very
flexible footwork combined. Lei Quan Gong is
recognised by its flowing and suddenly explosive movements, quick
body positioning, many short strikes and kicks. Hand techniques
can be described as very fast, ripping, stabbing,
continuous, and powerful.
Lei Quan Gong is a system which has small, quick, relaxed,
flowing, circular movements for manoeuvring and
also the strong, brisk, muscular movements of harder styles. Most
of the power comes from directing the body’s momentum to
small points of attack.
The primary goal in training is to develop strength, endurance
and mobility. The secondary goal is
to develop speed and coordination,
while the tertiary goal is to develop knowledge,
psychology and strategy. Fitness,
health and strength of Spirit are achieved through learning and
developing the Art.
Within
the fighting art, the concern for physical size
has been minimised and the
aspects of attitude and skill
stressed. The Way is to look beyond illusions to see the truth
of a situation and therein become empowered to act most appositely.
Efficiency, simplicity and practicality
are at the forefront of the practitioner’s mind, and this
emphasis is reflected in the training curriculum.
Both
internal (soft, yin) and external
(hard, yang) elements are trained. An understanding of
both aspects is vital to a practical approach to survival. These
conceptualisations also provide a fascinating insight into life
in a broader sense.
Practitioners
develop strikingpower through
attacking pads and bags, and through various drills which build
power from internal sources: “jing” energy. Training also develops calmness
and awareness under pressure, breathcontrol, and sensitivity and
response to the movement of others and a solid
understanding of the nature of the humansystem
and its maintenance under pressure.
Weapons are trained sparingly within the style
and include the
long staff, stick
(cane), broadsword, short swords, butterfly knifes, tridents (sais)
and Quan Do. These weapons further students’ understanding
of their own bodily system (training with the heavy sword, for
example, improves, amongst other things, one’s understanding
of the body’s capacity for expansion and contraction and
also teaches students about flow in movement), and they also provide
a means of extending this system in self-defence situations.
We
do not train for competition at the Club, but test our training
in various random individual and group attack scenarios of varying
degrees
of pressure depending on the proficiency of the student. Competitive
martial artists aim to defeat a contestant under controlled conditions.
Such a focus develops a competition-specific mindset and a limited
set of behaviours, habits and skills that are not necessarily
helpful in true, random survival situations. Moreover, while one
may be able to “win” against an age- and
weight-matched opponent, it becomes increasingly difficult to
“win” against multiple non-matched, possibly armed
opponents who are not controlled by a match referee. When life
(or limb) is at stake, “winning” is no longer the
goal. The goal is to survive. The goal is to
eliminate the threat to self by any and all means
available. With a different goal, under different conditions,
a different set of knowledge and skills is required. This must
be reflected in training.
Awareness
of multiple attackers radically transforms how a martial
art is trained
...even
how one throws a punch needs revision!
Entry
level "running through group" exercise
This
emphasis on group survival is not simply academic, but is borne
out by statistics which suggest that, being attacked by
multiple assailantsis the more likely self-defence
scenario. Further, one-on-one encounters are almost exclusively
ego-driven, requiring “two to tango”, and are therefore
avoidable through developing social and emotionalawareness and psychological discipline. Not surprisingly,
skills applicable to surviving multiple attackers are also effective
against the lone assailant. It can be seen that learning a system
that incorporates group attack survival is of prime importance
if one wishes to learn true self-defence. All exercises and teaching
are entirely consistent with group attack survival. This approach
makes The University of Queensland Kung Fu Club unique.
low
level group exercise
The
problem of multiple attackers can seem overwhelming, even insurmountable
at first. However, students are guided by experienced instructors,
with a dedicated instructor for each grade, to make the learning
process enjoyable and productive.
Teaching
at the Club is based on a philosophy of individualism whereby
students are each encouraged to overcome obstacles to
training and living. Just as one must be responsible for their
own self-defence, so too is the student of Lei Quan Gong ultimately
guided to be independent in their own training.
All students are encouraged to progress
at their own pace and
are in active partnership with their instructors
in their learning. Students are encouraged and guided through
the process of stepping beyond their comfort zone, this being
essential if survival skills are to be learnt. Thus, the Club
caters for both those interested in attaining a satisfactory standard
in a short period of time and those interested in progressing
to higher levels.
At
its highest expression, Lei Quan Gong is a profoundly creative,
intuitive and spontaneous
discipline of immense martial efficacy. Moreover, while martial
arts is the great vehicle of learning in Lei Quan Gong, many unforeseen
rewards accrue along the Way, and skills learnt surprisingly carry
over into many other aspects of life. The rewards arise as practitioners
are encouraged to solve difficult problems and overcome personal
obstacles. It takes many years to attain full realisation in the
Art. Nevertheless, benefits to the minds, bodies and spirits of
the practitioners are noticed very early on in training, as evident
in the enthusiasm and dedication Club members show towards their
training, and an effective system of personal survival can be
achieved in a relatively short period.
Students
of various grades training combination striking
Lei
Quan Gong Kung Fu is a style focussing on the Art
of Survival. Practitioners at the Club learn and develop
through the application of the style to the challenging problem
of surviving realistic encounters with both single
and multiple opponents. This
focus on the Survival Spirit and the awareness of multiple attackers
distinguishes Lei Quan Gong and The University of Queensland Kung
Fu Club as a unique Art and training organisation. 
very
flexible footwork combined. Lei Quan Gong is
recognised by its flowing and suddenly explosive movements, quick
body positioning, many short strikes and kicks. Hand techniques
can be described as very fast, ripping, stabbing,
continuous, and powerful.
Lei Quan Gong is a system which has small, quick, relaxed,
flowing, circular movements for manoeuvring and
also the strong, brisk, muscular movements of harder styles. Most
of the power comes from directing the body’s momentum to
small points of attack. 
Within
the fighting art, the concern for physical size
has been minimised and the
aspects of attitude and skill
stressed. The Way is to look beyond illusions to see the truth
of a situation and therein become empowered to act most appositely.
Efficiency, simplicity and practicality
are at the forefront of the practitioner’s mind, and this
emphasis is reflected in the training curriculum.
Practitioners
develop striking power through
attacking pads and bags, and through various drills which build
power from internal sources: “jing”
energy. Training also develops calmness
and awareness under pressure, breath
control, and sensitivity and
response to the movement of others and a solid
understanding of the nature of the human system
and its maintenance under pressure.
(cane), broadsword, short swords, butterfly knifes, tridents (sais)
and Quan Do. These weapons further students’ understanding
of their own bodily system (training with the heavy sword, for
example, improves, amongst other things, one’s understanding
of the body’s capacity for expansion and contraction and
also teaches students about flow in movement), and they also provide
a means of extending this system in self-defence situations. 
degrees
of pressure depending on the proficiency of the student. Competitive
martial artists aim to defeat a contestant under controlled conditions.
Such a focus develops a competition-specific mindset and a limited
set of behaviours, habits and skills that are not necessarily
helpful in true, random survival situations. Moreover, while one
may be able to “win” against an age- and
weight-matched opponent, it becomes increasingly difficult to
“win” against multiple non-matched, possibly armed
opponents who are not controlled by a match referee. When life
(or limb) is at stake, “winning” is no longer the
goal. The goal is to survive. The goal is to
eliminate the threat to self by any and all means
available. With a different goal, under different conditions,
a different set of knowledge and skills is required. This must
be reflected in training. 
at their own pace and
are in active partnership with their instructors
in their learning. Students are encouraged and guided through
the process of stepping beyond their comfort zone, this being
essential if survival skills are to be learnt. Thus, the Club
caters for both those interested in attaining a satisfactory standard
in a short period of time and those interested in progressing
to higher levels.
