Rat Kung Fu, Choy Gar Kuen or Caijia Quan is a Chinese martial art that was invented by Choy Gau Lee. The original techniques were developed in the Shaolin Temple. Somewhere in Southern China, a variety of Snake Kung Fu was modified to include lower stances and swifter footwork. Choy Gau Lee added more kicks to his style, thereby differentiating some of its longer range techniques from those of its Snake Kung Fu origin, and calling this new style Rat Kung Fu.
Choy gar was founded by Choy Gau Lee and developed in southern China. It is a self-defense style that practices low stances and swift footwork like that of the rat. The body and arms are meant to resemble the quick attacking movements of the snake.
The low stance and power in the techniques, will in time, develop an inner strength within the practitioner. This is the basic foundation for creating effective movements, abilities and actions of the body.
Only through this can one truly understand the wide range of Kung Fu techniques and it's distinctive character.
The philosophy behind Kung Fu is, in the east, of great significance. For many students, the training is like an upbringing and in everyday life. Morals and traditions taught in Kung Fu help to mold their characters.
Freedom begins exactly at the point when
we have mastered our free will and have
controlled our own actions. It is here that
good and bad join the game. Our attitude
towards nature and each other is a conscious
act of will, selfish or unselfish, bad or
good.
It is easy to bend the body but very hard
to bend a strong will.
Real
knowledge is to know what you don't know and
know that you don't know what you don't
know. If we cannot live together with other
human beings, with whom shall we then live?
The person who engages in violence shows
that he/she has not acquired real knowledge.
It is very important that the person who
practices Kung Fu merges with his/her
attitude and morals. A person with bad
morals and a bad attitude towards life will
not achieve many goals. Morality is a way of
thinking and a way of living. In every
minute of your life, through hard work,
training, eating, sleeping and a thousand of
other activities, morality molds your
character.
Five important things make a Kung fu
practitioner strong:
humanity
respect
loyalty
trustworthiness
justice
All of this is the beginning to a high
level of humbleness and the path to your own
growth. Humbleness opens all doors to heaven
and is an essential part of your own
learning. Humbleness opens all doors to
knowledge and you will start to understand
your own development and strive for further
growth, resulting in a physically and
mentally strong will.
Practice with will and awareness, then
all emotions will surely remain calm. You
must never forget that you are your own
master in all situations. You should see and
control your own mind instead of the
opponent controlling you. Many people rely
more on the thought of death than on the
thought of life.
When you start blaming your failures on
others, then you have failed. You do not
need to have enemies. If someone turns out
to be unfriendly and unjust towards you, you
simply do not have to recognize him. Deny
all unfriendliness. Meet everyone as good
friends and you will not have to ask who you
will meet with civility.