Tid Sin Kuen, the “iron wire set” is the highest, most advanced set in Hung Gar gungfu. The set was created around 1850 by Tid Kiusaam.. In his youth Tid Kiu Saam learned several gungfu styles. Later he wandered through China in search of new teachers. During his travels he learned siji haau (“Lion Roar” - Lama style), Siulam Kuen and Taoist heigung (qigong in Mandarin). Using his vast knowledge and experience he created Tid Sin Kuen, in which the twelve kiusauand Taoist Heigung were combined to create a set, that stimulates health and make the forearms as hard as iron. Later the set was included in the Hung Ga by Wong Feihung. At the age of 13 Wong Feihung met Lam Fuksing, a student of the famous Tid Kiu Saam. It is said that Wong Feihung followed him for almost two years, learning the unique skills of Tid Kiu Saam’s gungfu, such as Tid Sin Kuen.

Tid Sin Kuen has always been regarded as the "secret" set of the style, the set that a master only passes to his best disciples. Only after perfectly mastering most of the prerequisite "fist" and weapon sets could a student proceed to practicing the Tid Sin Kuen. Tid Sin Kuen is mainly an internal set and if practiced incorrectly may cause internal injuries. Occasions where students tried practicing the set without any guidance reportedly complain about pain in the chest, dizziness or even vomiting blood. Therefore the student must be perfectly ready - both spiritually and physically - when he starts to learn Tid Sin Kuen. PracTidioners should pay close attention to their master’s advice.

The set itself consists of “dragon” movements, which combine proper breathing techniques ("life energy" - hei ?; in Mandarin qi) with isometric techniques, thus combining the opposites or yin and yan (in Mnd. yin and yang). Because the breathing techniques are considered soft, and the isometrics hard, the set is known as “iron thread” - “hard as iron, soft as thread”.

In conjunction with isometric techniques sounds are made; some soft (yin), some hard (yang). These sounds are related to the emotions, which affect the body’s organs, as explained by the theory of the “five elements”. The “sounds” imitate the "five emotions" (anger, joy, sadness, sorrow and fear) and, together with the breathing, stimulate the flow of "energy" and functions of the "five organs" (liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys) - See the article “Tid Sin Kuen Heigung – Sounds” for a detailed description. The set regulates the hei (qi), making the body sweat and thereby cleansing the body. Also the set restores imbalances in the hei circulation, so makes the body healthy and stronger. Restored hei circulation also balances the mental state, lengthening life and – last but not least – power (ging) in the fighting techniques.

Tid Sin Kuen also trains the forearms, called Kiu sau (literally bridge hands). The pracTidioner learns to use the internal energy (sending the hei) and strength (tensing the muscles) to get the most out of his/her forearm techniques. The use of the forearms follows 12 principles, named the "twelve bridge hands methods” (Sapyi kiu sau faat). They are “gong” (hard), “yau” (soft), “bik” (pressing/coercing), “jik” (straight), “fan” (separating), “ding” (solid/steadiness), “chyun” (inch), “tai” (lifting), “lau” (staying/reserve), “wan” (utilizing/sending), “jai” (establishing/controlling), and “ding” (setting/finalizing/piercing).

These forearm principles and techniques are also found in the other sets of Hung Gar, though not as concentrated. Tid Sin Kuen uses little footwork so only a small area is needed for practice. It takes 20 – 40 minutes to perform the set, so it’s very different from the quick fighting techniques in the other sets.

Text by: Hung Ga United