HK Martial Arts Festival

This is a match at an all-styles open Kung Fu tournament which I photographed at a HK Martial Arts Festival in the early 1970s. (Frankly I can't remember whether it was before or after I went to Vietnam, so it might have been 1972 or so.)

The tournament was just one of the many events put on for the Festival of Hong Kong that year. As a bona-fide journalist, I had a perfect spot at the edge of the boxing ring. But it wasn't a boxing match, as you can see from the unconventional technique seen in this picture.

The combatants wore head protection and rib and chest protection, plus padded gloves. The referee was obviously a highly skilled martial artist, for he was very quick to intervene if someone forgot this was a friendly match and attempted a particularly dangerous blow.

I found it interesting to see one fighter grab the other around the thighs and lift him into the air. Then the thrower would drop the suspended fighter onto the boards flat on his back, and would fall on top of him at the same time. It was a pretty effective knockout technique I had never seen before.

The most educational bout I watched was between two young women. One did a kick and punch style of Kung Fu, and the other did a throwing style, rather like Japanese Judo.

The throwing style girl copped a few punches which must have hurt but didn't stop her. But each time she successfully threw the kick/punch girl to the floor, the downed girl found it harder and harder to get up again and keep fighting. After three or four throws to the canvas, it was all over. The grappling woman beat the punching woman, hands down.