Shaolin Animal Kung Fu Styles

The monks at the Shaolin Temple use to watch the way animals would fight. From watching these animals the monks would incorporate moves and techniques into the Kung Fu. There are five main animals. Not only was each animal assessed considering its physical characteristics as a fighter but also its benefits spiritually to the human personality. For example: Tigers have claws (physical) and are ferocious (this is an emotion). Other animals include: eagle, monkey, phoenix, etc..

The Crane (He Xing)
To some, the crane is the epitome of grace. In a fight, it prefers to stay away from toe-to-toe confrontations that might be more suited to a tiger or leopard. Instead, the crane uses its long legs and powerful wings to angle away from an opponent, striking with its wings and beak when an opportunity presents itself. Read more

The Tiger (Hu Xing)
This is the most strength-oriented and external of the five Shaolin animals. Movement is characterized by advancing straight forward into the opponent. Strong stances and fierce stepping contribute to the strength of the strikes. Footwork is designed to provide a stable base to smash through the opponent. Read more

The Dragon (Long Xing)
In Chinese mythology, the dragon is a powerful elemental creature that approaches the status of a demi-god. They were responsible for such things as regulating storms and the flow of rivers. They had the ability to change form, fly, change size and other wonderful feats. Read more

 

The Leopard (Bao Xing)
Although an external animal, the leopard does not have as much mass as the tiger. Therefore, it can't crush its prey like a tiger. Instead it relies on speed and aggression to make up the shortfall. The leopard attacks with a relentless series of attacks, unconcerned about blocking or being hit. Read more

The Snake (She Xing)
Venomous snakes are possibly the most dangerous animals on the planet, considering how lethal they can be compared to their size. Because of this, Nature has balanced things by providing many of them with distinctive mechanisms, like bright-coloured scales, the cobra's hood, or the rattlesnake's rattle. The snake might kill you, but you can't claim you weren't warned first. Read more