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The5KungFuAnimalStylesoftheChineseMartialArts
PostedByPatrickSternkopfOnMarch21,2011@12:57pmInChineseMartialArts,ChineseMartial
ArtsHistory,DragonKungFu,HungGar,Kempo,KungFu,KungFuAnimals,MonkeyKungFu,Praying
MantisKungFu,ShaolinKungFu,TraditionalMartialArtists,WhiteCraneKungFu|7Comments

TolongtimereadersofBlackBelt,SteveDeMasconeedsnointroduction.Astudentofthemartial
artssince1968,hesbeenafixtureinthemagazinesincehisdebutintheFebruary1998issue.
Overtheensuingyears,hesespousedhisviewsonthephysicalandphilosophicalsidesofthe
Shaolinfightingartsspecifically,Shaolinkempo.Attheendof1998,hewasinductedintothe
BlackBeltHallofFameasInstructoroftheYear.Inthefollowingarticle,theNewHampshire
basedmaster,whoservesasShaolinTemplesculturalambassadortotheUnitedStates,
continuesthetopichestartedinhisMarch2007ShaolinPathcolumnbydescribingand
demonstratingtheselfdefensetechniquesofthefiveanimalsoftheChinesearts.

KungFuAnimalStyle#1:Tiger
Popularity:high(fortiger),rare(forblacktiger)
Shaolinsaying:Tigerstrengthensthebones.
Characteristics:strength,agilityconsideredoneofthetwomostpowerfulanimalsinChinese
astrology
Strategy:tendstochargetheopponentandattackdirectlywithbruteforce,usescirculararm
movementstooverwhelmtheenemy,reliesonthearmsbutoccasionallyuseslowkicks
Targets:anypartofthebody,especiallythosethatreacttotearingtechniques
Physicalrequirements:relaxedmuscles,speed,solidbuild,abilitytoadoptastrongstanceand
quicklychangetoanotherstance
Training:pushups,situps,calisthenics,sparring,chidevelopmentexercises
Trademark:tigerclaw,anopenhandgrabbingandstrikingweaponformedbyspreadingthe
thumbandfingers,thenbendingthemslightly
Inlegend:Itoffersthepowertoshaketheearthandtobetheauthoritativekingofitslair,
kungfumasterRobMosessays.

KungFuAnimalStyle#2:Leopard
Popularity:high
Shaolinsaying:Bendfingershard,likeiron.
Characteristics:strong,efficient,fast,technical,definedbyaccuracy,capableofstealthattacks
Strategy:strikesquicklytoinflictpain,thenfollowsupforthekill
Targets:softtissueregionsandothervitalareas,includingtheears,neck,armpits,templesand
groin
Physicalrequirements:relaxedmuscles,supplestrength,abilitytoquicklyretractthearmsand
legsafterastrike
Training:strikingdrillsthatdevelopaccuracyandprecision
Trademark:leopardpaw,ahalffistthatstrikeswiththesecondknucklesofthefourfingers.Its
arigidweaponthatmakescontactwithasmall,penetratingsurface.
Inlegend:Itsnaturesmasterofprecisionandprowesssharp,efficientandlightningfast,
RobMosessays.

KungFuAnimalStyle#3:Crane
Popularity:medium
Shaolinsaying:Thespiritofthecraneresideswithinthestillness.
Characteristics:evasive,rarelyoffenseoriented,subtle,graceful
Strategy:keepstheopponentatadistanceandcapitalizesonthelengthofthearmsandlegs,
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tendstostrikewiththeveryendofthenaturalweapons,attemptstooverwhelmtheenemywith
rapidhandstrikes,evadesusingcircularmovements
Targets:softareassuchastheeyes,throat,earsandheartsidesoftheheadribs
Physicalrequirements:tall,longreach,abilitytoremainstillforextendedperiods,good
balance,concentration,minimalstrength
Training:mobilityenhancingdrillstodeveloptheabilitytomaintaindistancebetweenoneself
andtheopponent,speedtraining,quickretractionofnaturalweapons,chidevelopmentexercises
Trademark:cranebeak,formedbybunchingthethumb,indexfingerandmiddlefingertogether
tostrikewiththefingertips
Inlegend:Itdanceswithaccuracyandcontrol,andoffersweightlessnesstoriseabovecrises,
RobMosessays.

KungFuAnimalStyle#4:Snake
Popularity:medium
Shaolinsaying:Hardlikesteelandsoftlikearopeofsilk.
Characteristics:deceptive,agile,fast,accurate
Strategy:reliesonawareness,employscoilingmotionsandhissestointimidate,useswhipping
toekickstothelowerhalfoftheopponentsbody,utilizessimultaneousstrikingandlocking
techniques,avoidsusingthetraditionalfist
Targets:vitalpartsofthebody,especiallytheeyes,faceandthroat
Physicalrequirements:thinbuild,quickmuscles
Training:drillstoincreaseexplosiveness,whichenablesonetotaketheopponentbysurprise
exercisesthatenhancebalanceandaccuracy
Trademark:snakehand,whichusesoneortwofingersor,inthecaseofthespearhand,allof
themtoattackanddefend
Inlegend:Ithasextremechipower,whichhelpsactivateprofoundsensitivityandenablesall
themusclestoworkasone,RobMosessays.

KungFuAnimalStyle#5:Dragon
Popularity:rare
Shaolinsaying:Dragonfisttrainsthespirit.
Characteristics:strong,smart,deceptive,unpredictableincludestraitsoftheotherfourShaolin
animalsconsideredoneofthetwomostpowerfulanimalsinChineseastrologyandthesignofthe
emperor
Strategy:usesquick,snappingkicksthathitwiththebladeofthefootusesthefullfistandthe
forearmstostrikemaycombinephysicaltechniquesoftheotherShaolinanimals
Targets:anybodypartthatcanbegrabbedthehead,whichissimultaneouslygrabbedand
struck
Physicalrequirements:relaxedmuscles,abilitytoswitchfromsoftmovementstohard
movements
Training:drillstobuildexplosivepower
Trademark:dragontailkick,whichisusedtohitorsweepdragonclaw,whichpositionsthe
digitsinaflatterorientationthandoesthetigerclaw
Inlegend:Itprotectstreasure,defendsagainstfamineandfloods,andisfilledwithancient
wisdomandfolklore,RobMosessays.

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URLtoarticle:http://www.blackbeltmag.com/daily/traditionalmartialartstraining/kung
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