Sifu Eng has taken some movements from each of the five animals to pay tribute to the legendary Shaolin Masters. The forms are based on the Hung Gar fist, the Monkey's speed and precision, the Wing Chung balance and agility, the foot work of Choy Lei Fut, and Southern Shaolin claw of the Tiger. These forms have be created in an order which makes then easy to learn and remember. Learning one step will lead you into the next step. The movements of these forms are traditional and authentic. The complete forms provide good physical training. When performed on stage these five Shaolin forms are graceful yet powerful.
The dragon is the first animal of the Shaolin Five
Animal form. Although the existence of the Dragon is only legend
, it has come to symbolize grace and beauty along with tremendous
power. In Chinese mythology, the Dragon comes from water, and
it’s movements are very fluid like and circular. The Chinese
Dragon differs from the Western Dragon for it does not stand
upright or breath fire. The Chinese Dragon has a long snakelike
body with short arms and legs with sharp claws. The Dragon Style
uses it’s claw to grab and hold while delivering a powerful
blow with another part of the body, or using it’s body to
produce great power by leverage on an opponents joints.. Much of
the Dragons power comes from a circular movement such as twisting
the body, and the development of internal power called
"Chi" . Dragon training will develop internal strength
as well as smooth fluid like movements.
The Tiger is the second animal of the Shaolin five
animal form. The tiger is known for it’s powerful claw and
great external strength and agility . Tiger training will produce
tremendous strength in the bones, joints tendons. Many of the
exercises are designed to strengthen the back and spine as well
as the arms and forearms. The Tiger claw differs from the Dragons
claw because it will pull, rip or tear at an opponent where as
the Dragon claw will hold an opponent. The great strength comes
from a twisting of the body and using the ground to develop
powerful blows and kicks. Many of the blows and kicks are
delivered from the bow and arrow stance and the horse stance.
Besides being the most physically challenging of the five animal
form, the student will develop the prowlessness of and attacking
tiger. This mental attitude will help the student deliver as well
as take the powerful blows of an attacker.
The Leopard is the third animal of the Shaolin five
animal form. Although not as powerful as the Tiger, the leopard
combines speed an agile footwork to overcome it’s opponents.
The Leopard uses a combination of short and quick powerful
strikes to slowly confuse and defeat it’s opponent. Kicks
are short and normally directed towards the opponents groin or
abdomen. This animal does have great defensive technique. The
leopard moves ever so slightly to enough to deflect an opponents
blow and strikes at the first opening it sees. The Leopard’s
footwork will develop great balance and quick reaction time.
The Snake is the forth animal of the Shaolin five
animal form. The Snake is far different from any of the other
Shaolin four animals. The Snake does not have any legs, which
means it must derives it’s power from coiling it’s body
the exploding with great speed to strike out at its opponent. The
Snake style uses it’s finger tips and palms to strike at an
opponents pressure points. Since the snake has no arms or legs,
it’s strikes must be offensive and defensive at the same
time. The Snake must be able to generate great internal energy
and release it at will with each blow. To do this a student must
fight from a relaxed state. The more relaxed a student is the
more power he of she can generate when moving from a ready
position to an offensive strike. The Snake style is the opposite
of the Tiger style. Where as the Tiger style uses hard powerful
defensive blocks and hard offensive blows to defeat an opponent,
the Snake uses hard and soft internal power to defeat an
opponent.
The Crane is the fifth animal of the Shaolin five
animal form. The Crane is a very patient animal. It’s
ability to stand on one leg for many hours and not move is a
testament to its concentration and focus. Its ability to defeat
an opponent comes from its ability to hook an advisories blows,
divert them and strike weather from in close or from a distance.
The Crane’s long wing span and legs have be developed into
the Shaolin five animal form to allow a student to place some
distance between him and his opponent. Using the Crane’s
beak to strike, or a sweeping kick to knock an opponent to the
ground are only some of the ways the Crane style can defeat you.
Crane training is excellent for developing the fingers, arms and
legs.
These Five Animal forms, practiced together, will give a student many long years of greater health and new found confidence to help him or her with obstacles they may encounter in their daily lives. The discipline and calmness gained by this type of training will allow a student to think and act clearly in times of great trauma and stress. No other type of exercise and training can provide such physical and mental balance at the same time.
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