Kung Fu Animal Techniques

While nature inspires martial arts around the world, entire systems of movements based on animals characterize the Chinese martial art known as Kung Fu. Early masters observed the behavior of animals, the calculated spring of a snake, the speed of a leopard, the brawn of a tiger, and incorporated valuable insights about animals' survival instincts and defensive techniques into their fighting styles.

  1. White Crane

    • This rare style from Southern China was founded by Fan Qiang Liang, daughter of a Wushu master, who vowed revenge after her father was killed trying to fend off unwanted suitors. In a dream, Liang fought a white crane. She soon recognized that she could adopt a crane's ability to attack quickly and accurately in her fighting tactics. The White Crane style combines soft and hard power, and emphasizes pressure point attacks, speedy, evasive footwork, high and low kicks and rapid hand techniques.

    Praying Mantis

    • A northern Shaolin style of Kung Fu, the Praying Mantis was originated by Wong Long. Despite rigorous training, Wong Long was defeated regularly by fellow monks. He retired to a garden and came upon a praying mantis and a cicada engaged in combat. While the cicada was more powerful, the mantis made snappy left-right attacks and withdrawals. Based on his observations, Wong Long devised techniques based on the mantis' movements. The system employs two principles: the "grab" in which hands are shaped into claws, and "monkey footwork" or sideways stepping movements.

    Five Animals

    • Developed by Shaolin masters Zhue Yuen, Li Sou and Bai Yu Feng (expert of the internal method) in the mid-1500s, the Five Animal forms--Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Leopard and Crane--evolved from the original 18 form Lohan Style. These forms were devised to balance a system that had been too focused on a hard external style. While the Dragon style uses grappling and throwing through the use of an open hand technique, the Leopard style employs a half open fist as its preferred striking method. One of the most lethal forms in Kung Fu, the Tiger style. involves grabbing the opponent's skin and tearing the flesh off. In the Snake style, fingers are fully extended and knitted together. The fingertips then strike the softest parts of an opponent. Similarly, the Crane Beak involves attacking an opponent with pressed fingertips.

    Eagle Claw

    • According to legend, the Eagle Claw style was invented by general Yue Fei of the Song Dynasty as a series of fighting techniques--a blend of three ancient styles of Kung Fu--to train his soldiers. After the general's death, the "108 hands" or system known as Yue Shi San Shou was spread all over China by loyal soldiers. Reminiscent of an eagle's method of attack, the Eagle Claw style employs grabs, holds and hits to vulnerable spots around the joints. The core of the system revolves around 50 ways of continuous punch (lian quan). Movements are light and fast, blending speed and strength.