Kung Fu Fighting Techniques

Kung fu fighting techniques are the foundation of many contemporary fighting styles you see today, such as karate, aikido, hapkido and jujitsu. Kung fu fighting techniques are grounded in the long and short form and circular in centerline movements. These movements are incorporated and interpreted into the five animal styles that are popular kung fu fighting techniques.

  1. The Five Fighting Styles

    • The five animal fighting styles are snake, crane, tiger and dragon. These fighting styles take the most effective movements of each animal and use long and short forms of the original kung fu styles to create their fighting systems.

    The Snake and the Crane

    • The snake technique combines smooth circular hand movements that develop their power through quick strikes. The hand emulates a fist shaped as the snake head and makes powerful chops. The energy of the moves in this technique are centered in its low stances and side-to-side sweeping leg movements.

      The crane technique also employs the circular nature, and strikes are combined with penetrating speed and force. The hand position resembles a beak and the aim is developed with speed and accuracy. The long-form techniques incorporate the crane's movements in everything from kicks to stance.

    The Tiger and the Dragon

    • The tiger technique is the most flamboyant but powerful of all animal fighting styles. It combines clawlike hand-positioning strikes with powerful centerline kicks and punches. This technique involves a tremendous amount of external energy and much practice to perfect.

      The Dragon technique incorporates both the internal and external energy of the original kung fu practices in its devastating punches and strikes. The strikes combine both open-hand and palm strikes orchestrated in circular movements.

      Kung fu fighting techniques present an unfamiliar opponent with deceptive and devastating energy. Although strikes, kicks and punches are the primary arsenal of kung fu fighting, trapping (when an opponent's arms or legs are forcefully positioned against or away from their body by holding or pushing) is very effective in neutralizing your opponent's strikes or advances.