So I was watching a National Geographic special on Chinese animals as the basis for some of the kung fu styles and arts. I first learned the five animals that are often associated with Shaolin Kempo (techniquely not kung fu, but I have other background, too ): The tiger, crane, leopard, snake, and dragon.
Wondered if anyone else was taught these, and if so whether you identify with any particular animal. For teachers, do you use the animals in working with students? Also, was anyone taught that this whole concept is too *mystical* to be part of the fighting arts? I've been in schools on both ends of this, so wondered about others' experiences.
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I love the stories and myths that surround the five animals... Im from a TKD background so ive not had the opportunity as yet to find a school where I can try.
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I've had limited experience of 5-Animals. However, I prefer the XingYi approach to "animal" techniques.
In XingYi's animal forms, instead of mimicking the actions of the animal, the student gets inside the mind of the animal. So you could watch an animal form, and unless you know what you're looking for, you won't be able to tell one animal from another.
In my mind, intention is more productive than imitation.
Bailu Taiji wrote: I've had limited experience of 5-Animals. However, I prefer the XingYi approach to "animal" techniques.
In XingYi's animal forms, instead of mimicking the actions of the animal, the student gets inside the mind of the animal. So you could watch an animal form, and unless you know what you're looking for, you won't be able to tell one animal from another.
In my mind, intention is more productive than imitation.Interesting distinction. I've thought about this myself, and come to think of it like this. There's the external 'mimicry' of the animal e.g., tiger claw for tiger. And there's the internal mindset attributed to each animal, e.g., strength, power, courage for the tiger. In my mind, these are two very different things. Each may have a place, or not, in ones practice of the arts. I learned both, with a slant toward mimicry of technique etc. But now almost 16 years on, this is changing and I'm leaning more toward the mental and symbolic relevance of each animal and what we can learn from that to add to our practice.
Anyway, it's past my bedtime so this may be gibberish. If so, someone please feel free to tell me. But it's something I've been thinking about more and more of late, especially as it relates to my students. Each seems to most strongly resemble the symbolic attributes of one of the five Shaolin animals.
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A man, as long as he teaches, learns. - Seneca
You students think you learn from me, I learn from you too-you believe it. - Jimmy H Woo, Founder San Soo Gong Fu
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Bailu Taiji wrote: In my mind, intention is more productive than imitation.
I think this is the entire principle behind the animals to be honest. If you've ever seen any of these animals they're all predators in a sense, even the crane taking it's more passive approach to battle. The 1 thing they all have in common is intent and I think the concept behind the idea of imitating animals is that they all work to their abilities and because of the versatility of the human body we have the advantage of using a variety of these abilities ourselves.
I personally think that the main idea behind the animals is the fact that you need the intent of a predator and have to have the primative mindset of an animal as the basis of Kung Fu at the end of the day is fighting and a fight is not something to be neglected of concentration, intent and focus because you can't just sit back and expect things to be fine.
I think that because of the modernisation and sport aspect of Martial Arts these days it has made it more difficult to see the use of imitating animal movements, but people seem to forget that Martial Arts are typically fighting style and they were originally created for battle and not sport...so the idea of fighting to the death doesn't seem to cross the minds of people these days as they naturally think of Martial Arts as performance, sport or self defence at the most. People need to remember that these arts were created for finishing off enemies and what better way to do that than mimicing the most dangerous creatures around.
This is just my opinion of course as I say about all my posts but I think it's a pretty good explanation and I'd appreciate and feedback from you all .
Li
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It's because we don't dare that things are difficult."
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Trailblazer, Anyone who talks about being too mystical either knows the moves but not application or hasn't studied the art in depth. I train Wing Chun which derives from Snake and Crane I also touched upon Hung Gar with Mark Ho Sifu years back and I can tell you he could fight with his art.
Hung Kuen, Hung Gar utilises the five animal and is very effective.
Bailu Taiji you missed out Mantis and dog...there's probably hundreds of animals styles incorperated into forms of Kung Fu though haha , just noticed that so thought I'd add it on. Also all different styles of Kung Fu use different animals so there isn't exactly a set 5 or 10 or 12 it's basically a matter of opinion about which 1s are more effective and referring to the comment below about Hung Gar. I agree as I do it and the applicational uses of the animal styles is very effective in an actual fight...I've have seen various other styles such as Tien Shan Pei and Shaolin etc and it may just be because I haven't tried the others personally but I always think it's worth checking out as many different styles as possible or you aren't going to find the 1 right for you.
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"It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare;
It's because we don't dare that things are difficult."
-Sénèque
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Ah right I get you. I was looking at the bit where you said "The other animals are:"...my mistake I thought you just meant the other animals used in general .
Li
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"It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare;
It's because we don't dare that things are difficult."
-Sénèque
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Warrior WC wrote: Trailblazer, Anyone who talks about being too mystical either knows the moves but not application or hasn't studied the art in depth. I train Wing Chun which derives from Snake and Crane I also touched upon Hung Gar with Mark Ho Sifu years back and I can tell you he could fight with his art.
Hung Kuen, Hung Gar utilises the five animal and is very effective.Thanks for the real world examples, WWC. Very helpful.
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A man, as long as he teaches, learns. - Seneca
You students think you learn from me, I learn from you too-you believe it. - Jimmy H Woo, Founder San Soo Gong Fu
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): The tiger, crane, leopard, snake, and dragon.
But it's something I've been thinking about more and more of late, especially as it relates to my students. Each seems to most strongly resemble the symbolic attributes of one of the five Shaolin animals.
