Styles

The movements and applications of the Dragon system are dependent on the use of Chi. Chi is a substitute for muscle strength: for example, a Tiger stylist would break a rock with sheer force and technique where as a Dragon stylist would shatter it using Chi projection.

The Dragon has played an influential role in Chinese culture and is thought of a source of true wisdom, spirit and holds a god like status. The stretching and twisting movements of the Dragon style were part of the exercises in the shaolin temple where students were taught to strike hard, block accurately and 'stomp' into each position, in stark contrast to this the Dragon style also consists of low sweeping techniques.

Dragons have the bodies of snakes with lizard like arms and legs with sharp claws. The head of the dragon is similar to that of a serpent. Considering its heavy influence in Chinese culture, this mythical creature was perfect to represent one of the Shaolin animals.

Dragon students are taught breathing techniques to help Chi circulate and enable the body to be relaxed and flexible. A culmination of Chi and technique can give devastating results. Dragon practitioners can use their whole body as a weapon from kicks and blocks to the finger tips, changing direction to give the illusion of appearing and disappearing.

The Praying Mantis is described as silent and determined. Although it is a very physical system it is a high-end system. The Mantis warrants prominence because of its extreme efficiency. Despite the fact it is hand orientated and lacks the power and the fancy leg movements of Dragon, it is versatile and overpowering. Mantis was first developed in the 1700's by a fighter named Wang Lang. He supposedly developed it specifically to defeat the monks of the shaolin Temple. The story goes that Wang Lang decided to test himself against the monks but failed in his first fight.

He then devoted years of his life developing the Mantis fighting system so as to defeat them. The monks adopted the style as their own. The Mantis style uses a combination of sophisticated deflections, counter attacks and grappling movements combined with monkey- like footwork.

The fundamental strategy of Mantis is to wait for an opening then tie the opponent’s arms with grappling techniques and strike the soft areas and nerve centres. The Praying Mantis style was developed with one sole purpose in mind: Destroy the enemy.

The Snake practitioner must be able to look inside themselves and fell peace and tranquillity, nothing should distract the snake. Snakes are conspicuous predators that have intrigued humans through the ages and it is only befitting that the snake is one of the seven animal styles. The Snake style uses an upright, mobile stance and relies less on the horse stance of other styles. The mobile stance allows for rapid movements and quick, side stepping foot work. Using fast alternating hand jabs, the practitioner drills at their opponent, counterattacking and driving home their attack.

The Snake uses its body to compensate for its lack of limbs, it coils its body then raises it head into an attacking position from where it can strike at its adversary with precision and speed. The Snake remains calm and relaxed and is said to possess far more Chi than any other animal styles. Snake uses hard soft principles in its form using the fingertips and palm to strike with extreme force.

Attacking quietly and calmly. The style is soft and flowing expecting practitioners to be flexible and have clarity of thought.

The Monkey style is very demanding and always assumes that its opponent is much larger and stronger. It compensates for this by making attacking him very difficult. The Monkey leaps, flips, jumps, climbs and rolls to avoid its attacker. A Monkey attacks from unusual angles, side stepping and elbowing, striking with the back of the fore-arm and using hook kicks to tease their opponent into making rash decisions. The Monkey style is thought of as unusual but effective. Monkey Kung-Fu is famous throughout Northern China for its tumbling technique, continuously changing foot work and accuracy.

Monkey style was developed by a martial artist with a bad temper. Kao Tze was imprisoned for killing a fellow villager, his prison gates were guarded by monkeys who so impressed Kao Tze with their fearless fighting that he developed the style around them. He noted that the monkeys all fought differently and with this in mind he created the 5 Monkey system. The Drunken Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Lost Monkey, The Standing Monkey and finally The Wooden Monkey.

The White Crane kung-fu has its origins in Tibet and is probably the oldest classical style other than snake. White Crane is physically demanding of its practitioner’s and difficult to learn but is a highly effective combat system, so effective it is believed to have been used by the emperors of China's body guards. The Chinese believe that "Jing" is the essential energy which is characteristically associated with the White Crane and it is therefore reputed for its amazing powers of concentration - standing on one leg for hours without the slightest movement, holding its energy within its body, the White Crane principle of patience but strength is incorporated into a White Crane practitioners training.

The White Crane can over throw or control an opponent with little effort using soft, circular techniques that can exert a rush of power on contact. White Crane use long and short movements for disabling opponents with long techniques to vital pressure points and short ones to disable limbs. To accompany these techniques the White Crane will strike across an opponent with its wing in a slicing action.

Practitioners replicate the cranes long neck and wings with stretched movements and the hands forming the cranes beak by pressing fingers and the thumb together to form a point.

White Crane Practitioners can expect to gain better balance with speed, become supple with light footwork.

The Eagle Claw system of kung-fu was developed by General Yao Fai, it is said he became one of China's most famous war heroes using an army renowned for their discipline. There is very little known about this system of fighting but is without doubt a very effective style.

The Eagle is a vicious ripping style with the bulk of its moves directed against the eyes and throat. It relies on powerful seizing of its adversaries, with pinching, twisting and locking techniques, manipulation, controlling and aggressive kicking techniques to immobilise an attacker.

The Eagle Claw system is a very complex and vicious form of self-defence using strength, speed and aggression (Yang) with grace and elegance (Ying). The Eagle Claw stylist works hard on developing their grips to facilitate application of very painful locks and nerve pinches. The eagle relies on wits and techniques to beat an opponent and can appeal to a practitioner who is neither strong or large in structure.

STYLES

TIGER

DRAGON

MANTIS

SNAKE

MONKEY

WHITE CRANE

EAGLE