Animal Styles

The Animal Styles The gung fu animal styles represent naturally occurring patterns of energy, ‘attitude’, movement and combat. For example, an aggressively strong fighter that charges in using overpowering attacks similar to a younger Mike Tyson you would refer to as a 'Tiger'. Alternatively, a fighter that prefers to remain at a distance, gracefully dodging and using long-range counterattacks similar to Muhammad Ali, you would refer to as a 'Crane'. A fighter that prefers to roam about slowly, circling and zigzagging back and forth, who at precise moments moves in and attacks like lightning, sticks like glue, and traps and grapples, you would refer to as a 'Snake'. A fighter that hovers about, firing rapid and penetrating combination blows that allow them to open up their opponent's defense so they can move in where they excel at infighting, you would refer to as a 'Leopard'. And finally, an internally powerful, wise and mysterious fighter that keeps a distance and turns their opponents against themselves drawing them into ambushes, you would refer to as a 'Dragon'. These five styles of the Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard and Dragon form the primary archetypes that you find within most kung fu systems. You also find these five animal styles, and more, within Chi Ling Pai Gung Fu. Along with their teacher (Sifu), the student is found to have a predilection for the way they move, their personality quirks, their strengths, weaknesses, and the specific techniques and tactics that they tend to favor, all that make up and form that student's natural fighting 'style' or particular 'animal'. Typically you will find that a student falls within two or more of these animal categories. Then, those particular specialties are further refined and concentrated upon as they develop the unique 'fighting style' through which they shine, and that suits them best. Which style is the best? None, it all depends upon how you apply it. NOTE: In Chi Ling Pai gung fu the techniques and the internal power that is behind those techniques generally remains the same. It is mainly the attitude, and how those movements are expressed that changes, resulting in the various gung fu animal styles. Below we list and describe some of the animal styles that are taught within Chi Ling Pai gung fu:
	The Chi Lin (Ki Lin) is the Chinese unicorn, an ancient mythological creature believed to appear prior to an auspicious event. It is also the symbol for Chi Ling Pai Gung Fu. The Chi Lin is able to walk on both earth and water and is a model for goodness, longevity, grandeur, compassion, and wisdom. The powerful Chi Lin, which can change form at will and become any of the other animals, also represents transformation.
Photo by Hollingsworth, John and Karen//U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://images.fws.gov/	The Tiger represents aggressive conflict and direct external force, similar to hard style Karate. The Tiger stylist explosively moves in and overpowers the situation utilizing powerful knockout and knockdown blows.
Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://images.fws.gov/	The Crane, a style opposite to the tiger, cautiously maintains a safe distance from which they can evade and launch their own attacks. Crane, who emphasizes balance and serene concentration, utilizes kicks and whip-like attacks, beak-like strikes, knees, elbows, hooking maneuvers, and takedowns. Crane is a long-range counterfighter.
Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://images.fws.gov/	Long and flowing, the wise Dragon, who fights from a distance, similar to crane yet different in its tactics, causes the opponent to run headlong into ambushes, boomeranging their own energy and aggressive force against them. Dragon stylists deceptively create smokescreens, luring their opponents into clever snares. Dragons can also go on the offense, unleashing and firing off their incredible internal power.
Credit: http://www.bigfoto.com/	The Leopard, a strong and exceedingly fast infighter, hovers at mid-range painfully blitzing combinations with which to force an opening. Then the leopard stylist quickly springs to the inside where they pick the opponent apart.
Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://images.fws.gov/	The cold-blooded and dangerous Snake sits there, slowly weaving and circling on the outside. When the time is ripe, snake springs in close, jamming and tying up their opponents similar to a wrestler. Snake is a powerful and fast striking internal fighter that destroys limbs and utilizes stand up grappling maneuvers known as ‘trapping’. Snake also pinpoints weaknesses and fights using ‘chi energy’ which makes it ‘poisonous’.
Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://images.fws.gov/	The Bear stays comfortably nearby yet at a safe distance where it can use its powerful ‘bear claws’, or strong palming attacks to destroy anything that comes within range. When it feels like it, and because it can, bear uses its large size and strength to move in aggressively and overtake the opponent similar to Tiger, yet also similar to snake in that it too is a grappler.
	Eagle, regal and distinguished, fights from mid to close range. This style, also like karate, exhibits a strong and balanced mental concentration similar to crane as it observes its ‘prey’. The fierce Eagle incorporates a unique ‘eagle claw’ for infighting that grasps at tendons and muscles creating intense pain and immobilizing its opponents similar to Snake. Then the Eagle fighter smashes away. Eagle uses long range hammerfist strikes and close range forearms.
Credit: http://www.bigfoto.com/	The Monkey, similar to the defensive crane, is a wild and elusive out fighter that runs all over the place as it seeks to irritate and frustrate its opponent. Monkey uses wild antics and acrobatic maneuvers as it taunts the opponent, causing them to become frustrated and over reactive thereby exposing weaknesses. Then, similar to snake, when the time it right, the dextrous Monkey moves in for the kill by trapping and climbing on top of their opponents, taking them down. Punching, palming and grasping movements are utilized as well as the irritating poke in the eye.
Photo Coming	‘Black Ape’ is a more powerful and frightening version of the monkey style. The larger Black Ape fighter uses its mass and strength to its advantage and so is more similar to Tiger in directness and intimidation than it is to the Crane or the smaller and exasperating monkey.
Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://images.fws.gov/	Praying Mantis is yet another unique style. Emotionless and highly internal with a very strong upper body, this abrupt infighter is similar to Tiger in directness yet also similar to the Snake in that it contains painful locking, trapping and breaking techniques, and also uses poisonous energy. Mantis style contains a unique 'mantis fist' that is similar to crane yet different in its attitude and application. Powerful forearm strikes, knees, elbows, leg breaks, footsweeps and stamping kicks are employed.
These are just some of the highlights of the many animal styles found within Chi Ling Pai Gung Fu. For further information on the great art of Chi Ling Pai and the animal styles, please refer to the Chi Lin websites that are listed on our links page. Copyright © 1999 - 2006 By Manung Gung Fu Systems, All Rights Reserved.