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| This is the book i'm currently reading. Helped me understand the five animal forms more clearly, and what they represent in Shaolin kung fu. |
In Shaolin kung fu the 5 animal forms are a metaphor for human life. They represent the training of the Mind, Energy, Essence, Speed and Elegance.
DRAGON FORM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZE8-M65ZT8
The dragon form, in Chinese culture is a majestic, divine creature which brings luck and prosperity. It's characteristics powerful, undulating and flowing movements are manifested as a graceful. sinuous body motion in shaolin kung fu. Attack someone who specialises in the dragon form, and he would not block your attack nor move away, but gracefully swerve the body without moving his feet, so that your attack would miss.
The dragon form is for training Shen, which means 'mind' or 'spirit'.
SNAKE FORM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77eUHvCYO5I
In some ways the snake resembles the a dragon, but without the latter's grandeur and power. It is often called the earthly dragon. Its movement is fast and sleek, its attack vicious, and its most notable characteristic is softness. Hence, a snake form specialist would not normally block an attack directly with physical strength, but would absorb it using circular movements, coil around it, and slide along the attacking limb to strike the opponents weak spot.
The essence of the the snakes form is Chi or intrinsic energy.The soft, gentle movements of snake patterns are meant to facilitate Chi flow, which need external force training like hitting sandbags and striking poles, which are incongruous to the snake form.
TIGER FORM:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0M7diWQq8M
In kung fu terminology, the essence of the tiger lies in its bones, which is a figurative way of saying that the training of the tiger form is to develop internal force. The internal force used in the tiger form training is different from the snake. The tiger form emphasises Jing, or essence, which is matter in its final form, similar to what modern scientists call subatomic particles. Jing and Chi are nevertheless relative; Jing can be converted to Chi, and vice versa.
LEOPARD FORM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KihDirIqXg
The characteristics of a leopard is speed; leopard patterns are therefore fast. In Shaolin jung fu the leopard form is represented by the leopard punch, which is formed by bending the knuckles at the second finger joints, and not at the third, as in a normal fist. However, if you perform the black tiger punch or the happy bird side kick at great speed, your pattern has the characteristics of the leopard, even though it is named after a tiger or bird. Hence, it is often the characteristics, and not just the form, of a pattern that counts.
The essence of the leopard lies in its muscles, which means that in leopard form, the emphasis is on external strength. External strength depends on a great extent on fast movement for its successful operation.
CRANE FORM:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IpHRpmu320
If you observe a crane, you will probably be impressed by its stability and tranquility , and perhaps be surprised by its that its slender solitary-standing leg can support such an enormous weight. The bird seems to be frozen in space and time. When it suddenly takes off, despite its huge size and apparent immobility, its movements are swift and graceful, demonstrating an excellent way of both conserving and using energy. Manifested in Shaolin kung fu, that characteristic of the crane form is elegance, and is essence is quiescence
These five animals provide Shaolin kung fu with their respective characteristics and essences, not only making it an effective fighting art but also enabling it to become an excellent system for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development. The form and significance of the tiger, snake and dragon develop what are called the three treasures, namely Jing, Chi and Shen. A person who's Jing is full, for example, is physically fit and healthy; ones whose Chi is plentiful is emotional stable and full of vitality; and ones who's Shen is abundant is mentally fresh and spiritually mature.
The leopard form and significance produce speed and agility, while those of the crane produce elegance and tranquility.
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