Kung Fu Animal Styles

Various ANIMAL Styles

Animal observation and imitation is an ancient and honored part of Kung Fu history. Many styles have at least some imitative technique. The Chinese have long learned from and been enlightened by their relationship to Nature. In the many centuries of Kung Fu's refinement, many styles have incorporated and "smoothed over" animals actions so that, in some cases, they are present but barely visible. In the styles listed here they are quite evident, not only the actions but the characteristic postures and expressions of these animal-totems.

#ETG95 The Spirit of the Five Animals
Tak Wah Eng
168 pages, Photographs, softbound, US $17.95

This is a nicely done text with five form sections one for each of the classic Shaolin five animals. Also included, discussions of Tak Wah Eng's contributions to the martial arts by numerous teachers and also student testimonials, warm ups, basic stances and of course the five separate, short animal forms Sifu Eng has develop

#ESF95 DRAGON FORM FIST
Leo Chu & Francis Au
Chinese (traditional) /English
64 pages, US $10.95

A few of these great little books started to come out in the BLE (Bruce Lee Era). This one, probably from Choy Li Fut, is a Southern Style Dragon Fist. This little book has the following: 64 pages, Large photos of the form, small photos at the bottom of applications for the movements, Chinese and English facing text and a picture of the author playing with the famous Shek Kin at the back.This is one of those fun, learn-a-form-in-an-afternoon types of books. But neat.

#EKF65 The Great Sage Monkey Kung Fu System
Edited by James I. Wong
Chinese (traditional) /English
64 pages, US $9.95

This little book is probably the first thing in English every written on Ta Sheng Pi Gua Men or the Great Sage Split and Deflect Fighting. Even though it says "volume one" we don't recall any others forthcoming. Ta Sheng developed out of that great style Pi Gua. The text contains two form, the Plum Blossom Fist and the MiZong or Lost Track Fist. While the photos are not great by modern printing standards the demonstration of the set by a very limber Mr. Roland Shipman. There is also a front piece on the style by the rather scholarly James Wong. Summation? This is the most authentic representation of traditional Monkey Boxing among our English language books. Historical side note: This book is from Koinonia in Stockton, California one of the first independent martial arts publishers in the U.S. and headed by the dedicated practitioner Leo Fong. An early inspiration for publishers like yours truly.

#ESF96 Shaolin 10 Animal Form
by Kwan Tak Hing & Leung Ting
English, 208 pages, softbound, US $ 19.95

Printed in Hong Kong this book shows the form and skills of the Southern Shaolin Ten Animals. This is shown by noted Kung Fu movie actor and martial enthusiast Kwan Tak Hing. Mr. Kwan is a famous movie actor from the longest series of Kung Fu films ever made, those devoted to Wong Fei Hong the master of the Tiger/Crane style. He initially received his training from Southern master, Sun Pak.

This is a well done book produced with the help of Leung Ting, noted Wing Chun teacher. The movements of this Southern Style form include ground rolling and many sophisticated hand actions. Each animal is shown with some application and introductory comments on the nature of the different style:

Dragon Tiger Snake Leopard Crane

Lion Elephant Horse Monkey Bear

Not as common as its Northern cousin, Southern Shaolin Fist is a key style in those styles of Kung Fu such as Fut Gar, Choy Lee Fut and Hung Fist. This is a good introduction to one of the best known forms.

#EDK97 Drunken Monkey
Boxing Form & Applications
by Leung Ting & Chiu Chung Yat
English 162 pages, US $12.50

Written by the famous Leung Ting, a student of Yip Man. We used to mention Drunken Monkey boxing in our classes at which time the students would chuckle. Little did they know we were absolutely serious. This form represents one of the qualities in Monkey Fist. Others include Stone Monkey and Wooden Monkey. According to Leung Ting this form is short and simple. There is much usage demonstrated by So Hon Sang a well known movie stunt double. Learnable with interesting applications. In English with Chinese name postures.

#EKF50 The Striking Snake Maneuvers
H. C. Chao
64 pages, Photographs, softbound, US $13.95

The snake has five tactics: Hitting, Winding, Ambushing, Evading and Darting. Hitting is to strike rapidly and relatively lightly. Winding means to stay close and contouring to the opponent. Ambushing entails hitting from hidden places. Evading means to escape by dissolving instead of resisting. Darting means to strikes from unusual angles and rapidly, without mercy. The actual demonstrator of this book is Chu Shao Chi, favorite student of Du Han Chang. This short text has so-so photos. It demonstrates a short set with each section having a form picture and one picture for the application. A fairly simple Snake set, this one could definitely be learned with a bit of effort. Snake is a rare style and few people nowadays see its original traditional version instead of the contemporary "performance" variation.

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#EKF72 Monkey Style
Xi Yun-Tai & Li Gao-Zhong
137 pages, Chinese / English, US $ 8.95

This clear bi-lingual text shows over 120 drawings to demonstrate the Hou Chuan or Monkey fist set. Nice line illustrations and sequential breakdowns in both Simplified Chinese and English explain the form. This set was created by Xiao Ying-Peng one of the oldest living practitioners of the art. It is composed of classical moves combined and includes some of the more difficult like somersaults and the more distinctive like "Look Around with an Armful of Peaches." The text illustrations are a cut above, taken directly from photographs of Xiao. There is a nice history on Monkey Boxing and a glossary of PinYin terms germane to the style. A well designed book and informative book.

See our Monkey Fist VCD