Animal Imitation Boxing

As traditional Wu Shu came under the sway of social conditions and political theory, as entertainment and pleasing tourists began to influence and affect the structure of centuries old regimens; some styles of course leant themselve to the new theatricality. One of these divisions is what has collectively been called Imitative Boxing. In many of these forms presented the basic structure of traditional Wu Shu has not been changed that much since it was imitative anyway. What the new designers did was to concentrate and sometimes over emphasize the specific "flavor" of each style. Some times information is actually lost in this but in general most of the content has been maintained, at least in most of the following cases.

Instructor: XIE HUAI CHENG and associates.

Note we've also added some animal imitation from other sections to make finding them easier. We have left out any animal imitation style which is a large group onto itself, such as the Praying Mantis and Xing Yi 12 Shapes.

Click pictures.

VCD#1607 Eagle Boxing
About an hour, VCD pricing Chinese/English

The Eagle here is a little more conservative than his Northern fellows. There are a few jump kicks and ground kneels but, in general, this set focuses on the ripping attacks and could even be confused with a Southern Tiger except for the wide flowing movements and the different use of the hand. Rahter than thrusting the hand conditioning actions concentrate on grasping as, for instance, the iron ball, sandbags, river sand, corckery jar and striking against a tree. The applications of the Eagle fist follow the same line with actions geared toward catching, throwing and locking.

VCD# 1597 Leopard Boxing
About an hour, VCD pricing
Chinese/English

VCD#1079 Imitation Fist TIGER
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

The first thing one should realize is that this is NORTHERN Tiger Boxing, not all that common. The movements indeed have the correct flavor. There is some jumping, somewhat exaggerated stances and many movements in the Northern style that makes them look like Pi Gua or Tong Bei arm whipping. An intermediate length set with ripping claws and long steps.

VCD#1080 Imitation Fist EAGLE Claw
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

Eagle Claw has wide sweeping moves and some powerful and difficult kicks such as the Butterfly and strong Tornados. This is similar to classical Ying Jow Eagle Claw styles with true Long Arm motions but it is obviously from a different school. Surprisingly firm motions such as triple punching with claws. Little Chin Nah movement noticeable. Less graceful than, say Lily Lau's style, but traditional Northern Fist nonetheless. Yang Jie demonstrates.

VCD#1082 Imitation Fist DUCK Fist
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

Xie's performance shows all the classic traits of Duck Fist. These include some high jump double kicks (the form starts with double jumps touching toes in the air), waving Duck walk, head bobbing, arm flapping, arm coiling, circling walking and some rather complicated arm actions. Authentic and rare. Not an easy set.

VCD#1085 Imitation Fist MONKEY Boxing
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

There are many levels of Monkey Boxing and few of them are satisfactory beyond the goal of performance. Shifu Xie is an old hand at imitative boxing and his monkey is charming but actually contains some of the strategy of the style such as quick reversals, instantaneous height changes, East/West striking. There is also much scratching and monkey walking, rear in the air, along with other characteristic motions but none of them detracts from the boxing technique.

VCD#1087 Imitation Style DRUNKEN Fist #1
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

Readers of this site will know that we have little patience with "theatrical" fists like so many drunken style forms. This performance is of a higher quality with more martial and therefore more difficult interpretation. Not so much posing and more actions that require some degree of strength and flexibility. If you are going to try Drunken Fist you could do worse. Bian Yan Bin demonstrates.

VCD#1088 Imitation Style DRUNKEN Fist #2
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

This second form has more of a contemporary feel with some truly difficult kicks and poses. Still, a strong performance with some firm actions. Less interesting over all than #1 but the difficult movements are indeed more difficult than Road #1. Very extended arms, ground inching like a worm, kip ups. Yang Jie demonstrates.

VCD#1089 Imitation Style DRUNKEN Staff
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

Wild and wooly action as a drunken monk staggers his way through this Contemporary WuShu form. Some surprising twists and turns especially using the staff as a prop and counter balance. A few very difficult spinning kicks and balance movements. Active and fun. Bian Yan Bin demonstrates.

VCD#1091 Imitation Style WHITE APE Fist
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

White Ape is to the simian fists what Long Arm is to Kung Fu. The actions are wide and long with much whipping and slicing. Pi Gua has a branch known as White Ape and conversely this White Ape (also known as Long Arm Ape) looks like Pi Gua Zhang. Fast footwork with occasionally short fists but mostly long sweeping actions and arching kicks.

VCD#1092 Imitation Style DRAGON Fist
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese Only

Very appropriately this series started with Tiger and ends with Dragon boxing. Why appropriate? Tiger is the Yin of Kung Fu and Dragon is the Yang. But also, when we speak of imitative boxing we must remember that Dragon is imitation of a creature existing only in the mind. Swirling, twisting, arms outstretched and coiling, the Dragon form is much like Ba Gua in that its follows the Mind's most salient feature: its ability to change constantly.

By Li YuZhong WuShu champion
One of the most expressive Monkey Fists we've seen. A champion performance whether or not you like animal styles. An acrobatic performance with everything from back flips and ground rolls to legs flower on the ground. From the performance standpoint the demonstrator is quite good with expressive, very fast motions in very simian actions right down to the eating of the fleas. A fast fist to say the least. Not only a demonstration and breakdown but basics of the peculiar monkey fist such as fist and leg actions shown separately.

VCD#499 LongFist style MONKEY Staff
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing Chinese/English

By Li YuZhong WuShu champion
Here is Monkey Fist is its glory with teacher Li YuZhong showing championship skill with the monkey's favorite weapon - the staff. What can we say. There is a tradition of "imitative" styles in martial arts which has become progressively more entertainment and theatrically oriented as time goes by. On the other hand you would need a heart of steel to not be charmed and entertained by this lively and beautifully performed set. If you like the agility, mischievousness and humor of the Monkey Fist this is one of the better representatives of the style and the possibilities of the art. Tumbling, rolling, balancing, falling, bumping along the ground. Agility required.

VCD#671 Qing Cheng Style MONKEY Boxing
Double VCD , VCD pricing Chinese Only

Want a challenging and very expressive Monkey Fist? Want to scratch yourself, roll on the ground, and stagger drunkenly like an inebriated simian? Then we've got a VCD for you. Only problem is that the camera work for the master shot shifts angles but this long and very wild form is taught in sections which fit together if you pay attention. Nor for the faint of heart. Not Contemporary Wushu but as expressive.
This is a Double VCD.

VCD#281 Chang Family style MONKEY Stick
Triple VCD About 2 Hours, VCD pricing Chinese Only

Chang-style Monkey Club simulates the actions of monkeys and calls back the Journey to the West and the wonderful but mischievous Kung Wu Song. As in most Monkey sticks, it is a short usage with emphasis on changing ends and simulation's attack and defense. Movements are quick, uncommitted and smooth.
A Triple VCD.