Boddhidharma brought Kung Fu to the Shaolin Temple some 2500 years ago, and the world would never be the same. A hundred generations of monks and nuns perfecting themselves through incredible, rigorous exercises. Interestingly, the five animals for which Kung fu is known stand for a series of steps in the progression of fighting tactics and strategy.
The Tiger is known for developing strength. He is a mighty animal, and he charges in aggressively when attacking. He is a diehard fighter, and the old saying is 'If two tigers fight, one will die and the other will be maimed.'
The Leopard is known for creating fantastic quickness. He moves in and out, snapping his attacking movements with amazing speed. He may not be as strong as a Tiger, but he has learned to 'dance' with his opponents.
The Crane is the first step into 'True Soft,' as it remains aloof, poised above, evading and avoiding. Not dancing, but matching the movements and waiting for the precise moment to attack. And the attack is not violent, but precise, often searching for pressure points.
The Snake represents True Soft when it comes to True Kung Fu. Instead of charging aggressively, dancing, or even playing a waiting game, it is part of the movement, going with the movement, taking advantage of the motion by being them. This is not just retreating from the incoming force, but becoming the attack, and turning it to best advantage.
With the gradient steps from Tiger to Snake we have a series of steps from the hard art to the soft art, from external martial arts to internal martial arts. Interestingly, this is really a series of steps from learning how to go against, to learning how to go with. The next animal, the Dragon, is the summation of these learning how to fight steps.
The dragon doesn't qualify as either hard or a soft, it is both both of these attributes. It is being able to go against an attacker or with as it wishes. it is the ability to put together all animals, as one chooses, in whatever manner, in the middle of real combat.
Thus, the five kung fu animals train the body, then teach the mind, and finally, develop the spirit. For the dragon, as the final animal, represents imagination, the ability to choose, and these are attributes of a spiritual being. As the sayings go, the Tiger strengthens the bones, the Crane resides within stillness, and the Dragon trains the spirit, and this escalation of concepts definitely represents the True Shaolin Teachings.
The Tiger is known for developing strength. He is a mighty animal, and he charges in aggressively when attacking. He is a diehard fighter, and the old saying is 'If two tigers fight, one will die and the other will be maimed.'
The Leopard is known for creating fantastic quickness. He moves in and out, snapping his attacking movements with amazing speed. He may not be as strong as a Tiger, but he has learned to 'dance' with his opponents.
The Crane is the first step into 'True Soft,' as it remains aloof, poised above, evading and avoiding. Not dancing, but matching the movements and waiting for the precise moment to attack. And the attack is not violent, but precise, often searching for pressure points.
The Snake represents True Soft when it comes to True Kung Fu. Instead of charging aggressively, dancing, or even playing a waiting game, it is part of the movement, going with the movement, taking advantage of the motion by being them. This is not just retreating from the incoming force, but becoming the attack, and turning it to best advantage.
With the gradient steps from Tiger to Snake we have a series of steps from the hard art to the soft art, from external martial arts to internal martial arts. Interestingly, this is really a series of steps from learning how to go against, to learning how to go with. The next animal, the Dragon, is the summation of these learning how to fight steps.
The dragon doesn't qualify as either hard or a soft, it is both both of these attributes. It is being able to go against an attacker or with as it wishes. it is the ability to put together all animals, as one chooses, in whatever manner, in the middle of real combat.
Thus, the five kung fu animals train the body, then teach the mind, and finally, develop the spirit. For the dragon, as the final animal, represents imagination, the ability to choose, and these are attributes of a spiritual being. As the sayings go, the Tiger strengthens the bones, the Crane resides within stillness, and the Dragon trains the spirit, and this escalation of concepts definitely represents the True Shaolin Teachings.
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