Shaolin Tiger
The Tiger (Hu) is for directness, Simplicity, Power, Honesty, Community and Loyalty! It teaches the simple, direct and sudden approach to problems! Strong legs and arms, fierce and fiery approach, overwhelming power. Tendency Aggressive, Attacking, Finishing
Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against; not with; the wind. - Hamilton Mabie
Shaolin Panther
The Panther (Mei Zhou Bao) is for Strategy, Cunning, Planning, Management and Foresight. It teaches us to raise above the fray and use our heads! It never confronts a problem or attacker from the front preferring circumspect and complex methods. Tendency - Passive Aggressive, Debilitating, Persistent
The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations. - David Friedman
Shaolin Crane
The Crane (He) is for Elegance, Agility, Lightness, Grace & Beauty. It seeks to avoid all matters of confrontation, fighting and conflict. In an attack it would first seek to evade and only if this were successful, would it choose to apply a 'Wearing Down" technique (Like Water wearing down rock) allowing their attacker to defeat themselves. Tendency - Resistive, Patient, Light, Evasive and Empathic.
Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. - William Ellery Channing
Shaolin Snake
The Snake (She) is for Wisdom, Knowledge, Experience, Avoidance and Tradition. It is a minimalistic style that would only act if everything was perfect or there is no other choice. No surpurflouse movements, action or thought. It is the animal that most relies on Pressure Points and is the master of Dim Mak. Tendency - Avoiding, Solitary/Hidden, Perfectionistic, Intense and Inpatient.
Shaolin Dragon
The Dragon (Loong) is a Mythical Animal representing all that is best. In context of the 5 Animal System it represents the Mastery of the Physical 4 and is not a sperate style in itself. When you are able to win without someone else losing, then you have achieved a Dragon Solution. In the physical sense, all matters to do with direct Chi & Breath Disruption are considered Dragon techniques. Anything that debilitates and stops an attacker without doing permeant damage or causing great pain is said to have Dragon Tendencies!
Dragons understand most everyone but only Dragons understand Dragons.
Phoenix
The Shaolin Phoenix (Feng Huang) is the other side of the Dragon. In the odd occasion when the Ideal Warrior can not find the Ideal Solution but a solution is imperative, you seek to destroy all in the hope that something new and better arises from the ashes. This is of course as a last and desperate solution. An example of this strategy was Napoleons attack on Russia;
When Napoleon attacked the Russians with 600,000 troops, they just kept on retreating and destroying everything behind them. When Napoleon reached Moscow he found the city empty and partially on fire fire. Napoleon waited in Moscow for Alexander to offer peace, but no offer came; Napoleon ordered the retreat. The retreat was devastating. The bitter winter killed many troops. Russian soldiers and Cossack's dogged French. Between them and the Russian Winter only 30,000 of Napoleons men made it back alive.
Strategy v Cunning
All the animals can be divided into Yin and Yang; in this case Strategy is the Tangible and Cunning the Intangible.
Power v Precision
Power, requiring the greater force is Yang and Precision, not requiring anything except determination is yin.
Tiger and Panther the greater and lesser Yang are the Active Aggressive where as Crane & Snake, the Lesser and greater Yin are defensive evasive!
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Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu
On this page . . .
We cover the 2nd half of the levels to Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu Black Sash; which started with the 5 Temple Levels. Although there ill be some additional techniques to these levels, it is essential that you have a good understanding of all that has been covered in the first 5 levels.
Preamble
It is beneficial for you if you could discard some common misconceptions about Animal Kung Fu. Even if there may be a core of truth in what is currently presented in popular media and WEB, you will gain a greater understanding if you were able to approach this as a total novice to the concept; yet, this may not be possible. So let's focus on dispelling some of the main media'isms.
Shaolin Animal Stylists do not;
- Make constant Animal Sounds. Although this may happen to irritate an opponent with Panther, or distract as in Crane; the typical Animal sound would only be heard at a key and finishing strike.
- Make Animal gestures, unless for the reason just mentioned. Any telltale signs will give the opponent unnecessary additional information.
- Animal Stylists have their favorite techniques, that is human, but there is no such thing as a technique that can not be used by every kung fu animal aspect. It is not the technique but how it is used that defines the style.
- In Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu the Dragon is allocated to the Healing, Well-being and balance (amongst others) aspect of Kung Fu.
- In Shaolin proper, there is no such thing as a killing technique. This would be and is against the principles of Buddhism (and humanity) and thus not used.
OK, now that we have that out of the way we can have a fresh look at what Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu is really about.
Background
Just to put a perspective on where and how 5 Animal Kung Fu came to be, following are some key events. For a full history of the Shaolin Temple, have a look at our extensive Shaolin Temple History page. Now to the key points relevant to the Animal style.
- It was in the time of the Tang Dynasty, around 7th century CE that Shaolin was allowed to have Seng Bing, Soldier Monks.
- Kung Fu Animal styles were first reported during the Song Dynasty around the 10th century CE.
- The first version of the 5 Animal Style was in the form of the 5 Animal Fists believed to have been developed by Zhue Yuen also during the Song Dynasty.
- A almost fully integrated style of Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu is believed to have first been recorded during the early part of the Ming Dynasty around the 14 century CE
- Most aspects of the Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu style were lost in the 3rd Burning of Shaolin in the 17th Century; and the subsequent denial of any kung fu training in China until the late part of the 20th Century.
Knowledge is only then Power, if you have the skill to used it - Sijo
Understanding the 5 Animal System
The choice of Symbols was quite interesting. Why these 5, why not another 5. Modern Wushu, which is seeking to emulate the 5 Animal Style with their current animals, did not really understand the choices. It only comes apparent when seen in a certain light.
Myer Briggs Indicators
Some time early in the 20th Century CE, a mother and their daughter wanted to 'classify' men. They did so much along the lines of yin and yang dividing it into 4 pairs of opposing indicators;
- Extroversion vs Introversion
- Sensing vs iNtuition
- Thinking vs Feeling
- Judging vs Perceiving
Shaolin Indicators
This allowed the creation of 16 character types, depending on the combination of characteristics that would be determined by a ether or test. A person would be classified as either ESTJ, or INFP or a combination of these. Yet a lot of explanation is necessary to understand what each of these words really refer to.
Shaolin went deeper, much deeper. It allowed a path for discover of understanding when contemplating the 5 animals. Using a 4 quadrant model to the right, you can have a look and see some of the possibilities that the 4 Animals offer. For example, the animals are order in the form of Greater Yang, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, Lesser Yin (following a Z shape reading). For example;
- Speed/Precision vs Force
- Attacking vs Defending
- Planning vs Intuition
- Explosive vs Calm
There are many more such combinations that can be listed. For example, from the above 4 pairs the Tiger would be; FAIE, Forceful, Attacking, Intuitive and Explosive where as the Panther, although similar, would be SAPC, Speed/Precision, Attacking, Planner and Calm.
Not Just 5 Animals
When we look at it, we begin to see a far deeper meaning in the 5 Animal Style. Yet to understand this, we need to have a look at a typical stylist. The easiest to look at is Tiger.
A Tiger stylist needs to be an Alpha, Powerful, Dominant, Natural, Good Abilities and Big (it is the biggest, strongest, most ferocious of the 4 animals. Yet, what happens if you are an Alpha, Dominant, Natural with good abilities but do not have the power or size to be a full Tiger? You are not a panther, Snake or Crane, so what are you?
The Shaolin Shadow Animals
The little know concept of Shadow or in between animals is a little know part of the 5 Animal System. If we do have say an Alpha Male, Big, Strong, Lot of Natural Ability, Dominant and then you have an Alpha Female, with all the same traits but not the same size or strength. In a confrontation the female would loose (all else being equal). This person would adapt the Tiger Style to the Shaolin Eagle! This is Tiger Style with a touch of Crane. Thus we get a huge variety of possibilities that derive from the 4/5 Animal Style. To the left you see listed some of the possibilities of the Shadow Animals.
Shadows of Shadow
The list assumes a 75% to 25% distribution and only two animals involved; there is another list for a 50% to 50% distribution and then also a 3 Animal Model. But this is not as important as it is to understand why this depth of complexity
Infinite Variety
With around 6 Billion+ (6,000,000,000 or 6 Thousand Million) people in the world one can assume that there is a variety of different people. So Shaolin gave us a simple model that can be expanded into a very detailed model. As there are men and women, Yang & Yin, we have the Yang Animals, Tiger & Panther and the Yin Animals, Snake & Crane. As there are variation in Men & Women, some of to the degree that they seem to be interchangeable, the Shaolin gave us a model that is both easy and complex, superficial and deep. it is just up to us to choose how much or how little we want to use this. Let us have a look at both martial Arts and Life to show some examples.
Martial Arts
If stepping into the ring, using this analogy, we can immediately discern what type of an opponent we are up against; assuming that they do not know the system and are not masking their type.
If they immediately attack on the word go; they a probably Tigers; if they wait for your fist move, possibly Panthers; if they are evading a lot and occasionally taking a swipe, Cranes and if they sit back and keep you at a distance, probably a Snake type preference. There re of course more complexities involved, but just prepared with this general overview can already suggest to you a counter strategy. To the left is a map of control and counter control.
In Life
Life is a bit like a sparring match. Depending on the type of animal your boss or employees are can make a great difference how to approach them. Let us have a look at what the best approaches would be for the different types of Animal Bosses;
- Tiger - Alpha Male leader like simple, straight to the point approaches without a lot of detail and strong arguments that in no way challenge them. Open,honest, with good reasons, showing the benefit to them!
You are a tiger if - you thrive on chaos and may lack follow-through - a likely weakness. Tigers stay (relatively) cool, calm and collected though you need to overlook all that swagger to see the competent person possibly/probably with a very good plan.
- Panther - are the Hidden leader, those that prefer to lead from a distance, good strategists and big picture thinkers. To win them over you need to put your request in terms of overall gain, to the organization, in the long-term with strategic and real benefits. You may be a Panther if - you strive to see the big picture but you also use your strong knowledge ability to intimidate and win your point. You will also have the tendency to exclude or even not be aware of emotional undertones and therefore will not always get the Full message or picture. Panthers usually pride yourselves on your ability to think and experience but you like being challenged on this and if you are wrong you need to be allowed to ‘discover this information. You need clear logic and need to keep a clear mind and incorporate all facts.
- Crane - are very much people bosses. They do not come into leading position unless they have compromised their principles or they are leading a team of volunteers, nurses, charity workers or some such. You request has to be a combination of showing the benefits, of your pay rise, to the team. But you need to determine what their secondary animal is and add a bit of this in their too. You are possibly a Crane if - you seek harmony and profit. You also need extra time to "think about things" you commit to. Under pressure you may tend to go with the flow. If you are under pressure then you will commit but you may lack follow through.
- Snakes - come to their position either by heritage, endurance or knowledge. Rarely can a Snake type person (bean counter, strict rule follower) be an entrepreneur, business man, or some such. They are great School Principles, Police Chiefs, mid level Army leader or some such. They need to be approached through the proper channels, with the proper forms, stating the correct reasons. You can be a Snake if - you demand order and you generally will want to examine so many options that you may needlessly drag out a process. You probably don't like surprises. You thrive on planning and need more options and more information than others before you decide and therefore more time for deliberation. You love your books and facts.
Yet, more important than finding out what animal style other people are, it is more important to understand oneself; as this is what is really important.
Who am i
The Shaolin 5 Animal Model allows you to start at a simple level to understand who you are and what you like and don't; and depending on your inclination, you can delve much deeper. You will be a product of your birth, upbringing and experience. Much of this will have formed you. If you are born a large male, you will have different approach to life than id you are born a petite female. If you are gifted with a high IQ Level of Intelligence), you will be different if you are gifted with a high EQ (level of Emotional Empathy & Instinct). If you went through the education system or the street education;etc. This will all play a big role in who and what you are.
By recognizing this and your style, you will be able to determine what aspects of yourself you want to keep and which to change; which are not changeable and which are easily changeable. By discovering/becoming who you are and/or want to be, you will easier be able to discard false wants and needs and focus on achieving that what needs to be achieved. But how, you may ask?
Mirrors of life
Your mirrors of self reflection are made of glass, flesh and blood. What you look like, who your friends are, what you like doing, etc., is a mirror of who you are. How you communicate is a mirror of who you are. What you wear is a Mirror of who you are. What you know (and don't know) is a Mirror of who you are. What you . . . . Much like a real mirror where you can only see a part of yourself, all these other aspects are only partial mirrors of who you 'seem' to be. They do not necessarily represent who you really are.
The First Step
We hide many more things about ourselves than we believe and at the same time we give away much more than we think. It is just a matter of being able to read the signs. It is of utmost importance that we are able to represent our real selves not what life has made of us. Our upbringing, school, experiences has taught us to behave in a certain way. Some of these behaviors, sometimes many do not really represent who we truly are. We need to embark on a journey of self discovery! But how to do this when our thinking is confused, impure and convoluted?
Exploration
That is where Shaolin Kung Fu come back into the story. Only a Healthy Body can house a healthy mind and get in touch with your spirit! You've hear this before. Principle, most everyone knows that it is difficult to have a healthy Mind if you are unhealthy. How can you see the reflection of who you are if you are looking through very dirty glasses?
Everything
This is why Shaolin Kung Fu is a lifestyle art. It needs to be able to help the Shaolin practitioner in ALL aspects of life. You need to experiment, try out what works for you and what not, what you like and dislike, . . who you are. If you need to become a champion, your Kung Fu should be able to help (focus, determination, action). If you need to get a better job, your Kung Fu should help (posture, confidence, presentation). If you wish to climb a mountain your Kung Fu should be able to help you (stamina, strength, endurance). If you wish to become a better person, well that is really why Shaolin Kung Fu exists.
It is a tool that allows you to become healthy and fit whilst offering an opportunity to find out what really is most important to you. The animal styles give you a tool and a starting point; yourself.
Yet, as a hammer can be used to build or destroy, Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu can be used. You can grow and improve yourself or you can beat others down and seem to be better; it is your choice and your power!
Sijo Robert Z
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