About Cranes in General

They are found most everywhere except in the Antarctic and South America. The plumage is usually brown, gray, or white. Such species as the crowned crane, Balearica Pavonina, of Africa are particularly striking in appearance, and many species have unfeathered areas, sometimes brightly colored, around the head. Cranes often have loud, resonant cries. The trachea, or windpipe, in some species is convoluted into the keel of the sternum, a condition that facilitates the production of sound. Most cranes are terrestrial, preferring marshy conditions. They feed on plant materials and a wide variety of small animals. Their nests, usually containing two eggs, are on the ground in marshy areas. The crowned crane, however, occasionally nests in low trees. At least five crane species are in danger of extinction.

The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Stylist

The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Tools

The Crane Stylist has no weapons. As with the Crane, all parts are tools, wings, claws and beak. Much so for the Crane Stylist, there are no special tools, hand shapes or teaches. Everything results from a movement. A flung out hand, a whirling foot or the pecking Cranes Beak (the only Crane Specific Hand Shape). The Crane Stylist would not use any strong technique, choosing first to avoid and attack and whilst moving to safety and 'accidental' foot, hand or beak could land on the opponent. In no way would the Crane stylist go out of their way to apply a technique, all would be incidental to the move of escaping and avoiding; dancing away.

The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Preferences

A twitch of the foot, a slap of the hand, a flick of the fingers, a short grab and twist at the wrist, and extended tripping leg, the Crane Stylist would use no or little force of their own choosing to allow their attacker to defeat themselves.

An old Chinese saying goes

Ideally, the Crane seeks to convince their attacker(s) to stop attacking by causing havoc, pain and small pains. The longer the Crane is attacked, the more damage the attacker will be subject to. The Crane will escalate their targeting of vital points if the attacker dose not cease soon. 3rd, 4th attack and the protagonist might find themselves without an eye, with a broken wrist, finger or even knee, bloodied forehead, sore genitalia or bleeding throat. None of these causing great damage but together being very dangerous.

Understanding The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane

Cranes like being with Cranes. They are also Ok with other stylists. They can handle Tigers well, their speciality; and often like to partner with them seemingly allowing them to lead. They are very wary of Panthers and can be very dangerous to Snakes. As long as no one is aggressive, the Crane will stay. As soon as the mood changes or even starts to change, the Crane (Stylists) will want to leave (fly away).

The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Shadow

Where a major part of being a Tiger is Strong Physical Presence and Power and the Panther it is Strong Mental presence and Prowess, the Crane is Intuitive, Instinctive, Empathic, Light & Elegant. Empathy allows the Crane to tap into the Attacker psyche and know what will happen before it actually happens. The Crane is very switched on understanding others.

But what if you do not have one of these major character traits yet in spirit are a Shaolin Crane?

• Phoenix/Rooster; This is the Crane that has nothing to loose. All has been tried and failed or it can not understand what is happening or it's family or flock is about to be hurt or damaged; it goes nuts. Just like a Phoenix, it will sacrifice it self to achieve victory.
• Horse; this is the stoic version of the Crane, the Gray Wise Crane. Been there, done that type of Stylist. It would seek to find a conflict resolution much quicker and more economically than any of the other Crane Aspects

• Vulture; is the classical negative Crane. It would seem to be a crane except it is a Soul Steler. Every time you were with it you would fee drained and empty but not be able to easily attribute it to a specific reason. An example if that of a caring mother who discourages her children by reason of safety but in reality stifling their adventures way.

The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Forms

Crane forms are best trained to music; not a beat but gliding, flowing light music. If a ballet dancer would occasionally throw out a Cranes Wing, a Cranes Beak or Claw, than that would be a Cranes Dance. Forms in the aspect in Shaolin Kung Fu are;

• The Butterfly Crane (Flow and Grace)
• Iron and Silk Crane (Form of Changes)
• The Raptor Crane (Twin Swords)
• The Dancing Crane (Movement and Interchange with Fans)
• The Flying Crane (Slow and Deliberate)
• The Directional Crane (Change of speed, direction and height)

RU a The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane?

Cranes are people people. They prefer the company of friends and don't really mind what they do if their friends/family/flock are their to. You have Crane tendencies if;

• you prefer people instead of experience
• aim at achieving outcome by consensus rather than by detail
• if you think more talk and less violence is a solution to most conflicts
• you can get depressed easily unless you are with a kindred spirit or thinking/remembering being with a friend/family member
• when you easily adapt to the general feeling of the human environment
• when you like to play anything as long as it is with people you like
• when you believe that everyone is inherently good

The Ideal Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Practitioner

The Crane Symbolism

The Cranes' beauty and their spectacular mating dances have made them highly symbolic birds in many cultures with records dating back to ancient times. Crane mythology is widely spread and can be found in areas such as the Aegean, South Arabia, Japan and in the Native American cultures of North America. In northern Hokkaido, the women of the Ainu people, whose culture performed a crane dance. In Korea, a crane dance has been performed in the courtyard of the Tongdosa Temple since the Silla Dynasty 646 CE. In Mecca, in pre-Islamic South Arabia, the goddesses Allat, Uzza, and Manah, who were believed to be daughters of and intercessors with Allah, were called the "The Three Exalted Cranes".

A crane is considered auspicious in Japan and Vietnam. It is one of the symbols of longevity and is often represented with other symbols of long life, such as pine, bamboo, and the tortoise. Vietnamese people consider Crane and Dragon to be symbols of their culture. In feudal Japan the Crane was protected by the ruling classes and fed by the peasants. According to Japanese tradition, if one folds 1000 origami Cranes one's wish for health will be granted. Since the death of Sadako Sasaki this applies to a wish for peace as well.

For traditional Chinese 'Heavenly Cranes' (tian-he) or 'Blessed Cranes' (xian-he) were messengers of wisdom. Legendary Taoist sages were transported between heavenly worlds on the backs of cranes.

The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Strategy

The Crane does not attack only counter attack. It would do this from any angle except the front. It would always side step the attack; possibly using it's wings to mask the movement, change direction again, possibly to deliver a technique to the attacker. It is a master of evading supported by blocking and redirection. It would seek to frustrate it's opponent, helping it to defeat itself.

The Crane prefers to use any technique that causes no permanent harm. It's preference would be annoying techniques, energy sapping strategies, (like water wearing down rock,) rather than a single blow or finishing technique. It would seek to give it's opponent the ability to stop and reflect on the consequences of it's aggression, seeking to teach/show it the error of violence. For this it would - like a mother or mentor - seem to be cruel to be kind.

Main Picture, Red Crowned Crane

Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Symbol

Blue Crane

Blacked Necked Crane

Blacked Crowned Crane

Brolgas Crane

Demoiselle Crane

Eurasian Crane

Gray Crowned Crane

Hooded Crane

Sandhill Crane

Sarus Crane

Siberian Crane

Wattled Crane