Snake Kung Fu (She Chuan)
Bringing Order to the Chaos,
is bringing Peace to the World
Prologue
The Snake is also one of the 12 animals that answered Buddha's call and thus each were allocated a year in the Chinese Calendar. It is also one of the 9 Animals that make the Chinese Dragon. The Snake may also have, over time changed into a Dragon by the addition of the other Animals which may be why is also referred to as the Little Dragon. Which is a bit ironic as modern scientists believe that Snakes developed from lizards some 130 million years ago (give or take...) which is exactly the opposite.
For the Chinese culture, the Snake symbolizes intelligence, happiness and is a sign that the time is right for something to be done. In both Western and Chinese cultures Snakes are associated with the bravery of men and beauty of women. It is also a symbol of wealth and money to the Japanese; who believe that, if you meet or see a white Snake, you will be lucky in life. Because of its supposed supernatural powers, the Snake is venerated by Buddhists and allowed to dwell around temples. The Chinese believe that fairies, elves and demons often transform themselves into Snakes and thus should not be harmed.
Reptiles form a class of vertebrate animals intermediate between the fishes & amphibians and the higher vertebrates, birds and mammals. Modern reptiles include crocodilian's, turtles, lizards, Tuatara and Snakes. There are about 2700 different types of Snakes, around 400 venomous. Most Snakes are found in tropical regions where there is plenty of warmth and sunshine, water and food. They prefer to live in forests, deserts, prairies and can live up to 25 years (although the oldest recorded Snake reached 40 years in captivity). The Smallest Snakes can be as small as 8 cm, 3" and the largest well over 5 meters, 22 feet and weigh over 100 kg, 220 lb. There land and water snakes, desert & forest, fresh & salt water. Most Snakes are egg born but they are a few species that give life births. And some of the larger Snakes that capture large pray can spend 3 to 4 months digesting and resting. Although, the most Snakes live off harmful insects and rodents.
Snake the Animal
Snakes have 400 vertebrae and ribs that they use for movement. They don't have external ears or eyelids and rely on vibration to help them find out what is around them and their smell to warn them of dangers. Most species of Snakes aren't aggressive at all and will usually retreat from any forms of danger that they may detect around them. However, if they start to feel like they are in trouble they will strike in order to protect themselves.
Snakes are lone creatures, although from time to time, they will come into contact with each other Snakes by accident. Most of the time they will go their own way. However, if it is mating season, they may choose to fight each other if a female is around and there is a chance that one of them will be chosen for mating. Although, the female Snake may not choose the winner, it is hard for experts to really understand what makes female Snakes choose a mate.
The Snake stylist prefers a quiet, safe and lone environment, and is more likely to walk away from a conflict than engage in it. The Snake Stylist is a sinuous, sexy, flexible, rubber like mover that tries to entrance their attacker into a moment of carelessness. The Snake Stylist is not strong or enduring but can explode a sudden movement quicker than the eye can see. The Snake Stylist is in constant flowing unhurried motion waiting for the opportunity to escape or to end the match in one swift move. The stylist also needs a head for detail, an eye for precision and a need for regular, rhythmic flexibility and strength exercise. They need to be an introvert (self driven rather than externally motivated) that work their own pace and seek near to perfection in matters that are important, to them.
Shaolin Snake Kung Fu
Snakes are also creatures with-out legs, arms, hands or other tools; they have two parts that they use to survive, their maul/teeth and their body. Thus, Snake Kung Fu mirrors this by having the two aspects, the Sudden Strikes and the Holding Locks! These two halves of Snake Kung Fu seem to contradict, whereby the one requires quick striking hands and feet for precise striking and the other strong arms and body for locking and debilitating. The commonality on which though both halves are built, is the knowledge how and where to strike and how and where to grab, lock and apply pressure. The skill of knowing the human body, their own and the attackers and thus knowing what is best to use and where, and for how long.
Where Tiger Kung Fu is a style of immediate action and consequence, Panther of Strategy and Tactic, Crane of Evasion and Education, Shaolin Snake Kung Fu is a style of Science and Knowledge. As such, a Snake Kung Fu Stylist needs to be very versed with medical knowledge of some type, western paramedic, eastern therapist, western naturopath or eastern acupunctures; something of this nature is almost essential for a Snake Kung Fu expert. At the beginning level, the Snake Kung Fu student focuses on form, flexibility and finality (techniques). Only as he learns and masters these, will he begin to study the corresponding 'special targets'. Some are learned very early on but many are also the masters secret and at a higher level, the masters gift.
The Snake's Main Principles
Un-involvement; Not being there, Physically, Mentally and or Spiritually is the Snakes way. Not being there physically is the best way not to loose and the Snake is not interested in winning; it just interested in not being involved. If the snakes option of un-involvement and the ability to be absent is taken away, then the Snake is deadly!
Superior Knowledge; Know what has been successful and what has been done; knowing what is possible and what not; knowing what works best and how, knowing the weakness of your attacker and the strength of your skills; knowing how to maximize effect for minimum effort; simply knowing how to succeed. Without knowledge no action can be truly successful.
Absolute attitude; Un-involvement means you do not need to do much most the time. For the small amounts of time where something is needed, the Snake is Absolute and Definitive. There is no evasion, no quarter and there is no time. What needs to be done has been done.
Perfect Skills; The Snake has not a broad base of skills, more narrow but these are mastered to perfection. And once a skill is mastered, the next may be mastered, but not before.
Order Creator; Order and Control are the keys to the Snake Stylists success; it is also the building block of co-existence, cooperation, civilization and Enlightenment. Order is the absence of Surprise, the absence of chaos and the absence of mischief and thus of peace and happiness (for the snake). Without order there is chaos, strife and pain.
“Chaos was the law of nature; Order was the dream of man.” - Henry Adams
The Snake's Modus Operandi or way of doing things
There are a lot of similarities between the Panther and Snake Style; they both have similar body types; both rely on specific strategies, both have two aspects and both choose to have encounters on their own terms. But once you look closer, the similarities are like a coin, different on each side. Where the Ideal Panther Stylist is medium sized, strong and well built; the ideal Snake Stylist body is medium built, strong but wiry. Where the Panthers are masters of Strategies like a General, the Snake Stylist specializes like a Surgeon specializes in a certain procedure. Where the Panther is a Hit, Damage and then Run style, the Snake is a first Run and if not possible arrest and incapacitate style. Finally, the one item where they are both dissimilarly similar (sorry about that, could not find a better way of expressing the idea); The Panther lures the attacker to his battle ground whereby the Snake tries to escape the attacker to their home ground. Where the Panther will try and ensure that the attacker follows, the Snake will try and dissuade the attacker from following. Aside from this detail, both animals will have prepared their chosen ground in some way or another for the invaders, the Snake with a Trap; the Panther in many different ways.
So, the Snake, in essence, is a 'Let-me-out-of-here, Trap creator. For example, the Snake my choose to run away from an attacker, to turn it's back and run. This is usually a dangerous tactic also used by the Panther. If the Snake Stylist manages to escape. that is it, forgotten (the Panther would then circle back and seek to use this as an advantage). Should though the attacker continue chasing the Snake Stylist, they may find themselves lost, tripped or the Snake Stylist suddenly turns around and ends the chase.
Again, Panther and Snake are different sides to the same coin, Panther is for Chaos and Snake is for Order. Panther is for Excitement, Experimentation, Fun & Games, Snake is for Wisdom, Discovery, Tradition and Cultural Appreciation. Where the Panther may be called Determined the Snake may be called Stubborn! Finally, there is one key difference, the Panther is an Attacking Style where as the Snake will not initiate the attack.
When/If it comes to fighting, the Snake will seek to run away. If the Attacker continues to follow, the Snake will set a trap or lead to a prepared trap. Once the encounter is unavoidable, the Snake will seek to draw the eye of the Attacker on the obvious, seeking to hide the trap. It may resort to sinuous movement, hypnotic alluring, disturbing movement positioning or preparing the attacker for the trap, which usually already prepared. Then, depending on the type of encounter and the level of danger, the Snake will spring the trap and either Capture and Hold the attacker, Capture and Incapacitate or just plain Incapacitate with a strike or strike series.
The Snakes does not seek a victory but it also will not allow itself to be defeated. Sijo Robert Z
You are a Snake Personality
If you are a person of knowledge, books, long walks, details and possibly a bit obsessive-compulsive. If you enjoy knowing just for the sake of knowing but also enjoy a solid workout when you workout. Often you may be a bit of a loner, not ever really feeling part of a crowd but apart. You are seemingly easy-going but in reality, once you have made up your mind, the world ending may not be able to change it; except that your partners or very close friends can move you sometimes, in some way, maybe. You will have a tenancy to some extreme living although not necessarily extreme action. You may be prone to addictive behaviors but only for a time, but during this time they may be a bit out of control. You will listen to wisdom but not always acknowledge the person delivering this or even acknowledge it at the time. You may be very influenced by words and very put of by violence and threat.
Snake Kung Fu Skills
Evasion, Avoidance, Confusion, Speed, Accuracy and Fluid motion. Snakes are Alluring movers, almost hypnotizing in their ways. Mentally Snakes are very Logical and Reasoning based. Spiritually the are Law and Order. Snake skills are based on the best of the best for the least amount of effort. Techniques are short and long but very quick, precise and sharp but do not require brut strength. Whipping, thrusting and wrapping are the most common deliveries of a Spade Edge Hand, Diamond Finger and Snake Head Strike. Although fists can be used, the Snake Stylist prefers techniques for unusual targets, delivered in a surprising and unusual way. Part of the Snakes repertoire of traps is the unusual and different use of seemingly know techniques.
A Snake does not initiate an attack, it would rather retreat, turn back;
if there is no chance to beat a retreat, it will fight tooth & coil, the attackers plan to foil
seek to create a trap-the attacker to beat or wrap
A Snake Fable
In Song dynasty, there lived a Magic White Snake together with a Magic Green Snake in the Emei Mountain. One year, they transformed into two beautiful young ladies and came into the mundane world to find a man named Xu Xian who saved the White Snake's life on previous visit to the mundane lands on the West Lake of Hangzhou city. The White Snake fell in love with the man, Xu Xian, at first sight then. She sought him out and they got married soon after. The Lady White helped her husband to open an herbal medicine store by writing the prescriptions and patients unable to pay were given free treatment and medicine. The store quickly became well known and popular both for their generosity and the effectiveness of the medicines.
One day a monk called Fa Hai saw the Lady White Snake and recognized her for who she was. He warned Xu Xian that his wife was a White Snake in disguise but was not believed. Then During the Dragon Boat Festival, Chinese families like to decorate with calamus and Chinese mug wort around the house; and drink wine to drive away spirits. This was dangerous to Lady White and Lady Green (who was never really far from Lady White Snake), especially since Lady White was pregnant and through this her magical power had already weakened greatly. She also drank the wine, to please her husband which lead to her loosing control of her human form and she turned into her White Snake form. Xu Xian saw the White Snake and was startled to death.
Lady White knew plants on the Kunlun Mountain that could bring her husband back to life. But these and the mountain was guarded by two immortals. She tried to steal the plants but failed, and was caught. Her 'true love' for a mortal though, moved the two immortals, who let her take some the resurrection plants back and thus brew a concoction to resurrect her love and husband Xu Xian.
Upon awakening, Xu Xian remembered his experience with his wife and was confused. Years of culture, warding against spirits wared with his experiences and the love for his wife, but she was a White Snake Spirit and he saw her in her true form; how could he love this giant snake? He sought out the famous and magical Monk Fa Hai at Jinshan Temple. Fa Hai, who considered all spirits to be unnatural and should not be on the mortal plane was very much against Lady White Snake. He counseled that Xu Xian become a monk to forget his wife and purify his spirit. Xu Xian followed his advice and dedicated himself to the temple and order and devoted his life to Buddha.
Lady White Snake thought the Monk Fa Hai had imprisoned her husband as a punishment and attacked the temple. The Temple was magically well guarded so se sought out and received the help of a great army of underwater creatures. who brought forth a flood over the Jinshan Temple. But Monk Fa Hai also had great magical power and the spiritual strength of all his monks and he he asked for and received the help of heavenly soldiers.
A terrible battle ensued that drew on the strength and powers of both the Monk the the Snake. They fought for a long time but neither side could gain advantage, the battle was well balanced. But Lady White was pregnant and thus could not endure the might and power of the battle for long as she would normally would. She had to conceded the battle and retreated to await the time of birthing.
Lady white found out that her husband was not being held prisoner but that he was there of his own choice. So, when a son was born to Lady White , she sent word to Xu Xian hoping that their common child would bring him back to her and their son. Xu Xian came and he carried with him a magical hat from Fa Hai, 'for his son'. But in reality it was for Lady White. Though the magic hat of Monk Fa Hai, Lady White Snake was imprisoned inside the Leifeng Pagoda for eternity.
The Lady Green Snake who had helped Lady White through the birthing was enraged about her immortal friend being imprisoned but was unable to fight Monk Fa Hai alone. She retreated to her Mountain to practice stronger more effective magic with which to fight the Monk and free her sister. With Lady White imprisoned and Lady Green Snake away the son was taken in and cared by the Temple Monks. After the son grew up, he was able to leave the Temple and sought out Lady Green. With his knowledge of the Temple and the Lady Green, who had been increasing he destructive magical power, she was able destroyed the Leifeng Pagoda prison and rescued Lady White Snake. Lady White, Lady Green and the son were then able to find and convince Xu Xian to come away with them. With years time of meditation and thinking what he had lost, Xu Xian relies what was really important and embraced both his wife and son.
So, come on in and see if what we do is for you!