Shen Lung Kung Fu Animal Styles
Tiger is the first animal style learned in Shen Lung, introduced at the guest level. Powerful, deep-rooted, and linear, Tiger emphasizes close-range strikes, throws, and a willingness to stay in the danger zone long enough to set up a single, fight-ending blow. Tiger commits fully to every motion, and maximizes power at the expense of mobility. Tiger is low, hard-style, and works with single direct attacks.
Mantis is the second style we teach in Shen Lung Kung Fu, begun at the novice level. Using an upright stance and highly mobile footwork, Mantis operates in sequences and combinations, baffling opponents with multiple simultaneous attacks and blocks, all executed at high speed. Mantis is high, linear, hard-style, and quick, a master of attack-by-combination.
Snake style is started at the rank of Student of the Spiritual Forms. It is upright, compact, and mobile. Snake is a soft style, using an opponent's energy against them, rather than resisting it. Flowing around its opponent, climbing over their defenses, and striking repeatedly in rapid succession, Snakes are known for circular and whiplike motions, as well as an emphasis on inside-line fighting. Snake is high, circular, soft, and extremely fast, favoring progressive direct attacks.
Crane study begins when one has become a Student of the Mental Forms. Crane is very upright, attacking with carefully-aimed single strikes all over an opponent, and defending with redirection and retreat, rather than resistance. Working from outside an opponent's effective range, Crane demands extreme techincal proficiency and smooth footwork, as well as careful judgement. Crane is high, circular, soft, and distant, working chiefly with progressive, indirect attacks.
Monkey is the last standard animal introduced in Shen Lung Kung Fu, begun simultaneous with Crane. Monkey prefers to go to the ground, and Monkey style training integrates grappling and groundfighting. Monkey attacks an opponent's weak points, using both hard and soft energy as needed. Monkey is very low, both hard and soft, close-range, and favors full body contact.
Dragon is not a formally taught style in Shen Lung. Instead, Dragon represents what emerges when a practitioner can draw freely from all five animals, as the situation demands. One who can use the power of Tiger, the mechanics of Mantis, the speed of Snake, the movements of Crane, and the cunning of Monkey, becomes a force to be reckoned with. As you've read, "Shen Lung" can be translated from Chinese as "Hidden Dragon," "Secret Dragon," and even "Emerging Dragon." This "Magic Dragon" is glimpsed only in the combination of all five animals.
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