The five animals of Shaolin temple                      

The Shaolin temple was famous for intensive research in martial arts for about a thousand years. Of all the animal styles invented there, only five are most important. They are the Dragon, the Tiger, the Leopard, the Snake and the Crane.

Why among the dozens of animal styles practiced at Shaolin only five are significant? It is because they reflect the Nature and contain something everlastingly and essentially found in Nature. In fact they are not the animals as popularly understood. They are the elements of Nature; the Earth, the Water, the Fire, the Wind and the Sky.

Of all, Snake and Crane are soft hence represent the soft systems of martial arts like Tai Chi. For them internal power is important.

Tiger and Leopard are symbolic of hard strength and show the hard styles of Shaolin that emphasize the external strength.

In contrast, the Dragon contains both: the soft and the hard, the light and the dark, the agile and the heavy. It is the meeting point of both the feminine and the masculine energies. It represents the harmonious blending of Yin and Yang forces and hence is mysterious.

The following scheme depicts the relation between them clearly.

Let us discuss each animal or the element more closely and intimately.

The primary element is Earth. It is heavy, hard and powerful. Tiger also is. It is not fast but methodical. Its steps are solid, attacks ferocious and spirit furious. It overcomes by sheer weight and force. It meets the attack head on and relies on strength.

Water is soft. It never opposes an opponent. It invites the attack, allows it, absorbs it and conquers by acceptance. It overcomes by swallowing. So is crane. It is placid, deep in meditation like a calm and unperturbed sea. You cannot know its depth, its real intention by casual observation. It appears to be harmless, but is really dangerous if you do not know how to handle it. The crane style is famous for quick attacks, great balance, evading techniques and jumps. Its attacking points are the eyes, throat and temples.

Fire is quick and light. Its touch burns. It is very fast and deadly. Its movement is like lightning. It blinds the opponent and stuns him with quick reflexes. Leopard fist is equally deadly. Its attacks are light, multiple and quick, the effects long lasting than you believe. Like fireburns, the injuries inflicted by a leopard fist heal slowly. It is mischievous and cunning in its strategy. It feigns to the east but attacks the west. It misleads and conquers by quick, successive and unrelenting attacks.  Unlike the tiger, its footwork is agile, fast and light.

Air is usually powerless but as a whirlwind can uproot a strongest tree or can lift a man or animal by its twisting force. It is the vital air in man. Its power is the breath. It is soft but deadly in its coiling action. Likewise the snake style summons its strength through deep breathing exercises and powerful quick strikes with snake fist. Its power is the chi.

Sky contains all the other four elements and something more. This something more is the spirit. It gives place to all the other four. It is invisible in itself but sustains all. It is the blending of male and female energies. Its attacks are twofold like its defenses. It catches and twists. It shatters by its deadly strikes and holds. The dragon moves in heaven and on earth with equal ease. Similarly, the dragon fist too can attack high or low with equal felicity. Its strike is deadly. Usually, iron- body training is inherent in dragon style.

The techniques

Tiger attacks are straight as well as round. Its blocks are round and footwork jumping. It attacks swiftly and surely. It backs up the attack with body strength and puts the opponent in defense by cornering him. It usually catches the throat with its claw, twists and throws. It also catches the lower parts like the testis. It tears and pulls the vulnerable targets like the soft tissue. Its steps are methodical but slower than leopard.

Panther is swift in attacks, usually attacks in relentless combinations. Its blocks are short and straight. Its footwork is cross and sideways. It is agile, light, quick and mischievous. Its favorite targets are the temple and throat. It is deceptive and usually attacks from sideways and back. Its vision is comprehensive. It observes an enemy from above, usually from a tree. So its look is far reaching.

Crane uses snapping attacks. It never attacks straight. Its blocks and attacks are peculiar like the beaks and wings of a crane. Its footwork is one legged and jumping. It invites the attacks by offering openings and cleverly smashes the opponent by trapping and striking at nerve centers. It waits patiently and is a master of balance and effortless dodging and evasion. It causes pain but not death. It gives a chance to the opponent to repent and retreat. A famous saying of crane style is “if you dodge, there is only one attack. If you block, there are ten attacks”.

Snake attacks in quick succession. It attacks low and high. It is very fast in attacks. Its favorite spots are eyes, temple and groin. Its movements are circular and short. Its footwork is coiling and releasing. It employs the internal energy with its strikes and blocks. It slips under or around the attack and counters fast with multiple strikes.

Dragon catches and holds, twists and destroys. It feigns and attacks unexpectedly. Its blocks are attacks too. Its footwork is mysterious combining those of all the 4 animals according to necessity. It summons the internal energy at every move. Its intentions are hidden and cannot be grasped easily.

                                                                 ********