The Five Animals: Tiger. Leopard. Crane. Snake. Dragon.
Shaolin Kempo Karate adapted the concept of the Five Animals from the Kenpo tradition. Each of these animals has their own unique way of fighting. One is not better than the other. One does not preclude the other. In fact, it’s best not to think of the Five Animals as individuals “ones” at all, but as one being with five heads. All Five Animal styles will feed into your practice and help you improve your skills. While a martial artist may feel pulled to the style of one animal or another, a practiced student knows that using their entire tool set is the surest way to win.
Tiger: Ferocity, Tenacity, Courage
The tiger approaches conflict head on. She is aggressive, and prefers to attack from where she is strongest. Tiger techniques teach us how to develop power and focus on ripping and tearing motions, as well as dragging the opponent to the ground. Tigers don’t have to be the biggest, just the fiercest.
Leopard: Speed, Agility, Cunning
The Leopard does not rely on strength, but rather on quickness. She is patient with her prey, with a hit-and-run style that focuses on indirect and short, yet debilitating, counter attacks. Her speed and agility allow her to strike hard and quickly evade. However, the Leopard needs not only speed of motion, but quickness of mind, to find success.
Crane: Balance, Grace, Patience
The Crane takes the opponent’s aggression and turns it back on them. Crane techniques focus on deflecting attacks and redirecting energy. She has a calm and quiet nature, preferring circular motions that are relaxed, yet explosive, and work at close or long range. The Crane has mastery over her own balance and excels at taking the opponent’s balance away.
Snake: Precision, Deception, Rhythm
The fluidity of the Snake’s motions allows her to strike opponents from unexpected angles. She directs her hits to just the right spot, with just the right amount of strength. The Snake utilizes whipping and twisting motions to target pressure points and vital areas of the body, like the eyes and throat.
Dragon: Wisdom, Illusion, Flexibility
The dragon embodies all the strengths of the Tiger, Leopard, Crane and Snake with none of their weaknesses. She transitions seamlessly between the Five Animal styles, using simple techniques with advanced strategies. Fighting the Dragon is like fighting smoke. She reveals herself only to vanish.
Find Your Inner Animal
Try a free class and explore what the Five Animals can teach you.