The sum of all the parts equals the whole .... or more....
....part 2
The five animals inthe Five-Animal Set represent the essence of Shaolin training, which was passedon to Southern Shaolin Kungfu. The Dragon trains mind or spirit, theSnake trains energy, the Tiger trains internal force, the Leopard trains speed,and the Crane trains elegance. In practicing the Five-Animal Set,practitioners have an introduction to, and later an opportunity to specializein these five aspects of Shaolin training. Those who do not understand thisconcept or do not have the opportunity to learn the essence of the set, willmiss these invaluable aspects of Shaolin training.
Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu was invented to meet an expedient need — to fight the Qingarmy to set up the Chinese republic. The Twelve-Fist Set contains thebest of Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu, including the various ways of striking with thearms and fist, body-movement and footwork. It also includes internalforce training, which is not normally found in Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu, except atan advanced level. At the Choy-Li-Fatt Course in Norway, courseparticipants developed internal force using Big Windmill and Double DragonsEmerge from Sea,, and by rolling bamboo,
The essence of San Zhan is profundity in simplicity. The set looks verysimple. In fact, when I first learned it, I thought it was meant todevelop internal force, and wondered how the techniques in the set could beused for combat. Later I discovered that the techniques in the set couldbe used to meet any combat situation! The Triangle Stance (or Four-SxiStance) is ingenious. Instead of using the Bow-Arrow Stance for attack,and retreat to the False-Leg Stance for defence, Wuzuquan practitioners, ifthey know the San Zhan techniques for combat, use body-movement in the TriangleStance.
The form of the Five-Animal Set is beautiful. It is typical of SouthernShaolin Kungfu which is exquisite for demonstration, though this is not themain purpose for those who practice kungfu as it should be. The Shaolinanimals are manifested in serving moment, finger thrusts, tiger claws, leopardpunches, and crane beaks, with elegance of movement, perfect form, and internalforce.
The Twelve-Fist Set of Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu is characterised by long stances andextended hand strikes. There is a lot of body-movement, and thetechniques are executed rapidly.
In contrast, the movements of San Zhan of Wuzuquzan are short. It ischaracterised by the Triangle Stance, and the palms are used frequently.
Part 3 of this intriguing answer to follow .....
The five animals inthe Five-Animal Set represent the essence of Shaolin training, which was passedon to Southern Shaolin Kungfu. The Dragon trains mind or spirit, theSnake trains energy, the Tiger trains internal force, the Leopard trains speed,and the Crane trains elegance. In practicing the Five-Animal Set,practitioners have an introduction to, and later an opportunity to specializein these five aspects of Shaolin training. Those who do not understand thisconcept or do not have the opportunity to learn the essence of the set, willmiss these invaluable aspects of Shaolin training.
Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu was invented to meet an expedient need — to fight the Qingarmy to set up the Chinese republic. The Twelve-Fist Set contains thebest of Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu, including the various ways of striking with thearms and fist, body-movement and footwork. It also includes internalforce training, which is not normally found in Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu, except atan advanced level. At the Choy-Li-Fatt Course in Norway, courseparticipants developed internal force using Big Windmill and Double DragonsEmerge from Sea,, and by rolling bamboo,
The essence of San Zhan is profundity in simplicity. The set looks verysimple. In fact, when I first learned it, I thought it was meant todevelop internal force, and wondered how the techniques in the set could beused for combat. Later I discovered that the techniques in the set couldbe used to meet any combat situation! The Triangle Stance (or Four-SxiStance) is ingenious. Instead of using the Bow-Arrow Stance for attack,and retreat to the False-Leg Stance for defence, Wuzuquan practitioners, ifthey know the San Zhan techniques for combat, use body-movement in the TriangleStance.
The form of the Five-Animal Set is beautiful. It is typical of SouthernShaolin Kungfu which is exquisite for demonstration, though this is not themain purpose for those who practice kungfu as it should be. The Shaolinanimals are manifested in serving moment, finger thrusts, tiger claws, leopardpunches, and crane beaks, with elegance of movement, perfect form, and internalforce.
The Twelve-Fist Set of Choy-Li-Fatt Kungfu is characterised by long stances andextended hand strikes. There is a lot of body-movement, and thetechniques are executed rapidly.
In contrast, the movements of San Zhan of Wuzuquzan are short. It ischaracterised by the Triangle Stance, and the palms are used frequently.
Part 3 of this intriguing answer to follow .....
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