| Kung Fu
To'a techniques have involved animal forms and styles, The reason for this is that the Grand master Mirzaii
used all his wisdom and knowledge on Northern and Southern Shaolin,
animal styles, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Yoga mediation and developed and
created a very own and unique Art form, allowing all body energy to
be used at its best, which he named "Kung Fu To'a".
Animal
Styles
Monks of Shaolin Temple
looked to nature for lessons on everything. They believed that by
understanding the flow and balance of nature, one can then
understand any other topic. So, they looked to nature to demonstrate
how it's best fighters moved. Over the centuries, many different
animals styles and techniques have evolved. Some of them attempt to
look and move exactly like the animal they mimic, and others are
simple inspired by the mechanics or the "feel" of the
animals movement and attitude. The following is an explanation of
some of the more well-known animal styles.
Shaolin 5-Animals
Long ago, the Shaolin temple taught
only five animal styles, each with it's own distinctive tactics.
These were usually taught individually and only a very accomplished
master could ever hope to truly learn more than one of them fully.
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Tiger (Babr) - The tiger teaches tenacity and power.
A tiger charges straight forward into battle, ripping and tearing
with it's powerful front paws by driving itself forward off it's
rear feet. Tiger style emphasizes low, powerful forward stances (bow
stance). In striking, the spine is aligned with the rear leg to
create a very solid position. Most of the hand strikes utilize an
open palm with the fingers curled into claws. This hand position is
used to deliver crushing palm strikes and Qi Na. Tiger style
training is almost always accompanied by iron palm training.
Crane (Dorna) - The crane could be considered the antithesis of the
tiger. It teaches grace and patience. A crane will stand on one foot
for hours, demonstrating it's patience and balance. The crane fights
by evading attacks and counters by beating it's wings at it's
opponent and delivering pin-point strikes with it's sharp beak. This
style emphasizes loose, upright stances (with a great deal of
standing on one foot) and quick evasive techniques. The hand strikes
involved with the crane style utilize either an open palm with
fingers straight (crane's wing or willow-leaf palm) or the crane's
beak, where all the fingers are brought together to form a rigid
point. One of the signature techniques of crane style is to stand
sidelong to your opponent with one arm outstretched toward him, and
the other stretched out behind you (hiding it from him). The lead
hand is used to confuse and distract him by waving it about and
feigning strikes. When there is an opportunity, the rear hand swings
in from behind striking the opponent where he's not looking (often
in the groin or floating ribs).
Snake (Mar) - The snake teaches supple flexibility and internal
power (Qi Gong). Snake style focuses on low, evasive stances and
pinpoint striking. A snake will coil itself up to develop power for
the strike. In this way, the weight is often kept back with the rear
leg bent so that one can spring forward off of it to deliver highly
accurate strikes to the opponent's softest targets. These strikes
generally utilize the tips of the fingers. Snake style tends to
emphasize Qi Gong heavily in order to make quick movement in deep
stances possible and so that one can project his eneryg outward with
each strike (poison hand).
Leopard or Panther (Palang) - These two animals are basically the same
style. Panther is the southern Shaolin name for Leopard style. The
leopard emphasizes cunning, endurance, and determination. The
leopard will pursue it's prey over many miles, wearing it down for
the kill. Leopard style therefore trains a student in the ability to
outlats his opponent and wear him down with fast, sharp hand strikes
(often to the floating ribs and solar plexus). These strikes use the
leopard's paw fist. The fingers are curled in to strike with the
second knuckles. This fist is intended to deliver penetrating power
from quick, snappy strikes.
Dragon - The dragon teaches us to ride the wind. The dragon
is a mythical beast which combines the attributes of each animal. It
will float on the wind (evading and flowing with attacks) until it's
opponent begins to tire, then it will seize the opportunity and
drive right through it's opponent, deliverin crushing strikes and
ripping attacks. Dragon style involves techniques from the four
styles above, as well as a high degree of Qi Na and grappling
techniques.
Other Shaolin
Animals
Praying Mantis - Monkey
- Drunken Monkey - Eagle Claw and more... |
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