5 Animals - form names

[johnv]

Does anyone know where I might find a list of forms used in the curriculums of 5 animal shaolin styles ?

[David Jamieson]

Hi John-
Shaolin Five animals is taught in a few different ways.
The five animals being /tiger/crane/leopard/snake/dragon.

In Hung Gar, the five animals are taught in a form called Ng Ying Kuen or "five animals fist"

In old hung gar, the forms are taught seperately.

tiger=foo
crane=hok
leopard=pao ("pow")
snake=she/se
dragon=Lung (leung or loong)

in other systems, especially those of shaolin origin, each of the qualities and attributes of these animals are incorporated into sets. while the sets may have different names or only emphasize a part of an animals characteristics in combat, the essence of the animal form is still there.

virtually all styles of kung fu that have their origins in Shaolin have a touch of the animal flavours in them.

Check out this site further (beyond the forums) and you will find tapes for watching regarding animal styles as well as associated weapons, books et al.

good luck
peace

[johnv]

Thanks for the information! I was mainly trying to find a list of the names of the forms. The reason being, I'm trying to locate information about a form someone taught me. They said it was one of the basic or introductory "shaolin 5 animal" forms, and I'm trying to find out more about it. Unfortunately, I'm not in contact with the person who taught me. All I know is that in English, the name of the form roughly translates to "four pillar", "four directions", or "four gates"....something similar to that anyway.

I don't believe it was Hung Gar based - it didn't quite have that look to it. It had a slightly more "Northern" feel to it. But who knows, I could be wrong. My experience in Shaolin is very limited.

[FRANK SEXTON]

John

Sounds like you have the Hunan or northern Shaolin form.
4 Gates is right. 5 animals 4 gates. Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake guard or protect the gates. The Dragon protects the middle or the inner circle. Do you know what system it was your teacher was in because alot of animal forms out there are not true. People change them or add and subtract things from them to create or satisfy thier own system. Hope I can help you in anyway.

Your friend
Sifu: Frank Sexton

[johnv]

I'm guessing it was a Vietnamese style. I say that because the guy knew the names of the forms in English and Vietnamese, but not in Chinese. The same style also had another form called "Stone Lion", if that helps out in any way.

Thanks,
John

[Ben Gash]

Stone Lion is a Bak Mei/Lung Ying form done by some lineages (it's a version of Sup Ji Kuen). There's a form from the same lineage called Say Moon Ba Gwa , or 4 doors 8 diagrams. Could that be the one?
The only northern 5 animals form I know personally is Wu Xing Ba Fa (5 animals 8 ways), a fairly basic Shaolin set.

[johnv]

That's the closest guess I've heard of yet. Are there any websites or videos that may show those forms ? That way I can see for sure if it's the same one.

[Ben Gash]

You're probably best off talking to Mantis 108 on the soutern forum.