According to an ex-VCVT student, Wing Chun ain’t based on Snake and Crane. In his words “Only a fool would believe that men would learn from animals how to fight”. Apparently, Yip Man is to “blame” for this. When he was constantly asked by people what animal the system was based on, he told them that it was Snake and Crane just to shut them up.
I’ve recently become familiar with a Chi Gong system called Dragon and Tiger. At first I was expecting cool reptilian and tiger like moves but the name refers to the QUALITIES the system is supposed to give you, not the MOVES you do. It gives you the suppleness and sinousness of a dragon and the power of a tiger.
So then I found myself thinking that this old student was both right and wrong. Perhaps the Snake and Crane refer to the fighting qualities the system bestows, not the appearance of the techniques.
So, are these animals that are present in a lot of Chinese boxing systems an internal quality rather than an external movement. If so, what does the Crane give you in Wing Chun?
Speculating about the meaning of metaphors can give individual insights- but wing chun as an art in it’s evolution has left animal motions behind and has developed the path of perfecting human motions and getting the most out of and harmonizing the human body, mind and energy IMO.
In his words “Only a fool would believe that men would learn from animals how to fight”.
Inspiration can come from anywhere - how about Newton and his apple.
The character of crane is no fighting, thus it has the virtue of pheonix
the spiritual dragon(snake) shows only its head, thus its transformation un predictable.
I see snake and crane in all the hands of wing chun…especially the blocks…though bong seems more like a chicken…though I guess having your style based on a chicken is not too flattering…
Originally posted by EmptyCup
[B]I see snake and crane in all the hands of wing chun…especially the blocks…though bong seems more like a chicken…though I guess having your style based on a chicken is not too flattering…
Originally posted by EmptyCup
[B]I see snake and crane in all the hands of wing chun…especially the blocks…though bong seems more like a chicken…though I guess having your style based on a chicken is not too flattering…
I see tiger in hung gar.
I see eagle in Ying Jow.
I see dragon in dragon? [/B]
tiger makes a growing sound
eagle makes a sqwalking sound.
dragon makes …well, what ever dragon makes.
Originally posted by e-warrior I’ve recently become familiar with a Chi Gong system called Dragon and Tiger.
In HFY, there is also Hei Gung/Chi Gong. There is also Dragon and Tiger as you eluded to, in ‘quality’ within HFY. I have not studied this area of HFY in depth, so I can’t contribute too much to this thread but I thought I could mention it here as there might be a correlation to what you are studying. For example the HFY salute has a left fist and right open hand with it. To some, a bow (salute) is just a bow, but in HFY the bow represents the Green Dragon and the White Tiger, its roots to the Southern Shaolin Temple. The Hei Gung is quite extensive from meditating postures to Iron arm/body type training.
