What about dragon. I was told that it like a mix of all the animals.
..
i definitely agree. from what i know, dragon is appropriate for everyone, in my opinion, because it covers all ranges and does not require strength in any one area. in many styles it uses very coiling, powerful movements, while in others it only appears to be tiger done with internal strength. dragon is very diversified among styles, and similar to how different snake in that way.
hey there..
about what animal to choose, I agree with what someone else said about making it work for you. Kung fu period began with and was customed to smaller chinese men with short bodies and sometimes may seem a hindrance to a taller practicioner trying to do a low low stance that isn’t all that awkward for a short man. But… it can be done. I feel that the most important part is to go to whatever interests you. Don’t worry about your body. One part of kung fu is to teach you your body. To feel your body, understand it, and to tame it. I guess I’m saying that with hard work, any style CAN fit you.
Southern styles (Tiger; if comparable to Hung Gar and some Shaolin styles) emphasize root (low stances etc.), low kicks, close fighting, firmness.
Northern syles (crane-i think?, right?, mantis) emphasize evasiveness, higher kicks, etc.
“smaller chinese men” = eugenics and also is an erroneous statement.
I have plenty of Chinese friends who are as tall or taller than I am and I come in just under 6 feet tall.
just want to point that out.
peace
Of course you might have friends that are over 6 feet tall. Just because I said who it was conditioned from or for doesn’t mean a Chinese man can 't be tall.
Just like any other statement there are always exceptions. But.. regardless, I stand by my statement that says that a lot of kung fu was perfected by or started by shorter chinese men.
Just because people say that African Americans can jump out of the roof and can run fast doesn’t mean they all can but a majority can. My statement is about the majority and is far from an “erroneous” statement.
Tell me what, when you were in China, the majority of people looked like. Or, tell me how tall a majority of kung fu masters are. (ancient ones, the ones who started things; look up Hung Hei Goon or Wong Fei Hung. (Hung Gar practicioners huh??
My Hung Gar bias
I’m sorry if the statement offended you or anyone else but the facts are just there and I just stated them.
Now, I’m also not saying EVERY master was short, I hope you’re hearing me
Thanks for replying.
Baby Dragon
Baby Dragon, I still disagree with your point about kung Fu being started and customized for and by “smaller chinese men”.
Anyone, of any stature can perform correctly any animal style or any style of Kung fu.
The body mechanics and bone alignment is same big or small.
Compact fighting styles were developed because of environment more than person size.
IE: Southern styles were built around the terrain that existed there, hilly, tight streets and alleys, boats etc and therefore the styles were naturally developed to work within these confined areas and so, in the south much short hand and middle range styles were developed.
Northern styles come from a vastly different terrain and surroundings. Open Plains, wide spaces and generally larger areas without as much confinement in space and so long Arm and Mid range styles were extensively developed in the North and the large movements were common to northern styles.
By the way, The Northern Chinese are Tall by even North American standards even if the average height of the southerners and coastal peoples is not.
The Shaolin styles were disseminated from the Northern temples and adapted as they moved south into the different topographical geographies.
Truth is , people come in all sizes no matter where you are on the planet. We are all humans and the whole racial differentiation question is so full of holes and myths that it is not even worth a mention. Race is a creation of fear. Our only differences as human beings are environmental conditions inherent to the geographgy we live in and have done so generationally and as well by the food we eat and the water we drink. Otherwise, beneath the skin we are exactly the same each to the next.
So, if your gonna fight in an alley you use short hand and upper body power to overwhelm the opponent, but if you’re in a field you’re gonna go longer range to get yours in and keep his out.
Styles were developed in this framework and had little to do with the individual. Some folks are just better suited to different styles and so, many styles were developed to meet these preferences and as well to counter other styles. In fact some styles were developed purely out of a need for a bigger better weapon. That is the nature of martial development. you make a gun, I make a bigger gun, you make a bomb, I make a bigger bomb and so it goes.
You fight in close, I will develop a counter, you counter my counter and so it goes.
short southerners and tall northerners has little to do with the meat and potatoes of style development.
peace
to kung lek
“Anyone, of any stature can perform correctly any animal style or any style of Kung fu.”
I clearly agree with this.
“The body mechanics and bone alignment is same big or small.”
I used to agree but not any more. Muscle fibers (the insides of people which of course are the same, like you say), being responsible for contraction, are different in individuals because of genetics and training but let’s say we have the same muscle fibers in A as in B (both being fast twitch of about 70%), if A has a longer radius and ulna , for example, than B, applying a simple law of physics dealing with torque(I think this is the one; it’s the same one that deals with bridge construction or even leverage), you can see that with the brachialis attaching from the humerus to the ulna, the muscle dealing with the longer arm has to put forth more effort to lift the forearm thereby needing a bigger recruitment of muscle fibers which is going to make it tougher on the practicioner.
“Compact fighting styles were developed because of environment more than person size.”
Agreed. I know all about the whole southern and northern style stuff. But even in this developement system it doesn’t stop biases towards movements done easier by more compact practicioners of course.
“The Shaolin styles were disseminated from the Northern temples and adapted as they moved south into the different topographical geographies.”
I thought the Shaolin and its influences were more from southern being that it’s more in the south and because of bodidharma coming from india, the influences are really from the south more so than the north. You might be right this is just what I thought. That’s all well and good about northern peoples being taller but I’m still feelin’ what I’m saying about the southern thing.
“Truth is , people come in all sizes no matter where you are on the planet.”
Thank you:)
“We are all humans and the whole racial differentiation question is so full of holes and myths that it is not even worth a mention. Race is a creation of fear.”
Not true. When Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth were born, they were all different colors. Before this everyone was the same color. When they were split into different lands, different things such as culture, lifestyles because of conditions, like you said, differentiated them. Everyone is pretty much the same underneath the skin but remember, differences are not a bad thing but there are differences in certain things. The people in Alaska (not proper to call them Eskimos but I can’t think of their real name) have an extra layer of fat on their eyelids, Africans don’t. African Americans are at a much higher risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension than whites. Females are at a much greater risk for osteoporosis than males. There are differences. These differences don’t separate us from being equal or technically being the “same.” I agree with that. But don’t be afraid to recognize differences. It’s a beautiful thing and is to appreciated. How boring would it be if we all looked the same and everything about us was the same??
" Our only differences as human beings are environmental conditions inherent to the geographgy we live in and have done so generationally and as well by the food we eat and the water we drink. Otherwise, beneath the skin we are exactly the same each to the next."
Sorry. You already said all of what I said just about.
“So, if your gonna fight in an alley you use short hand and upper body power to overwhelm the opponent, but if you’re in a field you’re gonna go longer range to get yours in and keep his out.”
Agreed. Good statement.
"Styles were developed in this framework and had little to do with the individual. Some folks are just better suited to different styles and so, many styles were developed to meet these preferences and as well to counter other styles. "
Exactly what I’m getting at. They were developed in the framework of geographic location but “SOME FOLKS ARE JUST BETTER SUITED TO DIFFERENT STYLES AND MANY STYLES WERE DEVELOPED TO MEET THESE PREFERENCES AND AS WELL TO COUNTER OTHER STYLES.” You might as well not have responded to my message because unless I spoke confusingly, this I promise, is what I meant.
“short southerners and tall northerners has little to do with the meat and potatoes of style development.”
Once again, I agree. Not the meat and potatoes, but some of the gravy.
peace back to you kung fu brother
Fat A$$ Elephant Style!