I understand where the crane comes into wing chun but where is the snake element?
can someone explain to me how exactly the snake and crane fit in to wing chun? As i’m not sure 
Of course we have bong sau (wing arm) and things… but i’m really not sure of the rest.
Does anyone have any links of Fujian Crane or anything? I was always under the impression it looked a little like Goju Ryu or Uechi Ryu?
thanks,
david
The crane element is the crane wings that wing cun uses. The arm positioning in the forms resenble crane wings. The directness and accuracy is a tell tale sign of crane.
as far as i know the only techniques based on animals are bong sau (wing arm) and possibly fuk sau (rest on hand). Most of the other hand positions are based on sound structure.
Does anyone have any links or pics to show me some fujian crane, as i’ve never really seen any of it. All i’ve seen is like i said Goju, Uechi Ryu and some Okinawan Crane style. Are they similar?
david
Snake in WC
As far I can tell (and I ain’t an expert) to me there is at least as much snake as there is crane in WC.
In the Hung Ga Kuen I do, there is a snake drill which is reminiscent of certain as aspects of WC.
The Snake posture is similar to the Bil Gee(
) ie shoulders rounded and forward facing, hands protecting the mid-line, one extended at throat level palm horizontal (unlike the bil gee) and the other at heart level and at the point of the elbow of the other hand. The stance is an open fight stance/box stance.
Attacks and blocks are very short and snappy and continuous, though there are coiling locks and holds.
Jpcm
Principles
I think the main thing is that WC follows the principles of shaolin snake and crane in the way it attacks and defends. Wing Chun expresses the Shen (mind/intension) of the animal (at least as I understand it.)
Jpcm
look at how a crane makes it’s wings and supplant that to a human arm. Elbow down and a V shapped, going up to the wrist, that is also bent down. How many moves in wing chun use this sturcture?
that’s cool. i guess in any style there are similarities if you look at them: 2 arms, 2 legs and a head right? Also i don’t know much about hung gar and things, but from what i have done playing with other stylists WC has it’s own character. Maybe it would be interesting to ask this on the WC forum, as there are many more experienced people than me there (i have only 2 years)
david
why limit yourself
Why would you want to limit yourself to Southern styles? I mean, Hung Gar is a good system and all, but, if you really want good martial skill that will be with you for the long term and that you can always get something out of, try to find a good teacher of Bagua Zhang or Xing Yi Quan. Both of these arts by themselves, IF you learn correctly, and IF you practice diligently, will easly cut down the majority of WC, CLF, HG, WC, etc.. type of arts almost at will. You might have to spend a few months correcting your body mechanics, but it will be well worth it. If you cant find a good internal artist to study with, then I would reccomend something like dragon or hung gar.
I hope that adds some fuel to a potential fire and gives something to you to think about.
Peace,
Sin Loi
Yi Beng, Kan Xue
Bruce Lee studied some Sourthern Mantis I believe after taking Wing Chun. You could try southern Mantis. Or try Bruce’s Jeet Kune Do.
What something ‘looks like’ depends on what the viewer ‘sees’ what he or she projects into the object in other words. Which is more ‘Crane’ - like, Fukien White Crane or Tibetan White Crane, which more Mantis like, Chow-Gar or Norther 7-Star?
To answer the Snake and Crane question re WC it would be necessary to know for certain its (WC’s) history - and - the ‘attributions’ ascribed to certain ‘human’ movements by the founders or developers of the system - thereafter termed ‘snake’ or ‘crane’ in appearance.
All of the so called ‘animal styles’ are human, performed by human beings who animate their practice by making attributions to human structure and dynamics.
Maybe someone has specific information re the origin of WC - about its relationship to a previous named system or systems that utilised the appelations ‘Snake’ and/or ‘Crane’ ?
Tao.
Fa-Jing,
You say that you are looking for a style to assist in your study of WC. What aspects of the martial arts do you want to focus on? This will help you decide which art to investigate outside WC.
Does it have to be a Chinese art? Does it have to be Southern?
Or have you just mentioned these due to the same root?
Heaps of choices:
- BJJ
- JKD
- SPM
- CLF
- HG
So many acronyms.
Fa-Jing
Go see Mike Adams before you get change from Yip’s training,he’s
good and he’s in your area.
Let me know how it goes.