Ever wonder why animals figure so prominently in the iconography of martial arts? Look at movie titles like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” or the famous “Crane stance” from Karate Kid. These animal names come from the Five Animals of Chinese martial arts, a particular imagery that you’ll find in southern Chinese styles. These Five Animals include the Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Leopard, and Snake. Each represents a particular aspect of its parent martial art, such as a form, stance, or pattern.
Dragon
The Dragon style uses both legs and arms to generate explosive strikes all over one’s opponent. It may blend with the other animal styles for maximum impact.
Snake
The Snake style has little use for the clenched fist, preferring instead surprisingly fast strikes with toe kicks, locks, and snake-like coiling stances. The Snake style is best used by fighters with fast, lean body types, and demands accuracy and balance in motion.
The Chinese martial arts are diverse, but many of them are linked to these animals. Do you see any
parallels with these animals and later descendant martial arts in history?
