TempleExternal and Internal Kung Fu Five Animals Form

Temple

Shao Lin Temple (Photo 1) is situated in Song Shan, Honan Province, China. It was first built in A.D. 495.

In the 6th century an Indian monk, Bodhidharma known as Tatt Mo (Photo 2), taught the Shao Lin monks static meditation called Chan or Zen, breathing techniques and exercises. This marked the birth of Kung Fu in the Shao Lin Temple.

Shao Lin Temple (photo 1)

Training (photo 3)

Tatt Mo (photo 2)

The monks in Shao Lin Temple start training in the external form of Kung Fu and gradually learn the internal form.

External form strengthens one's physical body but cannot protect fully from severe injury if one does not know the way to use internal chi (energy).

Internal form concentrates on the channeling of chi around the 14 meridian paths in the body. Internal Chi can be employed to counter a opponent's force by exercising Chi Kung, even though one does not know Kung Fu.

The instruction of "Lo Han 18 Hands" was passed down by Tatt Mo, which was later modified by Pa Yu Fung to "Lo Han 128 Hands". This marked the birth of the 5 animals forms known as Dragon, Tiger, Leopard, Snake and Crane.

It concentrates on internal breathing by exercising the diaphragm without employing any external force.

This form strengthens the bone structure, particularly the waist, back and legs. If the bone structure is not strong enough, then the Chi cannot be applied with full force.

This form resembles the swift jumping movement of the animal which requires a strong waist; practicing this form will improve the waist strength.

This form improves the Chi by practicing the control of breathing. The form may look gentle from outside but the force produced can be deadly.