Therefore, the five animals have mainly symbolic character. The outward movements are thus to be inspired by the "spirit", the temperament, or rather the essence of the respective animal. In the "72 Shaolin Arts" practiced in Shaolin Wahnam, this manifestation is cited as "Hei Sai" (Energy Spirit).
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Only years later did he realize that the internal components made the difference. When our grandmaster, Wong Kiev Kit, read a classic about the five animals in his early years, he was still surprised that the depictions of the individual animal forms hardly differed. Many patterns (techniques) can also be attributed to one of the animal styles on the outside, but actually, it is less about the appearance than about inner, partly invisible characteristics. While the usual way of viewing – as so often – is limited to superficial things, it is rather about expressing certain qualities of the various animals in Kung Fu techniques. So, one does not attack the opponent on all fours or by snaking on the ground towards him.
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As long as it is about classic Kung Fu and not about modern Wushu, it is also not the goal to imitate the respective animals as precisely as possible. Practitioners do not want to become an animal by exercising their Kung Fu. The imposing imitations of animal movements are an eye-catcher at every show. The animal forms of Shaolin Kung Fu, consisting of the dragon, the snake, the tiger, the leopard and the crane, are a very well-known concept.