Snake Style
The Snake seems like an animal that does not belong in a Shaolin form, since it lacks legs for rapid movement and by nature is sly and soft, rather than aggressive and powerful. However, those are the reasons why the snake was included in the Shaolin system.
The purpose of the snake form is to develop and cultivate the internal energy (chi). This energy is the essence that gives the martial artist focus and penetrating power far superior to ordinary external strikes.
Since the snake has no arms or legs, the reptile must move with a turning circular action to the body. To be an effective fighter, the snake compensates for its lack of limbs the snake can coil its body and raise straight up, (as does a cobra) into a striking position. From that coiled position, with devastating speed and accuracy, he straightens his body in a strike toward his prey. The snake gains a great power and force from just the momentum and twisting action of his coiled strike.
The other advantage, and perhaps even more important than the snakes unique striking technique, is in developing and releasing internal energy (chi) with every strike. Since he is calm, relaxed animal, the snake possesses much more chi than other animals. When he combines his internal energy with external striking techniques, the snake becomes a formidable and powerful adversary.
The snake form differs from the other animals in that through its relaxed floating movements. It delivers a power that is both hard and soft. Most other animal styles utilise a tense, aggressive force to strike down the opponents. There are no fists to be seen in the snake form the strikes are all penetrating palm and fingertip attacks.
The tiger is the opposite of the snake; its strength is strictly external. The tiger movements are noisy and active .The snakes energy is quiet and internal. All snake techniques are of the advanced martial level where blocks and strikes are made simultaneously. There is no difference between offence and defence, since defence instantly becomes offence and vice versa.
The training techniques of the Shaolin snake form incorporate similar techniques to the wing chun sticky hands and the Tai Chi chuan pushing hands, the snake has a spirit, the practitioner should be able to look inside themselves and feel peaceful and quiet, and nothing will bother him/her externally.
The purpose of the snake form is to develop and cultivate the internal energy (chi). This energy is the essence that gives the martial artist focus and penetrating power far superior to ordinary external strikes.
Since the snake has no arms or legs, the reptile must move with a turning circular action to the body. To be an effective fighter, the snake compensates for its lack of limbs the snake can coil its body and raise straight up, (as does a cobra) into a striking position. From that coiled position, with devastating speed and accuracy, he straightens his body in a strike toward his prey. The snake gains a great power and force from just the momentum and twisting action of his coiled strike.
The other advantage, and perhaps even more important than the snakes unique striking technique, is in developing and releasing internal energy (chi) with every strike. Since he is calm, relaxed animal, the snake possesses much more chi than other animals. When he combines his internal energy with external striking techniques, the snake becomes a formidable and powerful adversary.
The snake form differs from the other animals in that through its relaxed floating movements. It delivers a power that is both hard and soft. Most other animal styles utilise a tense, aggressive force to strike down the opponents. There are no fists to be seen in the snake form the strikes are all penetrating palm and fingertip attacks.
The tiger is the opposite of the snake; its strength is strictly external. The tiger movements are noisy and active .The snakes energy is quiet and internal. All snake techniques are of the advanced martial level where blocks and strikes are made simultaneously. There is no difference between offence and defence, since defence instantly becomes offence and vice versa.
The training techniques of the Shaolin snake form incorporate similar techniques to the wing chun sticky hands and the Tai Chi chuan pushing hands, the snake has a spirit, the practitioner should be able to look inside themselves and feel peaceful and quiet, and nothing will bother him/her externally.