Animal styles? Are they pointless??

[Flying Crane]

They all have their specialties.

Warty Cane Toad beats Preying Mantis, 10,000 Golden Bees and Centipede style every time. But it's useless against White Crane.

EVERYTHING is useless against White Crane...

 

[Xue Sheng]

EVERYTHING is useless against White Crane...

well.... not everything...there is..... XUEFU!!!!!!!

But pretty much everything else is

 

[Flying Crane]

well.... not everything...there is..... XUEFU!!!!!!!

But pretty much everything else is

errr.... I was caught bragging again...

OK, I'll admit, OTHER THAN XUEFU, everything is useless against White Crane.

and then again, aside from roads, the aqueduct, and sanitation, WHAT HAVE THE ROMANS EVER DONE FOR YOU??!!

 

[Xue Sheng]

errr.... I was caught bragging again...

Ok, i'll admit, other than xuefu, everything is useless against white crane.

And then again, aside from roads, the aqueduct, and sanitation, what have the romans ever done for you??!!

I'll tell you what they've done for me besides that..... NOTHIN'.... Well that is if you don't include a number system, the calendar and the alphabet but besides that NOTHIN'

 

[jks9199]

Hey, guys...

It's true that Xuefu is truly awesome, but if the conversation keeps drifting from animal systems, we might end up with a match between Xue fu and spork fu.

 

[geezer]

Hey, guys...

It's true that Xuefu is truly awesome, but if the conversation keeps drifting from animal systems, we might end up with a match between Xue fu and spork fu.

Is that "spork" as in a plastic slotted spoon once included with on-board airline meals, or the ancient martial arts style of Spork being a cross of Northern Boar system and Southern Stork fighting... i.e. Pork/Stork=Spork?

 

[DeLamar.J]

When I look at some martial art styles I really don't understand the logic behind their creation. When animals fight they do so from instinct and use their weapons in the most effiicient way possible. Why do humans develop fighting styles based on the movements of animals when we are not put together the same, we don't have the same attributes (ie strength or speed) and cannot possibly perform those moves as well as the animal. I see people rolling on the ground like a monkey and think that it is stupid. Chimps are atleast 4 times as strong as an equivalent sized human and can use their legs in a similar manner to their arms. How can a human possibly defend itself like a monkey.

Shouldn't humans be utilising skills that are best suited to their characteristics???

As for fighting like insects well it makes less sense to me as their strengths in certain body parts are in no way similar to a human.

Anyways I don't get it and think its pointless trying to copy something we are not.

Cheers
Sam:asian:

I think the biggest reason for the animals styles was because the monks wanted to combine martial arts with their intense love for nature.

 

[arnisador]

I'm guessing that at some point it got to be something of a game--"Can I invent a new animal style?" But the basic ones were Chinese Zodiac animals and interwoven with their culture.

 

[Jimi]

In the Burmese Martial Arts, their Animal Systems developed from the fact that many tribes in old Burma were Animalistic in faith, tradition & ritual. Also their arts were influenced by many other cultures including Chinese well known for the 5 Animals & Others. While I can understand the original posters point that he does not believe in the effective use of Animal styles, systems or tactics, that does not take away from the fact that many cultures have incorporated many animal principles into functional fighting arts/systems. If you dislike Animal styles and think them too flowery or not functional, think again, and you are more than welcome to not train them. I do not believe that any animal style is the best for street self defense, but many techniques from animal styles can stack the deck in your favor to get your butt out alive. Pointless, No, the best for street survival, No. Do they have a place among Martial Arts, Abosultely! Remember that many animal styles use animalistic terms & descriptions of techniques to romanticise their ART, (Not just the knock down drag out redneck bar fighting,MMA or UFC stuff which does have its function as well) this is how they embellish what they have faith in. Simply look beyond the form sequence or flowery uniform or elaborate animal system surface, and see that a (TIGER) Claw to the face is a competent tech, as is a (Bull Horn or Boar Tusk) Elbow/Knee Strike. If you can not get beyond the Kung Fu Theatre stuff, then leave it be, it is not for you. If you enjoy the Animal Styles train them well. I do not believe that the function of an animal style is in the Animal Salute or Flowery form alone itself, but also in the character of the practitioner themselves. Some may know a zoo of animal styles or techniques & can not apply them, some can. Even more can fight with the fierceness of any animal without any training. To the original poster, Animal Styles may be pointless to you, but because you fail to understand. like or agree does not remove the effectiveness of an animal style technique. A Claw, Finger Jab or Elbow/Knee Strikes are no less effective because someone uses an animal name or priciple to describe it. And no, I do not drop into a low stance waving around a Tiger Claw set before defending myself, although I have trained in several Bando Animal Systems. As an extra side note, years ago I was training the Bando Eagle Form, an old friend had trained a lot of Muay Thai & Bama Lethwei with our common instructor. He asked to see the form, I was only a few movements in when he stated, that does not look like Bando, it looks like Kung Fu, then I reached the finishing moves of the first sequence that demonstrated an elbow & knee strike. Then he said loudly, there it is!!!! Now that looks like Bando!!!!

 

[Jaspthecat]

In their extreme form, they may be slightly ineffective on their own, but pointless? NO

I was of the thought that the animal styles were created in order to articulate the movements of the art to pupils who were more than likely illiterate and so the movement of animals was combined in a poem of sorts which would be easy for the pupil to memorise.

I think the animal forms are also useful as 'mental imagery'. eg horse form in Xing Yi where you use the galloping motion to loosen your oponents grasp or bump them off you.

 

[Josh Oakley]

I would say that the animal forms are neither more nor less useful than any other kata. It's usefulness is determined by the application. Now if someone learns the animal forms without regard to application, they've learned a dance and receive no actual benefit to their fighting. I'd still say they were not pointless even then though. It's art. the point would be expression.

However I'm inclined to give the forms the benefit of the doubt, and assume they are both useful and pointed in the martial arts, assuming they are taught by someone who actually knows the application.