This 208 page, 1989 book features Kwan Tak Hing, famous for playing Wong Fei Hung in Chinese films, demonstrating the Shaolin Ten-Animal Form. Leung Ting apparently serves more as an editor, and the translation is by Richard Lee and Vincent K. Wong.
There is a brief biography of Mr. Kwan and discussion of overall principles of the system. The book then covers, animal-by-animal, the system practiced by Mr. Kwan. It presents a form featuring the animals then covers the following animals individually:
The form is demonstrated by Mr. Kwan as are some but not all of the animal techniques.
I found it interesting flipping through the book and seeing demonstrations of animals such as the Bear and Elephant that are less commonly seen than the first five animals listed above. The animals are mimicked closely, from body position to facial expression. The Bear techniques are begun in an awkward, bear-like posture, with the hands hanging in a "wringing position" at mid-chest, the elbows pulled back to simulate shorter limbs. The Elephant only gets four pages dedicated to it, the Bear nine pages--I would have preferred to see more of these animals!
In these days when the "newly discovered Filipino art of biting and gouging" (Kino Mutai) gets much press, imagine my surprise at seeing a Horse technique involving a bite to the neck, clearly shown in the photographs (pg.186-7)! The technique is "Crazy Horse Biting at a Bear."
Production values are modest but not distractingly so. Line drawings of the animals are interspersed to good effect. I'm already pleased with this inexpensive book for introducing me to the Lion, Elephant, Horse, and Bear.
There is a brief biography of Mr. Kwan and discussion of overall principles of the system. The book then covers, animal-by-animal, the system practiced by Mr. Kwan. It presents a form featuring the animals then covers the following animals individually:
- Dragon
- Snake
- Tiger
- Leopard
- Crane
- Lion
- Elephant
- Horse
- Monkey
- Bear
The form is demonstrated by Mr. Kwan as are some but not all of the animal techniques.
I found it interesting flipping through the book and seeing demonstrations of animals such as the Bear and Elephant that are less commonly seen than the first five animals listed above. The animals are mimicked closely, from body position to facial expression. The Bear techniques are begun in an awkward, bear-like posture, with the hands hanging in a "wringing position" at mid-chest, the elbows pulled back to simulate shorter limbs. The Elephant only gets four pages dedicated to it, the Bear nine pages--I would have preferred to see more of these animals!
In these days when the "newly discovered Filipino art of biting and gouging" (Kino Mutai) gets much press, imagine my surprise at seeing a Horse technique involving a bite to the neck, clearly shown in the photographs (pg.186-7)! The technique is "Crazy Horse Biting at a Bear."
Production values are modest but not distractingly so. Line drawings of the animals are interspersed to good effect. I'm already pleased with this inexpensive book for introducing me to the Lion, Elephant, Horse, and Bear.
