Dragon
Long Zun Quan - Dragon Boxing
In Chinese mythology, the Dragon is one of the Four Divine Land Animals believed to have supernatural powers and played a part in the creation of the world. The other three are the Chi Ling, Phoenix, and Tortoise.
There
are two Dragon Styles in China, one that originated in north. The other
style originating in the South. The Southern Dragon Style of Gung fu traces
its origins to the Canton province Buddhist temple. No one truly knows
exactly how Southern Dragon Style Gung Fu began. It was not taught outside the
Canton temple walls until a monk named Tai Yut broke with tradition and
taught the style to a layman, Lam Yiu Kwai. Lam Yiu Kwai, passed the
style onto his son and grandson who popularized the style. Today it is growing
in popularity in the United States.
"The
principals of the style are posture and momentum, timing and sensitivity, These
four ideas must be linked together and used simultaneously to play the style
well. "
The Southern Dragon style, according to Shaolin Gung Fu practitioners, is considered the original form brought south from Hunan, while Northern Dragon evolved after the burning of the temple in 1570 A.D. The original Northern system is said to have developed from stretching and twisting movements that were part of Boddhidarma's exercises which he taught in about 570 A.D. The Martial Arts aspect of Dragon Style can be traced to about 1565 A.D., yet this is uncertain. Two distinct legends have been put forth as to its origin.
One
states that the Shaolin nun Wu Mui created the system by employing subtle
movement and melding with an opponent. The legend credits the monk, Mui Fa
San Yang with becoming inspired by the twisting movements of the dragon. The
Dragon Style was called Yow Kueng Moon, and was promulgated by his abbot,
Tit Yang Sum Si. These legends claim their lineage from the Hunan Shaolin
Temple however, each consists of non-temple variations. Essentially pieces of
the Shaolin Styles have been borrowed and molded into family styles.
Dragon
Style Gung Fu is famous for its handwork. The heart of the system is a
set called mor kiu or "magical arms. " It is a series of
high-speed hand and arm techniques using punches, grabs, palm strikes, arm
blocks, and elbow strikes. The "dragon character" is present in the
speed, the coiling energy of the moves, and the chain attacks. It has been
described as playing chess at warp speed.
In Chi Ling Dragon Style Gung Fu, power emanates from the coiling of the waist. Chi Lin Dragon system teaches to draw energy from the waist and project it through the strikes. Another trademark of the style is the concept that the bodies' energy is most efficient when it is used in a coiling or spiraling motion. Like coiling and uncoiling, of the Dragon the movements are in a continuous flow of energy. It manipulates the opponent by making him search for doors that are constantly opened and closed. Combined with the Chi Ling emphasis of Chi-Gung and Nui Gung and use, the Dragon is better left undisturbed.