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Monkey
Houquan - Monkey Shadow Boxing
Monkey Gung Fu was said to be founded by Kou Tze in the early 19th century. Kou Tze created his art through observing monkeys movements during his eight-year imprisonment. He analyzed, classified and combined their movements with the Grand Earth style of Gung Fu which he had previously studied. In essence the style consists of five species, each utilizing different principles of movement and motion.
Kou Tze named these new forms: Lost Monkey, Drunken Monkey, Tall Monkey, Stone Monkey and Wooden Monkey.
Usually, only one form
is taught to a student. The instructor picks the form they think suits the
students best, according to body type and ability.
The Chi Ling Monkey system
is as unique as it evasive. Like the Shaolin Bird style, it assumes that
the opponent is larger and stronger, and compensates by making it hard to get a
hold onto its practitioner. The Chi Ling Monkey practitioner jumps, rolls, and
climbs to avoid his attacker. He attacks from odd angles, and contorts his body
to strike when the opponent believes himself to be safe. A monkey stylist, if
faced with an opponent who likes the lunging attacks and strong stances, might
sidestep the lunge, climb or jump onto the opponent's knee to elbow into the
head, and then dive into a roll to escape retaliation. Monkey stylists strike
with the backs of the forearms, with the elbows, and with hook kicks and ape
kicks, which are like a front snap kick but twisted inward. Monkey stylists like
to tease their opponents into rash action and take advantage of their emotional
instability.