Dragon Kung Fu

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Image:Chinese dragons.gif The movements of the Dragon style (Template:Zh-cp; Yale Cantonese: lung4 ying4 mo1 kiu4; literally "dragon shape rubbing bridges") of Chinese martial arts are based on the mythical Chinese Dragon.

1 History
2 Techniques
3 Notes
4 Dragon Style in Popular Culture
5 References

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History

Because the history of Dragon style has historically been transmitted orally rather than by text, its origins will probably never be known in its entirety.

Modern Dragon style historians relate that one of the last members of the Shaolin Temple before its first destruction (1570) was Wu Mui, who is said to have originated the Dragon style (Chow & Spangler, 1982, p. 44). The Shaolin Gung Fu Institute of the Pacific Northwest agrees with a date of 1570 for a destruction of the temple and states explicitly that Dragon style was created at the Shaolin Temple in Henan c. 1565 but, in addition to the Wu Mui attribution, also offers an alternative origin that identifies Dragon with the related martial art Yau Gung Mun,Template:Ref which it attributes to the monk Mui Fa San Yang in contradiction of Yau Kung Mun's own traditions. The Institute goes on to say that Dragon diverged into Northern and Southern variants.

According to the Dragon teacher Steve Martin of the Sojourn Past Martial Arts Institute, Dragon style has roots in Hakka Kuen, a combination of the local styles of the Hakka heartland in inland eastern Guangdong with the style that the monk Gee Sim Sim See taught in Guangdong and the neighboring province of Fujian in the 1700s.

North of the Dongjiang in the northwest of Bóluó (博羅) County in the prefecture of Huizhou in Guangdong Province is the sacred mountain Luófúshān.Template:Ref Luófúshān is the site of many temples, including Wa Sau Toi Template:Ref where, c. 1900, a Chan (Zen) master named Tai Yuk Template:Ref taught Dragon style to Lam Yiu-Kwai,Template:Ref who in turn passed the art on to the many students of his schools in Guangzhou.

Because Lam Yiu-Kwai and Cheung Lai-Chuen were longtime training partners, Dragon style and Cheung's style of Bak Mei share many similarities. Good friends from their youth in the Dongjiang region of Huizhou and later cousins by marriage, Lam and Cheung would open several schools together.

There may be other styles named after the dragon that other schools believe to be much older; however, the Dragon style of Lam Yiu-Kwai is the most widespread and best-known.

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Techniques

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Overview

The dragon stylist relies on a variety of fighting techniques that can be employed for a wide range of needs. The style uses techniques that can cripple or kill an opponent if the need arises or it can be used simply to control a minor street fighting situation. Image:Lam Yil Kwai.jpg

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Basics

The Dragon Kung Fu practitioner typically attacks with winding low yang attacks. One signature maneuver is the four finger claw techniques that utilizes the index, thumb, ring and middle fingers, or all five fingers to do hard pinching attacks to the muscles, tendons and acupressure points; and rapid, close in palm attacks. Punching techniques can be closed or open handed. Clawing and grappling techniques, in the imagined style of a dragon, are used. Kicks, no higher than waist level, are used to target sensitive areas such as the groin, knee, and foot. The waist, the largest and most central of all human muscles, receives great focus in Dragon Style. Efforts are made to strengthen, coordinate, and utilize this muscle to achieve powerful and quick movements. For example, when striking with the fist, more power can be exerted when the movement originates from the waist first, then flowing through the body, and finally into the fist.

This Technique is Illegal in 6 of the 50 United States of America. The states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Florida, Illinois, and New York.

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Foot Work

In both the Northern and Southern Dragon Style systems, leg work is characterized by a zig-zag motion that mimics the imagined movement of the mythical Chinese dragon. In Southern style, smaller strides are emphasized to complement the system's short range combat style. In the Northern system, the strides are greater, utilizing the strength of the legs to move in and out of the opponent's range of attack with speed and force.

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Southern Dragon Style Motto

"Control yourself, let others do what they will. This does not mean you are weak. Control your heart, obey the principles of life. This does not mean others are stronger."

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Codes of Southern Dragon Style

The seeds were first planted from Haufeng. The essence were gained later at Haushou. Retrain one’s self and yield to others not because one is weak. But to uphold the ethical Tao and let the others have their claim.

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Southern Dragon Style - Four Rules & Two Principles

Focus to learn and condition the body. One must not have any act of laziness. Be righteous and uphold your honor. One must not have any act of hypocrisy. Respect your parents, honor your teacher. One must not have any act of defiance. Treat others with honesty, treat your friends with loyalty. One must not have any act of arrogance.

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Notes

	Chinese	Pinyin	Yale Cantonese
Template:NoteYau Gung Mun	柔功門	Róu Gōng Mén	Yau4 Gung1 Mun4	House of Fiery Dragon Lion Dance
Template:NoteLuofushan	羅浮山	Luófúshān	Lo4 fau4 saan1	Mount Luofu
Template:Note Wa Sau Toi	華首台	Huāshǒutái	Wa4 Sau2 Toi4
Template:Note Tai Yuk	大玉禪師	Dà Yù Chán Shī	Daai6 Yuk6 Sim3 Si1	literally "Tai Yuk, Chan (Zen) teacher"
Template:Note Lam Yiu-Kwai	林耀桂	Lín Yàoguì	Lam4 Yiu6 Gwai3

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Dragon Style in Popular Culture

Dragon is one of the 3 fighting styles utilized by the character Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat series. (As seen in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and Mortal Kombat: Deception) It is also Liu Kang's grapple style in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.
RyuuRanger of the Super Sentai series, Gosei Sentai Dairanger, is a master of a variation of Dragon Kung Fu.
The Dragon fighting style is used at times by the cop, Lei Wulong, in Tekken.