Dragons are found throughout Kung Fu lore and feature in many different styles of Kung Fu. The dragon is a mythical, magical creature and force of nature. The Chinese Dragon symbolizes both spiritual energies, especially male spiritual energy, and Imperial power. The Phoenix, the mythical, magical fire bird embodies female spiritual energy, and the power of the Empress. In Kung Fu, we hear about the Dragon more often than the Phoenix. But the Phoenix is not forgotten, particularly in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.
In Kung Fu, the Dragon symbolizes wisdom and spiraling and coiling movement.
Coiling movement means using inward winding movements to gather power. Becoming coiled like a spring ready to explode is Dragon energy. Releasing the coiled energy explosively and suddenly is Tiger energy. Some styles of Kung Fu specialize in coiling more than others.
In beginning practitioners, the coiling movement of their body is clearly visible. Beginning level practitioners also use a separate movement to coil and strike. As students’ progress in skill, they learn how to hide their coiling by making their movements smaller, more refined, and subtler. Hiding the coiling movement from an opponent prevents them from releasing clearly how prepared one is or one’s real skill level. By deceiving the opponent, we achieve the element of surprise and victory is assured. When the opponent clearly sees our preparations, they easily avoid or counter our attacks.
Experts learn how to coil at the same time as striking or coiling while using a defensive technique to protect themselves or an entering technique to penetrate the opponents’ defenses.
Spiraling movement indicates movements that have a circular turning quality spread out spatially. Spiraling movements are excellent for intercepting and deflecting an opponent’s strikes. Spiraling movements that drive forward are excellent for penetrating or entering an opponent’s defenses and attacking. Spiraling movements and strikes can also be used to break someone’s defensive muscular tensing or Qigong based Iron Shirt conditioning. Spiraling movements that pull back or away from an opponent are excellent for breaking an opponent’s grasp and freeing yourself. All these different uses of spiraling movement show advanced skill and refined body method.
Think carefully, come up with a wise strategy, use coiling movements to gather power, then spiraling movements to intercept their attack, enter their defenses, penetrate their armor, and should the need arise, to escape, as well, and you are mastering using Dragon power in your Kung Fu!
