Hi, All!
I have been studying Gung Fu now for 11 years..(wow I started young), and I've always found the various animal styles very interesting. In the style I do we have several animals, and even do animal sparring (Has anyone else done this?) So the question is this, What if any value do you find in the animal imitating kung fu styles?

And to answer my own quetion, and get things going.......
To me animal "imitation" in MA can really be thought of as unique mentalities and ways of fighting. I believe that the techniques associated with each animal are important to learn/teach in there own right, and to open up ways of fighting that the student may not have thought of before.

Interested in hearing what you think

I read something about animals in a book. The idea was something like that. It's a little philosophical. I'll explain it as much as i can. (It will be hard cause english is not my first language.)
"The animal are not created with a mind like humans. Whatever they do, they do it by the instinct that god gave them. They don't think about it. So they do it perfectly and they do it as they meant to do it."
It is a little off topic but whenever i think about animal styles i remember that. If you think it that way imitating animals is a pretty good idea.

In my style CLF we do have many animal forms. We were always stressed that it was the "animal instinct" we were looking for. I don't think it is much different than sports teams using the animal logo's (Bears, Lions,etc). The strikes tend to look like the animal strike or have the internal characteristics of the animal. Speed usually is related to the leapord or snake, monkey is in close fighting etc.

Kevin

I learning the leopard form,it helps in fightin to see my self as a leopard. To be assgresive as it would be.

It's not just hand forms or stances, but a mentality also. You have to know the animal to know yourself when using it's style. I enjoy watching animals (I'm working at a ranch this summer) and their mentality and techniques in fighting and hunting and applying them to certain styles. I'm also working on my own variations of animal styles, though it will take years I know, it's something I feel deeply connected with and feel expresses me the best out of all martial arts, animal styles that is.

Try out seven-star praying mantis for speed.