This website is dedicated to the Students of Seifu A.S. Umar Sharif, MA. It is also dedicated to the promotion and propagation of the Traditional Afro-Asian Martial and Healing Arts. Our goal is to inform, educate, inspire, encourage, and motivate others to improve their lives by applying The Wisdom of the Ancients.
As your teacher and host, Seifu Sharif [aka: Xia` Xue' Gong] [aka: Tobi Alakoso] is dedicated to helping each of you to remember and nurture the Spirit of Wu-Te and the powers dormant within you.
The Seven Animals of Me'je Oruka, Part VIII
The Eagle (Ying Zhua or Ying Xing)
Namaste’ Students and Fellow Martial Arts Enthusiasts!
The Eagle is a large bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings, and powerful hooked talons. It is renowned for its keen sight, powerful soaring flight, and extremely rapid descents when pursuing its prey. Eagle is in the family of raptors along with the hawk, falcon, and the owl for example. It is interesting that the word ‘raptor’ comes from Latin and then late Middle English literally meaning ‘plunderer’, from ‘rapt’ or ‘rapere’ meaning ‘seized’. The Eagle can be as agile and ruthless on the ground as it is graceful and powerful in the air.
The Eagle did not receive an invitation to be among the famed Five Animals of Chinese Kung Fu (Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Leopard, and Snake). Nonetheless, it has found a place of significance in Traditional Chinese Kung Fu. The Eagle is the master of all large flesh eating birds. It has claimed it place as a symbol of strength and grace, characteristics that the Eagle Claw practitioner seeks to bring to the execution of his or her art. Strength, grace, and speed exude from the student as he or she uses the Ying Zhua (Eagle Claw) in grasping, ripping, and raking movements. I often say that once the Ying Zhua practitioner grabs you, your only escape will be to leave something behind. Something that is also true of Hu Xing, the Tiger Style.
Southern styles tend to look for sudden, overpowering, forceful movements. The kind of attack philosophy used by the Tiger, Leopard, and Monkey Styles, and the Eagle is no exception. But actually, Ying Zhua is a Northern style, reflecting the massive and powerful wings of the Eagle, while also reflecting characteristics of the Southern styles. Blocking is a function of the intention and method of attack, not a stand-alone technique.
While the talons of the Eagle are being used for grasping, ripping, and raking, the powerful wings of the Eagle are simultaneously being used as powerful defensive strikes, warding-off the opponent (prey) and creating opportunities to attack at the same time. Likewise the Eagle practitioner will use his or her arms and forearms to intercept and deflect an opponent’s attack, while extending the hand for a simultaneous attack. The Eagle tends to settle on the ground only after the prey has been secured. Otherwise, the Eagle keeps its wings extended and flapping, distracting, striking, and shielding (protecting itself from attacks), while dancing around its prey. Eagle can strike and kill while in the air.
Combined with the other six animals in the 7 Circles System of Southern-Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, the Eagle complements the Crane, harmonizes with the Tiger and Monkey, and supplements the Dragon, Mantis, and Snake.
General Yue Fei developed Northern Eagle Claw, Tao Lun in Mandarin, in Zuejiang Province, China during the 12th Century. General Yue Fei taught his soldiers 108 techniques that became the foundation of the Eagle Claw Style. These techniques included some kicks, but focused primarily on clawing, punching, grabbing, striking, throwing, and destabilizing the opponent’s balance in a swift relentless series of attacks. It is considered an offensive rather than a defensive martial art emerging from its roots on the battlefield. Eagle Claw also shared a strong relationship with Chin Na since is used joint locks, takedowns, and pressure point strikes along with its other techniques.
Click on the Contact Us link above or below to comment or ask questions about this Post or other related topics.
It is not simply practice that makes perfect. It is perfect practice and consistent practice that makes perfect.
