Shaolin Five Animals

I am a black belt in Kempo, and TKD with an Instructor Sash in Kung Fu who learned the whole form as best as I could from just using the book. I found it clear and easy to follow. It took a couple of months to learn, after which I ordered Doc-Fai Wong's instructional video on the same 5 animal form later. I found that I'd done a fairly decent job on learning the form by book. I'd missed about 10% of it, which were mostly circling movements transitioning from one step to the other. One problem I had, which eventually led me to discontinue practicing the form is that it's seriously unbalanced. If you practice it regularly, you will have very uneven muscle development, especially in your legs. There is a big stress on jumps and standing on one leg using your right only. To alleviate this problem, you'd have to learn how to do the whole form with the opposite side and if you are just starting, it could easily take you half a year to learn this extremely long form both ways. Once you do learn it, it'll take you about 12-14 minutes to practice it just once on each side. To become really proficient at learning a martial art form, you should practice it several times each session. For a form such as this one, you would need a significant time committment to practice enough to do it justice. If you like to train in other ways such as running, weights, other martial arts, etc., be prepared to commit a lot of time.

only a true lover of kung fu see the beauty in it.Thank youMaster Doc Fai Wongyour studentLeo Nguyen

This book is a treasured piece. For one this is rare " NORTHERN " temple stlye. To master this form requires dedication, and kung fu which means time and effort. First one must learn the form only, if one remains humble and ponder the movements the form will manifest. If one still has trouble there is a corresponding video tape at esptv.com . Third since this is a northern form it is trained differently, for example when performing in the slow stage it must be done 1000 times literally. Then the external stage must be 1000 literally. Lastly, the proper power and animal manifestation must be done 1000 times at the minimum. If you want to make it a fighting form, then must run a mile then do the form in its last stage immediately afterwards, the run 800 meters do the form, then sprint 400 meters and do the form. When you have acheived this it will be complete your form and all. But as americans everybody wants the easy way or the highway, if one spends time diligently and researches other information on northern kung and their power development this will enhance your 5 animal form even more. This is a excellent book for northern stylist. One may also what to get a tan tui or chinease springy legs book...

It doesnt go as indepth as i would have liked

It is a good ntroduction to 5 Animal Shaolin Kung Fu. The Authors look at it more from the logical and practicle side.