Snake Kung Fu: Cunning, Dangerous and Deadly Accurate

Snakes are cunning and potentially vicious creatures that use heightened sensitivity and full-body awareness to ensnare prey and defend against attack. The snake is a skilled hunter that will coil its body, inducing power and speed. Each muscle is used to slide, thrust, wrap, penetrate, and kill its prey. It is no wonder why both the Shaolin Temple schools of southern and northern China adopted the snake as a metaphor and example of literal fighting.

The snake fighting style is a form of Shaolin boxing. It translates into English as “snake fist”, and is commonly known as fanged snake style and snake boxing. The fluid movement of the snake is used to hit opponents from unexpected angles, and is very useful for training with short swords and Chinese spears. Different styles copy different snakes. For example, some mimic pythons, others copy Cobra. It depends on which school is teaching the art: from the south or from the north.

North Serpent Kung Fu

Northern traditions date back to the Taoist temples in the Wudang Mountains. The northern method uses the rattling and whipping power of the spine, which connects to the fingers and allows for a powerful strike. It depends on the ability to maneuver smoothly and strong abdominal muscles. The balance is grounded and the poses are sinuous so the whiplash motion is maximized. Training focuses on building a powerful spine and strong fingers to ensure an effective strike. Southern snake training often uses the Chinese short sword and spear. The style also uses spears and swords designed with a curve back and forth along the blade resembling a snake.

southern style

The Southern Shaolin Temples were known as snake temples. The most common southern style taught today is the green bamboo viper method. It originally came from Cambodia and eventually made its way to southern China. Once in the hands of the Shaolin monks, the style of the green bamboo viper was refined and perfected. In addition to the green bamboo viper, there are the shadow snake, water snake, gold snake, and king cobra snake styles. The five form the southern serpent kung fu martial art.

overall fighting style

Although there are numerous variations and idiosyncrasies within the southern and northern styles, the basic striking patterns are very similar. To form the “serpent hand,” spread out all four fingers in a spearhead fashion. Just like a snake, you can maneuver the snake’s hand up and down, or side to side while blocking. The strikes are usually directed at vital areas, such as the eyes, throat, and groin. The snake hand allows you to block and hit at the same time. To help you imagine this, imagine a cobra raising its head, moving back and forth, and then unexpectedly striking with fluid precision.

The bottom line

Snake kung fu is an exceptionally powerful and dangerous art form. It comes in a variety of varieties and is taught in both modern Eastern and Western cultures. The art is cunning, focused, and deadly precise. It is an excellent method of fighting for those who do not have physical stature or for women who want an interesting alternative to the most used self-defense techniques. So, hit the mat and learn to fight like a snake!

Standing together we make a great effort — Modern Samurai Society