Editing The World of Kung-Fu 5.6: Animal Styles


''“You’re the cream in my coffee / You’re the salt in my stew / You’re eight-dragon-style / Crane cat crocodile / Drunken monkey Kung Fu.”—“You’re the Cream in my Coffee”, Roy Henderson, 1927.''


In the centuries after the Shaolin developed their Kung Fu, new Kung Fu styles spread across China and Asia. Most of these styles fused Shaolin techniques with observations of animals in the wild. According to stereotype, animal stylists tend to have personalities and mannerisms like the animal their Kung Fu is based on. Animals stylists tend to be solitary and few have involved themselves in the Kung Fu war. Those who do generally volunteer to help Wing Chun and may ended up posted anywhere in the world. Alternatively, some animal stylists turn a life of crime, working independently or selling their amazing skills to the highest bidder.

While most animal stylists care little for grand politics, they do maintain longstanding feuds between different animal styles. These feuds include the Five Venoms, since the Venom styles of Centipede, Lizard, Scorpion, Snake and Toad were simply independent animal styles for centuries before they decided to rule the world of organized crime. Likewise, though Praying Mantis has always been loyal to Shaolin, and Pak Hok (Tiger-Crane) was developed independently of traditional Tiger and Crane styles, that hasn’t stopped them from being caught up in centuries of animal fights.


'''Main Feuds'''

Bear: Boar, Bull, Dragon.

Boar: Bear, Panther, Tiger.

Bull: Elephant, Horse, Tiger.

Centipede: Elephant, Praying Mantis, Scorpion.

Crane: Lizard, Monkey, Toad.

Crow: Lizard, Mantis, Toad.

Dragon: Eagle, Elephant, Bear, Bull.

Eagle: Dragon, Leopard, Lizard.

Elephant: Centipede, Dragon, Horse, Leopard.

Horse: Bull, Elephant, Scorpion, Tiger.

Leopard: Eagle, Panther, Snake, Tiger.

Lizard: Crane, Crow, Eagle.

Monkey: Crane, Snake, Panther.

Panther: Leopard, Boar, Monkey, Tiger.

Praying Mantis: Centipede, Crow, Scorpion.

Scorpion: Centipede, Horse, Praying Mantis.

Snake: Leopard, Monkey, Panther, Toad.

Tiger: Boar, Bull, Horse, Leopard, Panther.

Toad: Crane, Crow, Snake.


'''Kung Fu Bestiary'''

There are a not only a vast number of animal styles, but a wide variety of styles named after each animal, often with variant names, such as “White Tiger” or “Snake in Eagle’s Shadow”.  The list below describes the most popular styles of the most popular animals. Weapons-based perks have not been listed. Given the relative weakness of weapons, it is suggested that characters be allowed to learn any of the weapons perks if they want them.

Bear  3 points

Skills: Judo, Karate.

Techniques: Arm Lock, Breakfall, Ear Clap, Hammer Fist, Neck Snap, Wrench Limb, Wrench Spine. 

Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow, Immovable Stance, Power Blow. 

Cinematic Techniques: Back Breaker, Whirlwind Attack (Karate). 

Perks: Clinch (Karate), Power Grappling, Perks: Special Exercises (DR 1 with Tough Skin).


Boar  3 points

Skills: Judo, Karate, Spear.

Techniques:  Arm Lock, Breakfall, Choke Hold, Elbow Strike, Head Butt, Jam, Leg Grapple, Leg Lock, Targeted Attack (Karate Punch, Face). 

Cinematic Skills: Body Control, Breaking Blow, Immovable Stance, Mental Strength, Power Blow. 

Cinematic Techniques: Backbreaker, Hand Catch, Whirlwind Attack (Karate), Whirlwind Attack (Spear). 

Perks: Iron Arms, Iron Legs, Special Exercises (DR 1 with Tough Skin), Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Special Exercises (Striker, Crushing With Limb, Shin).


Bull  3 points

Skills: Broadsword, Karate.

Techniques: Axe Kick, Back Kick, Head Butt, Jam, Kicking, Stamp Kick, Sweep. 

Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow, Mental Strength, Power Blow.
 
Cinematic Techniques:  Flying Jump Kick, Timed Defense (Parry), Whirlwind Attack (Broadsword), Whirlwind Attack (Karate).

Signature Weapon: Dao.

Perks: Iron Arms, Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Technique Mastery (Axe Kick),Technique Mastery (Head Butt),Technique Mastery (Jam).


Crane  4 points

Skills: Karate, Meditation, Staff.

Techniques: Axe Kick, Elbow Strike, Jump Kick, Kicking, Spinning Kick, Sweep. 

Cinematic Skills: Blind Fighting, Immovable Stance, Kiai, Pressure Points, Mental Strength, Sensitivity. 

Cinematic Techniques: Flying Jump Kick, Pressure Point Strike (Karate), Pressure Point Strike (Staff), Timed Defense (Dodge). 

Perks: Chi Resistance (Any), Technique Mastery (Axe Kick), Technique Mastery (Jump Kick), Technique Mastery (Spinning Kick).


“Old Mak Dao had Iron Palm / He kiaid ‘Ee-ai-oh’

And with that palm he fought some Crane. / He Kiaid ‘Ee-ai-oh’

With a smack-smack here and a whack-whack there.

Here a smack, there a whack. Throwing round the Dim Mak.

Old Mak Dao had Iron Palm / He Kiaid ‘Ee-ai-oh!’”—traditional.


Crow  4 points

Skills: Karate, Meditation, Staff.

Techniques: Counterattack, Elbow Strike, Eye-Rake, Evade, Feint, Jump Kick, Spinning Punch. 

Cinematic Skills: Flying Leap, Hypnotic Hands, Sensitivity. 

Cinematic Techniques:  Hand Clap Parry, Timed Defense (Dodge), Whirlwind Attack (Karate), Whirlwind Attack (Staff).

Perks: Chi Resistance (Any), Technique Mastery (Feint), Technique Mastery (Jump Kick), Technique Mastery (Spinning Punch).


Dragon  4 points

Skills: Acrobatics, Karate, Staff.

Techniques: Exotic Hand Strike (Dragon Fist), Evade, Jump Kick, Kicking, Low Fighting, Spinning Kick, Spinning Punch, Uppercut. 

Cinematic Skills: Body Control, Flying Leap, Kiai, Light Walk, Lizard Climb, Mental Strength, Pressure Points, Pressure Secrets. 

Cinematic Techniques: Flying Jump Kick, Pressure Point Strike (Karate), Roll With Blow, Springing Attack (Karate), Springing Attack (Staff), Timed Defense (Dodge).

Perks: Chi Resistance (Any), Iron Hands, Skill Adaptation (Acrobatic Kicks), Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Technique Mastery (Jump Kick), Technique Mastery (Spinning Kick).


Eagle  3 points

Skills: Judo, Karate.

Techniques: Arm Lock, Choke Hold, Exotic Hand Strike (Eagle Claw), Finger Lock, Head Lock, Leg Grapple, Trip (Karate).

Cinematic Skills: Blind Fighting, Pressure Points, Pressure Secrets. 

Cinematic Techniques: Lethal Strike, Power Blow, Pressure Point Strike (Karate). 

Perks: Iron Hands, Technique Mastery (Arm Lock), Technique Mastery (Choke Hold), Technique Mastery (Leg Grapple).


Elephant  4 points

Skills: Judo, Karate, Two-Handed Flail.

Techniques: Head Lock, Hammer Fist, Head Butt, Jam, Neck Snap, Stamp Kick, Two-Handed Punch (Based on Karate). 

Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow, Kiai, Immovable Stance, Power Blow.  
Cinematic Techniques: Backbreaker, Hand Catch. 

Signature Weapon: Three-Part Staff.

Perks: Iron Arms, Special Exercises (DR 1 with Tough Skin), Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Technique Mastery (Hammer Fist), Technique Mastery (Two-Handed Punch).


Blackbird Style in the dead of night. / Wake up Wing Chun fools! It’s time to die!

All the night, I have just been waiting for this moment to arrive. Blackbird strike!”—“Blackbird”, traditional.


Horse  4 points.

Skills: Karate, Polearm, Running.

Techniques: Back Kick, Jam, Kicking, Stamp Kick, Sweep, Targeted Attack (Karate Kick, Head), Targeted Attack (Karate Kick, Leg). 

Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow, Flying Leap, Power Blow. 

Cinematic Techniques: Flying Jump Kick, Hand Clap Parry, Timed Defense (Parry). 

Signature Weapon: Heavy horse-cutter.

Perks: Iron Legs, Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Technique Mastery (Stamp Kick), Technique Mastery (Targeted Kick to Head), Technique Mastery (Targeted Kick to Leg).


Leopard  4 points

Skills: Karate, Judo, Running.

Techniques: Aggressive Parry, Attack from Above, Choke Hold, Counterattack (Judo), Counterattack (Karate), Evade, Exotic Hand Strike (Leopard Fist), Ground Fighting.

Cinematic Skills: Light Walk, Push, Sensitivity. 

Cinematic Techniques: Push Kick, Roll With Blow, Springing Attack (Karate).

Perks: Clinch (Karate), Rapid Retraction (Karate), Skill Adaptation (Acrobatic Feints), Skill Adaptation (Acrobatic Kicks), Technique Mastery (Counterattack: Karate).


Monkey  5 points

Skills: Acrobatics, Judo, Karate, Staff.

Techniques: Acrobatic Stand, Breakfall, Evade, Feint, Ground Fighting, Jump Kick, Spinning Kick, Spinning Punch, Trip (Karate), Trip (Staff). 

Cinematic Skills: Flying Leap, Lizard Climb, Push. 

Cinematic Techniques: Hand Clap Parry, Push Kick, Roll With Blow, Springing Attack (Karate), Springing Attack (Staff).

Perks: Chi Resistance (Hypnotic Hands), Skill Adaptation (Acrobatic Feints), Ground Guard, Skill Adaptation (Acrobatic Kicks), Technique Mastery (Acrobatic Stand), Technique Mastery (Feint).


“Monkey stylists are born naughty”— Wu Cheng'en, There and Back Again, Ming Dynasty, 1592.


Panther  3 points

Skills: Karate, Stealth.

Techniques: Aggressive Parry (Karate), Attack from Above, Evade, Jump Kick, Sweep. 

Cinematic Skills: Blind Fighting, Flying Leap, Hypnotic Hands, Light Walk, Pressure Points. 

Cinematic Techniques: Clinch (Karate), Hand Clap Parry, Pressure Point Strike (Karate), Springing Attack (Karate). 

Perks: Technique Mastery (Aggressive Parry), Technique Mastery (Jump Kick), Technique Mastery (Sweep).


Tiger  4 points

Skills: Broadsword, Karate, Meditation.

Techniques: Aggressive Parry (Karate), Counterattack (Broadsword), Counterattack (Karate), Evade, Exotic Hand Strike (Tiger Claw), Jam, Jump Kick. 

Cinematic Skills: Flying Leap, Kiai, Mental Strength. 

Cinematic Techniques: Flying Jump Kick, Springing Attack (Broadsword), Springing Attack (Karate), Timed Defense (Parry), Whirlwind Attack. 

Signature Weapon: Jian.

Perks: Clinch (Karate), Iron Hands, Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Technique Mastery (Counterattack: Karate), Technique Mastery (Jump Kick).


“Let’s dance! / Get on your Kung Fu. I challenge you!

We’ll clash in the moonlight / a blistering Fu fight.

And if you Wing Chun, I’ll leg block you. / And if I kiai, you’ll die.

If you try Crane Kung Fu / I’ll punch your spine in two.

You can’t survive my quivering palm. I’m the Grand Master of Flowers!”—“Let’s Dance”, Bo Wei, Ming Dynasty, 15th century.