THE YINGLONG SYSTEM - HISTORY
In Chinese martial arts, some styles are modeled on animals (tiger, eagle, crane, snake, mantis, monkey, etc). These animal styles draw inspiration from the characteristics and motions of the animal.
The Yinglong system is classified as a “Southern Dragon Style”. It is Southern, because it originated in southern China. Similar to the other animal styles, it draws inspiration from the perceived attributes and movements of the mythical dragon.
Southern Dragon is part of a specific family of martial arts that originated primarily in the Guanxi, Guangdong, and Fujian provinces of China, and were developed by the Hakka people of that region. This group of martial arts is often labeled Hakka kung fu or Hakka Kuen. Besides Southern Dragon, other systems such as Pak Mei and Southern Mantis are also of Hakka origin.
Southern Dragon is usually translated to Lung Ying or Lung Ying Kuen, meaning Dragon Shape or Dragon Style Boxing. The Yinglong system is a dragon style, but the name is different because the system is inspired by one specific dragon from Chinese mythology, the Yinglong Dragon (meaning Responding Dragon).
One of the noted differences between Yinglong and other Dragon styles is that, because the Yinglong Dragon is one of the few dragons with wings in Chinese mythology, the Yinglong style uses wing strikes and blocks which are absent from other Dragon styles.
The Hakka systems are generally characterized as being designed for self defense with a focus on close range fighting, short and explosive power, and fast agile footwork. Yinglong follows in the same manner.
With Yinglong Kung Fu, we want to focus on the practical aspects of classical Dragon Style kung fu. The motions tend to be very direct, deceptively simple, and with a primary focus on producing as much power in the strikes and kicks as possible. This philosophy makes Yinglong Kung Fu very effective in its focus on personal safety and self defense, because the best way to end a violent encounter is to hit with as much force as possible in order to end the threat so you can escape.
