Monkey Kung Fu

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Monkey Kung Fu (猴拳) is a Chinese martial art where the movements imitate monkeys or apes in fighting. Systems of monkey kung fu like Tai Shing Pek Kwar (大聖劈掛門) were invented by Kau Sze (寇四) during the Qing dynasty. Many other, older styles of monkey kung fu exist as well, some recorded to be as old as the Song dynasty. This style includes many difficult acrobatic movements and techniques executed while tumbling along the ground or prone. Monkey has terrific defense, and is considered by many to have the best defense of any shaolin kung fu style. The staff features prominently in its weapons training. The method uses agile, jerky movements that are both confusing and fun to watch. A famous version of monkey style is the Drunken Monkey; it's exactly what it sounds like, the practitioner acts like an intoxicated monkey.

It is also said that Monkey is the style best suited to fight snake style kung fu, and eagle claw is the best suited to defeat monkey, but this is more legend than truth.

Monkey style owes a lot of its didactic backstory to the Buddhist tale Journey to the West and is often demonstrated in Hong Kong martial arts movies. One of the most famous movies involving this unique art is Chui ma lau (2002)[link]

There are six variations of monkey kung fu:

Drunken Monkey Kung Fu style uses a lot of throat, eye and groin strikes as well as tumbling and falling techniques. It incorporates a lot of false steps to give the appearance it is defenseless and uses a lot of off balance strikes.
Stone Monkey Kung Fu style is a "physical" style. The practitioner trains up his body to exchange blows with the opponent - Stone Monkey uses the monkey's Iron body method. It will leave an area exposed on its body for you to attack, so it can attack a more vital spot on your body.
Lost Monkey Kung Fu style feigns a lot. He gives the appearance of being lost and confused to deceive the opponent into underestimating his abilities, and he retaliates when least expected. The hands and footwork change and flow from each other at will.
Standing or Tall Monkey Kung Fu style is a relatively conventional monkey that likes to keep an upright position and avoid tumbling around. This style is more suited for tall people. Tall monkey likes to climb body limbs to make attacks at pressure points. It is a long range style.
Crafty monkey is very deceptive, it uses different faked emotions to lure its opponent into attacking. By pretending to be scared for example it lulls the opponent into a false sense of security and waits for the opponents guard to be down, then suddenly attacks when not expected.
Wooden Monkey Kung Fu style is a serious, angry monkey that attacks and defends with ferocity. The attitude of this monkey is more serious, and its movements are noticeably less light than the other monkeys. Wood monkey likes to grapple and bring its opponent to the ground. Once it brings you to the ground, you're helpless.

Elements of Monkey Kung Fu have also been utilized within other Kung Fu styles. For example, Wang Lang, the 17th century founder of Northern Praying Mantis boxing (bei tanglang quan), was said to have borrowed the footwork of the Monkey style to complement the extremely fast handwork of Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Pop Culture references

A popular show on the Disney Channel, Kim Possible, involves the use of Tai Shing Pek Kwar. One of the show's villains, a manical character named Lord Montgomery Fiske, has an obsession with monkeys and dubs himself "Monkey Fist". He becomes a master of the said fighting style, which is helpful in his fights against Kim.
In Midway Games's the character Liu Kang is said to use animal styles of Kung-Fu which may include Monkey.
In Escape from Monkey Island, the art of Monkey Combat is practiced by some of the monkeys on Monkey Island. One of the stances is called Drunken Monkey.
In Sega´s upcoming video game, Virtua Fighter 5, the character Eileen uses Monkey Kung Fu as her fighting style, but it's unknown on which version she utilizes in battle. It is clear, however, that her style is fast-paced and comical. She even scratches her ear like a monkey and jumps like one as well.
In Scary Movie 2, the character of Cindy Campbell says she is using the drunken monkey technique to defeat a possessed caretaker.
In Naruto, the character Rock Lee is seen to use a form of Drunken Monkey technique.

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