Shou Shu

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Shou' Shu is an application art. The fighting styles of seven different animals are studied to develop fighting skills. It is called an application art because it focuses entirely on the martial aspect of the art. It has not evolved into a sport or dance and therefore has retained only martial application. The term Shou Shu translates in English as "the fighting way of the beasts" or "beast art". Shou Shu cannot be considered a REAL martial art. It falls into its own style, which is closest related to street fighting. One may fight in any way the want, as it is a street fighting technique, but it also is classified as a style because it follows traditional moves.

Shou' Shu' was brought to America from China in the 20th century by Albert Fred Moore Sr.He started Shou' Shu' training in 1939 at the age of thirteen in Emeryville Ca, with Lou Chin and finished his training in the late 1940's after world War Two,in China under Shou Shu masters, becoming the youngest Kung Fu master in history, at the age of 23,in just a ten year period. He was the grand master of Shou Shu until his death. http://homepage.mac.com/tony_baltera/shou_shu/Interview.pdf

Moves vary, depending on the belt. Though they look simplistic, and street-like, they actually involve many intricate movements, including nerve tapping( where one pokes the nerves to make the person bend to their will), pressure point pushing, breaking, chops, punches, leg movements, eye gouges, and various blocking. In the lowest belt, students will ususally learn moves that involve training of the body. However, later, as the body is more powerful, they learn more intricate moves, that involve flipping(not so much), popping, MORE nerve tapping(trust me, it's very useful) and more arm breaking. Yep...it's useful...

There are 14 belts to go through before making it to a black belt.

The belts are yellow, white, orange, purple, blue, green, and brown. Yellow through green all have a high and low belt, ex. Low Orange, and High Green. The Low belts have a white stripe down the middle, the High belts are solid. However, in most cases (as in mine, as I take Shou Shu in Sacramento, California) there are only 12 belts that are taught, as the yellow belt is not taught, except in cases for EXTREMELY basic teaching.

Brown on the other hand is divided into three belts which means there are three brown belts to go through. The first brown belt is either brown with a white stripe going in between it or solid brown. The 2nd brown belt is either solid brown or brown with a red stripe going in between it. The third brown belt has a black stripe going in between it and is also known as black prep.

After gaining a black belt there are seven degrees. Each degree is represented by these animals: bear, tiger, mongoose, crane, mantis, cobra, and dragon. Although this is the typical order they are studied in, the order is not absolute. Truly the only requirement is that Bear is mastered first and Dragon last. Up until black belt the material taught is a mixture of these animals. Once attaining black the animal motions are perfected through each degree thereby perfected the mixed system.

There are eight degrees of Shou Shu. The first seven representing the pure animal arts and the eight representing the mixed animal art. In actuality the eight degree is taught from white to black. However it takes the knowledge of the seven pure degrees for this eight degree material to be fully realized.

Shi Fu means instructor. A person becomes a Shi Fu after getting their black belt.

Shun Shifu is the title of the head instructor of a school, usually a studio owner.

Da Shi Fu means head instructor, this rank can only be achieved after having all seven degrees.