The Mystery of Tiger Claws in Kung Fu: Here's Why They're Everywhere

Sometimes we are a bit like in a zoo: tigers everywhere. Why are we so obsessed with them?

With my sifu Wong Chung Man

What Is a Tiger Claw in Hung Gar Kung Fu

Tiger Claw is a genius example of how kung fu is often misunderstood. I’m saying this because yes, there is a tiger claw attack technique, which is usually what people imagine under the term, but there is a much deeper biomechanical reasoning for not just having your hands in a closed fist all the time.

First things first: tiger claw as a technique is a two-stage kind of punch.

Using the heel of your palm you strike just like if you were punching with a fist, but then usually there is a second plan following: a grab, a throw, fingers in the eyes (we are in self-defense, not sport fighting, right) etc.

However, we often keep our hands in the tiger claw formation for another reason.

Using the Body In a Wise Way

When blocking or bridging (which means having some kind of physical contact with the opponent, for example, arm on arm, on arm on a weapon, not necessarily a hold) we use our forearms a lot. Hung gar kung fu is well known for strong forearms, and if you ever forget that, filmmakers will remind you by putting iron rings training to every other kung fu movie.

“See, hung gar. Strong forearms. I know my stuff.”

Yes, we do condition our forearms, but having a wrist bend in a 90-degree angle and our fingers activated - the tiger claw - strengthens our forearm.

Firm But Flexible

My sifu’s favorite activity was to ask newcomers to hold his arm so they could feel what was going on underneath his skin. He would tense his muscles and say, “See, my arm is strong but slow,” and then he would relax it again, but bend his wrist and fingers. “My muscles are relaxed, my arm can move fast, but it is strong at the same time.”

Does this explain our obsession with putting tigers on everything from logos to t-shirts?

Perhaps!

But at least you now know there can be wise explanations behind lots of “weird” kung fu things, and this is just one of them.

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