The Earth Dragon is a beloved type of Chinese Dragon. Earth Dragons manage the water in steams and lakes. Most rivers and large lakes in China will have a temple to the local Earth Dragon where they make offerings for good crops and avoiding floods. The Earth Dragon has a magical power of swimming thru the earth and then leaping into the sky. To captures the spirit of the Earth Dragon this form combines of low stances and high leaps.
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Earth Dragon Staff is an awesome staff form. Earth Dragon Staff is like the Lord of the Rings novels. It is said all other fantasy novels are merely footnotes to the Lord of the Rings novels. Although you may find other staff forms that have a few moves this form does not. Earth Dragon Staff usually has a greater variety of techniques than most other forms. It is rare that someone who learns this form first, seeks out other staff forms later. If you learn the Earth Dragon Staff form you really have a complete set of techniques.
The Earth Dragon Staff Form is a long form with 88 moves. Because of its length, many leaps, deep stances, and kicks it is very athletic and a great workout. Earth Dragon Staff uses a long staff, well over head height and focuses on long range techniques that develop great whipping speed and striking power. This training develops strength in the arms, shoulders and back, and increases wrist flexibility and alignment..
The Earth Dragon Staff form is also a long staff form in regards to length of the staff used for this form. This staff is well over head high, as high as you can reach with your palm above your head. This length allows the Northern Shaolin expert to hit her opponent while they are still far away!
The Earth Dragon Staff Form is performed with a somewhat flexible staff made of rattan. Rattan is a solid reed. Like a huge blade of grass. It is flexible and nearly impossible to break if the skin has not been removed and is more than an inch in diameter.
During practice, the end of the staff vibrates as it strikes. This vibration is generated by using the power of the legs and waist directed thru the arms. This develops good Kung Fu power and strength by using a solid integration of the body. If a student’s head vibrates more that the end of the staff, a little more practice is needed! Thus, the staff gives its practitioners an important method of obtaining feedback about their body alignment and develops a connection between the whole body and the palms. Students find their ability to do arm locks on an opponent is strengthened
