Bak Hok Pai- Tibetan White Crane Kung Fu
By Hibik

Entrance Requirements: PP of 11 or Higher. No Alignment Restrictions.
Skill Cost: 15 Years (7 Years as a Secondary Martial Art).

A popular style of Kung Fu, Tibetan White Crane traces its roots back to a scholarly monk named Or Da Tor, who lived during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Or Da Tor lived in the western Chinese territory of Qinghai (which in modern times, is now the least populated and largest of the Chinese provinces), which was close to Tibet. When he was young, his family eventually settled in Tibet, and like many others, Or Da Tor became a devout Buddhist and a scholar.

During one of Or Da Tor's many trips in the mountains to meditate, he one day witnessed a legendary fight between an ape and a crane. He witnessed the slim crane evade the ape's powerful blows with twists and ducks, and use its beak and overhead wing raps to counter attack aggressively. Eventually, the crane ended the fight with one sharp strike to the ape's face, plucking out one of its eyes and forcing it to run away in agony.

From watching this system, A Da Tuo managed to devise a system of combat involving eight long arm-striking techniques, which were based around a philosophy of four principals. He also adapted stable footwork and stances from the ape. This art was originally known as "Lions Roar" Style, which was reference to a line in a Buddhist Sutra that told of "sounds that shook the earth like a lion's roar." Over the course of the Ming Dynasty, another man, Duo Luo Ji Tan, made additions to A Da Tuo's system. While retaining system philosophies, he added some forms to make a total of ten sets of front-hand techniques, and ten sets of opposite-hand techniques. He added some additional hand-foot techniques of a highly intricate and advanced nature as well, to increase the flexibility of the system.

The art remained secret until the Qing dynasty (1644-1911 AD) when the Tibetan monk Sing Lam opened up a school of his art to the public, where it spread through Guangdong and Guangsi provinces of Southern China. Over time, several sub styles of the Lions Roar style appeared, namely, White Crane (founded by Ng Siu Chung) and Hop Gar (Family of the Knight Boxing). Despite the different name, both styles share the basic principles, techniques, and philosophies of its parent style.

Tibetan White Crane is a powerful style that derives strength from both internal and external sources. While the system is known as White Crane, many elements of the system are also derived from the powerful movements of the ape as well, to form a counterbalance. Unlike other animal based forms, Crane stylists do not attempt to imitate the majestic bird nor the powerful ape, but rather, incorporate the essence of their aggressive techniques and methods into an effective system of combat. The full White Crane system, while famous for its long arm movements, contains shorthand elbow strikes and palm blows as well. Excessive contact with an opponent is discouraged; rather, the Crane artist will evade all attacks, typically while simultaneously striking at an opponent's weak point with a powerful, pin point strike or trip. When necessary, Bak Hok Artist will resort to grabs, holds, and locks, even bone breaks to stop an opponent from attacking. Power for strikes is taken from the waist and legs, and typically delivered with the hands. The four fighting principles of Bak Hok Pai are: To Hurt, to Evade, to Penetrate, and to Intercept.

In combat, a master of Tibetan White Crane will size up an opponent, taking note of his strengths and possible weaknesses. When attacked, his response will be to move in aggressively, evading the blow while at the same time striking a nerve point or weak area such as the eyes or throat. He will continuously move, as so if the opponent has a chance to counterattack, the artist will be in a different location and out of reach. The Crane artist will continue attacking in unexpected areas, always keeping his opponent off guard, until he's down.

White Crane is one of the most popular styles of Kung Fu, and can be found in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and North America.

Costume: Silk Kung Fu Uniform, typically long sleeved.
Stance: Typically favor medium depth, steady stances. Most stances are fairly transitional, as so the Crane Artist can move around with ease.

CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +5 to S.D.C.
Add +5 to Chi
Add +2 to P.P.
Add +1 to P.E.

COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks Per Melee: 3
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: None.
Basic Defense Moves: Dodge, Parry, and Automatic Parry.
Advanced Defenses: Auto Dodge, Multiple Dodge, and Disarm.
Hand Attacks: Punch (Strike), Palm Strike, Roundhouse Strikes (as per Choy Lay Fut), Crane Beak (SPECIAL! This is a closed hand strike, using a beak like formation of thumb and fingers. This attack does 1D8 damage.), and Spear Hand.
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick, Sweep Kick (as per Bagua) and Snap Kick.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Combination Dodge/Strike, Elbow, Paralysis Attack (Vital Points), and Deathblow.
Holds/Locks: Wrist Lock and Elbow Lock.
Weapon Katas (Select One): WP Hu Die Dao (Butterfly Knives (Paired)), WP Guan Dao, WP Jian (Straight Sword), WP Dao (Broadsword), WP Gun (Staff), WP Qiang (Spear).
Modifiers to Attack: Pull Punch, Knockout, Critical Strike, and Critical Strike from Behind.

SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Arts Powers: Select a total of TWO (2) from Body Hardening Exercises, Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas), or Atemi. f desired, any number of powers can be traded, one-for-one, for any Basic Skill Programs.
Languages: Chinese or Tibetan (choose one).
Physical: Gymnastics.
Philosophical Training: Llama Buddhism.
If this is your primary martial art form, then the following other forms can be learned in shorter time: Fujian White Crane (5 Years), Bak Sil Lum (5 Years), or Choy Lay Fut (5 Years).

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Strike, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
2nd: +2 to Dodge, +2 to Damage.
3rd: Select One from Body Hardening Exercises, and Atemi, +2 to Automatic Dodge.
4th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Parry, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
5th: +5 to Chi, +1 to Damage.
6th: Select One from Body Hardening Exercises, Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas), or Atemi.
7th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Strike.
8th: +1 to Dodge, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
9th: +1 to Damage, +1 to Automatic Dodge.
10th: +5 to Chi, +1 to Parry.
11th: Select One from Body Hardening Exercises, Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas), or Atemi.
12th: +1 to Strike and Dodge.
13th: +5 to Chi, +1 to Damage.
14th: Select one from Body Hardening Exercises, Specialty Katas (including Chi Katas), or Atemi.
15th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.

Why Study Tibetan White Crane?
A graceful, sophisticated, yet aggressive style of Kung Fu, the White Crane style stresses courage, aggressiveness, and surprise attacks to take down even the strongest opponent.