There are many systems that teach only one or two or at the most 5 of these beasts yet go by another name. Shou Shu is based on seven different fighting beasts:

1. Bear or Leopard (Xiong) - The Leopard form focuses on the agility as well as strength and is able to attack and withdraw quickly.
2. Tiger (Hu)- The Tiger form encompasses fast and slow movements to develop muscle and bone.
3. Mongoose (You)
4. White Crane (Ba He) - The Crane form develops the sinews, to hold the body together in perfect harmony. The movements of the crane focuses on balance and poise.
5. Praying Mantis (Tang) -
6. Cobra / Snake (Fu)- The Snake form harnesses the chi (energy) and its movements are circular and continuous.
7. Imperial Dragon (Long) - The Dragon form develops the mind, body and spirit. Practised slowly and with right intent, Dragon form focuses on the spiritual awareness.

Basic Exercises-Forms are comprised of 5 principal sets of tools.1. Punches, 2. Kicks, 3. Blocks, 4, Stances & 5. Strikes.Historically 6 kinds of exercises were used to facilitate the development of forms. 1. Techniques of punching, 2. Kicking methods, leg maneuvers & and associated practices, 3. Posturing, 4. The use of the empty hand, 5. Corresponding tools of impact, & 6. Checking, trapping & blocking. The 12 fundamental defensive themes intertwined within the forms include: 1. Seizing nerves, 2. Attacking blood passages, 3. Twisting bones, 4. Attacking tendons, 5. Joint locks, 6. Take-downs, 7. Throws, 8. Grappling, 9. Ground-work, 10. Counter attacks, 11. Impacting anatomically vulnerable zones, and 12. Digging into the cavities of the body unprotected by the skeletal structure.

Kicking Form 1- (Kick & Associated Techniques)

• Keri Jutsu (students repeat)
• Rei (students bow) O-Negaiishimusu
• Kamae Te
• Hai (on command step back & adopt traditional fighting kamae)
• Hajamae (begin)
• Switch left leg roll check, left leg landing fwd
• Right leg front kick, parry impact with forearm strike land in fighting stance
• Step out on 45 with right foot with right hand in shuto, left hand above head
• Left leg thigh kick 360 degrees land side on right side fwd
• Parry with left strike with right forearm
• Low right side kick and land facing rear, right leg fwd and kakai
• Left leg back kick or stomp kick and step across with left foot to right hand side
• Right leg crescent kick
• Jumping front kick land reaching high with left and impact smashing down with elbow, bend legs on elbow, pulling right hand back (end in deep lunging)
• Switch across left arm behind back right arm in front
• Turn 180 degrees and impact to ribs with right spinning hammer strike swing right arm behind back
• Impact to temples with left and right fists (no lunging forward)
• Lean back bringing arms up and around clapping to ears
• Pull hands to your right ear for a neck crank
• Hook hands for a grab behind neck
• Knee with left and land fwd with left leg
• Reach high and drop scoop down to a deep lunging for a leg reap end in high stance
• Place both hands on outside of left foot and right leg sweep
• Left leg axe kick step and and slide forward land left leg fwd
• Shrug & shake and karkai (fighting stance)
• Step with left leg and right leg inside cresent kick hitting left hand
• Step back into cat stance
• Reach up high with right hand and hit down onto left palm with a kiai
• Masubi Dachi (cover /as hands push down feet come together)
• Shizentai Yoi (shoulder width stance)
• Kyosuke Dachi (feet together stand at attention)
• Rei (on command bow) O-Negaiishimusu

Puching Form 1 - (Assorted Tools of Impacting)

• Heishu Waza (students repeat)
• Rei (students bow) O-Negaiishimusu
• Kamae Te
• Hai (on command adopt traditional right foot back fighting kamae)
• Hajamae (begin)
• Left jab, right cross, left hook
• Weave then four uppercuts
• Rising right elbow, circular left elbow then a right elbow coming over the top
• Both hands hit down slapping across thighs and hook around (as if grabbing around somebody’s neck)
• Switch left knee and land fwd then right knee, stomp down with right foot
• Slight head butt, followed by a left shoulder bump
• Shoot left hand out (as if reaching out behind someone’s head) and execute a elbow over the top into your left palm
• Close both hands into a fist and rotate your left fist in towards your chest and then back out and adopt the traditional fighting stance
• Masubi Dachi (cover /as hands push down feet come together)
• Shizentai Yoi (shoulder width stance)
• Kyosuke Dachi (feet together stand at attention)
• Rei (on command bow) O-Negaiishimusu