12 animals and kungfu

Tiger fist	Snake punches

The most firm connection between the 12 animals and kungfu is the Xingyiquan (Hsing Yi Chuan) and its 12 forms. Xingyiquan (Hsing Yi Chuan) is a famous internal fighting style created by the Chinese general Yueh Fei around 1127 A.D. Xingyiquan imitates the fighting techniques of twelve animals-the Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Water Lizard, Chicken, Harrier, Swallow, Snake, Chinese Ostrich, Eagle and Bear. Mastery of these animal forms gives you a variety of simple, effective fighting techniques. Xingyi training also builds your Qi (energy) and muscular strength for incredible power and vitality.
  Bear and eagle  In Xingyi, "the Bear and Eagle combine," meaning that the Bear and Eagle techniques are often used in conjunction with each other. Also, there exists a bird called the "Bear Eagle," which is considered by some to cover the characteristics of both forms. Snake: Includes both Constrictor and Viper styles. Dragon: The only "mythical" animal taught. Goshawk: Sometimes translated as 'Sparrowhawk,' though the more common word for "Sparrowhawk" used to be Zhān (鸇), which has fallen from use over the years. There are at least two different kinds of birds in China that can be translated as "Goshawk." One is, in Western terms, a Sparrowhawk; the other is same species called a Goshawk in the West.