Green Dragon Presenting Claws is the fifteenth of the 18 qigong exercises that make up the Shaolin 18 Lohan Hands. Also known as Presenting Claws, 青 龍 現 爪, and QING LONG XIAN ZHUA, it is considered the most technically demanding exercise in the set — with considerable coordination required to perform it correctly.
Key Benefits of Green Dragon Presenting Claws
When practiced as qigong — not merely as physical form — Green Dragon Presenting Claws offers the following benefits:
- Beneficial for the kidneys and pancreas
- Good for the limbs of both the upper and lower body
- Helpful for those with arthritis, rheumatism, or diabetes
- Supports those with digestive problems
- Enhances the nervous system, bringing relief to those who experience persistent worry or anxiety
- Develops Dragon Claw Force for martial artists — the specialised gripping strength used in Qin-na, the art of holds, locks, and controlled immobilisation
The Martial Arts Roots of the 18 Lohan Hands
Green Dragon Presenting Claws is one of several exercises in this set with clear martial arts applications. This is not coincidental — the 18 Lohan Hands became the 18 Lohan Fist, the prototype of Shaolin Kung Fu. The health and martial benefits of these exercises share the same root: the development and intelligent direction of qi.
An Important Note on Form vs. Qigong
The benefits above are only available when this exercise is practiced as qigong — with a Qigong State of Mind (QSoM) and genuine energy flow. Practicing the physical movements alone — the form — will not produce these results. The form is not the art of qigong.
Given the coordination demands of this pattern, learning Green Dragon Presenting Claws directly from a qualified qigong instructor is especially strongly recommended.
Next in the 18 Lohan Hands
The next exercise in the set is Big Windmill Hand — exercise 16 of the 18 Lohan Hands.
