Combat is broken up into two distict but related parts:

Stances: Stances are the base of all combat for the Shaolin Monks, and affect every aspect of it. They determine weapon effectiveness, defense, and modify the success rate and damage done by specials. The monk can choose a stance at will, or to relax it. Holding a stance too long can harm ones focus.

Fire - Most damaging, least defensive. Uses dodge, but at a reduced effectiveness.

Earth - Slightly less damaging, slightly more defensive. Based upon Parry.

Ka - The Spirit form. Average at everything.

Water - Fluid offense and defense.

Wind - The most defensive, least damaging style. Based upon the principle of bringing no unneccessary harm to anyone, but not allowing yourself to be damaged either. The very base of Shaolin belief.

Styles: Styles only affect specials, modifying the success rate and damage done. Each special has an associated stance and style, but while the style is chosen automaticly and is fixed, each special can be performed in any stance. This will incure a penalty to the damage done, however.

Dragon is the elite form, with the highest potential damage. However, for balance purposes only the offense has been used, so it has very minimal defense..

Tiger is designed around slower brute strength, with predominantly tearing and clawing strikes..

Snake is a subtle form, requiring great discipline and Chi mastery..

Crane is a defensive art, predominantly counter attacks..

Leopard is designed around speed and defense, rather than the power of the Tiger form..