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Praying Mantis Kung Fu - A Complete System
Praying Mantis
Beginnings
The northern style of Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu was created 350
years ago to be a complete fighting martial art. Founded in the 16th century
by a Shaolin stylist, Wang Lang, this kung fu style offers a complete
syllabus of skills in long range kicking, middle range hand techniques,
trapping skills, pressure point/pressure strikes, iron palm training,
joint locks, throws, and skills capable of neutralizing ground grappling
attacks.
Prior to his development of Praying Mantis kung fu Wang Lang, felt his
fighting ability was not adequate to defeat his elder classmate monk Feng
during sparring practice at the Shaolin temple. As a result he felt compelled
to look for something to improve his fighting skills. A chance observation
of a Praying Mantis insect overcoming a cicada led him to discover that
he was witnessing some rather unique fighting skills in nature.
After his observations and subsequent study of what made the Praying Mantis
insect such a successful predator, he knew had discovered something phenomenal.
He had come to the conclusion that he could create a new style of kung
fu, based on the "twelve character" principles gleaned from
the Praying Mantis’s predator ability. This new kung fu system would
be an improvement over the larger hard style motions of the Shaolin style
he had previously studied. He used the newfound skills of Praying Mantis
kung fu to defeat his elder classmate monk Feng in sparring practice.
Together with the other monks of the Shaolin temple Wang continued to
develop the style.
The Taoist, Sheng Xiao Dao Ren
When a Taoist, Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, came to visit the Shaolin temple he
observed the monks practicing a strange looking martial art. Their movements
looked short, jerky, and lacking in power. Sheng Xiao Dao Ren was confused.
Why would the famous Shaolin monks practice such a poor martial art? Sheng
Xiao Dao Ren, asked what they were doing and they told him it was the
Praying Mantis style.
Thinking he could easily overcome the Shaolin monks he asked for a friendly
match. Much to his surprise a low-level monk easily defeated him. Sheng
Xiao Dao Ren, thinking his loss must have been a fluke, he asked to spar
with the senior monk. Again he lost by being thrown down.
After he recovered he asked to speak to the Shaolin temple abbot. When
requested the opportunity to study this new, effective martial art, the
abbot granted Sheng Xiao Dao Ren permission.
It is generally accepted that, Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, learned the Praying
Mantis system from the monks of Shaolin and during his travels spread
the art outside the Shaolin temple. It is thought that the monk students
of Wang Lang developed several styles of Praying Mantis after learning
the original Praying Mantis system.
There is a story that tells of some of Wang’s students wanting to
teach their own version of Praying Mantis, so Wang called them together
and asked them to go out and capture a Praying Mantis insect. When they
returned Wang examined the insects and used their markings to determine
the names of each Praying Mantis style. Some of the names are: Seven Star,
Plum Flower, and Shining Board Praying Mantis.
The Skills
Just what made the new Praying Mantis style of kung fu so much better
than the Shaolin systems Wang learned? Much of what Wang developed in
Praying Mantis is the use of the "short power" movements. When,
Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, observed the monks exhibiting short jerky looking
movements, what he saw was the use of the legs and waist to generate power
in techniques instead of the usual upper body-oriented power prevalent
in the Shaolin styles. This action with the waist is a torquing movement
that sends the kinetic energy up through the body and limbs combined with
short efficient movement to culminate forcefully into the target.
The skills that make Seven Star Praying Mantis so effective are based
on balance, coordination, and body-linked "supple" movement.
This way the power generated in the waist can travel through the body
efficiently. It is this efficiency that made the Seven Star Praying Mantis
system superior to the Shaolin approach. This waist-torque method of generating
power does not require as much physical strength to have powerful techniques
as the more muscular oriented "hard Shaolin styles." In fact,
when fighting, this method offers quite efficient movement and aerobically
does not require as much physical exertion. With its shorter movements
it also consists of extremely fast techniques.
Within the root forms of Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu are the techniques
that make the system extremely practical. The Shaolin temple monks worked
diligently to develop Wang’s Praying Mantis art to a high level,
By the time Sheng Xiao Dao Ren learned the system there was a variety
of different forms to round out the style.
The Forms
The Seven Praying Mantis forms that Sheng Xiao Dao Ren learned from Wong’s
monk students were made up of the following branches of Praying Mantis
from the Shaolin temple: Chi Xieng (Seven Star style), Mei Hua (Plum Flower
style), Guang Bang (Shiny Board style) Chang Chuan (Long Fist style),
and Fan Che (Chariot style). The Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu style,
as it is taught today, is made up of 50% Chi Xieng (Seven Star style),
30% Mei Hua (Plum Flower style), and 20% Guang Bang (Shiny Board style).
The Praying Mantis style, Guang Bang (Shiny Board style) is the root style
of both Chang Chuan (Long Fist style) and Fan Che (Chariot style). Forms
from each branch of Praying Mantis were adopted to create the Seven Star
Praying Mantis system. Each form teaches a somewhat different aspect of
Seven Star Praying Mantis.
It is believed that the monk students of Wang Lang created the different
Praying Mantis systems at the Shaolin temple. They did so to put a different
emphasis on each style according to their own experiences. The Taoist,
Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, during his stay at the Shaolin temple, had the opportunity
to learn these different Praying Mantis systems and their forms from these
Shaolin monks and later pass them on.
From the Chi Xieng (Seven Star style) the forms are: Beng Bu (Crushing
Step), Shyh Ba Sou (Eighteen Old Men), Duo Gang (Concealing the Hard),
Tang Lang Chu Dong (Praying Mantis Exits the Cave), Tang Lang Tou Tau
(Praying Mantis Steals the Peach), and Mei Hua Shou (Plum Flower Hand).
Beng Bu is the foundation form of northern Praying Mantis. It contains
the twelve character principles that Wang Lang used to formulate the original
Praying Mantis system. Most branches of northern Praying Mantis recognize
that Beng Bu was the first form created by Wang Lang.
Mei Hua (Plum Flower style) contributes a number of forms to the northern
Praying Mantis kung fu system: Mei Hua Chuan (Plum Flower Fist), Yi Lu
Jai Yaw, Er Lu Jai Yaw, and San Lu Jai Yaw (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Route Essence).
From the Guang Bang (Shiny Board style) come the forms Mei Hua Luo (Plum,
Flower Falling), Da Gia Shyh (Big Gesture Form), and Xiou Gia Shyh (Small
Gesture Form).
From Chang Chuan (Long Fist style) come two fist forms, Cha Chuey (Piercing
Fist), and Syh Lu Bun Da (Four Direction Fist).
There are two fist forms from the Fan Che (Chariot style), called Da Fan
Che (Big Chariot ) and Xiao Fan Che (Little Chariot).
It is these original Praying mantis forms that Sheng Xiao Dao Ren used
to formulate the current Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu system. Although
there are additional forms in the Seven Star Praying Mantis style contained
within the original ones are all the principles and concepts of the system.
It is possible with these original sets to master the complete system.
Trapping
It was from Wang Lang’s observations of the Praying Mantis insect
that he created his Seven Star Praying Mantis fighting style’s default
to the trapping range. Practitioners of the Seven Star Praying Mantis
system don’t just learn the forms and two-man sets to become proficient
at this style’s default fighting range. They practice a free style
exercise called "sticky hands" that takes all the theory, concepts
and techniques and puts them into practice in the realm of trapping.
This free style practice of sticky hands is meant help the Seven Star
Praying Mantis practitioner to develop abilities in sensitivity, deflection,
and dissolving skills. These skills, combined with balanced supple coordinated
movement, makes trapping abilities capable of defeating other ranges of
fighting.
Students of the Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu style that learn free
style sticky hands begin with a series of prearranged short drills that
teach the fundamentals of trapping skills. The objective of these drills
is to create response patterns while the two practitioners are attacking
and defending with trapping tactics. As the practitioners become more
confident they can practice the drills with some speed and intent. This
adds an element of realism to the practice, which helps lead to the next
level of development.
The prearranged drills start out with only hand techniques. The next step
is to try the free "style sticky hands only" practice. To begin
a free style sticky hands session the two practitioner’s pair up
with contact at their lead right wrists. While keeping constant contact
the two partners try to trap and strike (with a controlled open palm)
while at the same time trying keeping their partner from accomplishing
the same scoring tactics.
The next level of training in sticky hands is the addition of kicking.
Prior to adding kicking to sticky hands practice there is an introduction
of sticky legs practice. To initiate the student’s understanding
of sticky legs they start with a developmental exercise. Two practitioner’s
pair-up and hold each other’s right shoulder with their right hand.
At the same time the two partners connect their right legs at the ankle
and hold them off the ground. To begin the exercise each person tries
to lightly tap the person on his or her support leg while maintaining
lead leg contact. An additional aspect of the exercise objective is keeping
one’s balance while attempting to keep the other person from touching
your support leg.
Sticky legs exercises, such as this one, serve to teach the Seven Star
Praying Mantis student how to deflect a kicking attack and enter the trapping
range by sticking to the opponent’s leg. This also helps facilitate
entering the hand-trapping range. All of this must be accomplished with
unfailing balance.
At the point where sticky legs has been experienced enough to attain some
confidence, the students are then reintroduced to the trapping drills
with the kicks added in. This means that the same sticky hand drills done
earlier can have a cross kick added and combined with the trapping tactics
of the exercise.
Once the trapping drills with the added kicks are practiced enough, the
students can then employ kicking while practicing free style sticky hands.
This accomplishes an important objective: the ability to use sensitivity
skills and trapping skills while the opponent is attempting to kick.
It is the emphasis on trapping tactics that really makes the Seven Star
Praying Mantis kung fu system a complete martial art. All the ranges of
fighting: long range with kicking tactics, middle range with hand techniques,
trapping range, and grappling range can be neutralized by the skill of
controlling the opponent’s body by the manipulation of the major
joints. When, for example, an elbow, shoulder or knee is maneuvered in
certain direction then the body will follow. This creates an opportunity
to neutralize or control the opponent.
Against Other Styles
When a Seven Star Praying Mantis practitioner gains experience against
other styles of fighting then he can apply the principles and concepts
of his system to overcome each type of fighting approach. This includes,
for example, grappling on the ground. Once the skills of a ground-grappling
stylist are understood the principles and concepts of Seven Star Praying
Mantis, such as redirection, joint manipulation, pressure point attacks,
and trapping tactics can be employed to successfully neutralize and defend
against this fighting range.
At times a Seven Star Praying Mantis stylist may face a kicking-oriented
attacker. He can deflect and stick to the opponent’s kicks and enter
to a trapping range and set up a counter-attack. Similarly a hand-oriented
attack can lead the Seven Star Praying Mantis exponent to use a deflection
technique to set up trapping tactics. As well a stand up grappler can
be neutralized and counter attacked by the deflective skills that are
contained in trapping.
Strategy
Strategy is everything at the advanced level of Seven Star Praying Mantis
Kung Fu. The type (size) and style of an attacker will dictate the tactics
used by the Seven Star Praying Mantis stylist. If the opponent is larger
and stronger then the strategy will be different from one that is smaller
or weaker. A larger stronger opponent, for example, may resort to direct
attacks from the kicking or hand technique ranges.
The strategy to neutralize these type of attacks revolves around a hit
and run approach with indirect attacks. If the opponent succeeds in closing
the gap then trapping skills are called into play to effect a successful
counter measure. The system was created and continues to evolve to always
have a strategic tactic to deal with what ever attack the Seven Star Praying
Mantis Kung Fu practitioner may face.
Conclusion
Since the Seven Star Praying Mantis practitioner practices all the ranges
of fighting they can easily adjust to each one. The waist power concept
and the default to trapping skills, combined with an adaptable strategic
fighting approach, makes Seven Star Praying Mantis a complete fighting
art that suits all people regardless of gender or size.