The Shaolin Praying Mantis

[Luo Lang]

Great post Michael, thanks for that!

I shall post soon!

Warmest regards,

Roland.

[Anthony S]

Dear Brother Roland,

You've done an incredible job in this thread. This rare course is going to be fantastic and I'm really looking forward to it.

[Luo Lang]

1. First Emperor's Long Fist- This relates to, I think, generally the flowing qualities of this kung fu set. Specifically, I think the application is a simple straightforward and long-reaching attack.

I agree, the Set gets a very nice flow with this feature. It a very good middle attack and with its stance it has a long reach. It's very nice for pressing attacks. Then it gives a student a very good tool to train the Yin Yang harmony, starting from the rare, back leg, contoling by the waist and ending with the fist. The pattern is also very well to be used for exploding force.

2. Han Tong's Extended Arm- If the First Emperor's Long Fist relates to linear attacks, I imagine this relates to chopping attacks.

The Choping may also be used diagonally. One may chop a head or shoulder or one may chop an extended arm. One may even chop an attacking leg. With the combination of the seven star stance it may become quite tricky. One may kick an opponent from below at the same time, making the feature to a kind of no shadow kick.

3. Zhang En's Close and Cover- My Sifu says that these dynamic and tricky movements are a definitive feature of Tanglangquan. I think that it is about close-in fighting and the use of diversionary movements.

Your Sifu is very right with his statement. Performed in the Seven Star stance it open a whole range of close combat possibilities. one may kick at the same time. Then it's a well use of the strategy: Signal to the west attcking from the East.

I shall elaborate more later, give others the possibility to make use of finding out other possible applications.

Best regards,

Roland.

[Michael S]

I shall elaborate more later, give others the possibility to make use of finding out other possible applications.

Looking forward to it.

Cheers,
Mike

[Anthony S]

Many thanks to Roland's student Thomas for inserting the names onto the video. This is very helpful.

[Luo Lang]

4. Wen Yuan's Short Strike- Perhaps a close-in manifestation of the principle of simultaneous attack and defense? Also, the lower hand in the Seven Star Turn Cart movement travels in such a way as to build a strong blow despite hitting such a near target.

Yes it may be manifested with the tactic defence cum counter:
Let's imagine an opponent attack with a Cover Hand Trust Punch, left leg front, right hand punch.

The defender anwers by a right Sigle Tiger, grips the right hand. Now the attacker may move his right hand in a clockwise circular lifting upward manner to close and open the oppontent at the same time.

At the same time he moves his back leg in front changing into the seven star stance and simultaneously strikes the right side rips with his left hand. He may also use his left leg to kich at the same time.

5. Ma Ji's Close Combat- The Seven-Star Stance has an excellent method of footwork that can be used to retreat, dodge, trap or attack at a short distance from the opponent. Perhaps this was inherited from Ma Ji.

With all advantages you mentioned with the seven start stance, this feature may be an excellent way to follow up an attack within a relatively short time and not too much movement. Imagine the defender from my previosu example counters with making a step back to the lft false leg stance and brushing away the left attacking arm with a Golden Dragon. The attacker may smoothly following up with another fast attack.

6. Sun Heng's Monkey Style- The Monkey lends methods of light movement and graceful evasions. Perhaps the extended arms keep an aggressor at bay and make one appear close despite being at arm's length.

It's an excellent Way to avoid any forceful attack. besides that it may be a good way to bring some agility and trickiness into this style.

[Luo Lang]

Hi there,
I went trough the Set this evening and I must honestly say: mindblowing.....I am not the man who easily says such things though.

Every pattern, better said every feature offers a great great variaty of very effective applications.

Not only that the set offers another great simple Way to train form, energy and mind. All we did tonight was, One Finger Zen and then staight went to the patterns, linked the patterns together and ended with performing the Set a few times. On the form level.

The feedback was amazing, people felt charged, were fresh full of internal force and you could see the clarity of mind! Zen!

Now imagine Sifu himself teaching the set on his level!!! I am pretty sure there will be a lot of Kung Fu satoris if not others as well

It represents really a very very good Way to train Zen. why? it's a matter of how the set's spirit and its features, patterns are developed and put together. Many people may ask why this set is like it is. It's like it is because:

a.) It contents the best features of time of some of the greatest Masters of time.

b.) It was created by a great discliple with help of his Sifu a Zen Master

c.) It was trained and developed by some of the best monks at the temple


From practical direct experience I wanted to wait with sharing the practical aspects though to see how the reaction of students was.

That said, it's true that this Set provides all genuine Kung Fu can provide:
Good health, tremendous internal force, agility, smoothness, mental clarity and spiritual cultivation.

And wait yes we haven't even come yet to the special force training and the profound applications

Stay tuned.

Best wishes,

Roland

[Michael S]

I certainly did not see those applications . By the way, did you get my message about how I won't be able to attend? I hope the rest of you enjoy it as much as I was planning on, though.

[Luo Lang]

Hello Michael,
No worries about that!

We will share the outcome of the course for sure. There will be lot's of videotapes which will be shared, so that people who will not be able to attend have the opportunity to benefit as well.

Best regards,

Roland

[Luo Lang]

The 18 Lohanarts

Dear all,
You will be excited to read that we have apploaded some pictures of the 18 Lohanarts. The thread is meant to give students a taste and we ask you kindly not to train them by your own.

Here we go:

http://wongkiewkit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=96941&posted=1#post96941

Have some fun!

[Martin Do]

Hello everyone ,

I just wanted to wish my kungfu brother Sifu Nick Jones and my kungfu uncle Paul as well as all course participants all the very very best with this beautiful style of kungfu.

Martin

[Anthony S]

playing a fun game

Sifu gave us an assignment. He told us that at least one and perhaps two of the patterns from the 18 Collection Set can be used as an effective counter against all kicks. This is very useful as we discuss and try out different patterns against all kicks. It will be fun for the attendees to confirm which patterns these are.

Perhaps some want to play this game on their own and see what they themselves can learn from this type of game.

[Michael S]

Dear Sifu Spinicchia,

It can't be Jump Step Avoid Force, right? That seems it could negate a kick but not counter it. And Double Hooks Sweep Leg sounds much too obvious. Still, that's my guess.

[Luo Lang]

Hi Michael,
You are right on this!

For all students here I have put some words in another thread!

http://wongkiewkit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=97194#post97194

[Luo Lang]

PM Course material

Dear all,
You will find some interesting insights about Shaolin Praying mantis here:

http://www.shaolin.org/video-clips-6/praying-mantis/praying-mantis-01/overview.html

Best regards,

Roland.