The Shaolin Praying Mantis

[Luo Lang]

Wow, guys! The things get rolling!

I am currently quite busy, well yes with the Praying Mantis and some other tasks!

But, soon I shall send a post with extraordinary exciting marerial to make the things more simple for you! Stay tuned!

Best regards,

[AlexBaranosky]

I have some hints from Sifu about the Monkey pattern and the Hand Anchor pattern:

Monkey likes to turn its head, and Anchor means Support.

&

Besides turning its head, Monkey also likes to jump about.

[Luo Lang]

I have some hints from Sifu about the Monkey pattern and the Hand Anchor pattern:

Quote:
Monkey likes to turn its head, and Anchor means Support.
&

Quote:
Besides turning its head, Monkey also likes to jump about.

, yes. ahhmmm, yes!

[Luo Lang]

Dear all,
To make things easier and more comfortable for you, here is a list of 41 patterns shon in the video clip, with the time appearance.

Now the aim to relate the patterns with the features!

Have some fun!

1. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.02)
2. Seven-Star Chop Fist (0.3)
3. Grip Hand Lift Knee (0.04, 0.05)
4. Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike (0.6)
5. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.07)
6. Ascend Mountain Thrust Punch (0.08, 0.09)
7. Seven –Star Thrust Punch (0.10)
8. Slant Body Swing Hand (0.11, 0.12)
9. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.13)
10. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.14)
11. Seven Star Chop Fist (0.15)
12. Grip Hand Lift Knee (0.16, 0.17)
13. Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike (0.18)
14. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.19)
15. Ascend Mountain Thrust Punch (0.20, 0.21)
16. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.22)
17. Slant Body Swing Hand (0.23, 0.24)
18. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.25)
19. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.26)
20. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.27)
21. Jump Step Avoid Force (0.28, 0.29)
22. Jump Step Avoid force (0.30)
23. Ascend Mountain Double Fists (0.31- 0.33)
24. Grip Hand Lift Knee (.34, 0.35)
25. Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike (0.36)
26. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.37)
27. Ascend Mountain Chop Fist (0.38)
28. Cover Hand Thrust Punch (0.39)
29. Seven-Star Turn Cart (0.40)
30. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.41. 0.42)
31. Bosom Strike Lift Leg (0.43, 0.44)
32. Lift-Strike Lift Leg (0.45)
33. Seven-Star Chop Fist (0.46)
34. Double Hooks Sweep Leg (0.47, 0.48)
35. Double Covers Palm Strike (0.49, 0.50)
36. Distract-Trick Chop Waist (0.51, 0.52)
37. Ascend Mountain Ear Strike (0.53)
38. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.54)
39. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.55)
40. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.56)
41. Riding Tiger Catching Cicadas (0.57. 0.58)

Respectfully,

Roland

[AlexBaranosky]

Have we found the monkey?

21. Jump Step Avoid Force (0.28, 0.29)
22. Jump Step Avoid force (0.30)

[Luo Lang]

Hi Alex,
Could be a Monkey feature, it's not wrong, but there are more obvious pattern where the Monkeyfeature is represented!

[Kingmonkey]

Hi Alex,
Could be a Monkey feature, it's not wrong, but there are more obvious pattern where the Monkeyfeature is represented!

34. Double Hooks Sweep Leg (0.47, 0.48) ?
31. Bosom Strike Lift Leg (0.43, 0.44) ?
32. Lift-Strike Lift Leg (0.45)?

[Luo Lang]

Alex and your answers are not that wrong, as many patterns may content several features!

My suggestion is, don't fix yourself too much on Shaolin Monkey. Wang Lang took the best features out of the Monkey style, not the entire spirit and techniques. You'll see, you get a clearer view!

[Luo Lang]

Read carefully

Hi there,
As I said, most suggestions and opinions are not wrong at all! Actually there is no absolut right or wrong.

Why? As Matt stated and that's very obvious and correct, that one pattern may content several features at the same time. The other Way round it's the same, a specific feature may be found in several patterns.

To make it simple as said, it's important first to match one pattern with one feature. Later on we will have lot of fun to expand the features with a single pattern and vice versa.

I shall post a list later on, which I have created to help you further. Actually I will post two lists. You will have great fun for sure

Sifu, and that's very special observes this thread with great interest neutrally. BTW he is very happy with the thread and the posts so far. He will, when the time is right provide his views also.

Then to rememeber Sifu told me again, that the 18 collection Set does in fact content the 18 best features of that time. Now that exciting by itself. But what's more exciting is that we dind't even come to discuss about The Internal force training! Now be sure it's simply amazing and very very powerful. But we shall leave that away for the time beeing. Again it's a prerogative of Great Masters only and was kept secretively. I mean, we know the force training of Wing Choon or Hoong Gar, allthough not many train it like that. But does anyone have a clue about the Internal force training of Mantis Masters? I bet, no matter how long you will search for you will not getting any infromation about that!

So for those who just read and didn't participate:

Those who didn't practicipate so far miss a GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE YOUR SKILLS. But there is still enough time to conribute.

That's what Sifu sais. And I just agree on that. This is something which in fact many of our students are not aware of. We create threads to enhance the training on another level. It's a bounustraining, look it that way. It's not about blabla, and talking blabla. In fact this thread contains wisdom and knowledge, which not even many PM practitioners are aware of. of course actual training is superiour, but this kind of training may enhance the actual training tremendously.

The thead was not created to advertise the Praying Mantis style but to enhance our skills. All students here on the forum, actually even those who don't even train Kung Fu may get a chance to deepen your skill level.

Let me be clear on this and that's coming from Sifu, you may enhance your Kung Fu when you take part here or even consider taking the course.

You don't have to get Praying Mantis specialists to get a tremendous benefit. You don't have to get Wing Choon specialists or Triple Stretch or Iron Wire if you don't feel like, but you may enhance you deph and scope. It's simply a wonderful bonus which will enhance your class training up to another dimension.

Let me be clear on this, if one wants to get heathly and keeping healthy and getting internal force then lifting sky is far enough for one life time. But isn't it wonderful that we may enrich our training when having also different execises to train? If we wouldn't offer or train the other 18 Lohanhands, we would not only face quite a boring training Repetiore, but we would allow that these other wonderful exercises, which also can provide excellent results would disappear. Imagine the Small universe not beeing thought because of this reasons, it would be lost.

The same goes with Praying Mantis Kung Fu, or Wing Choon or Hoong Gar Triple Stretch. It is in fact not a burden to have so much material, but rather a gift to help also not only getting maximum results but also help tp preserve this wonderful Arts. be sure guys, what i wrote goes fully in line with Sifu's point of view. Imagine, within three days you are able to learn a material for a life time. You almost learn everything to know about Praying Mantis within just three days, exept weapons.

So please those who didn't take part so far at this in my opinion very interesting discussion about a wonderful style wake up and take the chance.

[Luo Lang]

Relation of pattern and features and vice versa

Dear all,
To make it even more easy I have created two list which give a clue about the relation of features and patterns, respectively of the relation of patterns and features.

The lists are not complete. Sifu will observe how the work is going and letting us having some fun. Later on he shall provide his list, so that we are able to compare the results.

You may play around now and work on the different ralations as you see it!

Here are the lists:

Features to Patterns:

(1) First Emperor’s Long Fist -- Thrust Punch, Double Fists
(2) Han Tong’s Extended Arm – Elbow Strike, Turn Cart
(3) Zhang En’s Close and Cover
(4) Wen Yuan’s Short Strike
(5) Ma Ji’s Close Combat – Seven-Star Punch, Lift Knee, Chop Fist
(6) Sun Heng’s Monkey Style – Crush Fist, Catching Cicada
(7) Huang Nian’s Hand-Anchor
(8) Mien Shen’s Cotton Palm – Thrust, Chop Waist, Ear Strike
(9) Jin Xiang’s Deflect and Strike – Seven-Star Punch, Palm Strike
(10) Huai De’s Grab and Throw -- Double Fists, Sweep Leg
(11) Liu Xing’s Hook and Grip -- Chop Fist, Turn Cart
(12) Tan Fang’s Ear-Strike –- Ear Strike, Catching Cicada
(13) Xan Qing’s Felling Techniques – Double Fists, Sweep Leg, Chop Waist
(14).Lin Chong’s Continuous Kicks – Lift Leg, Sweep Leg
(15) Meng Su’s Seven-Step Pressing Attacks – Hook hand to Thrust Punch, Hook Hand to Lift Leg
(16) Cui Lian’s Strike from Bosom – Lift Knee
(17) Yang Gun’s Gripping Techniques – Sweep Leg
(18) Wang Lang’s Praying Mantis – Hook Hand, Crush Fist, Catching Cicada


Patterns to Features:

1. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.02) -- Praying Mantis, 1-11 Seven-Step
2. Seven-Star Chop Fist (0.3) – Hook and Grip
3. Grip Hand Lift Knee (0.04/0.05) – Bosom Strike
4. Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike (0.6) – Extended Arm
5. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.07)
6. Ascend Mountain Thrust Punch (0.08, 0.09) – Cotton Palm
7. Seven–Star Thrust Punch (0.10) – Close Combat, 0.10-0.20 Seven-Step
8. Slant Body Swing Hand (0.11, 0.12)
9. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.13)
10. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.14)
11. Seven Star Chop Fist (0.15)
12. Grip Hand Lift Knee (0.16/0.17)
13. Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike (0.18) – Close Combat
14. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.19)
15. Ascend Mountain Thrust Punch (0.20/0.21) – Cotton Palm, Long Fist
16. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.22)
17. Slant Body Swing Hand (0.23/0.24) – Felling Technique
18. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.25) – Praying Mantis
19. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.26)
20. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.27) – Deflect and Strike
21. Jump Step Avoid Force (0.28/0.29)
22. Jump Step Avoid force (0.30)
23. Ascend Mountain Double Fists (0.31/0.32/0.33) – Long Fist, Felling Technique, Grip and Throw
24. Grip Hand Lift Knee (0.34/0.35)
25. Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike (0.36)
26. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.37) – Ear Strike
27. Ascend Mountain Chop Fist (0.38) – Close Combat, Short Strike
28. Cover Hand Thrust Punch (0.39)
29. Seven-Star Turn Cart (0.40) – Extended Arm, Hook and Grip
30. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.41/0.42) – Seven-Step
31. Bosom Strike Lift Leg (0.43/0.44) – Continuous Kicks
32. Lift-Strike Lift Leg (0.45) – Continuous Kicks
33. Seven-Star Chop Fist (0.46)
34. Double Hooks Sweep Leg (0.47/0.48) – Grip and Throw, Felling Technique
35. Double Covers Palm Strike (0.49/0.50) – Deflect and Strike, Cotton Palm
36. Distract-Trick Chop Waist (0.51/0.52) – Cotton Palm, Felling Technique
37. Ascend Mountain Ear Strike (0.53) – Ear Strike
38. Ascend Mountain Crush Fist (0.54) -- Monkey
39. Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.55)
40. Seven-Star Thrust Punch (0.56)
41. Riding Tiger Catching Cicada (0.57/0.58) – Monkey, Praying Mantis

Best regards,

Roland

[Luo Lang]

Dear all,
Sifu has kindly and generously translated for us a Poem about the 18 features of Praying mantis Kung Fu. I shall post this poem later on! The poem by itself, is not very poetic, in both Chinese as well as in English, but it provides very useful information.

Sifu mentioned as well, that we may be the first ones who work that profound on the relation between patterns and features. So far, Sifu hasn't come to any texts, which analyse this relation that Way. Of course if some of you have any sources which also provide this kind of work, we'll be happy to get it.

This is another Great chance for me to thank Sifu from the Heart beeing able to learn to see Shaolin Kung Fu and any Kung from a different perspective.
Sifu for sure and that's probably not only my opinion is a Kung Fu genius. With his extraordinary deep and profound knowledge and experience about Kung Fu, as well as with the combination of his mental capacity as a result of his training all over the years, he may see suptle and hidden sectrets within a pattern or a feature easily fast.

While I was able to do some further researches I have experienced by myself a glimps of this skill. This is something actually which I experienced while teaching my regular classes. While teaching the regular combat sequences, some of my students came up to me and and told me, that allthough they spend sometimes years now with specific combat sequences, especially the basic ones, they would be surprised how profound they actually are.

This is actually what I believe, a bonus and a sideeffect of my researches in Praying Mantis Kung Fu. What I feel is that even with a Single Tiger I am only able not see it differently but also apply it differently.

There is coming a lot more over the next month!

Best regards and happy training

[Luo Lang]

The Poem of 18 styles in Praying Mantis Kung Fu

Here we go:

Originally posted by Sifu:
The Eighteen Styles of Praying Mantis Kungfu

Ta Zu’s Changquan or Emperor’s Long Fist to start
Han Tong’ Tongbei or Extended Arm as a base
Zhang En’s Chanfeng or Close and Cover
With Wen Yuan’s Duanquan or Short Strike be amazed

Ma Ji’s Duanda or Close Combat is marvelous
Sun Heng’s Houquan or Monkey is plentiful
With Huang Nian’s Kaoshou or Hand-Anchor keeps one away
Mien Shen’s Mien Zhang or Cotton Palm is wonderful

Jin Xiang’s Tongquan to deflect and strike
Hua De’s Shualue Yingbeng excels in grips and throws
Liu Xing’s Gou Lou Cai Shou to hook and grip
To the ear Tan Fang’s Gunlou Guaner leaks and flows

Yan Qing’s Zhanna Diefa or Grabbing and Felling are quick
Lin Chong’s Yuanyang Jiao or Mandarin Kicks to your bottom
Meng Su’s Qishi Lianquan or Seven-Step to Attack
Cui Lian’s Woli Paochui or Cannon Punch to your bosom

Yang Gun’s Kunlu Zhenru or grip and enter straight
Wang lang’s Tang Lang or Praying Mantis brings you to the gate

[Chiahua]

Hello Sihing,
The second by second linking of patterns to features was very illuminating! However, I didn't see where the Hand Anchor is mentioned... is it combined with some other feature?

Best,
Chia-Hua

[Andrea]

Dear Sifu, dear Sisook

I didn't see where the Hand Anchor is mentioned... is it combined with some other feature?

As the poem Sigung generously translated, says "Hand-Anchor keeps one away", could it be a feature seen for example in the "Seven-Star Hook Hand (0.02, 0.26, etc.) ?

Andrea

[Luo Lang]

Dear ChiaHua,
Basically I proveded my own list and it's not complete at all. The other thing is that it's kind of tricky. Like I said and it's becoming more and more obvious: Several features may be found in one pattern and One pattern may incororate several features.

So that said, at the end there is no definitivy right or wrong in whatever attempts you may offer. But as said this is Shaolin training on a extraordinary high level practiced, we try to make it simple first. Simple is to define one patters relating to one features. But even then, it may have some differences as again it's not definitiv.

Wile some may see a specific feauture in one pattern, others may see another one in the very same pattern. Now it comes to the view to look at it. Those with some experience and knowledge of Kung Fu may see the fundamental feauture, while others may see, and that's not wrong at all possible additional features.

Dear Andrea,
The Seven Star Hock Hand is relating with Wang Lang's Praying Mantis, this is the most obvious where Wang Lang's feature is shown.

The Hand Anchor is most obviously found in the pattern Ascend Mountain Ellbow Strike.

You ma yguess why?