The Shaolin Praying Mantis

[Nick Jones]

After having seen the video, I feel like I've fallen in love all over again.

Such a powerful, flowing and direct performance of the set. The energy in it is palpable.

I'm really excited about attending this course - I can see the benefits to my kung fu and to my life from practising this set are going to be fantastic.

I've learnt the form of about half the set and am amazed how natural it feels. There are so many awesome courses on offer. It seems the summer of '10 is the new summer of love

Nick

[Luo Lang]

Yes the 10 Tigers of Canton take care this year...it is a wonderful year and I am very looking forward to the Great Majestic Set...

[drunken boxer]

Dear Roland Siheng, or anyone else who can help, can any of you help me out to describe the handform of the Mantis Claw - is it like the monkey paw, or like the crane beak, or like the knuckle strike in Wing Choon, or is it different than them all. is the first finger protruding like in other Mantis schools, are the fingers touching each other etc. I've been doing it different ways when practising the set, and they all feel good (because I've been taught them all by Sifu) but it would probably be best to practice the proper form I guess... or if it doesn't matter, no worries!

[Luo Lang]

can any of you help me out to describe the handform of the Mantis Claw - is it like the monkey paw, or like the crane beak, or like the knuckle strike in Wing Choon,

Dear Paul,
The handform is quite similar to both Monkey Paw and Crane Beak. The Index Finger though may be a little more dominant. But i all the hand forms the wrist is slightly bent and the strike is done with the knuckles.

The application as said covers striking with the knuckles and of course to brush away incoming attacks on top middle and lowlevel. The use is almost effortless it is quite a soft technique.

Best regards

[Luo Lang]

18 features of Praying mantis Kung Fu

The 18 feautures of Praying Mantis Kung Fu, the best ones at time are listed up now.

Enjoy:

http://wongkiewkit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=96064#post96064

[drunken boxer]

Dear Paul,
The handform is quite similar to both Monkey Paw and Crane Beak. The Index Finger though may be a little more dominant. But i all the hand forms the wrist is slightly bent and the strike is done with the knuckles.

Many thanks, one further question are the thumb and finger(s) touching in this, as that is the main difference between crane beak as I understand it and the other similar handforms, I find this affects the chi flow... actually just as I've been typing this, thinking about it I was experimenting and sending the chi to this with first finger more prominent and I think I've got it! It looks like the Mantis Paw and feels very nice so I'll go with that!

Last question for now is, I have now learned the "rough sketch" of the form, is that all we have to learn or do we have to learn anything else like the 18 arts?

[Luo Lang]

Dear Paul,
The thumb may touch the index finger slightly, that is right.

Besides the Set Sifu will teach the skills to use it properly and to go into the depht. He will also teach the 18 Lohanarts internal force training. Besides that, Sifu will for sure pointing the essence and the spirit out and he will do a lot of applivation of the 18 features. Praying Mantis for example defending against chain punches. Or how would Praying Mantis defend against kicks.

Best regards,

[Kingmonkey]

What a awsomely wonderful set, essence, powerful, energizing, simple, direct and effective, what more could I say. .....

I love it!
Pat

[Luo Lang]

What a awsomely wonderful set, essence, powerful, energizing, simple, direct and effective, what more could I say. .....

Wang Lang's Sifu, who was the Abbot was a Zen Master

[wooden shoes]

I have booked my flight and I am really looking forward to the course!
As for Praying Mantis defence against kicks, these pictures from Sifu's Q&A really look amazing.. Many thanks to Sifu for teaching this course and to Roland Sihing for organising it!

[Luo Lang]

A simple reminder

Dear all:

For all who have missed the opportunity of taking a Special course we still have another one coming in Switzerland. Praying Mantis will enhance all your Kung Fu. You will learn the best 18 techniques at time. The best of the best techniques, some of them are found in our syllabus or in the Triple Stretch. You will get another meaning of them and another deep understanding. Then on top of that as it's not enough, Sifu will teach the 18 Lohanarts, a unique Set of force training exercises, which was and still is a prerogative of Past Masters. The 18 Lohanarts are a development of the 18 Lohanhands, meant for Warrior monks and Scholar warriors to develop tremendous internal force, mental clarity and spiritual joys.

The Sap Pat Sau Set is very very Zen like. Simple but profound. Your Zen training will much deepened and enhanced by training this Set. It's simple direct and very effective.

[Michael S]

Lohan Arts

Dear Wahnam students and my fellow guests,

Is anyone else as curious about the Lohan Arts as I am? Some time ago I purchased an ebook on them by a Kung Fu great-granduncle out of curiosity and found them to be very well suited to Praying Mantis Kung Fu, prominently featuring the seven-star stance and the circle-entering stance (roughly the equivalent to your Shaolin Unicorn Step) which are not to my knowledge commonly found outside of Mantis Kung Fu.

Mainly, I am curious as to if perhaps this version of the Lohan Arts is adapted to fit Mantis Kung Fu or if perhaps Mantis Kung Fu was designed along the lines of the Lohan Arts.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[Luo Lang]

Exciting News

Hello all,
Michael and many more were asking about the 18 Lohanarts and how they may look like or performed like. The exciting news are that we will provide them very soon on video.

Meanwhile we still have many things to discuss further. So I like to discuss the 18 features or techniques of the Sap Pat Sau Set.

What possible application do you find? the discussion is meant for all participants here on the forum. We have now the Set in pictures, the Set on video, the features in pictures.

All Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan students and instructors are kindly invited to take part. It is great fun and may enhance your skilllevel.

Let's have some fun...

Best regards

[Luo Lang]

For learning purposes my student Thomas has edited the 18 Collection Set and addes the names of the techniques and the features. The addition may appear quite fast, but it's a good training of your awareness and Shen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t8nCGtdUgE

best regards

[Michael S]

Dear Roland,

I think this set is rich in applications. I see the features as follows:

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

7. Huang Nian's Hand-Anchor- To hold or "anchor" an opponent can leave him vulnerable to certain otherwise impractical attacks. In this case, elbow strikes are usually only good at short distances but if your opponent is anchored, you can use elbow at a range and come inside the opponent's defence.

8. Mien Shen's Cotton Palm- This one is excellent. It looks to me as though Sifu Wong skillfully neutralizes a series of defensive strikes while pressing and subsequently attacking in the Double Covers Palm Strike pattern. I will be sure to practice this heavily as it looks difficult to do without speed, internal force and expert timing.

9. Jin Xiang's Deflect and Strike- Another way to penetrate a defense, I imagine.

10. Huai De's Grab and Throw- An opponent can be thrown to the ground even if he is at arm's length.

11. Liu Xing's Hook and Grip- A master of this can grasp an opponent on contact, skillfully neutralizing pressing attacks and taking the initiative.

12. Tan Fang's Ear-Strike- A light and hard-to-see attack that hits a sensitive area.

13. Yan Qing's Felling Techniques- Kicks can be countered with a good throw.

14. Lin Chong's Continuous Kicks- Kicks can also put an opponent on the defensive. In this case it is excellent to use a series of kicks to press him.

15. Meng Su's Seven-Step Pressing- More to do with pressing . This aspect seems good for following up long attacks with short when you are close to the opponent.

16. Cui Lian's Strike from Bosom- A fast chest-level strike. Perhaps combined with forward momentum in what Western martial artists call "bursting".

17. Yang Gun's Gripping Techniques- Perhaps one draws the opponent's hands back before delivering one's own attack.

18. Wang Lang's Praying Mantis- The Hook Hand is good for a number of gripping techniques.


Unfortunately, my answers seem to have become sloppier as I wrote but I wanted to finish my list in one go. Mainly so that I can see how other's think differently.