Northern Praying Mantis (martial art)

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For the Southern Chinese self-defence technique of the Hakka people, see Southern Praying Mantis (martial art).

Northern Praying Mantis (Chinese: 螳螂拳; pinyin: tánglángquán; literally "praying mantis fist") is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after its province of origin. It was created by Wang Lang and was named after the praying mantis, an insect, the aggressiveness of which inspired the style. One Mantis legend places the creation of the style in the Song Dynasty when Wang Lang was supposedly one of the 18 masters gathered by the Abbot Fu Ju (Chinese: 福居), a legendary persona of the historical Abbot Fu Yu (Chinese: 福裕) (1203-1275), to improve Shaolin martial arts.[1] However, most legends place Wang Lang in the late Ming Dynasty.[2][3]

The mantis is a long and narrow predatory insect. While heavily armoured, it is not built to withstand forces from perpendicular directions. Consequently, its fighting style involves the use of whip-like/circular motions to deflect direct attacks, which it follows up with precise attacks to the opponent's vital spots. These traits have been subsumed into the Northern Praying Mantis style, under the rubric of "removing something" (blocking to create a gap) and "adding something" (rapid attack).

One of the most distinctive features of Northern Praying Mantis is the "praying mantis hook" (螳螂勾; pinyin: tángláng gōu): a hook made of one to three fingers directing force in a whip-like manner. The hook may be used to divert force (blocking) or to attack critical spots (eyes or acupuncture points). These are particularly useful in combination, for example using the force imparted from a block to power an attack. So if the enemy punches with the right hand, a Northern Praying Mantis practitioner might hook outwards with the left hand (shifting the body to the left) and use the turning force to attack the enemy's neck with a right hook. Alternately, he/she might divert downwards with the left hook and rebound with the left wrist stump to jaw/nose/throat.

Northern Praying Mantis is especially famous for its speed and continuous attacks. Another prominent feature of the style is its complex footwork, borrowed from Monkey Kung Fu.

Contents

[edit] Origins

There are many legends surrounding the creation of Northern Praying Mantis boxing. One legend attributes the creation of Mantis fist to the Song Dynasty when Abbot Fu Ju (Chinese: 福居), a legendary persona of the historical Abbot Fu Yu (Chinese: 福裕) (1203-1275), invited Wang Lang (Chinese: 王朗) and seventeen other masters to come and improve the martial arts of Shaolin.[1] The Abbot recorded all of the techniques in a manual called the Mishou (Chinese: 祕手 – “Secret Hands”) and later passed it onto the Taoist priest Shen Xiao Dao Ren. This manual supposedly disappeared until the Qianlong reign era when it was published under the name Luóhàn Xínggōng Duǎn Dǎ (Chinese: 罗汉行功短打).[4] Some sources place the folk manuscript's publication on the “sixteenth day of the third month of the spring of 1794”.[5] The manual records Wang Lang “absorbed and equalized all previous techniques” learned from the 17 other masters.[2][5]

The 18 Masters Invited to Shaolin
# Name Technique Master
1 Chang Quan Long-range Boxing Emperor Taizu
2 Tonbei Through the Back Han Tong
3 Chan Feng Wrap Around and Seal Zhang En
4 Duanda Close-range Strikes Ma Ji
5 Keshou Tongquan Blocking Hands and Following Through Fist Jin Xiang
6 Gou Lou Cai Shou Hooking, Scooping and Grabbing Hands Liu Xing
7 Zhanna Diefa Methods of Sticking, Grabbing, and Falling Yan Qing
8 Duan Quan Short Boxing Wen Yuan
9 Hou Quan Monkey Boxing Sun Heng
10 Mien Quan Cotton Fist Mien Shen
11 Shuailue Yingbeng Throwing-Grabbing and Hard Crashing Huai De
12 Gunlou Guaner Ducking, Leaking and Passing through the Ears Tan Fang
13 Yuanyang Jiao Mandarin ducks kicking technique Lin Chong
14 Qishi Lianquan Seven Postures of Continuous Fist Strikes Meng Su
15 Kunlu Zhenru Hand Binding and Grabbing Yang Gun
16 Woli Paochui Explosive Strikes into the Hollow Body Parts Cui Lian
17 Kao Shou Close Range Hand Techniques Huang You
18 Tanglang Praying Mantis Wang Lang

A full one third of the masters listed all come from fictional novels. Yan Qing (#7) and Lin Chong (#13) come from the Water Margin and Emperor Taizu (#1), Han Tong (#2), Zhang En (#3) and Huai De (#11) come from the Fei Long Quan Zhuan (Chinese: 飞龙全传 – “The Complete Flying Dragon Biography”).[6]

Another legend connected to the Song Dynasty states Wang Lang participated in a Lei tai contest in the capital city of Kaifeng and was defeated by General Han Tong (Chinese: 韩通), the founder of Tongbeiquan. After leaving the fighting arena, he saw a brave praying mantis attacking the wheels of oncoming carts with its "broadsword-like" arms, Mantis fist was born shortly thereafter.[7] However, most legends place Wang Ming living in the late Ming Dynasty.[2][3]

[edit] Connection with General Yue Fei

As previously stated, the Water Margin bandits Lin Chong and Yan Qing, the adopted of Lu Junyi, were apart of the 18 master invited to Shaolin by the legendary Abbot Fuju. According to the folklore biography of Song Dynasty General Yue Fei, Lin Chong and Lu Junyi were former students of Jow Tong, the general’s archery teacher.[8] One martial legend states Jow Tong learned Chuojiao boxing from its originator Deng Liang (Chinese: 邓良) and then passed it onto Yue Fei.[9] Chuojiao is also known as the "Water Margin Outlaw style" and Yuānyāng Tuǐ (Chinese: 鴛鴦腿 - "Mandarin Duck Leg").[10] In the Water Margin's twenty-ninth chapter, entitled "Wu Song, Drunk, Beats Jiang the Gate Guard Giant", it mentions Wu Song, another of Jow Tong's fictional students, using the "Jade Circle-Steps with Duck and Drake feet".[11] Lin Chong is listed above as being a master of “Mandarin ducks kicking technique”, which creates a link between Mantis fist and General Yue Fei.

[edit] Styles

[edit] Widespread styles

There are several styles of Northern Praying Mantis, the most famous of which are:

[edit] Seven Star Praying Mantis Boxing 七星螳螂拳

pinyin: qī xīng tángláng quán

This style is the original form of praying mantis kung fu and is widespread in the Shandong Province and surrounding areas. Luó Guāngyù (羅光玉) is famous for having passed down this style to Hong Kong and other parts of Southern China, where it is still practiced today. Seven Star is considered by many as the 'hardest' of the Praying Mantis styles, however it still utilizes soft-hard principles and is classified as a soft-hard style.

[edit] Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Boxing 梅花螳螂拳

pinyin: méihuā tángláng quán

One of the oldest among all Northern Parying Mantis styles, Méihuā Tángláng (Plum Blossom Praying Mantis) is widespread in Shandong Province , Jilin, Liaoning and South Korea. Méihuā Tángláng (Plum Blossom Praying Mantis) traces its lineage directly from Li Bingxiao (b.1700s) to Zhao Zhu to Liang Xuexiang (1810-1895). Liang Xuexiang was the first master to use the name of Plum Blossom. Liang Xuexiang's disciples, mainly Jiang Hualong, Liang Jingchuan, Sun Yuanchang, Hao Hong and Xiu Kunshan are responsible for popularisation of this style in the 20th century. In the early 1900s, Méihuā Tángláng (Plum Blossom Praying Mantis) heavily influenced the development of Taiji Tanglang of Cui Shoushan and Wang Yushan, Taiji Meihua Tanglang of Hao Family, Taiji Tanglang of Zhao Zhuxi and Babu Tanglang of Wei Xiaotang.

[edit] Tàijí Praying Mantis Boxing 太極螳螂拳

pinyin: tàijí tángláng quán

Today this style is represented by two distinct lineages. The first one is Tàijí Tángláng of Cui Shoushan and Wang Yushan and is based on Song Zide and Jiang Hualong's Plum Blossom Praying Mantis teachings in Laiyang, Shandong Province. It is popular in Laiyang, Yantai, Qingdao, Dalian, North America, Russia, France and Spain. The second lineage can be traced to Sun Yuanchang's Méihuā Tángláng (Plum Blossom Praying Mantis), who was yet another disciple of Liang Xuexiang. Its most famous progenitor is Zhao Zhu Xi, who is said to have taught (both directly and indirectly) thousands of students during his lifetime in Vietnam and Hong Kong, who have since spread to all corners of the globe. He was given the (Cantonese) nickname Chuk Kai, meaning "Bamboo Creek", for a famous battle he fought with bandits at that location. This style has since become prevalent in places such as Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and North America.

[edit] Tàijí Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Boxing 太極梅花螳螂拳

pinyin: tàijíméihuā tángláng quán

This style is, historically, a combination of two different lineages of Northern Praying Mantis: Tàijí Praying Mantis and Méihuā Tángláng (Plum Blossom Praying Mantis). This style is widespread in Yantai, Qingdao, Beijing, Dalian, Harbin, etc. What is now called Tàijí Plum Blossom Praying Mantis traces its lineage to Hao Lianru (郝蓮茹)—a disciple of Liang Xuexiang, his sons Hao Henglu, Hao Hengxin and his grandson Hao Bin. The later three combined both Tàijí Praying Mantis and Méihuā Tángláng (Plum Blossom Praying Mantis) in the early 20th Century, creating Tàijí Méihuā Tángláng Quán. Hao Lianru's five sons have since spread the style elsewhere. This style is well-known for its large, two-handed sword, and for being somewhat 'softer' than Seven Star Praying Mantis.

[edit] Six Harmony Praying Mantis Boxing 六合螳螂拳

pinyin: liù hé tángláng quán

Known as the 'softest' or most 'internal' of the Praying Mantis styles, Six Harmony Praying Mantis was passed down by Dīng Zǐchéng (丁子成), whose students taught in Shandong Province as well as Taiwan. Six Harmony Praying Mantis has a very different curriculum, with unique routines not found in other Praying Mantis styles.

[edit] Rare styles

Other, less widespread styles include:

[edit] Eight Step Praying Mantis Boxing 八步螳螂拳

pinyin: bā bù tángláng quán

This style was originally conceived by Jiang Hua Long, and was further refined by his principle disciple of the style, Féng Huányì (馮環義), which was passed down by his disciple Wèi Xiàotáng (衛笑堂) in Taiwan.

[edit] Shiny Board Praying Mantis Boxing 光板螳螂拳

pinyin: guāng bǎn tángláng quán

Rare style of Praying Mantis, also known as flat plate or hidden grip Praying Mantis.

[edit] Long Fist Praying Mantis Boxing 長拳螳螂拳

pinyin: cháng quán tángláng quán

Rare style of Praying Mantis. Influenced strongly by Chángquán (literally "long fist").

[edit] Throwing Hand Praying Mantis Boxing 摔手梅花螳螂拳

pinyin: shuāishǒu méihuā tángláng quán

This style was passed down by Bao Guangying from Shandong Province. He taught in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

[edit] Secret Gate Praying Mantis Boxing 秘門螳螂拳

pinyin: mì mén tángláng quán

This style was passed down by Zhāng Dékuí (張德奎) in Taiwan and is a variation of Taiji Tanglang.

[edit] Seeking Leg Praying Mantis Boxing 探腿螳螂拳

pinyin: tàn tuǐ tángláng quán

This rare style was passed down by Pui Chan, who immigrated to the United States.

[edit] Schools

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There are many schools of Northern Praying Mantis. In Taiwan, there are the students and grandstudents of Eight Step Praying Mantis master Wèi Xiàotáng, Secret Gate master Zhāng Dékuí, Six Harmony master Zhang Xiangsan, and Wang Songting, who is linked to multiple styles, including Long Fist Praying Mantis, Plum Blossom Praying Mantis, Tàijí Praying Mantis, and Throwing Hand Praying Mantis as well as Tàijíquán. In the Mainland Chinese capital of Beijing, there are the students of Tàijí Praying Mantis and Six Harmony Praying Mantis master Ma Hanqing, his successors outside of China include Ilya Profatilov in New Haven, CT, Hu Xilin in Canada, Gao Jian in Australia. In Shandong, there are the students and grandstudents of Tàijí Plum Blossom Praying Mantis master Hao Bin, Tàijí Praying Mantis master Wang Yushan and his sons Wang Yuanqian, Wang Yuanliang, Seven Star Praying Mantis master Lin Jingshan and countless others in this province, the homeland of Northern Praying Mantis. One of the successors of Seven Star Praying Mantis master Luó Guāngyù was Chiu Chi-Man, who passed the art on to his nephew Chiu Leun and to his student Lee Kam-Wing, whose successors include John Cheng of the United States, Brandon Jones of Texas, Latouille Fabien of France and Dirceu Amaral Camargo of Brazil, as well as Seven Star Praying Mantis teachers in Germany and Italy, Hungary, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Canada. There are schools for seeking leg mantis (Northern Jade Forest Seeking Leg Mantis) in Boston, MA and Rapid City, SD. Eight Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu is spread throughout North America through the American Chinese Martial Arts Federation, with schools in several states including Alabama, California, Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, and Texas. The largest orginization dedicated to the promotion of 7 Star Mantis Kung Fu system is the North Texas Kung Fu Exchange, founded by Raymond Fogg. Eight Step is also taught internationally in British Columbia.

[edit] Media

[edit] Film

In The Tricky Master (1999), Stephen Chow's apprentice beats an overweight card sharp in a "fixed" high-stakes poker game. When taunted, the card sharp jumps onto the playing table and defeats Chow's deaf, cross-dressing bodyguard with a “long lost kung fu” called “Fat Mantis”, which is the “most powerful...and kills without blood”. (Note the card sharp’s shadow cast upon the wall in the shape of an overweight mantis with a big round belly.) In the end, Stephen Chow sprays the card sharp with a can of insecticide. He falls to the ground dead with his hands and legs held into the air like a bug.

[edit] Books

Richard La Plante is the author of a book called mantis, about a serial killer murdering erotic dancers as bieng order by his pet praying mantis that he claims contacts him through his mind. He uses this style of fighting using his fingers to attack the neck veins and the eyes

[edit] Sources

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b In Shaolin Temple history celebrity
  2. ^ a b c Praying Mantis History, Lineage, and Styles
  3. ^ a b More Praying Mantis History
  4. ^ (2001). Luohan Xinggong Duan Da. JOURNAL OF SPORT HISTORY AND CULTURE (体育文史), No.1, P.36-37,9 [ISSN 1671-1572]
  5. ^ a b What's Praying Mantis Kung Fu?
  6. ^ Wu, Xuan. Fei Long Quan Zhuan (Chinese: 飞龙全传). Changchun Shi: Jilin wen shi chu ban she, 1998 (ISBN 780626258X) (See here)
  7. ^ SHANDONG WUSHU TAIJI TANGLANG QUAN (French-English Mix)
  8. ^ Qian, Cai. General Yue Fei. Trans. Honorable Sir T.L. Yang. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. (1995) ISBN 978-962-04-1279-0
  9. ^ Chuo Jiao Fist
  10. ^ Chuojiao (thrusted-in feet)
  11. ^ Shi, Nai’an and Luo Guanzhong. Outlaws of the Marsh. Trans. Sidney Shapiro. Beijing: Foreign Language Press, 1993 (ISBN 7-119-01662-8)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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