Southern Praying Mantis (martial art)
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| 南派螳螂 | |
| Southern Praying Mantis | |
|---|---|
| Pinyin: | nán pài tángláng |
| Yale Cantonese: | naam4 paai1 tong4 long4 |
| Hakka pinjim: | nam2 pai5 tong2 long2 |
| Literally | "southern style praying mantis" |
- For the Northern Chinese self-defence technique from Shandong, see Northern Praying Mantis (martial art).
Southern Praying Mantis (南派螳螂) is a Chinese martial art native to the Hakka (客家) communities of Southern China. Despite having the name “Praying mantis”, this style is completely unrelated to the Northern Praying Mantis style. In terms of history and techniques, the Southern Praying Mantis is more closely associated with fellow Hakka styles such as the Dragon (龍形拳) or Bak Mei (白眉拳)and more distantly to the Fujian family of styles that includes Fujian White Crane (白鶴拳), Five Ancestors (五祖拳), and Wing Chun (詠春). There are four main branches of Southern Praying Mantis being practised world wide.
Southern Praying Mantis is a close range fighting system that places much emphasis on short power and has aspects of both internal and external techniques. In application, the emphasis is on hand and arm techniques and limited use of low kicks.
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[edit] History
The four main branches of Southern Praying Mantis are:
- Chow Gar (周家; Chow family)
- Chu Gar (朱家; Chu family)
- Kwong Sai Jook Lum (江西竹林; Jiangxi Bamboo Forest)
- Iron Ox (鐵牛)
A common antecedent can be surmised from the same traditional region of origin, the popularity amongst the Hakka community, a reference to praying mantis, similar training forms such as Sarm Bo Jin (三步箭) and common application principles. However, despite those similarities, the genealogies of these branches are not complete enough to trace them to a single common ancestor. The relationship between Chow Gar [1] and Chu Gar [2] can both be traced directly to Lau Shui. The origins of Kwong Sai Jook Lum system is controversial with some Chu Gar proponents claiming a relationship also to Lau Shui. [2] The Iron Ox system can be traced historically to the area of Southern China where the other branches of Southern Praying Mantis first originated and to the same Hakka communities where the art was transmitted. [3]
[edit] Hakka Kuen
Kwong Sai Jook Lum tradition mentions that the people of Pearl River Delta once refer the Southern Praying Mantis style as "Hakka Kuen" (客家拳). A term that is also link to the other Southern martial arts practised by the Hakka community of inland eastern Guangdong. The reason is due to the close association of this style with the Hakka community.
This region, the original home to Southern Praying Mantis, covers a wide expanse in Southern China. It begins at the very heart of Hakka territory at Xingning, the home of Chow Gar founder Chow Ah-Nam. From Xingning, the Dongjiang (東江) flows west out of the prefecture of Meizhou (梅州) through Heyuan, the place of origin for Iron Ox founder Choi Dit-Ngau. In the prefecture of Huizhou, the Dongjiang forms the northern border of Huìyáng (惠陽) County, where Kwong Sai Jook Lum master Chung Yu-Chang and Chow/Chu Gar teacher Lau Shui grew up and established their martial arts reputation. From there, the Dongjiang flows into the Pearl River Delta (珠江三角洲) at Bao'an County (present-day Shenzhen), where Kwong Sai Jook Lum masters Wong Yook-Gong and Lum Wing-Fay originated. These masters are all members of the Hakka community and the transmission of this remained within this community until the generation of Lau Shui and Lum Wing-Fay.
[edit] Praying Mantis
The association of the term "Praying Mantis" with the style is also controversial. Each branch of the style offers a different explanation.
The traditions of the Chow Gar and Kwong Sai Jook Lum branches each maintain that their respective founders Chow Ah-Nam and Som Dot created their styles after witnessing a praying mantis fight and defeat a bird. Such inspiration is a recurring motif in the Chinese martial arts and can be found in the legends of Northern Praying Mantis, both White Crane styles, T'ai Chi Ch'üan, and Wing Chun.
The traditions of the Chu family branch contend that the name "Southern Praying Mantis" was chosen to conceal from Qing forces its political affiliations by pretending that this esoteric style of Ming loyalists was in fact a regional variant of the popular and widespread Northern Praying Mantis style from Shandong. [2]
The use of the term "Praying Mantis" seems appropriate when one considers the postures of well known practitioners of this style. The emphasis on the techniques of sticky hands, the use of the forearm with the elbows tucked into the chest, claw like fingers and quick explosive actions creates an image that are visually similar to a praying mantis preparing to strike its prey. [4] However, other martial artists argues that those techniques are more similar to the actions of the Five Ancestors style or the White Crane style then a praying mantis. [5] Unlike the Northern Praying Mantis, which have a special hand technique that is directly attributed to a Praying Mantis strike, for example, the tángláng gōu, the Southern Praying Mantis do not have similar special techniques named after the mantis.
[edit] Lau Shui
Lau Shui (1866-1942; 劉瑞; 劉水﹞ was a Hakka who established a reputation as a martial artist during the turn of the century in Southern China and later as a martial arts teacher in Hong Kong. [6] Lau Shui was known as the "Number one of the three tigers of Dong Jiang (東江三虎之一), the other two tigers being Lin Yao Kui of the Dragon Form Mo Chiao Style and Chang Li Chuan of the Bak Mei Style. [7] He was also known as the tiger of Dong Jian (東江老虎). His signature techniques include the "Chaujia-Tanglang-Sanjian" ( the three arrows of Chaujia preying mantis, 周家螳螂三箭拳) and the staff form “Tanglang-puchangun” (螳螂捕蟬棍尤). Like many martial artists of his generation, he resettle in Hong Kong after the Chinese Civil war. He continued to teach the Southern Praying Mantis Style and many of his students eventually become teachers of this style. He was acknowledged by both the Chow Gar and the Chu Gar practitioners as the founding teacher of the system in the modern era.
[edit] Chow Gar
The Chow family (周家) branch traces its art to c. 1800 to Chow Ah-Nam (周亞南), a Hakka who as a boy left his home in Guangdong Province for medical treatment at the Southern Shaolin Monastery in Fujian Province where, in addition to being treated for his stomach ailment, he was trained in the martial arts and eventually created Southern Praying Mantis. His student was Wong Fook Go (黃福高) who was one of the teacher of Lau Shui. [1]
The continued popularity of modern Chow Gar is due to the work of Ip Shui (葉瑞), a student of Lau Shui. He promoted the style within Hong Kong and later, to England [8] and Australia.[9]
[edit] Chu Gar
The Chu family (朱家) branch attributes its art to Chu Fook-To, who created Southern Praying Mantis as a fighting style for opponents of the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) that overthrew the Han Chinese Ming royal family (1368–1644). According to the Chu family branch, Chu was a member of the Ming Royal family who took refuge at Shaolin Monastery in Henan. After the destruction of the Northern Shaolin Monastery, Chu escaped to the Southern Shaolin Monastery in Fujian. He then prompted his art in the surrounding regions.
Current proponents of Chu Gar are related to the students of Lau Shui. Those students continued the tradition of his school in Hong Kong after he passed away in 1942.
[edit] Kwong Sai Jook Lum
According to oral traditions, the Kwong Sai Jook Lum (江西竹林) style traces its origins to the temple Jook Lum Gee (竹林寺), Wu Tai Shan in Shanxi province and on Mt. Longhu (龍虎山) in Jiangxi (江西) province [10] . The monk, Som Dot (三達祖師), created this new martial art system in the 18th century. He passed the art on to Lee Kun Ching (李官清), later known as Lee Siem See (李禪師; a name that can be translated as "Zen master Lee") and Wong Do Leng (黃道人; a name that can be translated as "Taoist Wong"). [11] Lee Siem See would travel to Southern China and spread the art amongst the general population. In Guangdong, his student, Cheung Yiu Chung (張耀宗), would later return with him to Kwong Sai to complete his training at Jook Lum Gee.
In 1919, Cheung returned to resided in Wei Yang Xian (Wei Yang County) Dan Shui in Guangdong Province. During the winter of 1929, Cheung opened his first martial arts school and a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Bao'an County in Píngshān (坪山) Town and continued to promote the Jook Lum system. Wong Yook-Kong (黃(公)毓光) and Lum Wing-Fay (1910 - 1992; also known as Lum Sang (林生; Lum Sang can be translated as Mr. Lum ), both natives of Píngshān Town, are some of his students from that period. Cheung also opened a martial arts studio in Hong Kong and became the head teacher to the Hong Kong Hakka ship union and the dock workers. The classes in Hong Kong was taught by Wong Yook-Kong [12] and this school still exist today. [11]
In the 1920's Lum Sang, one of the youngest of Cheung's students in Hong Kong, was fortunately enough to meet and studied with Lee Siem See during one of Lee Siem See's trips to Hong Kong to establish a Buddhist temple (Chuk Lam Sim Yuen).[13] Lum studied and traveled with Lee for the next seven years. In the 1930's, Lum returned to Hong Kong and opened a Kwong Sai Jook Lum Temple Tong Long Pai school in Kowloon. [12]
In 1942, Lum Sang emigrated to the United States and settled in the Chinatown of New York city. From there, he and his students such as Gin Foon-Mark [14] and Henry Poo Yee [12] would established themselves as teachers and promote this art in the United States and around the world.
[edit] Iron Ox
The Iron Ox (鐵牛) branch is named after its founder, Iron Ox Choi (Choi Dit-Ngau; 蔡鐵牛). A nickname he earned for his strength and ability to withstand his opponent's strikes. He was also known to have taken part in the Boxer Rebellion (1900) fighting to against the Ching government to restore the Ming government. [15]
Most practitioners of this branch of Southern Praying Mantis are found in Southern China but there are now promoters of this style in South America, Europe [16], Canada and Australia.
[edit] Characteristics and Training
Like other Southern Chinese martial arts, Southern Praying Mantis is characterised by a strong stance, powerful waist and fast, heavy forearms and quick hand movements. The essences of the style is captured in various poetry and mnemonic aids. [17]
Training include a variety of solo forms, pair practise, weapon practise. The name and type of form will vary between branches. In the Australia version of Chow Gar Tong Long under direction of Henry Sue the form structure are as follows:
- Sarm Bo Gin
- Sarm Bo Yil Sou
- Sarm kung Bic Kuiel
- Sarm Bo Pai Tarn
- Tong Long Bow Sim Sou
- Tong Long Won Sou
Sarm Bo Gin is considered one of the most important forms of the southern mantis system. It is a hard chi gung form and is usually the first to be learnt. It strengthens the body, aiding its resistance to physical blows, and also develops power. The form should be done everyday, preferably early morning.
[edit] Notes
| Chinese | Pinyin | Yale Cantonese | Hakka pinjim | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ^ Sarm Bo Jin | 三步箭 | Sān Bù Jiàn | Saam1 Bou6 Jin3 | Sam1 Pu5 Zien5 | literally "Three Step Arrow" |
| ^ Jook Lum Gee | 竹林寺 | Zhú Lín Sì | Juk1 Lam4 Ji6 | Zuk7 Lim2 Sii5 | literally "Bamboo Forest Temple" |
| ^ Kwong Sai | 江西 | Jiāngxī | Gong1 sai1 | Gong1 si1 | Jiangxi (江西; Yale Cantonese: Gongsai), not Guangxi (廣西, Yale Cantonese: Gwongsai) |
[edit] See also
- Hakka Kuen
- East River Fist
- Nam Pai Chuan
- Hakka
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Meridian (Chinese medicine)
- Dim Mak
- Tui Na
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ng Si Kay. History of the style. Chow Gar Mantis Association (International). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ^ a b c Gene Chen Ching Hong. Hakka Praying Mantis Chugar Gao: The Real Southern Mantis Boxing. Martial Arts of China vol. 2 pp.18. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
- ^ Li Tien-Lai. Dongjiang Chaujia Preying Mantis. University of Hong Kong - Chinese Martial Arts Club. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ Roger D. Hagood (19??). Abridged History of Southern Praying Mantis. Bamboo Temple Chinese Benevolent Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
- ^ Fernando Blanco (19??). Southern Praying Mantis System. Siberian Association of Traditonal Martial Arts (SABTI). Retrieved on 2007-12-20.
- ^ Hong Kong Martial Arts Masters (香港武林名師). Hong Kong Wushu & Art Service Centre. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ Michael Luk (1979). The Three Tigers of the Eastern River Valley. Secrets of Kung Fu vol l3 (4). Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
- ^ Abridged History of Southern Praying Mantis. Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu (UK) (2007). Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Chow Gar Tong Long, Bisbane, Australia (2007). Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Roger D. Hagood (19??). 18 Hands Skills of the Mantis. Inside Kung Fu - CFW Enterprises. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ a b Lee Kwok Leung (20??). History of Kwong Sai Bamboo. Kwong Sai Bamboo Temple Praying Mantis Kung Fu Association. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ a b c Henry Lee and Harry A. White (1992). Secrets of Southern Praying Mantis - Henry Poo Yee's story. Kung fu magazine. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Chuk Lam Sim Yuen (Bamboo forest monastery). wcities. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- ^ Marty Eisen (19??). Mark and Jook Lum Praying Mantis. Kung fu magazine. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Barrios-Muras, Eduardo (2000/7/31). Iron-ox Praying Mantis Boxing: The Seeds, Chi and Boxing Forms. Muras Publications. ISBN 0953863204.
- ^ Iron Ox Praying Mantis International Martial Arts Federation. Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long Pai UK. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.
- ^ Ottawa Chinese Martial Arts Association (2005). Other Styles > Southern Praying Mantis. Ottawa Chinese Martial Arts Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
