Mantis Kung Fu

Basics for 左手棍 Jor Sau Gwun the left-Hand Stick.

Here Sifu Arnold runs a slow walk through of the basic sliding action of the hands when grasping and striking with a staff, long stick or pole. We practice these with stepping, walking forwards and backwards. As well as triangle stepping forward and backward and circling. Because of the small space Sifu Arnold uses the forward replace triangle on the wooden dummy to show the first 6 basic angles out of 18.

Our beginning students are exposed to many weapons: long weapons & short weapons, both bladed and bludgeoning types, as well as double, flexible and throwing weapons.

Our first weapon we teach is the Stick, or staff, using both single and double ends. Called the 左手棍 or Jor Sau Gwun the left-Hand Stick set, it is a very efficient and effective staff set! Over the next few weeks, we will post the set here and its applications, and drills to practice with a partner.

For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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Hello to all our Mantis Family and Students.

黑虎交叉 Hak Fu Gau Cha – Black Tiger ‘Cross the Path’ Fist.

Here Sifu Arnold runs a slow walk through of the 1st mantis set taught at our school, the Hak Fu Gau Cha, or the Black Tiger ‘Cross the Path’ Fist. Created by famous Mantis Master Yuan Man Kai.

Master Yuan Man Kai was a direct student of Grandmaster Wong Hon Fan. This basic empty hand form follows the methods and principles of Northern Mantis Boxing. THE BLACK TIGER ‘Cross the Path’ Fist is a beginner’s set in the Praying Mantis system. Made to form great foundation material for beginning students of Mantis Kung Fu, it generally follows strategy & tactics of other basic 7 Star forms such as, B**g Bu, 18 Old Men and Do Gang. It is not difficult to learn and the postures are relatively simple and straight forward.

The Mantis ‘Diu’, Mantis hooking actions are emphasized in the set and it is said to have more hooking hands than any other 7 Star Praying Mantis set. It also has some more ‘severe’ strikes such as eye shots, called Eye Plundering. Seven-star leg sweeps in the chut sing bo, or 7-star stance and Millstone Palms. A relatively short set with 38 postures, it is a fantastic novice set for new learners of Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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BASIC APPLICATION OF

烏龍探海 & 信手投井

Black Dragon Searches the Sea & Hands Searching the Well
Being able to step while shifting weight into our blocks and strikes is a foundation skill in kung fu. This motion is taken from the Jing Wu school set Gung Li Chuan or Gung Lek Kuen in Cantonese. It has a wonderful name that students love and helps them to remember this exercise, Black Dragon Searches the Sea and Hands Searching the Well.

Here we show the basic application for the second two movements, Black Dragon and Searching the Well. Its a amazing counter to a side on attack stepping back and into the stance as we cover the space between us and simultaneous block and counter. Then with a turn a claw to the face using eagle claw or a punch to the head or body possibly stopping their second strike from starting with their other arm.

Yet even if they continue and strike us with their rear arm we use the very next motion from the set exactly as it is performed in the set cover the ears and hands search the well which amazingly FITS as a Arm Bar attack and follow up knee to the ribs (knee not shown in the set).

As a old JKD man i find the lines between the arts blur in many wonderful ways as applications are explored. It shares to us the genius of our martial past! Enjoy Everyone! 😊

For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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BASIC APPLICATION OF
霸王舉鼎 & 信手投井
Xiang Xu Lifts a Cauldron & Hands Searching the Well

Being able to step while shifting weight into our blocks and strikes is a foundation skill in kung fu. This motion is taken from the Jing Wu school set Gung Li Chuan or Gung Lek Kuen in Cantonese. It has a wonderful name that students love and helps them to remember this exercise, Xiang Yu Lifts the Cauldron and Hands Searching the Well.

Here we show the basic application for the first two movements, What is interesting are the obvious similarities to the Muay Thai clinching or Prumb in Thai, which many Thais practice here in Thailand. SO they immediately understood the grab to the head & knee aspect of the application, but not so much the arm destructions and lowering of the body weight to knock down the attacker.

As a old JKD man i find the lines between the arts blur in many wonderful ways as applications are explored. It shares to us the genius of our martial past! Enjoy Everyone! =)

For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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Fundamental Form Two
白猿拳
Pak Yuan Kuen – The White Ape Fist
Being able to step while shifting weight into our blocks and strikes is a foundation skill in kung fu. This Basic Foundation form is taken from the Mantis White Ape sets, Pak Yuan Chut D**g and Pak Yuan Tow Toe in Cantonese. It is characterized by excellent heavy arm blows and shifting steps of the monkey, combined with the tricks of the praying mantis, It is a simple and fun set easy for beginning students to learn before they get to the harder traditional mantis sets
For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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Fundamental Form
鏈拳
Lin Kuen – The Connected Fist
Being able to step while shifting weight into our blocks and strikes is a foundation skill in kung fu. This motion is taken from the Jing Wu school set Gung Li Chuan or Gung Lek Kuen in Cantonese. It has a wonderful name that students love and helps them to remember this exercise, Xiang Yu Lifts the Cauldron and Hands Searching the Well and Black Dragon Searches the Ocean. What make this set so fun is it is practiced in four directions North East South and West.
For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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Fundamental Exercises – Ji Ben Gong
Exercise Three
霸王舉鼎, 信手投井
Horse Riding to Mountain Climbing Position while Hanging and Sinking Body.
Being able to step while shifting weight into our blocks and strikes is a foundation skill in kung fu. This motion is taken from the Jing Wu school set Gung Li Chuan or Gung Lek Kuen in Cantonese. It has a wonderful name that students love and helps them to remember this exercise, Xiang Yu Lifts the Cauldron and Hands Searching the Well!
For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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Fundamental Exercises – Ji Ben Gong
Exercise Two
烏龍探海
Circle Arm & Side Punch in Mountain Climbing Position.
Being able to step while shifting weight into our blocks and strikes is a foundation skill in kung fu. This motion is taken from the Jing Wu school set Gung Li Chuan or Gung Lek Kuen in Cantonese. It has a wonderful name that students love and helps them to remember this exercise, The Black Dragon Searches the Sea!
For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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Twelve Principles, Applied Within Eight Basic Drills, for Self-Defense.

The following principles were derived from Wong Lang’s observations of the arm and claw methods the praying mantis insect used to defeat the larger cicada. Even though they are listed as twelve separate principles they are actually grouped into eight different categories of function, hence, the eight basic exercises.
The eighth Basic Exercise #8 is 騰挪 Tang Now, which means to bounce and switch.
Tang and Now is to jump from one foot to another or to switch positions quickly. This is not a technique Wong Lang took from the praying mantis insect. In fact, Wong seeing that the mantis body and legs were so alien to our human form had a dilemma, how could we copy the mantis if we did not have its physical attributes? He solved this by chancing upon a group of monkeys playing near his camp. He saw how they tumbled and bounced and played climbing and jumping from branch to branch in the trees. This he thought was the perfect complement to the insects’ hand motions he copied, the agility of a monkey! Thus, the art of Praying Mantis Kung Fu was born.
Basic exercise #8 Tang Now are the last of the formula of principles Wang chose to incorporate into his art. Teng and Now follows the tactics and strategies of Apes and monkeys. Using Tang Now offers needed footwork to the art of praying mantis kung fu. Its use and depth can only become clear after many hours and years of practice. It not only can be applied in all three rages of fighting; stand up, clinch and ground, its application also extends into weaponry and multiple opponents.
For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
😎😎😎

Twelve Principles, Applied Within Eight Basic Drills, for Self-Defense.

The following principles were derived from Wong Lang’s observations of the arm and claw methods the praying mantis insect used to defeat the larger cicada. Even though they are listed as twelve separate principles they are actually grouped into eight different categories of function, hence, the eight basic exercises.
The seventh Basic Exercise #7 is 粘黏手 Chi Nim Sau, or to be sticky and cling to our contact point. Chi and Nim sau means to contact and stick then listen and follow a opponents motions without losing contact.
Basic exercise #7 Chi and Nim Sau are the last of the twelve key word formula that follows the tactics and strategies Wong Lang learned from observing the praying mantis insect. Using Chi Nim Sau offers needed close range energy drills and reaction touch reflexes to the art of praying mantis kung fu. Its use and depth can only become clear after many hours and years of practice. It not only can be applied in all three rages of fighting; stand up, clinch and ground, its application also extends into weaponry and multiple opponents.
For more information on Praying Mantis Kung Fu for you or anyone you feel would be interested, Sifu Arnold has opened up classes, open for all ages beginner to very advanced levels. We speak English and Thai. Contact us here by messaging us, or call us (087) 845-7944.
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