HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF
PRAYING MANTIS EIGHTEEN COLLECTION SET
Grandmaster Wong demonstrating a Praying Mantis technique
Praying Mantis Kungfu was invented by a Shaolin disciple, Wang Lang, during the Ming Dynasty by combining 18 styles of kungfu. The best techniques of each of these 18 styles were composed into a set called the Eighteen Collection, or Shi Ba Sou in Chinese.
The 18 techniques were as follows:
- Ascend Mountain Thrust Punch of First Emperor Long Fist, or Tai Zu Zhang Quan
- Seven-Star Chop Fist of Han Tong's Extended Arm Kungfu, or Dong Bi Quan
- Distract-Trick Chop Waist of Zhang Er's Close and Cover, or Guan Pi
- Seven-Star Turn Cart of Wen Yuan's Short Strike, or Duan Da
- Seven-Star Thrust Punch of Ma Ji's Close Combat, or Jin Da
- Jump Step Avoid Force of Sun Heng's Monkey Style, or Hou Quan
- Ascend Mountain Elbow Strike of Huang Nian's Hand Anchor, or Shou Kau
- Double Cover Palm Strike of Mien Shen's Cotton Palm, or Mien Zhang
- Cover Hand Thrust Punch of Jin Xiang's Deflect and Strike, or Chuan Da
- Slant Body Swing Hand of Huai De's Grab and Throw, or Xue Jiao
- Grip Hand Lift Knee of Liu Xing's Hook and Grip, or Kao Shou Qin Na,
- Ascend Mountain Ear Strike of Tan Fang's Ear-Strike, or Guan Er
- Double Hook Sweep Leg of Yan Qing's Felling Techniques, or Tie Fa
- Lift-Strike Lift Leg of Lin Chong's Continuous Kicks, Lian Wan Tui
- Ascend Mountain Crush Fist of Meng Su's Seven-Step Pressing Attack, Qi Bo Pi Da
- Bottom Strike Lift Leg of Cui Lian's Bosom Strike, Quan Xin Cui
- Ascend Mountain Double Fists of Yang Gun's Gripping Techniques, or Qin Na
- Seven-Star Hook Hand of Wang Lang Praying Mantis Kungfu, Tang Lang Quan
Praying Mantis Kungfu is from Northern Shaolin, and is well known for kicks. There is also a Southern Shaolin Praying Mantis noted for its phoenix-eye fist.
The Praying Mantis Eighteen Collection Set can be accessed here, and the Praying Mantis Kungfu Course 2010 can be accessed here.
Wong Kiew Kit
17th December 2015
LINKS