outhern Praying Mantis, Southern Preying Mantis, 南派螳螂, Nan Tang Lang Quan, Dongjiang Chaujia Preying Mantis, Guangdong Chu Gar Praying Mantis, 東江周家螳螂拳, Chu Gar/Chow Gar, 周家螳螂,  Zhu Jia, Zhou Jia, Chujia/Chu Gar 朱家螳螂, Tieniu/Ti Au (Iron Ox Praying Mantis, 鐵牛螳螂,  Kwang Sai Jook Lum (Bamboo Forest), kwong sai jook lum gee tong long pai, 江西竹林寺螳螂, Mui Fa Tong Long, Chuka Kune, Hukka, Chu Gar Chong Gar Chuen (Malaysia), Qwan-Ki-Do (Vietnam).

1. History
   
   
2. Philosophy and Practice
   
   
3. Links

History

outhern Praying Mantis, 南派螳螂, orginates in the Hakka (客家) communities of Southern China.  Practitioners of this style generally attribute its origins to the Fujian Shaolin Temple (福建少林) but there are no similarities between the the Southern Praying Mantis and the Northern Praying Mantis which originated from the Henan Shaolin Temple.  In the modern era, there are four main branches for this style:

• Chaujia/Chow Gar (Chau's family Praying Mantis 周家螳螂)
• Chujia/Chu Gar (Chu's family Praying Mantis 朱家螳螂)
• Tieniu/Ti Au (Iron Ox Praying Mantis 鐵牛螳螂)
• Jook Lum (Bamboo Temple Mantis 竹林螳螂)

In the modern era, the popularity of Southern Praying Mantis is generally attributed to Lau Shui (劉瑞, 劉水﹞ a student of Chau Ah-Nam (周亞南), the founder of Chau Gar.  Lau Shui was a Hakka established a reputation with his "Chaujia-Tanglang-Sanjian" ( the three arrows of Chaujia preying mantis, 周家螳螂三箭拳) and his signature staff known as “Tanglang-puchangun” (螳螂捕蟬棍尤).  Like many martial artists of his generation, he had to leave Guangdong after the Communist victory and resettle in Hong Kong.  He continued to teach the Southern Praying Mantis Style and many of his students eventually become teachers of Southern Mantis in their own rights. 

Other branches of Southern Praying Mantis trace their orgins to other legendary martial artists:

• Chujia/Chu Gar (朱家螳螂) acknowledged the founder to be Chu Lung-Bu-Ah-Nan (朱龍拔亞南) who promoted martial arts in Chujiacun, Guangdong (廣東五華朱家村).
• Iron Ox Praying Mantis (鐵牛螳螂) whose style is named after Tsai Tie-Niu (鐵牛教).
• Jook Lum (Bamboo Temple Mantis 竹林螳螂) is traced back to the monks of the Jook Lum Temple in Kiangsi.

Each of those branches have similar characteristics but might differ in training and forms.  They have also contributed to the spread of this style. Starting from Southern China, this style spread to Hong Kong, South East Asia and finally to Europe and North America.

Philosophy and Practice

outhern Praying Mantis is a Southern Chinese style of Martial Arts characterised by a strong stance, powerful waist and fast, heavy forearms and hands. This system is distinctly different from the Northern Praying Mantis and is not related either through history or by its technique. The similarities between the Northern and Southern styles is in name only.

Examples of the philosophy and practice of Southern Praying Mantis are as follows:

丁不丁,	Move yet do not move
八不八,	It’s the Eight principles and Yet not the Eight Principles
手從心口發,	Hand strikes from the mouth and heart
你不來我不發。	If you don't come, I don't strike.
橋來橋上過，	If there is a bridge then cross the bridge,
無橋自造橋,	If there is no bridge then make a bridge,
兩橋不歸隨手轉。	The bridge does not turn with the hands.
手型有 鳳眼、 姜牙、 紋搥	Special hand techniques are: Phoenix Eye Jiangya Wenchu
爪掌型等手法以包、 絞、搖、傳、押、鎖、抖、 割、批、釘、楂、栖、插等。	Claw and Palm techniques includes: Bau, Jeau, Yau, Chwun, Ya, Xiao, Dou, Ge, Pi, Ding, Cha, Xi,
拳種有三步箭,,搖橋、 枇橋、四板驚勁為主	Fist techniques consists mainly of Sanbujian, Yauqiao, Pyiqiao and Shiban-jingjing.
如驚彈, 獵橋, 片橋等皆由這些 拳種發展出來。	Others developed from this comprise of Jingchan, Lieqiao and Pianqiao.
打出勁度以驚彈勁最為有名。	When fighting the most famous power used is Jingchanjing.
兵器有 鐵尺、 雙刀 大扒、 螳螂追風劍 五行棍 毒蛇棍、 捕蟬棍。	Weapons include: Iron Ruler Double (Butterfly) Knife Big Spade Mantis Sword Staff Poisonous Insect Staff Catching the Cicada Staff

The power of Praying mantis is split into Dawujing ( five large power ) and Xiaowujing (five little power ) (周家螳螂力勁有大五勁和小五勁之分。).The power of Preying Mantis can be summarised as follows:

Dawujing (大五勁)
為頭勁、	Taujing ( head power ),
掌勁、	Zhanjing ( palm power ),
腰勁、	Yuojing ( waist power),
胸勁、	Xiongjing ( Chest power ),
步勁。	Bujing ( Stepping power )
Xiaowujing (小五勁)
為額勁、	Ejing ( forehead power ),
眼勁、	Yanjing (eye power ),
牙勁、	Yajing ( teeth power ),
喉勁、	Houjing ( throat power ),
頸勁。	Jingjing ( neck power ).

Another poem describes the basic principles of this style:

懸吊索、	Hang the arms like cables
擒拿捉、	Capture and Seize
千字頭、	The head like the word "thousand" 1
筲箕背	Back like a willow basket
鐵尺腰	Iron Waist
蛙仔膝。	Knees like a young frog
身形要求沉肩墮肘，	The body form requires sinking the shoulder and droping the elbow,
吞胸拔背	Hollow the chest to pull out the back
吞不能死	If you hollow the chest then you will not fail
吐不能盡，	Do not use up the saliva
有吞則吞	If you have saliva, swallow
無吞則側。	If you don’t have saliva, swallow sideways.

1 Thanks to David for the correction. This means that the chin should be tugged in so that the overall posture is like the character "thousand 千".

Links

School	Description
Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu	Gin Foon Mark student of Lum Wing Fay teaching in St. Paul, MN, USA.
Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu of Hawaii	David Moragne, student of Gin Foon Mark teaching at the Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Hawaii Branch, US
Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu of New Jersey	Marty Eisen, student of Gin Foon Mark teaching Cherry Hill, NJ, US
Chinese Kung Fu Academy (CKFA) of Southern Praying Mantis Federation U.S.A.	Henry Poo Yee student of Lam Sang teaching Jook Lum Gee Tong Long in Houston, Texas, USA
Southern Praying Mantis Kungfu Bamboo Temple Chinese Benevolent Association	Lam Sang 's students teaching in Algonquin, IL, USA
Chin Family Southern Praying Mantis	Milton Chin, student of Chin Ho Doon, is teaching Kwong Sai Jook Lum Gee Southern Mantis in lower Manhattan, New York, USA.
American Shaolin West – Red Dragon Academy	Manuel Rodrigues student of Sammy Wong teaching in Ventura, California, USA.
Hong Lung Mun or Red Dragon's Door	Chris Arnold a student of Manuel Rodrigues teaching in Palm Springs / Cathedral City, USA
South Florida Chinese Boxing Association	Gorme teaching Bamboo Forest Temple Southern Praying Mantis
Tom Pardue's East West Kung Fu Academy	Training in Southern Mantis in their intermediate curriculum.
Hakka-Mantis Kung-Fu	Lee-Yin-Sing's students teaching Southern Mantis
Bamboo Temple Praying Mantis (Gatineau, Canada)	Steeve Malette teaching in Gatineau,Quebec, Canada.
Canadian Federation of Qwan Ki Do	Pham Xuan Tong teaching a Vietnamese style that might have some relation to Southern Praying Mantis. He is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Chow Gar Tong Long or Chow Family Praying Mantis	Ip Chee Keung's London school , England
Paul Whitrod	Paul Whitrod teaching Chow Gar nad other martial arts in London England
Southern Mantis Martial Arts Association	Based in Hong Kong and England.
Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy	Grant Guirey training in Upminster. Essex, England Grant Guirey student of Paul Whitrod teaching Chow Gar Praying Mantis in Upminister, England
Chow Gar in Staffordshire, England	Smoore is a student of Paul Whitrod, training in Rugeley in Staffordshire, England.
5 Elements Martial Arts	Tony Willis student of Paul Whitrod teaching in South Woodham Ferrers, UK.
mantis.org.uk	David Antwis is a student of Chow Gar in England.
Yellow Dragon Fist Kung Fu	Simon Wong is teaching Bamboo Forest Temple Southern Mantis Kung Fu
Iron Ox Praying Mantis	Giles Milner teaching Iron Ox Praying Mantis in London, England.
KTS Mantis	Alessandro Cossu teaching in Italy
Polish Association Chow Gar Kung Fu	Training in Rzeszow, Poland
Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Hungry)	Attila Kapecska teaching Chow Gar Praying Mantis in Hungary
CKFA Israel Branch	Training in Southern Praying Mantis in Israel
Hong Kong Police Martial Arts Association	Teaching Southern Praying Mantis as part of their curriculum. .
Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Australia)	Paul Brennan teaching Chow Gar Praying Mantis in Australia
The Kung Fu Centre	Raphael Bender teaching a derived style of Chow Gar (Hok Se Tong Long) in Sydney, Australia.
Australian Kungfu And Tai Chi Academy	Paul Bowden teaching a derived style of Chow Gar (Hok Se Tong Long) in Victoria, Australia.
Chinese Kung Fu Academy	Henry Sue teaching in Australia.

 

Copyright 2003