Praying Mantis

Histoire

Northern Praying Mantis kung fu comes from Shandong province. Legend says it was created in the 17th century by Wang Lang, who watched a mantis fight a cicada and copied its fast, hooking arm movements.

The style joins mantis hand techniques with monkey-like footwork. A different southern style, Southern Praying Mantis, comes from the Hakka people and is not directly related.

Le saviez-vous ?

• The "mantis hook" hand is used to trap and pull the opponent's arms.
• Seven Star Mantis and Plum Blossom Mantis are among its main branches.
• Mantis fighters attack in fast, continuous combinations.

Glossaire des techniques

Tanglang gou

mantis hook hand

Beng bu

crushing step

Qi xing bu

seven-star stance

Formes

Beng BuLan JieBa ZhouMei Hua Lu

Figures clés

• Wang Lang (17th century) — legendary founder

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica