I have Leung Ting's book "7-Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu" on my shelves. Is this considered a good representation of the style?

Originally posted by arnisador

I have Leung Ting's book "7-Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu" on my shelves. Is this considered a good representation of the style?

Now you've done it! I haven't read that book yet, and now I'm on the hunt! I'll be goign to the local Barnes and Nobles whne it opens today to search for that book! Thansk ALOT!!:D


7sm

Let me know if it's a good resource--I figured I could use it to get a better picture of things you were describing! It's an older copy (1990) that I have but there's a 1999 version (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9627284114/) so I hope you find it. It has a wooden dummy set in it and everything!

Yes it is a very good book, it has good basic information on 7*PM.

I prefer the book Lee Kam Wing did with out Leung Ting, it goes into PM theory a lot deeper.

Skard1

Yes it is a very good book, it has good basic information on 7*PM.

I prefer the book Lee Kam Wing did with out Leung Ting, it goes into PM theory a lot deeper.

Skard1
Ok so this was like a year ago, but I just found it again. I have to agree with Skard1 here, the LKW book is much deeper and to me alot more technical.

Anyone else read either of these books? We have quite a few newbies here, thought this might help get some conversation going.

7sm

I havent read those books, I'll see if I can't check them out soon, but I will be buying Sigung Pui Chan's chinese philosophy book shortly. Expect a review :)

Hi there,

the LT books is a little bit basic, but therefor is very good. The LKW book has 3 forms in it, "Crushing Step", "Black Tiger Crossing" and "Mantis comes out of the cave" also there is a lot of theoretical background and photos of techniques and stances in PM. The newest one hast all Plumblossom routines in it. I only had a glance on it, when Sigung Lee held his workshop at my Sifus school. Lost of forms and descriptions, photos of old masters and more ....
Greets,
GM

Welcome to the boards GermanMantis!

7sm

Thanks 7star! :)

GermanMantis,

-Let me welcome you as well to Martial Talk. This website is quite an adventure some days, but lots of information and very cool people. If you don't mind, share a little bit about your experience with Praying Mantis. I've only been studying the style about 2 months, but absolutely love it. 7*Mantis seems to be the "go-to" guy here on the style, I think he's been at it the longest here, though there are others here who also study. (Not to put you on the spot 7*;-) So if you have questions or just want to chat, fire away.


A---)

Thank you Darksoul, I just really love what I do. I really love mantis and I can sit all day and talk about the principles of kung fu and 7* mantis. Any questions or comments, fire away.

7sm

Any questions or comments, fire away.

Since you offered :)

We learned a 2-man iron arm drill in class yesterday. Normally sifu said he doesn't start this until intermediate class, but he went ahead and showed us. It's a basic 2-man arm-banging technique using all of your forearm (bang top, then thumb-side, then pinky side, then switch arms). I wouldn't mind getting ahead on my iron arm training, but I don't have a partner to train with. Do you have any good iron-arm stuff I could do by myself as a beginner?

Progress is going very well. I feel like I'm getting a pretty good handle on most of the basics (movement, drills, etc.).

-I'm still trying to work on the Iron Fist...gotta condition those hands!!!


A---)

Yes, its much easier and better with a partner, but you can do it by yourself. Starting off make sure and go slow, ask your sifu but I wouldn't go more than 5 minutes on each arm, starting off. Also, you may want to get yourself some jow. You can start using a hanging bag, doing the same type of drill you guys did together. Then move to harder surfaces. We actually have a frame that holds a hanging wooden log for use in iron arm, but thats very advanced. You can use a wooden beam and roll it down your arm, but thats usually used for iron shin.

7sm

We do two-person Iron Arm drills in Taiji Tanglang training. I keep my forearms conditioned simply by banging them together when I cant go to class.

seriously.
People will look at you funny if you do it in public (like me Ill do it anywhere, the bus stop is a favorite) but I dont bruise.

Does 7 star mantis kung fu have kicks or is it mostly hand/arm work? I was looking at the videos on this website, sorry dont have much money. O yeah, do you learn any joint lock techniques?

Mantis uses Monkey footwork. Most kicking is low, it is usually considered inefficient to kick far above the waist, unless if your hands are constricted somehow. The basic kicking techniques in Mantis, not considering leg chin na:

Rear LegFront LegJumping RearJumping FrontSpinningFront Kick2222 Side Kick22222Roundhouse Kick22222Inside Crescent Kick22222Outside Crescent Kick22222Reverse Roundhouse22222Retractionless Roundhouse22222Hook Kick22222Axe Kick2222 Reverse Axe Kick22 Cross Kick2222 Mule Kick22222Front Sweep22222Rear Sweep22222Chop Kick2222 Reverse Chop Kick22 Monkey Kick2 22 Inside Butterfly Wing2222 Outside Butterfly Wing2222

OK that came out pretty badly. Decipherable, nonetheless..

Does 7 star mantis kung fu have kicks or is it mostly hand/arm work? I was looking at the videos on this website, sorry dont have much money. O yeah, do you learn any joint lock techniques?

Yes, more hands than feet, but alot of footwork and sweeps/throws. There are lots of kicks, but like they said, mostly low knee/groin or below. Lots of hands techniques and depending on your lineage ALOT of joint lock / Chin Na techniques.

7sm

o yeah okay wait i was wondering if there was a difference, i know i sound like a kid, between a sweep kick where your leg is like parallel to the ground and the trips liek where you push the person opposite where you pull there leg, with your leg, up into the air.

Yeah trips are attacks on structure usually followed by submission technique. A sweep is usually more of a technique on itself, after which you might have to start from longer distance again.
(My Sifu calls it "building a bridge"; "don't just kick the guy; build a bridge, close the gap and control his centre and twist him up like a pretzel") (or "her")

Naturally a good sweep on the back leg can bring your opponent down in a hard way, whatever the situation dictates. My Sifu's preference is obvious.

-Yeah, that 7*Sweep can be done really gently to control the person, or hard and fast to punish them. The hard part about that technique for me is pulling the opponent's arm across the chest, kind of like pulling an arrow with in the bow.

-Does anyone know the name of the technique where you could for example, start out with a la choi, then your lead foot steps around behind your opponent's, and you pull back towards you with a 'hook', pulling him/her forward a foot or so, then, with that same foot, pushing back forward and hitting the opponent's back leg, somewhere around the knee or inner-thingh? Thats one we were working on the other night. It is hard to describe some of them, haha;-)


A---)

I dont know that there is a name for it, but I think I know what your talking about. Its like a sweep plus a back knee kick with the same leg?

7sm

-Yep, thats the one.


A---)

I have Leung Ting's book "7-Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu" on my shelves. Is this considered a good representation of the style?
I did not know Leung Ting is a mantis person. I thought his training is in Ving Tsun. Anyone know his Mantis lineage, or did he just lend his name as a collaborator with a different author?

Ok so this was like a year ago, but I just found it again. I have to agree with Skard1 here, the LKW book is much deeper and to me alot more technical.

Anyone else read either of these books? We have quite a few newbies here, thought this might help get some conversation going.

7sm do you mind providing the ISBN's for both of the books, or any good 7*PM books?
couldnt find any @ barnes!
thanks...

I have Leung Ting's book "7-Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu" on my shelves. Is this considered a good representation of the style? is it this book? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9627284114/102-8445896-0274523?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance ?
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9627284114/102-8445896-0274523?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance??)

do you mind providing the ISBN's for both of the books, or any good 7*PM books?
couldnt find any @ barnes!
thanks...
I dont know that you will find sifu Lee's book anywhere but his own website...I believe its www.leekamwing.com (http://www.leekamwing.com)
Being a part of the US Kung Fu Exchange, you probably would really enjoy Sifu Raymond Fogg's Latest book...here (http://www.lulu.com/content/110667)

Also, I recomend Adam Hsu's book: The Sword Polishers Record: The Way of Kung Fu (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0804831386/qid=1128628423/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-8072100-7922244?v=glance&s=books)to all new CMA people. Of course you can probably find this one at your local Barnes & Nobles.

7sm

Yes, mantis, that's it!

A nice article on an Albuquerque NPM school:
http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/bu_local/article/0,2565,ALBQ_19838_4164545,00.html

I love that all the classes are in Mandarin! What a great way for kids especially to get double benefit from their time in class!

I didnt know Leung Ting practiced/ taught 7 star or was an autority on it. Is he highly regarded ofr his 7 starmantis?

Side note are there are 7star people in NYC on this forum? I know there is a school in brooklyn ny.

There are many school in NYC, we actually have a few sister schools there too.

7sm