More on the Mantis Hand

[KickingMantis]

Im just curious to know how different schools of mantis form or should I say hold their Tong Long Dieu Sow while we are on the subject?

Is it clutched tightly?
relaxed and loose?
somewhere in between?
held differently in practice and in the performance of sets?

just curious? and if you can provide an explanation for why you do it that way?

[Ericsepishii]

Different people will utilize the holding of
the mantis hand in different manners.

One manner is to clutch /or tuck
the last 3 fingers into the palm of you cupped
hand with the pointer finger and thumb positioned
in such a manner as that the thumb applies
pressure to the pointer as well as to the
tucked middle finger. One of the reasons
for holding your hand in this manner is
that it's suppose show the "power" of the
mantis grab.

Another manner is to have the thumb sort of
supporting the pointer finger and the last
three finders "dangle". This is to allow
for ease of doing grabbing motions.

Another manner is to have the last two fingers
tucked and have the thumb apply pressure
/ support to the pointer finger (nearer to the
tip of the pointer finger) and also to the
middle finger which is in some cases is slightly
separated from the pointer finger.
I had been told that this method is to allow for
easier "dim mak" / pressure point attacking with
the pointer and allow for the middle finger for
gouging and tearing.

Just my 2 cents.