mantis108
10-30-2001, 11:33 PM
This one for you Tainan Mantis. I didn't want to release it because it still needed work (on my part) but since you ask. I will share what I have come up with. Enjoy. :)
In Memory of Sifu Eric Ishii
A Poem Concerning the 18 Styles that Make Up Praying Mantis
Version Four
Provided by personal contact of Late Sifu Eric Ishii’s (Roland Summer)
Note – Not in order with the other listings (i.e. Version 1-3)
Additional Remarks by Robert Hui
Oct 31, 2001
1: Cheng Kuen of Tai Jo (Long Fist) Tai Jo was the first Emperor of the Sung Dynasty. The Style contains big motions, exaggerating, and is very common in Taiwan
RE: Tai Jo (Tai Tzu Men) Changquan was popular from Shantung province as far as Henan province during Wong Long’s time. Henan Shaolin Temple was said to offer it in their curriculum at the time. In TCPM, Wong Long first learn this style from Sifu Wong Gar Chung, who also taught him the famous 12 Characters Principle, which later became the outstanding principle among all Northern Praying Mantis styles. ( New Martial Hero Magazine). At least 2 TCPM lineage holders - Grandmaster Hau Chi Yuen and Grandmaster Chiu Chuk Kai did train in Tai Tzu Men.
2: Tong Bei Kuen of Hong Tong (Shadow Fist/ AKA Ape Style)
RE: See #6
3: Lam Sao Kuen of Cheng Yum. (Closing/ Locking or Barrier Hands)
RE:
4: Duen Kuen of Wong Yuen (Short Fist)
RE:
5: Ngo Mee Kuen of Ma Jiak (Ngo Mo Fist)
The method of Ngo Mee Shan (Monastery) – is moving like a cat, short distance striking, and is still found in the P.R. of China
RE:
6: Pak Yuen Kuen of Sheung Hong (White Ape Fist)
From this method originated the main part of the footwork and the very famous 7 Star Stepping
RE: Pak Yuen Tong Bei seems to have different branches as well. This could be the reason that Ape Fist is mentioned twice. There is also the possibility that Tong Bei’s forms Dai Tong Bei (became Dai Fan Che?), Sui Tong Bei (became Sui Fan Che?), and Qixing (7 Stars) inspired some of the forms of 7 Stars PM. It is quite interesting that 7 Stars (the style) is said to be perhaps named after the form 7 Stars of Tong Bei. Indeed, lots of the long arm swinging motions can be found in both styles. But not commonly found in other PM styles. It is also of note that there is a form call 7 Stars (Qixing) in 7 Stars PM.
7: Gau San Kuen of Wong Chiem (Fist that lies on top or fist that rest on top of something)
RE:
8: Mui Fah Kuen of Mien Sai (Plum Flower Fist)
(Extraordinary dynamic style, consisting of 5 handsets, likes the 5 leaves {Petals} of the Plum Flower.)
Once very important and famous for affectivity, therefore it was integrated into many styles like Hung Gar, Choy Lee Fut, etc…
RE: There is a series of Mui Fah forms in the 7 Stars. Mantis somehow branched out into 7 Stars and Mui Fah. TCPM has closer ties to the Mui Fah branch.
9: Koy Sao Tong Kuen of Gam Sheung (Striking Shadow Fist)
RE:
10: Ban Kuen of Wai Dak (Death Fist)
RE:
11: Pak Ying Jow Kuen of Lau Hing (Northern Eagle Claw Fist/ Style)
Wang Lang was a very close friend of Sifu Lau Hing. After Lau Hing’s death, Wang Lang developed the Set Bung Bo Kuen in memory of him. This set is more than 50% Eagle Claw techniques and is esteemed as a most important set and is taught first (historically)
RE: Eagle Claw is still popular in Shantung. Geographically and interest wise, it is quite possible that they made friends.
12: Yin Chi Kuen, of Tam Fong (Swallow Fist)
RE:
13: Fan Chi (Fahn Chea) Kuen of Ying Ching (Yin Cheng)
Ying Ching was a famous top fighter of his time, especially feared for his unique (Broad) sword art. (RE: Ying Ching Dann Do)
RE: Ying Ching might once be real fighter of high caliber but he is more known in the sense of a folklore hero. In other words, like many legendary Kung Fu masters there is no substantial proof of his existence other than the Kung Fu Style that is named after him. He was known to have great throwing and grappling skill.
14: Tam Toi Kuen of Lam Chung (Jumping Leg Fist/ Style)
Breathing techniques and design makes it look like Karate, in some ways. Straight lined, high strength method.
RE: In many Mantis schools/ branches kicking exercises modeled after the Tam Toi training, which builds dynamic balance, functional leg strength, and stamina.
15: Lin Kuen of Lam Kam (Harmony Fist)
RE:
16: Choy Kuen of Choy Luen (Hammer Fist). Exclusively within the set CHOP CHOI Kuen. Classically a Shaolin set with elementary exercises for Foot techniques for beginning level students.
RE:
17: Lo Han Kuen of Yueng Kwong (Buddha Fist) Base of almost all of Shaolin Styles, which make them all similar.
Re: Lohanquan (Arhat Boxing) is considered the seed form of Shaolin. Even southern style such as Hung Gar has elements of it in its form (i.e. last section of Fu Hok Sern Ying Kuen)
18: Tong Long Kuen of Wong Long (Wang Lang) {Praying Mantis}
Tong Long Kuen is put together from only the most effective techniques of these above-mentioned methods/styles – to be highly effective itself. Tong Long Kuen, White Ape Style and Eagle Claw Style (in this order) are the three main posts (systems) that carry the Tong Long Style. Consisting of an individual choice out of a gigantic reservoir of Gung Fu techniques it still is identifiable in wide fields. The Eagle Claw Style of the Lau Family, which developed in the same province of China (Shantung) and was developed though a long period of time, with similar versatile and colorful method of fighting is to be highly revered as well.
RE: Taiji Praying Mantis or Tai Chi Praying Mantis (TCPM), IMHO, has 3 pillars that are slightly different from the 7 Stars Praying Mantis. The 3 pillars in Taiji Praying Mantis are Tanglangquen , Tai Tzu Men, and Taijiquan (Chen Style and Monastery Style). The information age seems to have brought out a lot of material regarding the history and formulation of Praying Mantis Style. They all seem to point to a common root, evolution, Style Cross Training and above all a strong will to excel. That, IMHO, is what Praying Mantis Kung Fu (regardless of style) is about.
To be completed…
Mantis108
Contraria Sunt Complementa
[This message was edited by mantis108 on 10-31-01 at 01:43 PM.]
In Memory of Sifu Eric Ishii
A Poem Concerning the 18 Styles that Make Up Praying Mantis
Version Four
Provided by personal contact of Late Sifu Eric Ishii’s (Roland Summer)
Note – Not in order with the other listings (i.e. Version 1-3)
Additional Remarks by Robert Hui
Oct 31, 2001
1: Cheng Kuen of Tai Jo (Long Fist) Tai Jo was the first Emperor of the Sung Dynasty. The Style contains big motions, exaggerating, and is very common in Taiwan
RE: Tai Jo (Tai Tzu Men) Changquan was popular from Shantung province as far as Henan province during Wong Long’s time. Henan Shaolin Temple was said to offer it in their curriculum at the time. In TCPM, Wong Long first learn this style from Sifu Wong Gar Chung, who also taught him the famous 12 Characters Principle, which later became the outstanding principle among all Northern Praying Mantis styles. ( New Martial Hero Magazine). At least 2 TCPM lineage holders - Grandmaster Hau Chi Yuen and Grandmaster Chiu Chuk Kai did train in Tai Tzu Men.
2: Tong Bei Kuen of Hong Tong (Shadow Fist/ AKA Ape Style)
RE: See #6
3: Lam Sao Kuen of Cheng Yum. (Closing/ Locking or Barrier Hands)
RE:
4: Duen Kuen of Wong Yuen (Short Fist)
RE:
5: Ngo Mee Kuen of Ma Jiak (Ngo Mo Fist)
The method of Ngo Mee Shan (Monastery) – is moving like a cat, short distance striking, and is still found in the P.R. of China
RE:
6: Pak Yuen Kuen of Sheung Hong (White Ape Fist)
From this method originated the main part of the footwork and the very famous 7 Star Stepping
RE: Pak Yuen Tong Bei seems to have different branches as well. This could be the reason that Ape Fist is mentioned twice. There is also the possibility that Tong Bei’s forms Dai Tong Bei (became Dai Fan Che?), Sui Tong Bei (became Sui Fan Che?), and Qixing (7 Stars) inspired some of the forms of 7 Stars PM. It is quite interesting that 7 Stars (the style) is said to be perhaps named after the form 7 Stars of Tong Bei. Indeed, lots of the long arm swinging motions can be found in both styles. But not commonly found in other PM styles. It is also of note that there is a form call 7 Stars (Qixing) in 7 Stars PM.
7: Gau San Kuen of Wong Chiem (Fist that lies on top or fist that rest on top of something)
RE:
8: Mui Fah Kuen of Mien Sai (Plum Flower Fist)
(Extraordinary dynamic style, consisting of 5 handsets, likes the 5 leaves {Petals} of the Plum Flower.)
Once very important and famous for affectivity, therefore it was integrated into many styles like Hung Gar, Choy Lee Fut, etc…
RE: There is a series of Mui Fah forms in the 7 Stars. Mantis somehow branched out into 7 Stars and Mui Fah. TCPM has closer ties to the Mui Fah branch.
9: Koy Sao Tong Kuen of Gam Sheung (Striking Shadow Fist)
RE:
10: Ban Kuen of Wai Dak (Death Fist)
RE:
11: Pak Ying Jow Kuen of Lau Hing (Northern Eagle Claw Fist/ Style)
Wang Lang was a very close friend of Sifu Lau Hing. After Lau Hing’s death, Wang Lang developed the Set Bung Bo Kuen in memory of him. This set is more than 50% Eagle Claw techniques and is esteemed as a most important set and is taught first (historically)
RE: Eagle Claw is still popular in Shantung. Geographically and interest wise, it is quite possible that they made friends.
12: Yin Chi Kuen, of Tam Fong (Swallow Fist)
RE:
13: Fan Chi (Fahn Chea) Kuen of Ying Ching (Yin Cheng)
Ying Ching was a famous top fighter of his time, especially feared for his unique (Broad) sword art. (RE: Ying Ching Dann Do)
RE: Ying Ching might once be real fighter of high caliber but he is more known in the sense of a folklore hero. In other words, like many legendary Kung Fu masters there is no substantial proof of his existence other than the Kung Fu Style that is named after him. He was known to have great throwing and grappling skill.
14: Tam Toi Kuen of Lam Chung (Jumping Leg Fist/ Style)
Breathing techniques and design makes it look like Karate, in some ways. Straight lined, high strength method.
RE: In many Mantis schools/ branches kicking exercises modeled after the Tam Toi training, which builds dynamic balance, functional leg strength, and stamina.
15: Lin Kuen of Lam Kam (Harmony Fist)
RE:
16: Choy Kuen of Choy Luen (Hammer Fist). Exclusively within the set CHOP CHOI Kuen. Classically a Shaolin set with elementary exercises for Foot techniques for beginning level students.
RE:
17: Lo Han Kuen of Yueng Kwong (Buddha Fist) Base of almost all of Shaolin Styles, which make them all similar.
Re: Lohanquan (Arhat Boxing) is considered the seed form of Shaolin. Even southern style such as Hung Gar has elements of it in its form (i.e. last section of Fu Hok Sern Ying Kuen)
18: Tong Long Kuen of Wong Long (Wang Lang) {Praying Mantis}
Tong Long Kuen is put together from only the most effective techniques of these above-mentioned methods/styles – to be highly effective itself. Tong Long Kuen, White Ape Style and Eagle Claw Style (in this order) are the three main posts (systems) that carry the Tong Long Style. Consisting of an individual choice out of a gigantic reservoir of Gung Fu techniques it still is identifiable in wide fields. The Eagle Claw Style of the Lau Family, which developed in the same province of China (Shantung) and was developed though a long period of time, with similar versatile and colorful method of fighting is to be highly revered as well.
RE: Taiji Praying Mantis or Tai Chi Praying Mantis (TCPM), IMHO, has 3 pillars that are slightly different from the 7 Stars Praying Mantis. The 3 pillars in Taiji Praying Mantis are Tanglangquen , Tai Tzu Men, and Taijiquan (Chen Style and Monastery Style). The information age seems to have brought out a lot of material regarding the history and formulation of Praying Mantis Style. They all seem to point to a common root, evolution, Style Cross Training and above all a strong will to excel. That, IMHO, is what Praying Mantis Kung Fu (regardless of style) is about.
To be completed…
Mantis108
Contraria Sunt Complementa
[This message was edited by mantis108 on 10-31-01 at 01:43 PM.]