Your Favorite Mantis Named Set

[mooyingmantis]

Several of the families of Mantis have sets that are named Tanglang.....

Of the following sets:

Praying Mantis Catches the Cicada (tanglang bu chan)
Praying Mantis Hand (tanglang shou)
Praying Mantis Exits the Cave (tanglang chu dong)
Praying Mantis Steals the Peach (tanglang tou tao)
Praying Mantis Whirling (tanglang bu xuan)

Which ones does your school practice?
Which one is your favorite and why?
What merits do you feel each have?

Note: Though the Qixing Tanglangquan families use the names Tanglang Bu Chan and Tanglang Bu Xuan interchangeable for the same set of movements, Tanglang Bu Chan is a separate set in the Taiji Meihua Tanglangquan tradition.

[Tainan Mantis]

Tanglang Bu Chan is a separate set in the Taiji Meihua Tanglangquan tradition.

Which branch?
Who teaches it?

[MightyB]

My fav is Mantis Exits the Cave.

Why: 'Cuz it makes me feel cool when I'm doing it. Plus there's a couple of sequences in it that I like.

[Codeboy]

I agree with MightyB on TongLong Chut Dong and for an even more trivial reason than his! It is the only one I have been taught so far! :( I suppose after another six years at the school I will probably have one more off the list ;)

I do like the ending with the stepping forward fan jeurn and chit bo (sp?) is always fun. MightyB, is that what Sifu refers to as Doon Da?

[MightyB]

kind've - but I tend to think that he refers to anything that falls within that two palm lengths of pain that he describes as his doon da.

Back in the day in his old location - for an example he walked over to the steel pole/beam that used to support the heavy bag and extended his hands palm to finger tip. He used this double palm length distance as a measure of space between him and the pole. He then chon toi / push kicked the pole and said to me that I should be comfortable fighting in this distance. He then removed one palm length and kicked the pole with force - he winked as he said he was comfortable in this distance (about 6 maybe 7 inches).

[mooyingmantis]

Which branch?
Who teaches it?

Kevin,
Zhang Zhen Yuan teaches the form. I am trying to find background on him currently. I will let you know if I find anything.

MightyB,
Enjoyed the story you shared!

[mooyingmantis]

Does anyone here do a version of Tanglang Shou? There are several versions depending on family.

[Tainan Mantis]

I know the form. Most people here know the form as it was taught by Wang Songting. I am pretty sure that he is the only teacher of this form in Taiwan and hence all versions in taiwan descend from him. It was taught most widely by Gao Daosheng for many decades in Taipei and most people learned his version.

At some point my Shifu, Shi Zhengzheng, did his own research on three versions of this form that he had learned and found them all to have started with Wang Songting, even though they were not all the same.

Master Jinchuan
This form was the creation of Liang Jinchuan, the son of Liang xuexiang.
this form works together with other forms in a series that was probably created before the zhai yao sereis, though I can not be sure of that. Just an educated guess since it is Liang Xuexiangs son.

Chuan Zhi
This form Tang Lang Shou, Mantis Hands is like a simple version of the Chuan Zhi series of forms which also date to the same era roughly speaking.
The Chuan Zhi forms consist of four long forms of a very active looking mantis.

They were primarily based on Monkey( not the ape we find in the white ape series) and thier movement and activity hints at that.

In fact, the name Chuan Zhi means through the branches and is a reference to the dexterity with which monkeys dart through the branches of a tree.

A Rarity
They are fascinating to watch, but never became famous like the zhai yao forms since it was not easy to learn them. Supposedly Hao LianRu wouldnt even teach the form if you had not trained there for 5 years minimum.
Which is a contrast to the first zhai yao which is sometimes taught as one of the first forms of Mantis.

[mooyingmantis]

Kevin,
Thank you for the fascinating background information!

I believe that Gao Daosheng was one of the instructors of the man who first brought kung fu to Akron, Feeman Ong.

[Jimbo]

I had learned two versions of Tanglang Shou when I lived in Taiwan. My first teacher there was Gao Daosheng, so I had learned his version initially. In fact, Tanglang Shou was the very first set that he taught, pretty much from the first day.

I later switched schools and trained under the late Peng Han-ping, who taught a different lineage of Tanglang...in fact, some 7-star and 8-step. The version I learned from Peng Laoshi (he actually preferred being called "teacher" and not "Shifu") was shorter and a bit simpler, and also included a one-half tornado kick (ban hsuen feng tuei) during one of the turning movements. I have observed this version of Tanglang Shou being practiced by students of the Wu Tan school (Baji/Piqua) who trained Tanglang Quan in addition. Not coincidentally, Peng Laoshi was also an ex-Wu Tan student as well as having had many other teachers. I've also seen this version demo'd in one of Japanese author Matsuda Ryuchi(?)'s CMA books on Tanglang Quan.

Oddly enough, at both places I trained TLQ, the Zhai Yao forms were not immediately or commonly taught.

It's now been so long since I've practiced TLQ that I've mostly forgotten the sets except for Beng Bu, the version I learned from Peng Laoshi.

[mooyingmantis]

Jimbo,
Nice feedback! Thank you!

[mooyingmantis]

Here are video clips of Tanglang Shou:

Su Yu Chang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdcYhk1gcM

Gao Daosheng:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbHj3t-mZA

You Jin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=halxtqq1eSI&feature=related

[mooyingmantis]

Below is the quan pu used by Su Yu Chang for the first road of the Tanglang Shou set. The translation of the moves are my own.

Praying Mantis Hand
螳 螂 手
táng láng shǒu

First Road

螳 螂 點 睛 手
táng láng diǎn jīng shǒu
Praying Mantis Dot Pupil Hand

七 星 式 穿 噪
qī xīng shì chuān zào
Seven Star Pattern, Pierce Quickly

白 虎 洗 瞼 手
bái hǔ xǐ jiǎn shǒu
White Tiger Cleans Eyelids Hands

连 环 密 積 肘
lián huán mì jī zhǒu
Continuous Close Amass Elbow

入 環 單 臂 肘
rù huán zhǒu dān bì zhǒu
Enter Ring, Single Forearm Elbow

翻 天 覆 地 掌
fān tiān fù dì zhǎng
Overturn Heaven, Cover Ground Palm

连 环 破 刀 手
lián huán pò dāo shǒu
Continuous Break Knife Hands

钩 搂 手 點 睛
gōu lǒu shǒu diǎn jīng
Hook & Embrace Hand, Dot Pupil

撩 陰 旋 風 脚
liāo yīn xuán fēng jiǎo
Lift Yin & Whirlwind Leg

Questions, comments and corrections are welcome. :)

[mooyingmantis]

Praying Mantis Hand
螳 螂 手
táng láng shǒu

First Road

螳 螂 點 睛 手
táng láng diǎn jīng shǒu
Praying Mantis Dot Pupil Hand

With feet together facing forward, execute a left hold hand (lou), then a right scissor hand attack to the eyes.

七 星 式 穿 噪
qī xīng shì chuān zào
Seven Star Pattern, Pierce Quickly

Step the left foot forward to form a Seven Star Stance and execute a left upward thrust with the fingers of the palm hand.

白 虎 洗 瞼 手
bái hǔ xǐ jiǎn shǒu
White Tiger Cleans Eyelids Hands

Step the right foot forward and rake down with double claw hands to the face(the right claw is in front of the left claw).

连 环 密 積 肘
lián huán mì jī zhǒu
Continuous Close Amass Elbow

Shuffle forward at a diagonal twice in a Hill Climbing Stance and twice use the right mantis claw and forearm to trip the opponent over the lead leg.

入 環 單 臂 肘
rù huán zhǒu dān bì zhǒu
Enter Ring, Single Forearm Elbow

Step the left foot forward into a Kneeling Stance while blocking with the left hook hand and executing a rising mantis claw strike to the diaphragm

翻 天 覆 地 掌
fān tiān fù dì zhǎng
Overturn Heaven, Cover Ground Palm

Step the right foot forward and execute a downward reverse palm strike to the top of the head, followed with a side-ward palm thrust to the opponent's abdomen.

连 环 破 刀 手
lián huán pò dāo shǒu
Continuous Break Knife Hands

Execute a left, then right side-ward chop to the opponent's neck with the left and right palms respectively.

钩 搂 手 點 睛
gōu lǒu shǒu diǎn jīng
Hook & Embrace Hand, Dot Pupil

Execute a right hook hand. Step the left foot forward and execute a left hold hand, then strike to the eyes with the left palm in a fanning strike.

撩 陰 旋 風 脚
liāo yīn xuán fēng jiǎo
Lift Yin & Whirlwind Leg

Execute a right front kick. Drop into a low Horse Stance and slap the ground with both palms. Leap into the air with a left outward cresent kick/right inward cresent kick combination

Does this sound similar to how others learned it?

[Tainan Mantis]

Secret Door Praying Mantis Hand
秘 門 螳 螂 手
mì mén táng láng shǒu

That is a misleading title. It is written as if to imply that it is from Zhang Dekui when it clearly is not.

Thanks for sharing.

[mooyingmantis]

That is a misleading title. It is written as if to imply that it is from Zhang Dekui when it clearly is not.

Thanks for sharing.

According to his biographical information, Su Yu Chang studied with Chang Te Kuei. Doesn't Chang Te Kuei = Zhang Dekui? It also lists his other instructors as: Wei Hsai-Tang, Li Kuen-Shan and Liu Yun-Chiao.

He actually calls his style Pachi Tanglang Kung Fu. However, the tape this form was on was entitled PIMEN TANGLANG CHUAN - SECRET DOOR PRAYING MANTIS.

Please forgive the error. :o I corrected my above posts.

[mooyingmantis]

Here are the moves for the first road of each of the Tanglang named sets for comparison:

螳 螂 手
Tanglang Shou
Praying Mantis Hands

FIRST ROAD
01. Praying Mantis Dots Pupils Hand
02. Seven Star Pattern, Pierce Quickly
03. White Tiger Cleans Eyelids Hands
04. Continuous Close Amass Elbow
05. Enter Ring, Single Forearm Elbow
06. Overturn Heaven, Cover Ground Palm
07. Continuous Break Knife Hands
08. Hook Grapple Hand, Dot Pupils
09. Lift Yin, Whirlwind Leg

螳 螂 出 洞
Tang Lang Chu Dong
Praying Mantis Exits the Cave

FIRST ROAD
01. Middle Level Twins Store Up Power
02. Enter Ring, Single Arm Claw
03. Raise Leg, Right Uppercut Strike
04. Penetrating Palm, Right Stride Step
05. Ascend Mountain, Seal Gathering Strike
06. Horse Pattern, Right Fill-In Strike
07. Ascend Mountain, Right Uppercut Strike
08. Enter Ring, Right Waist Chop

螳 螂 捕 蟬
Tang Lang Bu Chan
Praying Mantis Catches Cicada

FIRST ROAD
01. White Snake Winds Body
02. Raise Body, Praying Mantis Pattern
03. Reverse Wrist, Strike in a Circle
04. Double Lift & Double Splitting Palms
05. Swing Open Hands, Thunderbolt Palm
06. Right Hook, Left Rubbing Strike
07. Praying Mantis Catches Cicada
08. Left Right Hang Hands, Head On Strike

螳 螂 步 旋
Tang Lang Bu Xuan
Praying Mantis Whirling Step

FIRST ROAD
01. Middle Level Twins Store Up Power
02. Seven Star, Left Hook Hand
03. Ascend Mountain, Right Splitting Strike
04. Ascend Mountain, Hook Grapple Pluck
05. Ascend Mountain, Left Thrust Palm
06. Seven Star, Right Insert Strike
07. Ascend Mountain, Hook Grapple Pluck

螳 螂 偷 桃
Tang Lang Tou Tao
Praying Mantis Steals Peach

FIRST ROAD
01. Back Pattern, Double Overturn Palms
02. Topple Power, Catch Cicada Pattern
03. Seven Star, Right Split Stop
04. Solitary Goose, Left Exits Flock
05. Ascend Mountain, Right Circle Strike
06. Right Hook, Grapple, Pluck Hands
07. Enter Ring, Right Waist Chop
08. Ascend Mountain, Left Circle Strike
09. Ascend Mountain, Left Crushing Strike
10. Seven Star, Left Wicked Hand
11. Seven Star, Right Insert Strike
12. Ascend Mountain, Right Uppercut Strike
13. Ascend Mountain, Hang Gathering Strike
14. Ascend Mountain, Right Split Stop
15. Elbow Lowers, Right Watch Claw
16. Seven Star, Right Circle Strike
17. Seven Star, Left Circle Strike
18. Ascend Mountain, Left Crushing Strike

[Jimbo]

Here are video clips of Tanglang Shou:

Su Yu Chang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdcYhk1gcM

Gao Daosheng:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbHj3t-mZA

You Jin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=halxtqq1eSI&feature=related

Thanks for posting these clips, moonyingmantis!

One of my regrets is that I never got any footage of my late teacher Peng Han-Ping doing TLQ. I helped record him demonstrating a lot of his stuff (TLQ, Hung Gar, Chen Taiji, etc.) onto video about 20 years ago, for his own records. But I never even thought to get any of it copied for myself, which I'm sure wouldn't have been a problem, at least the TLQ part. He also had a lot of footage of us training/sparring/competing, etc. Now I wonder if any of that footage even exists anymore (probably not). The only footage of him that I own is some quick footage of him demoing the 3-section staff at the 1991 Tat Wong master's exhibition from a San Francisco TV broadcast of the tourney, and various stuff on a memorial tape I received from a classmate after his funeral (he passed away in 1999, 6.5 years after I left Taiwan). He was only around a couple years older than I was, and I guess I assumed he'd always be there. It still bothers me to this day.

On a lighter note, I remember Peng Laoshi mentioning that early in his TLQ training, he once saw Su Yu Chang and was quite impressed with his skills. Although they'd both trained under some of the very same teachers (Wei Hsiao-Tang, Liu Yun-Chiao, etc.), there was quite an age difference between them.

[mooyingmantis]

Jimbo,
I'm glad to pass on information!

Your appreciation means much! :)