Ba Bu Lian Huan Quan

[mooyingmantis]

One of my favorite Taiji Meihua Tanglangquan forms is 八 步 連 環 拳 - bā bù lián huán quán - Eight Step Continuous Strikes. It is a beautiful form to behold and has some great fighting applications.

Here is the quanpu for the first road:

First Road

预 备 势
yù bèi shì
Prepare Power

左 攔 迎 面 扑
zuǒ lán yíng miàn pū
Left Hinder, Face Attack

仙 人 指 路
xiān rén zhi lù
Immortal Points to the Road

左 隔 右 裹 連 環 打
zuǒ gé yòu guǒ lián huán dǎ
Left Separate, Right Wrap Continuous Strike

右 隔 左 裹 迎 面 打
yòu gé zuǒ guǒ yíng miàn dǎ
Right Separate, Left Wrap & Face Strike

左 展 右 隔 肘
zuǒ zhǎn yòu gé zhǒu
Left Open, Right Separate Elbow

左 封 右 扑 右 崩 錘
zuǒ fēng yòu pū yòu bēng chuí
Left Seal, Right Attack Right Crashing Hammer

底 漏 雙 帮 肘
dǐ lòu shuāng bāng zhǒu
Bottom Leak, Double Augmented Elbow

左 封 右 崩 捶
zuǒ fēng yòu bēng chuí
Left Seal, Right Crashing Hammer

隔 肘 隨
gé zhǒu suí
Separate Elbow

螳 螂 雙 閉
táng láng shuāng bì
Praying Mantis Double Close

鸳鸯 脚
yuān yang jiao
Mandarin Duck Kick

Does anyone know the history of this form?

[18elders]

I know eagle claw has a ba bu form, never seen it in mantis?

[EarthDragon]

ba bu tang lang, is a even one of the many styles of mantis, how could you not think mantis wouldnt have 8 step?

[ShaolinDan]

I have learned the shaolin ba bu and, recently, the eagle claw ba bu--which is the shaolin ba bu adapted to the eagle claw style...I found it very interesting to compare the forms move by move.

[ShaolinDan]

I have learned the shaolin ba bu and, recently, the eagle claw ba bu--which is the shaolin ba bu adapted to the eagle claw style. I found it very interesting to compare the forms move by move.

Does the Mantis also parallel Shaolin?

[mooyingmantis]

Does the Mantis also parallel Shaolin?

Dan,
The mantis Ba Bu Lian Huan Quan set is nothing like the Shaolin Ba Bu Lian Huan sets that I have seen.

Here is a video of one version of the mantis set:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYaO3dzUzr4

The performer in the video was a student of Shifu Zhang Bingdou.

[ShaolinDan]

cool. A much longer form. A few points are very similar to the Eagle Claw, but for the most part it seems quite different to the other forms. thanks.

[Tainan Mantis]

Here is a video of one version of the mantis set:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYaO3dzUzr4

The performer in the video was a student of Shifu Zhang Bingdou.

The poster of those videos was a training partner of mine while I was in Shandong, Will.
I have heard that this form is made up by Zhang Bingdou, maybe Will can answer this question.

[18elders]

i have learned the form and it was not a mantis set and have never heard of it in mantis as a traditional set. Is it in your 8 step system?

[Howard]

..and Zhang Bingdou himself performing the set...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1OTe5Q7I74&feature=channel_video_title

[mooyingmantis]

..and Zhang Bingdou himself performing the set...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1OTe5Q7I74&feature=channel_video_title

I have that VCD by Zhang Bingdou. It breaks the form down very well. Though I prefer Qu Hai's performance of the set.

Kevin,
Thanks for the background info!

There is another video on YouTube of a female performing the set. She does a wonderful job. Unfortunately, I can't find it now. Fortunately, I had already downloaded the video. :)

[mooyingmantis]

Here is the video I mentioned above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Y7Cc6TZKw&feature=related

Very smooth execution of the form!

[xiao yao]

hi

i posted that video on youtube. it was my first teacher performing this form.

i never learnt it myself, but i called my teacher to ask for more information for you guys. he said it was created by master zhang bing dou and comes after the zhai yao series in his lineage.

he said the form is kind of a comprehensive form, including the various principles and kinds of power in mantis. as i dont train with him any more, its difficult for me to ask more detailed information....... but hope that helps

i have some quan pu from zhang bing dou and my own master zhou zhen dong here:
http://www.monkeystealspeach.co.uk/praying-mantis.php

[mooyingmantis]

hi

i posted that video on youtube. it was my first teacher performing this form.

i never learnt it myself, but i called my teacher to ask for more information for you guys. he said it was created by master zhang bing dou and comes after the zhai yao series in his lineage.

he said the form is kind of a comprehensive form, including the various principles and kinds of power in mantis. as i dont train with him any more, its difficult for me to ask more detailed information....... but hope that helps

i have some quan pu from zhang bing dou and my own master zhou zhen dong here:
http://www.monkeystealspeach.co.uk/praying-mantis.php

Will,
Thank you for the information! It is always nice to document the origin of forms for future generations. :)

[xiao yao]

no problem

mooying mantis... ive noticed you often mention zhang bing dou

here is his chinese website, not sure if youve seen it or not, but he has the quan pu for several forms on here as well as pictures of the postures

http://www.chinatanglang.com/index.asp

hope this helps

[mooyingmantis]

no problem

mooying mantis... ive noticed you often mention zhang bing dou

here is his chinese website, not sure if youve seen it or not, but he has the quan pu for several forms on here as well as pictures of the postures

http://www.chinatanglang.com/index.asp

hope this helps

Xiao Yao,

I have been to the site in the past, but couldn't find it recently. So, thank you for the link!

I have a few of his DVDs as well.

Does, Shifu Qu have a website or any DVDs available? I am really impressed with how he moves and counsel my students to take shenfa pointers from his videos on YouTube.

Again thank you!