The question of Wah Lum's Big Mantis came up from time to time. I practice 2 version of Yantai Beng Bu which is known as Da Bengbu because of extensive use of Deng Shan shi as oppose to Xiao Shi that are frequently used in Laying Beng Bu. I also have seen a version of Wah Lum's Big Mantis which I believe it to be very likely that it is loosely based on the Da Bengbu. This is of course subject to the WL version that I have seen is a "truthful" representation.
To look at the evolutions of Bengbu, I use the following "genetic markers".
1) it has 4 roads.
2) The moves before and after each turns should be intact (ie first road turning into the second road.)
3) Signature techniques or highlights of the form remain intact. (the elbow sequence of the first road, Ge Zhou sequence of the 2nd rd, elbow seq. at the end of 2nd rd, Gaoji bu seq. of the 3rd, etc... most importantly the waist chop at the end)
4) The stance(s) that is most frequently used (ie Dengshan Shi)
These 4 requisites can fairly easily be satisfied by the WL Big Mantis althought openning and closing sections posted some puzzling signals. In the open sequence, it would seem that it is somewhat close to CCK TCPM's version, which some suggest that it might be one of the oldest known version of Bengbu. In fact the whole first and second road of WL Big Mantis suggested to me that it is highly possible that it relates to TJPM's Bengbu(s). The more difficult task is to figure out the closing sequence of WL Big Mantis where it seems to have not included the waist chop. There is a rather strange move of a twisted stance and 2 arms formed mantis claws facing each other holding vertically in front of the body; then there is a turning out the twist. I would think this is a "representation" of the waist chop. So in essence the waist chop is still done but in a different manner. Aside from this, there are couple of stylistic "innovations" such a southern one finger pose accompanied with a shout and quite a bit more kicks than the average Bengbu(s) would have. Btw, the eye-poking moves and flipping palms are omitted in the WL Big Mantis. I surmise this is more a stylistic vision matter. It doesn't IMHO change the fact that it is recognizablely Yantai Bengbu.
In conclusion, it is to the best of my knowledge that WL Big Mantis is indeed Da Bengbu with Wah Lum Tan Tui flavor. It is unique to its own class.
Mantis108