Zhai Yao Yi Lu

[mooyingmantis]

Interesting post taken from Mantis Quarterly

Firstly, I should say I have studied Zhaiyao as passed down by descendants of Grandmasters Luo Guangyu, Lin Jingshan & Wang Chuanyi.

Prior to being able to answer such questions, it is essential to understand what Seven Star Praying Mantis Zhaiyao actually is (and is not).
With the assistance of the footage on the internet we can demonstrate this quite easily.

The following videos are examples of Seven Stars First Road Abstraction (Yilu Zhaiyao)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNS7hDxQVi0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjNLR7FlcAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxNS1xBhHnI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqS1uprXNj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p01mznPa-k

Seven Stars First Road Abstraction (Yilu Zhaiyao) is not the following; (This is Meihua (Plum Blossom) Zhaiyao – Please note: This was labelled as Plum Blossom Mantis as early as the 1960’s by GM Lin & GM Wang.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q17ZSEep2Os
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsM5...=results_video

Yilu zhaiyao is so similar! How can we distinguish between what is Seven Stars and what is Plum Blossom?

In general we can say:
If it starts with a kick (Yingmen jiao) and ends with a penultimate Shunfeng saoye/Mopan shou = Seven Stars PM

If it starts with a punch and ends with penultimate Yeli canghua = Plum Blossom PM

Seven Stars Second Road Abstraction (Zhaiyao):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yIqBvsIvt8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jPThE4mk7Y

Seven Stars Second Road Abstraction is not this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9_GIgSBPxU
The above should be called Northern Praying Mantis Zhaiyao.

Seven Stars Third Road Abstraction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw8IFuhn_eo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J8Bc2kf3Ww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jNHqE73fVk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scpeQXsjVHE

Seven Stars Third Road Abstraction is not the following:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u-ywUcB54I (This should be called Northern Praying Mantis Zhaiyao).

I do not have the time or space to tell everything about Seven Star Zhaiyao however, I would like to share with you all some facts about Zhaiyao in recent times.
-----------
Main Sources
- Unpublished manuscript of Great Grandmaster Wang Yunsheng, 1900.
- Unpublished manuscript of Grandmaster Wang Chuanyi, 1960.
- Interviews conducted with students and disciples of Grandmaster Lin Jingshan (1885-1971) & Grandmaster Wang Chuanyi (1900-1971).
--------------
During the 1960’s those such as Master Zhong Lianbao asked Grandmaster Lin to teach them Zhaiyao. GM Lin refused; saying that he did not know all six zhaiyao! Later in 1969 when GM Wang Chuanyi returned to Yantai from Dalian, a small group of them were accepted by GM Wang to study Zhaiyao. At that time it was a well-known fact that he had learnt all six abstraction forms from his grandfather Wang Yunsheng. The small group of students included Zhong Lianbao, Yu Tianlu, Wang Zonglin and so on. In a very short time they learnt all six zhaiyao forms thus; what GM Wang taught them was an abridged version, making some alterations to the forms and not instructing them in how to use it. Some of those present just studied the first four sets and later acquired the last two from their classmates.
In conclusion the six zhaiyao sets of seven star mantis are extremely rare and in China today are taught only in Yantai & Dalian – all of which have been handed down by Grandmaster Wang Chuanyi.

I hope this information helps,


J Rodriguez (Wang Mengyi)

www.kuidetang.co.uk

[mooyingmantis]

Here are four examples of the 勾 摟 采 - gōu lōu cǎi - hook, embrace and pluck theory found in Zhai Yao Yi Lu:

Movement Fourteen

爬 山 手 - pá shān shǒu - Climb Mountain Hand

Step the left foot forward into a Seven Star step with a right hook, left grapple hand and a right thrust palm strike. The thrust palm strike is meant to trip the opponent over the left ankle.

Movement Eighteen

白 猿 偷 桃 - bái yuán tōu táo - White Ape Steals Peach

From a right Cat stance/Tiger Riding stance, shift forward and execute a right hook hand. Step the left foot forward with a left grapple and right hair grab. Lift the right leg and pull both fists to the rear at shoulder level.

Movement Twenty-One

双 封 锁 口 捶 - shuāng fēng suǒ kǒu chuí - Double Seal, Lock Mouth Strike

From a right Hill Climbing stance, execute a right hook, left grapple and right strike to the jaw or throat.

Movement Forty-four

仙 人 取 发 - xiān rén qu fà - Immortal Takes Hair

From a right Hill Climbing Stance, execute a right hook, a left seal and a right hair grab. Step the right foot to the rear and pull the opponent to the ground.

Note that 摟 is translated variously as: embrace, grapple and seal in the above examples.

[mooyingmantis]

Movement Eighteen

白 猿 偷 桃 - bái yuán tōu táo - White Ape Steals Peach

"From a right Cat stance/Tiger Riding stance, shift forward and execute a right hook hand. Step the left foot forward with a left grapple and right hair grab. Lift the right leg and pull both fists to the rear at shoulder level."

Since most societies, if any, no longer wear a queue or topknot and many wear their hair short or bald, I teach a modified version of this technique.

Both practitioners start with the right foot in a lead position.

1. I contact my opponent's lead right wrist with my right hook hand.

2. Then, I contact my opponent's right lead elbow with my left palm to press his elbow against his body.

3. Next, the palmar surface of my right hand slaps against the opponent's right ear in preparation for grabbing his ear. This action can rupture the opponent's eardrum.

4. I rotate my right fist clockwise so that my palm faces downward while still gripping my opponent's ear. His head should rotate so that the right side of his face is pointing toward the sky due to the pain.

5. I jerk my right hand to my right side at shoulder height while raising my right knee to intercept his left lower ribs.

Of course, this must be practiced slowly and cautiously with a partner. Severe injury to the inner ear, outer ear, neck and ribs can result.

With practice this technique can be completed in less than a second against an attacker.

[mooyingmantis]

Here is a simple drill taken from Zhai Yao Yi Lu (and Meihua Lu) that we practice at Mantis Masters Academy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMqmvY4xuyc

[MightyB]

pressure the foom sau and especially the bung choi just a skosh longer, then release the kick. Completely eliminates their ability to counter.

[mooyingmantis]

pressure the foom sau and especially the bung choi just a skosh longer, then release the kick. Completely eliminates their ability to counter.

Agreed!

They purposely did the moves very slowly, so others could see each move.

This drill allows the partner to practice leaking and gua tong chui. So both benefit.

[Mi Hou Tao]

We also have 6 zhai Yao forms in the Lin Bo Yan - Koh Kim Kok - Kai Uwe Pel line, although I have heard the last three referred to by different names.

[mooyingmantis]

We also have 6 zhai Yao forms in the Lin Bo Yan - Koh Kim Kok - Kai Uwe Pel line, although I have heard the last three referred to by different names.

Thank you for the information!

Six seems to be the "magic number" for this series. Though some have a seventh, while others now combine the seventh into the sixth section. Usually the "seventh" section involves ditangmen (ground fighting).

[xiao yao]

what do you mean the last three are known by other names? i have never heard any other names except zhai yao

[mooyingmantis]

White Ape Steals the peach demonstration and application:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmS2u...ature=youtu.be

[mooyingmantis]

Climb Mountain Hand, Steal Underneath with Lower Leak & Circle demonstration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-_8T...ature=youtu.be

[iunojupiter]

I like to add a slight pull shuffle to the right when I do the hook punch. Gives you the opportunity to sweep through to the opposite leg if they lift the leg you've got hooked. Gives me a little more bang for my buck.

Cheers

[18elders]

seen this in ba fan shou, it is an old chinese martial arts style, many moves from mantis are in it. i think it originated in shandong and pre dates mantis.

[mooyingmantis]

Interesting info guys!

Here is a video of drills we do for moves 9 - 11:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLBl...ature=youtu.be

[18elders]

on defense 1- try hooking second punch with right hand, gwa block incoming hook as you punch opponents face with right hand.

the defender is leaning his head into the incoming hook, not a good idea imho.

just my thoughts.