Praying Mantis Books/DVDs

[kuniggety]

There are a plethora of resources in English for 7* Praying Mantis, such as the DVD collection produced by Jon Funk (extremely comprehensive), the Martial Skill University DVDs (4 forms but their website has a bunch of techniques), and the book series by Paul Eng (5 forms with techniques). I'm most interested in Taiji and Plum Blossom but I was wondering what all good resources people have found, in English, for the various Northern Praying Mantis styles? I've went back a couple of years on the threads in this forum and couldn't find a good discussion on the topic.

[mooyingmantis]

There are a plethora of resources in English for 7* Praying Mantis, such as the DVD collection produced by Jon Funk (extremely comprehensive), the Martial Skill University DVDs (4 forms but their website has a bunch of techniques), and the book series by Paul Eng (5 forms with techniques). I'm most interested in Taiji and Plum Blossom but I was wondering what all good resources people have found, in English, for the various Northern Praying Mantis styles? I've went back a couple of years on the threads in this forum and couldn't find a good discussion on the topic.

Unfortunately, most of the books and DVD/VCDs of the Mantis families, other than Northern Mantis/Seven Star (Taiji, Meihua, Taijimeihua, Babu and Liu He), are only in Chinese.

I have over 400 video clips, 52 DVD/VCDs and a few books that cover all of the most well known mantis families. Plus several friends who teach different families of mantis.

If you have a specific question about a specific family, send me a PM and hopefully I can point you in the right direction.

[kuniggety]

I appreciate the reply. I figured my search might be fruitless. If only I knew Mandarin, lol. I've found a number of plum blossom VCDs/DVDs for it. I'm currently a student of taiji mantis but will be moving/losing my teacher in a few months so I was trying to find some good reference material to perhaps learn a little more for. Well, I guess I can always do a bit of cross-training...with 7*.

[mooyingmantis]

Who do you train with now?

In June I am scheduled to train Taiji Tanglangquan with Master Zhou Zhendong in Yantai.

[kuniggety]

Sounds like quite a trip! How long are you going for? I've been entertaining the idea of making a trip there but we will see how it goes...it's hard to run off for kung fu training when you have a family.

I study under Sigung Steven Baugh, who is a student of Kam Yuen. Most of my Mantis studies have been with one of his senior students.

[kuniggety]

I was pretty sure I had looked at this website before but I found a few DVDs in Chinese but with English subtitles. Score! I will probably order these soon and post a review of them when I get them.

http://www.plumpub.com/sales/dvd/dvdcoll_mantisTC.htm

[mooyingmantis]

Sounds like quite a trip! How long are you going for?

If all goes as planned, I will be there for eleven days.

I've been entertaining the idea of making a trip there but we will see how it goes...it's hard to run off for kung fu training when you have a family.

I know, I am a husband and father with a career outside of martial arts.

I study under Sigung Steven Baugh, who is a student of Kam Yuen. Most of my Mantis studies have been with one of his senior students.

Sounds like a great opportunity!