Parying Mantis

[YouKnowWho]

I just made some clips from one of my praying mantis VHS collection. There are some combo drills training that I like.

What's your opinion on this kind of training?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEwDBCv41rQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3KpIemRAU8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6BeL5jtoy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=b-Ut84YyI98

[-N-]

Ok for warmup.

Would like to see more speed and agility in the hands and the stepping, and more explosive power in the attacks even for warmup.

Then I would want to some serious/realistic partner practice usng the techniques.

Also the two person punching/parrying was too slow and rigid for my preferences.

[RAF]

We learned something similar to the ideas in the clips you showed but it was more formerly organized

I am certain that you are familar with Su Yu Zhang of Taiwan. When we learned praying mantis in the 1980s, my teacher, Tony Yang, patterned much of his teaching from the way Su Yu Zhang taught him praying mantis.

Before any forms were learned, each student had to learn single moving postures/movements. The first set contained 6 moving postures from various praying mantis forms including 8 step, 7 star, mei hua. Each posture had a part B which the opponent could play so you immediately were doing two person drills. There were two additional sets of 6 movements which also included postures and movement from 6 harmony etc. etc..

In addition to these, you also learned a routine of kicks, both in place and moving, along with holding stance training [praying mantis stances].

Also learned to punch and kick padded boards.

Then came the first form--7 hand from the 8 step praying mantis system and this included the B side which made it a two person drill.

During the summers, we would perform these drills and exercises going up and down a 75 foot yard.

Had limited appreciation of what we were doing but looking back, it was a treasure chest of great material.

The training was similar to the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50D7H-weVns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz-Dy...534BF0FC19E801


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB7Wv...0TrUlg&index=6

[EarthDragon]

I wouldn't call it training perse' more just forms speed drills and excersizes, but being a mantis practitioner I will say I have not come across any style I like better or have found more efficient than mantis. It uses agility speed and precision to over come our opponents.

perhaps the biggest improvement in mantis was the integration of bagua footwork from Chiang Hua Long, many styles of mantis lack solid maneuverable footwork and thus gave mantis's superior upper exrtremities a disadvantage, but with 8 step its a perfect fit for upper and lower to efficient combined cordination

[YouKnowWho]

I will say I have not come across any style I like better or have found more efficient than mantis.

I feel the same way too. PM is the style that doesn't hide anything. It's WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get).

[SPJ]

1. I learned praying mantis at first.

I was fast with both hand and leg moves.

However, my root structures were loose.

2 . I was directed to learn Ba Ji and Tong bei.

Ba Ji for good foundation with stepping and rooting.

Tong bei for fast and flexible whole arms movement and fast stepping methods.

3. I came back to praying mantis.

My mantis was influenced strongly by Ba Ji and Tong bei.