In terms of the kind of fighting experience on the Seven Star side of Northern Mantis:

Li Sanjian was a caravan guard and had combat experience against bandits. (how much of this had to do with Tanglang, I do not know as he was most likely armed to the teeth as anyone in that situation would be). But he did beat a much younger Wang Yongchun and he became Li's disciple.

Wang Yongchun was already a free fighting champion using Long Fist when he was beaten by Li Sanjian. Not combat experience but certainly he had fighting experience.

Fan Xudong, Wang's disciple. Was a champion fighter both in China and Russia. Had a reputation as a fighter with weapons and without.

Luo Guangyu and his older Gongfu brother who came to Shanghai with him, Yang Weixin, were both actually sanda specialists and were sent to Shanghai to represent Tanglang because they were. It is well-known among mainland practitioners that Yang killed more than one opponent in fights.

Master Luo himself produced some excellent fighters. For example, Ma Chengxin won the grand championship of Leitai (platform fighting) at the national Chinese Boxing competition in 1929.

Huang Hanxun, (Wong Hon Fun), was the student sent out by Fan to represent Tanglang and open new schools. He fought on many occasions and writes about matches where, in spite of protective gear, masters still inadvertantly killed one another and how they tried to make their matches less lethal.

One can look at the disciples of Master Huang and see what he taught in his school:

Huang's disciple, Sifu Chung Ho Yin was the fighting representative of both Lau Fat Man's Eagle Claw school and Huang's Tanglang school.

Huang's disciple, Sifu Al Cheng was all Hong Kong champion at one time.

Huang's disciple, Sifu Brendan Lai also was a free fighting specialist who won many bear-handed challenge fights against different styles. At the same time he spoke proudly of the time he was bested by Shuaijow legend, Chiang Tung Sheng, who challenged Sifu Lai because of his fighting reputation.

Qixing and its Northern Praying mantis branch have a history of producing fighters.

I hope this helps,

Steve Cottrell