Japanese terminology in Northern Praying Mantis ?

[Raiden-uk]

After studying Wing Chun for a number of years I have decided to try something new. Northern Praying Mantis is the only system that really interests me as the forms look very different to the Wing Chun forms and the applications seem practical in real life situations.
I've been visting a few clubs around the U.K. and they all seem to be what I've been looking for. Some clubs, however, use Japanese terminology, refering to their forms as Katas and had Dan grades after black sash. It seems a bit strange that a Chinese martial art would use terminology from a Japanese martial art. I have never come across this before in Wing Chun. Is this normal in Northern Praying Mantis ?

I would really appreciate the opinions of people on this site before I make a desicion on which club to join.

[Judge Pen]

I'm curious too. The only styles I've heard of doing that are lineages that go through other countries and pick up the terminolgy for one reason or another. That may make the style suspect as a pure CMA.

[yu shan]

This is a first! The years I have been posting here, not once have I seen our comrades from the mother-land use japanese terminology.

[Judge Pen]

Either they are not real mantis schools, or they picked up the terminology for marketing when kung fu wasn't as well known as the Chinese arts, or their material was passed down through a country that was controlled by Japan and they picked up some of thier structure, etc.

Any of the schools have a website?

[-N-]

Sometimes you see that when ex-karate people switch to mantis/cma.

Also, mantis has made its way to japan, and I recall running across Japanese vids and websites.

N.

[Donkwoon]

Ask them the same question that you just asked us here and then tell us what they said.;)

My quess is that it's Karate guy's that have since studied some mantis.

[FEELERSTRIKE]

I have only come across one 7 Star family in the U.K. who use Japanese grades and that is the Malaysian branch under Sifu Lee in the north of England . His senior instructors are classed by Dan grades .
I have never come across it in any other 7 star mantis family before . All the others in the U.K. use either Cantonese or Mandarin .
If you are based in the north of the U.K then you have a choice of Sifu Lee or Sifu Derek Frearson of the GM Lee Kam Wing family .
I can recommend that you obtain this months Combat magazine as it has part two of a good article that may be of interest to you in your search .
Sifu Lee has a video out which is available on amazon which may also be of interest . Sifu Frearson is also able to supply you with GM Lee Kam Wings video which is worth a view too . These will give you a good idea of the difference between Northern Mantis and the style you have been studing .
Hope this helps with your question.
Good luck with your interest and study of Mantis Boxing .

[Paul T England]

Hi,

I agree, most northern amntis and chinese stylists will not use dan grades and other japanese terminology. Saying that I don't see a problem as such as its the defacto standard.

If you can get the Leicester check out sifu Frearson at the Chinese Community Centre or if you can get to Doncaster check out Sifu David Graham. Both have good wing chun as well as Mantis.

If you are ever in the far north of England (Newcastle) then contact me and you are welcome to see what we do. I teach Lee Kam Wing's Mantis and also Wing Chun.

Regards
Paul
www.moifa.co.uk