I have read that 8-step mantis was a development of two or more systems of mantis being combined in some way or form, and that it has elements of plum blossom as its base. Is this true and if so how closely does 8-step resemble what would be pure plum blossom if there is such a thing? 
I wish I knew, but I’ve never met a plum blossom practitioner. I don’t think that there are very many left. I heard of one guy in Shandong, but thats it.
King of the Assyrians
plum flower 8 step
some of the hand movements are the same and the characters linking ,sticking, traping etc. are similar but 8 step is a hybrid art by adding angular footwork of bagua, jointlocking , and the throwing art suai chiao make it a more rounded martial art
Located in Buffalo, NY.
Teaching 8 Step Praying Mantis Kung FU, Shyun style Tai Chi Chuan, Jin Gon Tzu Li Gung, Qi-Gong
My main style of praying mantis is plum flower mantis as taught by Sifu Park Chi Mun. He still teaches the style in Korea.
As to 8-step mantis, I have met Sifu James Sun a long while back in San Francisco the movements where similar but different. The video of Grand Master Wie Hsiao Tang that is on the net reminds me very much of plum flower mantis. If you go to the mantis cave you can see the list of current Plum Flower mantis Sifus and Students.
Jhays: drop a line if you have time 
http://www.geocities.com/mantiscave/
enjoy life
bamboo leaf
[This message was edited by bamboo_ leaf on 05-19-01 at 07:09 PM.]