does anyone out there have ideas on how i can improve speed of my mantis grabs?
i always find myself lacking when i side block and then try to mantis grab a half - full speed punch and [the punch] ends up slipping away from me. it is quite frusterating and since that technique leads into so many others…someone can’t learn the alphabet if they start with e and f, skipping a and b.
To know others is to have knowledge. To know oneself is to be enlightened.
mantis speed
IVE FOUND THAT IF YOU WRAP A LARGE TOWEL AROUND A SUPPORT POLE LIKE IN THE BASEMENT, AND WRAP THAT WITH DUCTAPE WITH A BALLED UP END RESEMBLING A HAND YOU CAN PRACTICE BLOCKING, GRAPPING AND TRAPPING TECNIQUES.. IT WORKS QUITE WELL, YOU CAN ALSO PUSH A BROOM STICK INSIDE AND PRACTICE ELBOW BREAKS AND JOINT LOCKS… ITS KINDA LIKE A SOFT WOODEN DUMMY, AND MUCH CHEAPER!!!
You’ve gor it all wrong
Baldmantis
2a)Continue on this path and hit your opponent IF you reach him before he reaches you
2b)Rotate your arm to deflect with your palm if he is going to reach you before you reach him.
2c) if his force is greater than yours to the extent that the palm deflection is insufficent, use your last to fingers and thumb to “hook” you opponent’s wrist.
A all times you’re remaining in contact with your opponenet’s arm and analysing his line of force. There is no such a thing as using a side ways block - completely hopeless - no wonder why you would miss - even I would.
But seriously try what I’ve suggested and let me know if things improve.
Maximus Materialize!
well seeing how the side block mantis grab is an important aspect of 8 step…im going to disregard what you have said. i have seen how to correctly perform the technique…it works.
To know others is to have knowledge. To know oneself is to be enlightened.
Good Drill For Speed
A good drill for speed that I used to do was have you and an opponent stand within punching distance of each other in either like a horse stance or just a relaxed fighting stance and have one person throw two high punches to the face one right after another while the person who isn’t punching mantis grabs one of them right after another. Then the person who punch the first time mantis grab while the other person throws two high punches to the head one right after another. Then just keep repeating this and build up your speed accordingly. It’s a good drill. If you get confused though just think in your head “mantis, mantis, punch punch.” Hope my description wasn’t confusing and I hope it helps you like it did for me
Mantis speed
Baldmantiz,
I’m ignorant of northern mantis as I can’t catch flies with chopsticks. Yes, please disregard what I said.
Maximus Materialize!
If blocked sideways rather than intercepting forward then it should and would bounce off (the striking arm) making it unable to catch unless the recieving punch was too soft or the block was inefficient.
Forward, Side and Forward, but never purely side!
Sounds reasonable
Wenjin,
Pretty much sums up what i said. Howve you come across a branch of mantis that blocks sideways?
Maximus Materialize!
That concept applies to most typical grabbing situations not just mantis. 
May the force be with you …always
the problem with grabbing
just a experince i had with trying to grab. And quickness does not matter.
The problem that i have come accress with grabbing is when the opponent is bigger than you. Its not going to work. So i dont recomend grabbing someone who is larger than you…
One who has two roots becomes a stronger tree.
attention ego extrodinar and wenjin i believe bald mantis was asking for advice on gaining speed! not learning your system or sytle of blocking. what may work for you may not work for someone else! and i use the tecnique of side block to mantis grab and might i say it works quite well, for you can be a split second slower and still avoid being striked as for the method you explained the faster and more skillful fighter will always win! i do not mean any negativity
Spasticated Mantis
EarthDragon,
Oh do come down to earth and stop posing in that whushu cat stance on your home page. It looks so stupid. Why are your mantis hooks so far apart? Why is your hook of your rear hand behaind your face? Why is your stance so low, how do you expect to move? Or are you a try hard male model doing still shots for the camera?
And unless you can catch a fly with your chops sticks you ain’t fast enough, perhaps it is technique you should be focusing upon rather than trying to get booked for speeding.
From your web page - technique you appear to have got none recognisable in Mantis!
Enjoy
Maximus Materialize!
ego = *******?
Oh do come down to earth and stop posing in that whushu cat stance on your home page. It looks so stupid.
*- It isn’t wushu…it’s a MANTIS stance…do you even know anything about praying mantis ego?
Why are your mantis hooks so far apart? Why is your hook of your rear hand behaind your face?
*-If you knew the application for it…you would understand.
Why is your stance so low, how do you expect to move? Or are you a try hard male model doing still shots for the camera?
And unless you can catch a fly with your chops sticks you ain’t fast enough, perhaps it is technique you should be focusing upon rather than trying to get booked for speeding.
*-Well seeing as how I have the knowledge of the technique down, why not work on speed? If someone has learned how to run, and they are about to enter a race, wouldn’t they want to increase their speed…even though they know how to run?
And unless you can pull your head out of your ass, you will never have any true knowledge.
From your web page - technique you appear to have got none recognisable in Mantis!
*-DO you study mantis at all ego, since a great deal of the methods, techniques, etc. are from mantis and present in many of the other systems, not just 8 step.
To know others is to have knowledge. To know oneself is to be enlightened.
I apologize to everyone else on this forum that comes here for decent knowledge/feedback for my above comments. If anyone wants a forum without harsh words…please come to:
To know others is to have knowledge. To know oneself is to be enlightened.
ego what ego
I do hope your kidding about the derogatory comments you have posted. With obviously little experience as a martial artist, much less a person with such minamal inteligence or knowledge for that matter,you should keep your comments to yourself, for when you speak you let everyone know how ignorant you are. I suggest you ask your teacher for a refund for you have learned nothing! people use this board for legitamate reasons, not for people such as your self who have such a low self asteem that they have to attempt to put other people down, with such a ignorant outlook and no respect for other people with whom you offend, so please dont post something that you have know idea about for arguing with your self you will surely lose! please do not bother to comment back for i will contact liz and have your negitive posts removed from the forum to allow people with real comments and questions to be heard thank you for your time!
Mantis Stances
EarthDragon,
In reference to you first picture:
Leading hand, too far extended for a mantis hook to be effectively used.
rear hand, too far back and with a bent wrist, there is no grabbing power what so ever. you’ll also be holding on to your opponent’s arm just below your throat. How smart is that?
And with this informative material on your web page, you now assume censorship of this forum? Get real man!
Maximus Materialize!
ego, are you even aware of how the human anatomy is? below the throat are a person’s shoulders and the length is perfect for grabbing the wrist and root of the arm.
To know others is to have knowledge. To know oneself is to be enlightened.
Grabbing Speed
I guess its just a case of practise to get the speed and sensitivity needed to make a good mantis catch. There are a couple of techniques I find useful though and for what they are worth here they are:
2.Maintain contact wrist to wrist, I find I can feel when a sparring partner is going to strike, again its a matter of latching on and transfering weight backwards to make the grab.
These really just shorten the distance to the catch making it easier the standing well back and trying to catch a distance punch.
I find that remaining very relaxed helps the speed of the grab. Hope this gives you a few ideas.
All the best.
8-step vs 7-step vs mi men vs wushu vs ego vs earth dragon vs etc etc
Not being a mantis practitioner please forgive any indiscretions
having brothers who do train mantis and a sifu who teaches it, from my understanding, there are differences between your mantis’, no?
i’m sure if you two investigated each other’s mantis’, you’ll find that your basic principles and strategies are different.
however! despite ego’s ahem unique way of expressing his observations IMHO they aren’t uncalled for. You’re stances do seem a little low (what is the aim? posing for photos or martial technique) and despite 8step having wide “mantis catching cicada” postures, it seem a little fair apart and awkward.
what i also find funny is the original question.
baldmantiz, are you a student of earth dragon? (perhaps the other person on the website?) and if so, why are you posting here to get answers which you could procure from your teacher?
-Disciple108
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<<– The person who is afraid of asking is afraid of learning –>>
dear ego
First off i would like to answer some of your questions for perhaps you have much less knowledge then you say or think you do. the fighting application of a mantis stance has nothing to do with the pose or showing aspect as shown,that pose is not meant to fight from it is for endurance, leg strength training and to correct posture!as far as the hands being incorrect , you have absolutly know idea what you are talking about, I have 19years as a martial artists and was trained by a chinese grand master so how can you possibly critisize me! how long have you trained and in what style? your posts are in every catagory from northern praying to jeetkundo so please tell us where your so called knowldge lies, im curious. As far as trying to tell the board that my hands are to far apart ,once again i will correct you!!! It is the exact pose from grand master Chiang Hua Long, founder of ba bu tang lang (8 step praying mantis) if you dont speak chinese, which I highly doubt you do! so as far as you attemping to critasize something that you have absolutly no idea about I suggest you keep your comments to your self becuse you sound very ignorant posting things and telling a sifu his form is incorrect you should again ask you teacher (if you have one ) for a refund for you have learned nothing about Martial arts!P.S i dont mean to sound harsh or angry but how dare you to critsize me or any one on this forum, it is for honest questions and answers! where is your website? your school ? your name? your experience? please answer these questions and stop hiding behind your keyboard! they say the one with the biggest mouth can be heard as they drive away!!!