Tai Chi Praying Mantis Specialties

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Northern Praying Mantis
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mantis108:
[b]Hi byz,

Welcome aboard. Great to have a brother form Sigung’s Vietnam branch. We, the younger students and Grand students, have alway wanted to know more about that era of Sigung’s life and career. I study under my mentor Galen Fok, who is GM CJK’s disciple. There are 3 hand forms and a sword form from the Taiji portion. The Taiji Forms are used as warm ups in the HK Kwoon in the latter years of Sigung’s teaching. The Taijiquan and Dan Tui Sau (single push hand) are, or I was told, from Chen system Xiaojia (small circle). Dan Tui Sau in a way reminiscent of Poa Tsui of the Laojia. Quite Frankly, I’m open to explore more on this. Mor Wan Jeung (Cloudy Plam) is from a Taoist monastery according to an article in the Wooden Dummy Form Book which was approve by Sigung himself. As for the structure of the Taijiquan, it is very close to the full Yang style structure (definitely not simplified) with extra kicks. According to Wong Ching Bill, who studied in Vietnam, the Vietnam curriculum is quite different from HK’s. The Dai/Sui Fan Chair are not in the HK curriculum. During my time with Sigung, we notice some changes with forms also. For example Jeet Kuen, one of the hook hands use to be a long fist type of hook hands extended out to the side of the body. It was later taught as a mantis hook guarding the side of the head. We too had a debate over such changes. I surmise that was an intention to show us the offensive and defense positions of the same hand. Anyway, I can go on all day about it. If you are interested in getting more infomation, please feel free to contact me at sifu1@internorth.com . I also love to know more about your view on Taijiquan.

Thanks for clearifying the Kam Yuen’s background. I often tought that Tai Mantis and Tai Chi Praying Mantis is two different systems. I guess this will settle that.

Mantis108

[/b][/quote]

Sigung style of Taiji mantis does have a Taiji set. It is not Chen. One of the elder students from Boston, Jung Sibak asked this past summer of Ling SiSuk what has Chen style that our Taiji from Sigung does not. Showing the sets are not the same. The Taiji Mantis Taiji looks somewhat like a cross between Baqua, Chen & Yang

TaiMantis & Taiji Mantis are different beings. Although sometimes spoken of as the same. Paul Eng, Kam Yuen, Raymond Wong, started the TaiMantis Assoc. schools here in Ca back in the 60’s/70’s. It is a combination of Northern Shaolin, Lohan, 7 Star, Taiji Mantis, Taiji, and a couple other elements from BaQua and Hing Yi.
TaiChi (Taiji) Praying Mantis is another being all together. Although…it has also combintions from other styles as Sigung studied other things as well.

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by byz:
[b]Hi Mantis108!

On another note, I understand Kam Yuen practices Tai Mantis not Tai Chi Mantis. Talking with my teacher and a friend who was a student from the Kam Yuen school, it is a mixture of Mantis with the Law Hon Mi Jong system.

Thank you for sharing!
byz[/b][/quote]

Please, who is your teacher and this friend?

Is anyone here ( taiji mantis ) attending the Memorial Banquet fro the Sigung next month in Oakland?

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Hi Taijimantis,

I would like to take this opportunity to rally support for your article and hope that our TCPM Masters, brothers and sisters would contribute and share this wonderful art with the world. Your effort should be commanded.

Hi ShaolinMantis,

Welcome aboard. The reason behind this thread is to open a communication line to all TCPM practitioners. So, please let all our brothers and sisters know that they are not alone even if they are at remote areas. lol… I know this because I’m in Northwest Terroitries, Canada. Are you referring to Jack Wong in Vancouver. I’ve not been in contact with him for awhile. I should in the near future. We use to do lots of lion dances togather. Also, I’ve heard that there is a tournament comming up in seattle and he may be attending. BTW, if you don’t mind my asking your lineage. Please feel free to contact me. Just lick on my e-mail address listed above. Thank you for keeping this thread alive. Finally, as much as I love to attend the oakland function, I wouldn’t be able to make it. Is this an annul event? Hope to be able to do it sometime in the future.

Mantis108

Contraria Sunt Complementa

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Shaolin Mantis,

I noticed you mention Alberta in regards to Tai Chi Praying Mantis. I’m from Edmonton, Alberta, and learned a tiny bit of TCPM from a man who claims to be CCK’s student from Hong Kong and Vietnam. His name is Ng Tai Man, and he is in his late 50’s.

My sifu was friend’s with Ng Tai Man’s sihing, a man named Peter Tsang (passed away around 1991). Mr Tsang was apparently very very good at martial arts, and a genius at chess, and other things.

If you’d like to email me, here is my address hung_ga @hotmail.com

Most people do have their emails listed on their profiles here, but due to the construction on this site, all kinds of stuff is screwed up and not listed.

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Hello again
Thank you for the welcome.

a brief bio on me: Before Mantis I did , Choy Li Fut & Sotokan karate ( black Belt )
I started studying with Kam Yuen in 1978. Doing Northern Shaolin, 7 Star Mantis, Taiji Mantis, Ba Qua, Hing Yi, Taiji, Lohan.
In 1983 after being asst. instructor for about 3 years at the Torrence school I moved to the East Coast to teach. I was there until 1986. 1987 I started the Bay Shaolin Acadmey in the S.F. Bay Area and started studying on and off with Paul Eng ( current President of the USA CCK TCPM Federation ). Over the Last 1.5 years I have had the honor of being coached by Wong Lam Ling ( Vice President of the USA CCK TCPM Federation )to bring my Taiji Mantis sets to the Federation Standardized forms.

Out of 5 diciples who are teaching from Kam Yuen’s line I am number 2 in senority

In the Bay area we have: 2 schools in San Francisco, 1 in Walnut Creek, 1 in Martinez (mine), and Eng Shifu’s in Campbell. There are many Sibaks and Sisuks from Viet Nam also in the area who are not teaching , but are involved with the Federation.

We have small group gatherings to practice and visit from time to time at Eng shifu’s school, in Campbell, which is in the South Bay below San Jose.

The USA CCK TCPM Federation has a annual Banquet for the Late GrandMaster. This year will be the 9th gathering. We have a very large Chinese dinner, demos, an social time. The following week there is a seminar ( 4hrs a day for 5 days )held by several of the senior students of Sigung.

I will pass on info to my brothers, who are online about this group. It is nice to make contact with distant family. As we are always in seeking to embrace other members.

As this is off topic I will write private Mails.

Oh yeah, we, the Bay Area Group will be attending the Tournament in Sept. to support Sisuk Jack Wong’s efforts, with about 15 people.

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Hi Mantis108!
On another note, I understand Kam Yuen practices Tai Mantis not Tai Chi Mantis. Talking with my teacher and a friend who was a student from the Kam Yuen school, it is a mixture of Mantis with the Law Hon Mi Jong system.

Thank you for sharing!
byz

Actually Taimantis is the same as Tai Chi Mantis. It’s just a shorter way of saying it.

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Hi All,

First off, welcome aboard Enlightenment.

Great info. exchange going on here, thanks for everyone’s input.

Please forgive my presistance. The reason that I put forth this thread is that there seems to be a confusion regarding Tai Chi Praying Mantis and Tai Mantis. I for one am not convinced that they are the same system. The specialties listed above were taught by Sigong Chui Chuk Kai. I am of the opinion that regardless of the name differences, a Tai Chi Praying Mantis practitioner should be aware of these specialties wheather or not his or her linage includes all or some of them. I have not yet come across any info. regarding the Tai Mantis curriculum nor do I know of Sifu Kam Yuen’s teaching. I repect and admire Sifu Kam Yuen’s contribution to the CMA community. As far as I am concern, Knowing Sigung would welcome anyone even if he only learned TCPM for a very limited time as a member of the TCPM family, I too would extend my welcome to anyone who has studied TCPM as friend and brother. Those listed specialties serve as a guidline to determine wheather one is within this huge family and vision called the Tai Chi Praying Mantis as transmitted by Grand Master Chui Chuk Kai.

Peace to all

Mantis108

Contraria Sunt Complementa

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Hi ShaolinMantis, glad to meet you!

I am sorry that I didn’t have a chance to reply earlier. This is the first opportunity I have had in a long time to check back at this website due to other obligations.

It is a considerable pleasure to be able to converse with so many experienced Taiji Mantis practitioners such as you and Mantis108 (and not to forget the others on the list). I have been practicing the system only for a short while compared to all of you and look forward to getting more educated from you, my seniors.

My teacher’s name is Randal Choy and he studied under the late Sifu David Cheng, who just passed away last year. He has shown me pictures of one of the previous memorials he attended with Cheng Sigung. He was planning to attend this year’s memorial event with Cheng Sigung’s son, Brian, but from last I heard, I don’t think he will be able to make it after all.

As for the person who I understood to be a student of Yuen Sifu, please e-mail me at eightgates@yahoo.com and I’ll be happy to discuss the matter with you.

Peace and prosperity,
byz

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul Skrypichayko:
[b]Shaolin Mantis,

I noticed you mention Alberta in regards to Tai Chi Praying Mantis. I’m from Edmonton, Alberta, and learned a tiny bit of TCPM from a man who claims to be CCK’s student from Hong Kong and Vietnam. His name is Ng Tai Man, and he is in his late 50’s.

My sifu was friend’s with Ng Tai Man’s sihing, a man named Peter Tsang (passed away around 1991). Mr Tsang was apparently very very good at martial arts, and a genius at chess, and other things.

If you’d like to email me, here is my address hung_ga @hotmail.com

Most people do have their emails listed on their profiles here, but due to the construction on this site, all kinds of stuff is screwed up and not listed.[/b][/quote]

Hi Paul
I have heard of your Shifu and have been to his website. I have heard that Eng Shifu knows him. I have tried to contact him in the past but got not much in the way of a reply from his students. Thanks for the info on the eMail , I thought it was a bit strange everyone was hidding theirs. Now I see the problem is with the server.

You now study Hung Ga…did you move or did the system not work for you?

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Hi ShaolinMantis. I didn’t know that Tommy Ng had a site up now. Can you give me the URL?

I still live in Edmonton, and bump into my old classmates and ex-sifus every now and then. I really love tai chi praying mantis, and I plan to take it up as soon as possible. My present sifu was fortunate to meet Chiu Sifu a few times in HK, and has the highest regard for him as well.

Please contact me by email for further details.

PS: Do any TCPM people know of a rather famous student of Chiu Sifu? His name is Gung Mei Ling. Apparently he was some psycho hardcore kung fu guy, really top notch. I heard that one day he lost his love, and then just stopped kung fu completely. Anybody have further details

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Hi Paul,

You’ve hear about Gung Mei Ling?IMHO, He is rightly the number one disciple Sigung had. He followed Sigung from Shantung province to the South and had many advanture with Sigung including the brawl at Hon Kung Temple in Macau. The two fought back to back against a mob of 50 to 60 people (this number seems to vary from version to version). Despite of his excellence in the art, he was not well received by the martial arts community in China at that time. The tournament he entered didn’t not prove to be fruitful. Gung Sibak turned to the bottle which begin his agonizing demise. He was survived by his widow. Incidently, on our frist visit to the Hon Kung Temple, we paid homage to the Temple. Afterwards, we have a small windfall at the local casino. lol…

Mantis108

Contraria Sunt Complementa

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mantis108:
[b]Hi Paul,

You’ve hear about Gung Mei Ling?IMHO, Macau. The two fought back to back against a mob of 50 to 60 people (this number seems to vary from version to version).
Mantis108

[/b][/quote]

I heard a short version of this from Fong SiSuk. He said it was 100 men :slight_smile: By the time the 12th generation hears it it will be 200 men :slight_smile:
even if it was only 10-20 it is a notable feat

33

hi i study with sifu ly in michigan. he teaches all the forms you have been discussing. there is a 2sword set, broadsword set ,fan set,two person set and a couple of other hand sets. plus he teaches 2 other straight sword sets in the tai chi class.

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Revival

Just reviving this for Jutsow.

Mantis108

Contraria Sunt Complementa

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revival

I have been busy. Thanks for the revival.

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importance of temperance

so following up with what sihing 108 has said above…definately gauge and temper your own alcohol intake, if you TRULY take CMA and self improvement seriously…some individuals are fine with wine…others get seriously damaged and thrown into a self created vortex of lies and deception- while killing the liver, and crushing interpersonal relationships!

read this and take what you need from it, flame me for it and you fi burn with the rest.

jus sumting fer you to ponder.