# The "Original" Mantis style? **URL:** \ **Category:** Northern Praying Mantis\ **Created:** [September 22, 2001, 11:48am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480 "2001-09-22T11:48:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/21 "2001-10-21T08:39:18Z")
For Chen Zhen and Tainan Mantis Chen, I’m just bringing this back up so that Chen can see some of the info he was looking for. I hope this helps. Tainan, Yes, I am studying under Shr-fu John. He tells me to say hello. I hope that you can find the time to go into the subject of the history and diferences of the styles. I remain intensely interested. MArk And So It Goes… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 9:13am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/22 "2001-10-21T09:13:40Z")
8step i study 8 step, and it is called 8 step because the core footwork of my style consists of 8 short steps and 8 long steps ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/23 "2001-10-22T15:06:55Z")
another version this version i came across starts as Taijmantis explains it,then carries on like this. the growing praying mantis system eventually began to split into factions.finally,during the Ching Dynasty,four of the major praying mantis disciples became embroiled in an unresolvable argument about whose techniques were the best.each demanded he be allowed to separate from the mother school and go his own way.the master of the school consented on one condition,each disciple would first be required to capture a mantis and name his new style after the markings on the back of the mantis. one set of marks resembled seven stars,tsi t`sing,another was plum blossom,mei hua,then there was the sign of yin-yang,tai t`si,and the mantis with no markings at all,kwong p`an,which means naked.the disciple who foundered the tai chi praying mantis school was Liang Tsu,three generations later came chiu chuk kai 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/24 "2001-10-23T00:59:03Z")
I guess that without being there it is hard to figure out the facts of history and the stories that where made up and passed orally through the years. This is my shrfu shyun kwan long’s whos great grandteacher was Chiang Hua Long who was the 7th generation master of the Praying Mantis system. Before him, much of this art form was shrouded in mystery. With his appearance people would again marvel at skills that had only been dreamt of. Famous for his lightning fast hands, “Ghost Hands” became a very prominent figure in Chinese history. Not only did Chiang Hua Long posses great skills as a martial artist, but he proved to be a person with the highest of morals as well. Taking from the rich to distribute to the poor, it is easy to see similarities between Chiang Hua Long and Robin Hood. Chiang Hua Long’s courageous and selfless acts won him the love and admiration of the Chinese people. His mastery of the Praying Mantis system won him the respect of martial artist everywhere, and the fear of his enemies. To uphold his responsibility as Grandmaster of the style, Chiang Hua Long could never be short sighted. The very energetic jumping style of the monkey footwork was very effective but it required a great deal of energy. Chiang Hua Long realized that if he were to live up to his obligations he would have to maintain his fighting abilities well into his old age. He would have to create a new system of footwork that would use energy efficiently but also maintain the MantisÕs devastating effectiveness. Changing the Mantis system was not to be taken lightly, but as Grandmaster he was responsible for strengthening any weaknesses. Being well respected by the masters of the martial arts throughout China, Chiang Hua Long was in an advantageous position. Traveling throughout China, Chiang Hua Long met with masters of many styles. To have such a man as Chiang Hua Long ask about their techniques was a great honor. The masters of martial art’s most effective systems openly shared their techniques and secrets with him. Chiang Hua Long studied the footwork of many styles such as Bagua and Tom Pei. He spent a great deal of time studying and experimenting with each movement. Having an incredible amount of experience applying his skills, Chiang Hua Long knew what would be an improvement and what would simply be change. Very carefully he considered each technique until, after ten years, he had narrowed down the most effective to eight short and eight long steps. Chiang Hua Long had taken one of the very most effective fighting systems in the world and was able to improve it. The Eight Step Praying Mantis system had been born. [http://www.kungfuUSA.net](http://www.kungfuUSA.net) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/25 "2001-10-27T01:43:34Z")
Tainan Mantis Just refreshing this so TM can see my reply to his previous post And So It Goes… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/26 "2001-10-27T16:08:46Z")
Kram1 Start a new post with a specific question. I hear the clubs are coming to Taiwan in March. Are you too? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/27 "2001-10-29T11:15:12Z")
Chu Gar Praying Mantis Chu Gar Tong Long is the original praying mantis, its also the most deadly and powerful system amongst all Tong Long schools. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:51pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/28 "2001-10-29T13:51:31Z")
Tainan Mantis I SERIOUSLY doubt that the family budget will stretch to cover going to Taiwan! ☹ Will be going to Germany though. BTW, I wasn’t asking a question in my last post, I was answering yours 🙂 MArk And So It Goes… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:15am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/29 "2001-10-30T05:15:03Z")
rolling hand you cant be serious? tainan you want to take this one? I am to busy laughing… [http://www.kungfuUSA.net](http://www.kungfuUSA.net) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/30 "2001-10-30T13:54:44Z")
–busy laughing AFTER, you might be crying… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/kungfumagazine/original/2X/e/ee79c1ddba056fb2c94515d43d7de1be82ac7fa6.png) [@system](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480/31 "2001-10-30T18:52:06Z")
Never met a master who hadn’t inherited the greatest MA on earth MArtists often like to think thier master is best and that their style is too. Luckily I’ve had my butt whipped by such a large variety of styles and practitioners that it has given me a new mind set. If Rolling says the Chu family PM style is best, then so be it. Since it is not available in Taiwan I’ll just take his word for it. But, as far as I know that style is not related to Wang Lang’s style. So back to the original question. The details of the original PM style should be enclosed within the 18 family poem. That doesn’t help much but is a place to start. Mantis108, you said you had another version different from 7 Star? [Previous page](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/the-original-mantis-style/5480.md?page=1)