SD
Maybe send SaMantis a pm about Shrfu Rosen, she should have an answer for you.
I had the pleasure of taking refuge in the Chinatown school a few times. Man, does that neighborhood change when the sun goes down.
I agree that WL has great weapons forms. Did anyone do the double-axe seminar in Orlando in early 90`s? Man, that was a grueling day…
ys
hua lin
big mantis was called bung bu in the early days of wah lum then MC changed the name(don’t ask me why, you should ask him about it).
racerx-don’t think he made up saylok (4X6 pattern) but was always curious about 4th form and plum flower form. They are exactly the same except the very end.
I also like Chan wan ching’s version a little better(big mantis).
Lee Kwan shan in Vietnam- always wondered if there was a branch there were we could contact and get info about LKS or even in hong kong.
Or even info on chan wan ching, although i have hear when he moved to hong kong he learned 3 other styles besides wah lum.
7 kicks
Hi Hua Lin Laoshi,
Fun to be back, went through a move and think I did something wrong on my computer. I`m ate up with dumb ass when it comes to computers.
As I mentioned, Shrfu Kevin Brazier told me Big Mantis was WLs Beng Bu. I respect his knowledge immensely. Would be very interesting to here more about this. Speaking of Shrfu Brazier, you really missed a great training session when he was in Tampa. Didnt 18-Elders tell you about his seminar? Tainan Mantis is a formidable teacher. Joe Mantis and his group was there.
Shr ZhengZhong, (Tainan Mantis & Pong Lais) teacher, saw them doing 7-kicks and liked it so much he added the ling side to it. It really is a nice two-person form, think it is considered a kids form over their. Maybe sometime I could show you the two man version, and I would like to see your lil mantis two-person.
Adios mi amigo,
ys
18elders
Kevin has a lot of insight and knowledge but I just don’t see Beng Bu in WL Big Mantis. Since you know Big Mantis, have seen different versions of it and (I’m guessing) you know Beng Bu what is your opinion? Guess I’ll have another look at them before I say for sure.
yu shan
I knew about the seminar but was unable to attend. And no, I wasn’t forbidden. 7 Kicks is a good leg workout. I messed with creating a ling side but lost interest. Xiao Tanglang is much more fun. I keep hearing about Boston Chinatown after dark which has me really wanting to go there to see for myself. Someday I’ll get up that way.
Big Mantis = WL Beng Bu??
I don’t know this form, and never saw it, so I can’t say anything about Big Mantis being a WL version of the famous Beng Bu form.
However, in the WL Student’s Handbook, there’s a list of WL forms written both in English and Chinese. And the Chinese characters used to name Big Mantis are “Beng Bu”.
I’d love to hear more about their differences and similarities.
chinese characters
Siuhoimoon,
Interesting about the Chinese characters comparing Big Manits and Beng Bu. Can you or Tainan Mantis give us more? All in fun…
Hua Lin,
Forbidden never was even thought of…you missed out. Only one part of 7 kicks has some what of a “leg work-out” the rest is basic. Shr ZhengZhongs two person 7 kicks, is more than you can ever expect. How are things in WL? Pretty close to the end? Let me know about a Grand Opening, Ill support you!
Boston’s chinatown is pretty violent after dark. there are a lot of drugdealers and robberies.
Re: wah lum
Originally posted by yu shan
The form “little mantis” is a fun form to practice, packed with explosive energy. You didn`t learn this whole form in one night did you?
well pretty much I learned all the movements in one night. It isn’t that long. I don’t have the closing bow still that he taught. I was only able to practice up until the 2nd pubu and slap though until me knee’s gave out from previous stuff. So I watched the rest of the class and video taped it and finished the rest of the form 2 days later. I remembered what I had pretty well and I got it down pretty well now. The kwan do form I learned most of it in 2 classes, I have 3/4 more moves to it.
shaolin dude - yeah i wouldn’t want to be in boston’s china town after dark. if you aren’t used to it, it could be a little scary during the daytime too.
I want to learn more about WL now that I read about it more and more. I am proud to hear its not a junky system like the schools in my area make it out to be. Where is the school located in China Town? My uncle told me to go to it, but he just said china town. I couldn’t find it.
shaolin dude - yeah i wouldn’t want to be in boston’s china town after dark. if you aren’t used to it, it could be a little scary during the daytime too.
Yeah, it can be … I had family come up for the 4th of July weekend, took 'em to Chinatown for dim sum and shopping. They looked pretty apprehensive at some points, like ‘um, should we be walking down this street?’ (Beach St., main drag) Definitely weren’t in Kansas anymore. 
Shaolinlueb, the Wah Lum school is on Edinboro St. You’re welcome to visit, best way to get there is call & get class times & instructions. Here’s 2 links with address, phone numbers & all that good info:
or
Those new websites look nice!
I never had any problems in Boston Chinatown at night. You just have to stay alert and keep your eyes open.
SaMantis, I hung out with Pete, LeeAnn and Taras last night. I mentioned bout you on this kung fu forum to them. Pete was mentioning how he met you on the internet awhile back and then met you when you joined the school. What a small world.
Very small world! Cool that you got to hang out.
Originally posted by SaMantis
[B] Shaolinlueb, the Wah Lum school is on Edinboro St. You’re welcome to visit, best way to get there is call & get class times & instructions. Here’s 2 links with address, phone numbers & all that good info:
or
wahlumpai.us [/B]
thanks man. i will check it out.
other style`s?
What other styles of KF did Chan Wan Ching learn/practice in HK? And... isnt there any older Wah Lum elders out there, other than Chan Pui?
I don’t think there’s much WL left anywhere except for MC here in the US. It would seem that the WL elders have left it all to him. Anyone not associated with him will most likely take what they know to the grave. Obviously if there was any type of lineage dispute someone would have come public with it by now.
The area around the Wah Lum Temple in China is considered Wah Lum (stores named Wah Lum Market etc.) and there are local Lion Dance performers using the name but that’s it. Not much to the school there anymore. Nothing in HK that I’ve seen during my 2 visits.
What I’m curious about is whether there is a Jut Sow legacy outside of the Wah Lum system. Did the style die with the demise of the NorthernWah Lum Temple? If so then I wonder how many other offshoots of NPM failed to survive?
Rumor here, heard there is a older KF brother to MC out on west coast. Wants to be on the DL.
Had the fortune to see forms done back in the 70s and 80s. Alot different, seem to have had alot more stuff “tech`s” and plain more difficult! Seems like things are getting watered down. I understand Grand Teachers make changes in forms. Should the evolution of a form be made to make it easier?
What I saw at the WL school in China was a little different but very recognizable. They don’t seem to be keeping up with it and it might get replaced with a more Modern Wushu version.
I guess it depends on what your goals are for the style you teach. Some might feel it’s more important to preserve it exactly as it has been while others feel the need to modify to stay current with the times. How often do you hear of someone weeding out the excess and ‘unpractical’ moves in order to create a fighting style for current times? Too often I think.
The sad fact is in this country very few want to take the time and make the effort to learn the old way. If you’re in business you have to sell what the people want. If that means making it easier to appeal to the masses and you don’t feel the need to preserve the original then go for it. It’s just a variation of teaching individual students differently depending on their size and ability.
I think they should be taught side-by-side. The original, for students who would rather practice a move until they get it right, and a ‘light’ version for the general public and to pay the bills.
WL from to '70s and '80s more difficult? It’s pretty difficult now, no wonder he tones it down.
WL from to '70s and '80s more difficult? It’s pretty difficult now, no wonder he tones it down.
Yeah, whenever i complain about how difficult this or that move/form is, the boyfriend rolls his eyes and goes, “pfff, you kids today” (or something similar with more profanity added, Boston-style).
The material’s difficult – more for those with no martial/athletic experience. But the student still has to rise to the material. He can’t do a ‘watered-down’ form (or do the moves lazily) and expect it to look good (in forms comp) or be effective (in fighting). I’m sure that’s just as true in any martial art.
During the 99 Sifu test, quite a few of us didnt seem to be on the same page w/ straight sword (gem). We were sent off with Tu and practiced. Then we were sent off with MiMi, and practiced. When MC called us out to show the form, we didnt know which version to do, they were both differant. This was a little confusing and embarrising...MCs was even differant. It always seems like WL forms evolve every few years. Sometimes for the better, most times for the easier. Always wondered why WL forms do this!
i know some sifu’s (modern ones) modify forms for older people who arent as flexible. at our school with there is a sweep or soemthing and the older (40’s) cant get down he has them do an iron broom instead.