Is it because of shortcut in training procedure to meet mordern lifestyle where people are expecting results at the shortest possible time.We have had some mantis tryouts ,my personal opinion ,was for the experience they had they were lousy.Any out there have similar experiences.LETS BRING THE TRUTH OUT NOW…
power
Caught one…I caught a Troll!
If you are serious, then you are a dumb-ass and no explanation is necessary
[This message was edited by 8stepsifu on 03-11-01 at 05:26 PM.]
… :rolleyes:
NO ROAD IS AS LONG OR FILLED WITH AS MANY OBSTACLES AS THE ONE TRAVELLED BY THE CHINESE BOXER. FEW ATTEMPT TO TAKE IT . THOSE THAT REACH IT’S END ARE EVEN FEWER.
dont know about anyone else
I dont know about the other here. But I have and will sit though all that I have put before me. Dont get me wrong I might not be able to sit in hourse stance for an hour yet. But I will. There is not way to short cut that kind of stuff. Same with forms if you are short cuting your stances mine as well quit now. Only way to get better is put in the time. As for fighting and everything else. You might be taking the easy way out.
The truth is that the northern mantis system is without question a proven system when it comes down to fighting… Now if you feel that the northern mantis system is lacking, then all I have to say is I believe you have yet to see any real northern mantis teachers/masters at work…
Just remember that its the person who brings the art/system to life not the other way around there for if you want to take a short cut to what you believe is your systems way then thats on you… Just keep in mind that there are people out there who don’t believe in short cuts…
RAYNYSC
Why dont you ask GOKTIMUS, he has first hand experience ,(refer to duty of care),he and his friend came to one of the shaolin classes and complained of it being too hard and vigorous and too dangerous’,he was a 7STAR PRAYING MANTIS INSTRUCTOR.EXPLAIN THAT…
power
yeah except that I saw pics of Grokius Prime doing kung fu
and he sucks dicks at kung fu. I’ve seen people making fun of it that looked better. If you want to believe that your style is the best to make up for the fact that you suck, go right ahead, but don’t make sweeping generalizations about single case examples.
i doubt that anybody seriously thinks goktimus’ poor example is indicative of all mantis styles…i certainly don’t.i’m sure it’s a great system.
Deadlypower,
As a practitioner of both northern and southern traditional systems, I speak from experience not from hearsay.
The fact of the matter is that there is much more to the northern systems than just forms practice. In northern mantis there is wooden dummy, bamboo ring, steel ring, Chi Gung traning, Hei Gung traning, two man drills and the use of heavy weapons such as the melon hammers. These are all designed to develop strength. Not only strengh but “moving strength”. This is true of many of the traditonal northern systems.
However, since the southern mantis is practiced more slowly, with dynamic tension, it is more easy to observe the power employed. It is harder to see the power in the northern mantis style. But there are slow drills and lo han gung which utilize the dynamic tension aspect as well as body hitting (iron shirt, iron forearm) training that you would not see unless you are a practitioner and even then, reached an advanced level.
To sum up, there is really no difference in the actual power between the two systems. Its just that the expresion of power is different. Northern or southern , they both hit hard.
Sifu Carl
no power in northern mantis?
Deadlypower must be a wannabe. While I’m too busy, not dedicated enough or whatver to do more than a 5 minute horse stance, my fore-arms are decently iron-ized and whatever. The fact is that if Dudleypower is in Michigan, I know of a certain Tai Chi Praying Mantis Master up there who is about 70 years old and could kill with 1 punch. 90% of students of any style lack Chi.
northern mantis power
you haven’t seen a good mantis teacher then, northern mantis taught properly has deadly power.
The problem is there aren’t many good teachers here in the U.S.
Not only in mantis but most styles here are not taught properly.
Huh???
First I would like to say hello and Respectfully bow myself in (chitownmantis bow to everyone). Next, the subject at hand, deadlypower, where do you get your information. Have you had any training at all??? Have you researched the style or its history. Now mind you I am not putting you down,but you have not made any actual claims of this. I was trained in Northern shaloin praying mantis in chicago and I well tell you the drills it self( like the seven star blocking drills, that if you do properly will make your fore arms sting. I know because I have gone home sore) are grulling. But as my friend told me one day it is “Harmony and Pain” training.
But in Gung fu you should not really focus on strengh, if you understand the use meaning that is given( and the means change for style to style but they are the same) you should look for power and chi(kai). Any one can punch, but a person who studies, not really a master;can hit with power(power forcing). Also with princles like jing , moving the chi through the punch.
The one of the many stories of how the style beacome about has that the founders brother was a great martial artist and always beat him. One day his brother went on a trip and the founder became apon a mantis fighting a bigger bug( this are my own words), he thought that the bigger bug would win but the mantis won the fight. So he picked up the mantis and put it in a box or jar; and poked at it , he then saw how the mantis with his wings latched on to the stick and he devloped praying mantis gung fu. So when his brother return he beat him soundly. Then later her named it 7 star praying mantis gung fu (some say because of the pattern on the back of the mantis, other said it is based on a constalation,stories vary)
So what I am saying is have power not strengh, have knowledge not ignorance.
I am not a dedicated martial artist because of other responiblities now but i have studied. I think it is great to devote a great amount of time if you can to practice but you must go thru it to really know and understand. Then I think that even if you do study for a short time that you will see the beneifts. Please do not take that as a dis, take it contructively.
“Have the Gung fu of the mind”
(Bowing out)
B.O.W.T.M
Deadly
Where do you think up these topics?
Hey, deadlypowder,
Why the hell do you SHOUT all these childish topics??? 
– Kiasyd
Hey Joe…
I see you have heard of my Sifu
While I have to say I do know a troll when I see one, The comment made me remember when Sifu taught me my first blocking technique.
I was having trouble remembering which hand went where, and so he showed me.
“You punch me.” he said, he wasnt even looking at me, he was watching to of my classmates work on 2 man Bong Bo.
I punched and without looking away from the others he simply brought his hands up.
I was bruised for a week.
No power.
lmmfao…
Taijimantis
Is that because he is powerful or because you have weak arms? 
Just kidding.
Funny how Goktimus complained of bruised arms too
Just kidding again.
cxxx:::::::::::>
What we do in life echoes in Eternity
Actually…
I knew someone was going to say that! lol!~
There are photos in our school of Sifu smashing coconuts with his hands. while smiling… lol
Seriously, I have not in my life witnessed a man his age as strong as he is.
Shanti…
i don’t know about anyone else, but i feel my stances, legs, arms getting stronger every week. perhaps some practitioners lack the strength because they train wrong or not enough. like lizmantis said…i may not be able to hold the horse stance for an hour but eventually…
To know others is to have knowledge. To know oneself is to be enlightened.
one hour? :eek:
I can’t even hold a horse stance for two minutes 
But eventually…
– Kiasyd
Interesting Subject
I can understand the point made here, I have found some practitioners of Praying Mantis who are weak and would find sparring difficult against some styles, on the other hand I have trained with some who are very powerful, quick and fluid.
I think it is simply down to the quality of student, the ability of the sifu and the understanding of the style.
I also feel that this argument could be applied to most styles, including some that use alot of external techniques.