Self-cultivation through continuous learning was prescribed by the ancient sage kings 2500 years ago as a pathway towards moral development, self-realization, and human excellence. In these profound words, we find the same relevance in our journey today, as we move into 2024 embarking on a path guided by the virtues of compassion, respect, rightness, trustworthiness and wisdom. ...
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Traditional teachings in Praying Mantis Kung Fu conceptualize important life lessons into more easily digestible principles that enable a student to understand and intuitively put into practice. This foundational approach translates into more meaningful learning experiences which the student can apply to other parts of their life.
”The secret to better performance is control.” ...
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The origins of Praying Mantis Kung Fu are founded in the tradition of Shaolin integrating Ming dynasty martial practices with the Chan Buddhist meditation and Neo-Confucian philosophy. It is premised on the notions of self preservation, individual autonomy and the natural right to self defense in the pursuit of peace. Peace is commonly understood to mean a lack of ...
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Goal Setting and Planning
The end of another year is quickly approaching making it the perfect time for year-end reflection and new year planning. Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn vision into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. ...
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In recognition of Master Pel celebrating forty years in Northern Shaolin Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu.
A foreword by Andy Best, student of Master Kai Uwe Pel.
This year Master Kai Uwe Pel celebrates forty years dedicated to the mastery and preservation of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Master Pel of the ...
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Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu is an ancient system of combat with deep roots in Shaolin tradition that teaches you about the mastery of violence, the mastery of training, the mastery of learning, and most importantly the mastery of self. In this sense it is just as much a pathway towards Self-Realization as it is Self-Protection. Some people may ...
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Dear Friends & Students,
It is with a deep sense of honor to announce that after dedicating forty years of my time and energy to the study and teaching of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, I am officially retiring from the arena of public teaching.
Praying Mantis kung fu continues to be a large part of my life and I ...
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Northern Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu is a highly famed martial art recognized for its practical no none-sense approach to self defense. But perhaps lessor known is that it also promotes a strong foundational philosophy and value system that acts as a moral compass to ...
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At the heart of the Seven Star Praying Mantis system is a brilliantly designed training methodology that is holistic, scientific, and regimented. Training is combat focused with an approach that develops strong technical fundamentals in the early years while promoting applied performance in the later. As with many traditional Chinese martial systems, Praying Mantis kung fu has three ...
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This year June 8th 2019 we celebrated our teacher’s birthday in Shanghai. Master Kai Uwe Pel of the Seven Star Praying Mantis style came to Shanghai to teach from 2002, first with the surviving Jing Wu organization, then at the Longwu Center and privately in the suburb Xin Zhuang. We identify our schools with the great grandmaster Luo Guang Yu and name our modern clubs Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Praying Mantis. This year also marks a hundred years since ...
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Celebrations
On June 8th 2019 the Shanghai Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Praying Mantis Association hosted a birthday celebration dinner in honor of Kai Uwe Pel. The event was attended by close friends and students with the celebration including kung fu performances, gift exchanges, ceremonial awards, and a Chinese banquet featuring traditional Shanghainese cuisine. Celebrations were especially memorable given the greater historical context marking one hundred years since Master Luo Guang Yu brought Seven Star Praying Mantis to ...
Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu will soon be celebrating its 100th year anniversary in the city of Shanghai (1919 – 2019). To mark this special occasion the Shanghai Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Praying Mantis Association will be hosting a number of celebratory events, training seminars, and sightseeing tours in June 2019.
A one-week program of events in Shanghai including: a celebration dinner with Master Kai Uwe Pel and special guests, daily training sessions led by our ...
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Originally from Calgary, Canada, Nathan has resided in Shanghai for 18 years working in the financial services sector. He speaks fluent Mandarin, reads/writes Chinese, and is a graduate from the University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business. Nathan has always been actively involved in athletics from a young age playing ice hockey up to the age of 17, and collegiate football throughout his university studies. He is also deeply involved in the martial arts, ...
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Oral traditions outlining the origins and developments of ancient martial art systems are fascinating and fun topics. They have the potential to provide us with colorful insights and anecdotal stories into the lives of the individuals that shaped the art we train today. But legends are also prone to inaccuracies and can be difficult to verify. While ...
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Over its 350-400 year history, Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Tanglang Quan) evolved into three primary branch systems
A number sub branches also include:
Our branch is Seven Star Praying Mantis (七星螳螂拳), or Qixing Tanglang Quan (QXTL) in pinyin phonetics, from a strong lineage most readily identified with Grandmaster Luo Guang Yu. Master Luo came from Shandong to teach in the Shanghai Chin Wo Men from 1919 ...
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Father of Praying Mantis boxing.
Shengxiao Daoren was the first generation student of Wang Lang, although to this day remains more of a mythical figure than anything else. His existence is difficult if not impossible to prove. In view of such it is suspected that his existence, in name at least, serves the ...
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Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu is a traditional Chinese combat system. It was designed for one ...
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Conceptually forms contain thoughtfully constructed pre-arranged groupings of fighting techniques and combinations of such, that inherently incorporate key combat strategy, tactical theory, and principles. Forms training is an important element of training in its own right, but it is also a relatively small component of a much larger training regimen.
For beginners, forms can help students learn and put to memory large groupings of prearranged movements, develop good early stage macro body mechanics, as well introduce students to a fairly broad ...
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A Typical Class
Classes cover all aspects of the system. You will learn:
The importance of developing good footwork is fundamental in all good MA schools, as it eventually provides us with a combative platform (jiazi) for mobility and positioning, rooting and stability, and explosive power in application. Characteristics of good combative movement are generally universal, and should be low, stable, rooted, precise, fast, fluid, explosive, coordinated, controlled, and above all purposeful. Traditional CMA teachers know the importance of moving, and are relentless in developing good attributes of footwork in their students, because ...
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