Blog Posts

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 ...

Over its 350-400 year history, Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Tanglang Quan) evolved into three primary branch systems

1. Qixing Tanglang 七星螳螂
2. Meihua Tanglang 梅花螳螂
3. Liuhe Tanglang 六合螳螂

A number sub branches also include:

• Guangban Tanglang 光板螳螂
• Mimen Tanglang 密门螳螂
• Babu Tanglang 八步螳螂
• Changquan Tanglang 长拳螳螂
• Tantui Tanglang 弹腿螳螂

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 ...

Wang Lang

Father of Praying Mantis boxing.

Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, 1st generation

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 ...

Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu is a traditional Chinese combat system. It was designed for one ...

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 ...