Training

The Secret to Better Performance is Control

Dedicated to Master Pel on his birthday!

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.” This ...

Continue Reading →
0

The Realities of Violence

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Celebrating Forty Years in Mantis Kung Fu

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Cultivating the Five Internal Virtues and Right Effort (Part III)

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Retirement from Public Teaching

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Martial Virtues in Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Part II)

Part II of III: Overview and Analysis of Martial Virtues in Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Conceptual Levels of Training in Seven Star Mantis Kung Fu

By Nathan A. Wright

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Luo Guang Yu: Celebrating 100 Years in Shanghai

100 Year Anniversary

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.

 

Celebration Activities

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Weapons Kung Fu Seminar Jan. 20th: “Fifth Son Eight Diagram Staff” of Northern Shaolin – January 14, 2018

Kai Uwe Pel hosted a weapons kung fu seminar in Recklinghausen, Germany, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, where he taught the original “Fifth Son Eight Diagram Staff” (五郎八卦棍) of Northern Shaolin created by the monk Yang Wu Lang (杨五郎).  In attendance were students from Bremen, Bochum, and Steinfurt, including long time student Kai Ehlemann from Bochum who began training with Kai in 1997, and who previously attended the Qingdao Training Camp in China hosted by Master Pel in 2008.

The seminar ...

Continue Reading →
0

Seven Star Mantis for Kids – January 14, 2018

The Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Martials Arts school in Shanghai ran a summer program for kids during the months of July and August, 2017. Children between the ages of 5 and 8 had the chance to participate in daily classes improving their health, confidence, self-defense, and overall physical fitness – all in a fun and safe environment. Classes focused on developing a good base in functional movement and self-defense skills through single person and two-person footwork drills, kicking drills, ...

Continue Reading →
0

General Training and Class Overview

A Typical Class
Classes cover all aspects of the system. You will learn:

  • Traditional Fighting Techniques and Tactics: covering footwork, kicking, striking (fists, palms, elbows), grappling and joint locking, throwing techniques.
  • Application of the ’12 Keywords’: Starting from this simple platform you will develop effective pattern recognition and flow through applied two person drills.
  • Physical Conditioning: Through a progressive systematic approach you will build physical strength, endurance, quickness, flexibility, iron body conditioning, mental fortitude, and a strong overall awareness and ability to control ...
Continue Reading →
0

Li, Jing and Qi in Mantis Kung Fu

In this piece I would like to provide clarification and insight, regarding some important misconceptions about Seven Star Praying Mantis. In particular there has been recent speculation regarding what does, and does not, constitute Seven Star Praying Mantis, arising from the following commentary on Luo Guang Yu’s Seven Star Praying Mantis.

“Master Luo Guang Yu, on the other hand, began to blend Mei Hua, Qi Xing and Guang Ban forming his own Tanglang. Hong Kong Tanglang is not Qi Xing or ...

Continue Reading →
0

Repositioning Standards in Traditional Praying Mantis

 

Introduction
Having dedicated almost twenty five years of my life to traditional Seven Star Praying Mantis, I feel extremely privileged as it has become an inseparable part of my life, providing me with many good friends, many good experiences, and an education in the traditional combative arts. On top of that it has given me many opportunities to visit and research other quality traditional Mantis schools and systems, meet world class Mantis masters and students, exchange and participate with the ...

Continue Reading →
0

Footwork in Seven Star Mantis Kung Fu

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 ...

Continue Reading →
0

Qingdao Training Camp 2006

July 2006 marked the first Qingdao training camp for Kai Uwe Pel and the Shanghai Luo Guang Yu School of Qi Xing Tang Lang Quan.

The week long camp which focused on two more advanced Qi Xing Tang Lang Quan forms drew students from America, Hong Kong, Germany, England and New Zealand. Everyone took the welcome opportunity of escaping Shanghai’s humidity with some great beach training sessions, and a cool dip to polish it off. During their stay the class visited ...

Continue Reading →
0

Jing Wu Men – Saying Farewell !

 

We are almost at the hundred year point since the Shanghai Jing Wu Men (Chin Woo Men) school of martial arts was opened. It was born out of a China pushed violently into the modern era by imperial plunder, heading towards the republican revolution and hungry for nationalism and new fighting spirit. Now it is all but gone. What remains is confusion, a confusion that is gladly exploited and worsened with each year that passes. But if you look hard ...

Continue Reading →
0