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 Shanghai (1919 – 2019).
“Great thanks to my students and old friends from Jing Wu for contributing my birthday celebration. I was deeply honored by your support and was especially proud given the 100 year anniversary of Seven Star Mantis in Shanghai. Thank you!”–Kai Uwe Pel
“Dedicating 40 years to the mastery and preservation of Mantis kung fu, Master Kai Uwe Pel to this day remains a shining example of what traditional martial arts is all about. Attaining the highest level of skill, he proudly represents his style with passion, humility and respect.”–Nathan, Canada
“The 100 year celebration made me realize the significance of the long history and tradition of our kung fu family in Shanghai. It gives even more motivation and inspiration to travel down this road. Participating in the celebration dinner was a tremendous honor.”–Alice, France
Master Pel with students and freindsBirthday gifts, ceremonies, and awardsBirthday celebrations and cake cutting
Mantis Training Camp
We were privileged to have Kai fly in from Frankfurt a week early to lead a seven-day training camp. A number of Kai’s long-term students from Germany also attended including Kai Ehellmen. For advanced students the camp program included two daily training sessions, an AM track 08:30-11:30 and a PM a track 19:30-22:00. Training was physically demanding and focused on advanced tactical Mantis concepts. Nathan’s Shanghai based student group was also privileged to attend evening group classes taught by Kai on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Everyone was highly motivated, had great attitudes, worked hard, and learned so much from Kai.
“Training camp was themed “Back to Mantis Roots” and focused on intensive fundamentals, advanced footwork, and core forms. Students received valuable feedback supporting learning objectives.”–Kai Uwe Pel
“Training with Kai was intense. A lot of focus on technique and application. Kai was very good at explaining how and especially why to do or not to do things in a specific way.”–Salla, Finland
“Training with Kai was such a tremendous learning experience. He taught me about progressive learning and showed me what I needed to focus on in the beginning.”–Alan, America
“I felt like I learned so much just having the opportunity to follow Kai during an entire lesson. It was a real privilege. And thanks to Nathan for supporting our group and training in Shanghai.”–Alice, France
“Training was rigorous and enriching with Kai. The dinner highly enjoyable with such deep history and tradition, and it was amazing watching Kai and his senior students’ demonstration.”–Emil, Denmark
Master Pel and studentsTraining sessions with Master Pel
Around Shanghai The group also spent some nice time socializing, sight-seeing around Shanghai, and taking in some Shanghai night life. Special mentions included a visit to Jingwu Park to see the memorial site dedicated to Master Luo Guang Yu who brought Seven Star Praying Mantis to Shanghai in 1919. The group also spent some nice evenings enjoying good food and drink at Alimentari (Italian groceries, wine and snacks on Anfu Rd), Garden Restaurant (Wulumuqi Middle Road), JZ Club (Shanghai’s premier jazz club on Julu Road) and POP (premier bar and lounge located on the Bund).
Visiting Luo Guang Yu memorial statue in Jingwu ParkSocializing amongst friends after training
100 Years 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 Luo Guang Yu came to teach in the original Shanghai Jing Wu school, bringing the style from Shandong province and ultimately giving it to the world.
Training under Master Kai is always an experience in understanding where your skill level is. He has a unique way of showing the importance of basic principles, but also the high level of detail and complexity within those basics. With Master Kai the basics become advanced and the advanced becomes basic.–Cam, New Zealand
The celebration dinner was a special moment where four kungfu generations were present together. We train at outdoor locations with a smaller group and suddenly the connection to the greater history and culture revealed itself. Traditions and family are an important part of why we choose this art. –Andy, England
Overall we are very grateful to Kai and privileged he made the time visit us in Shanghai. We look forward to continuing to train hard and represent Kai well in Shanghai.
Nathan Wright
Student of Master Kai Uwe Pel and instructor of Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Praying Mantis
