Master Luo Guangyu was born in 1888 in the town of Penglai, a small coastal fishing village on the Shandong Peninsula. Luo was a simple family man of virtuous character, resilient spirit, balanced temperament, and formidable martial skill. From humble beginnings he would make his way into discipleship under one of the most prominent kung fu family’s in Yantai, and eventually go ...
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Contents
1. Mindset of the Violent Offender
2. Ecology of a Violent Interaction
3. Tactical Characteristics of a Violent Interaction
4. Informational Cues and Threat Indicators
5. Concluding Remarks
The world is not perfectly normal and you are exposed to a general level of risk just by being out and about in your daily life. Like it or not, interpersonal violence has always been a part of ...
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Introduction to the guiding principle of Excellence in the martial tradition of Praying Mantis Kung Fu
In my last article titled, “What Was Before – A Return to Meaning in Marital Tradition” I explored the concept of martial tradition in Praying Mantis Kung Fu introducing three core elements and seven guiding principles that are foundational to the practice. In today’s article I ...
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An Exploration of Core Elements and Principles in the Martial Tradition of Praying Mantis Kung Fu
Traditional Praying Mantis Kung Fu has legendary origins in the tradition of Shaolin dating back four hundred years. Born at a crossroads in Imperial Era China marking the end of the Ming dynasty and the beginning of the Qing, it was a ...
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Where and when are you at risk to interpersonal violence? Historically the self-defense community has focused on controlling time and place. For example, do not go to dangerous you do not know and do not go alone, especially at night. Territory you are not familiar with coupled with self-isolation and darkness creates vulnerability and an inability to assess threats.
But in modern ...
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This publication is an abbreviated commentary on the theme of Mind (xin) from the Three Harmonies and Five Martial Virtues framework. In it we will highlight a number of principles that we feel are both interesting and relevant follow up points to an article previously published in September 2020 called, “San He Wu De ...
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Theory of Mind (ToM) in Self-Defense refers to the capacity to understand and attribute mental states to yourself and to others with the purpose of predicting violent behavior and defending against it. In today’s article I will develop a theory of ‘criminal’ mind and answer the question, “who is the bad guy?”
In section one I will develop ...
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Theory of Mind (ToM) in self defense refers to the capacity to understand and attribute mental states to yourself and to others with the purpose of predicting violent behavior and defending against it. Any deficits in understanding can potentially expose you to the risk of interpersonal violence. The purpose of this series on Theory of Mind in ...
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As we close the books on 2021 and prepare to move forward into the new year it’s time to take stock of the past 365 days and plan for 2022. This past year was dominated again by a global pandemic that continues to expose vulnerabilities in populations, healthcare systems, and socio-cultural equity. Cumulatively there has been over ...
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A Guide to preparing the body and mind for traditional training
Kung Fu refers to a skill attained through hard work. In Chinese, Kung Fu can be used for any person that has achieved mastery of a chosen ability such as a chef or artisan. When we say Kung Fu with regard to martial arts we specifically mean traditional Chinese Kung Fu ...
Continue Reading →Footage of Master Lin Bo Yan performing staff routine.
Master Lin (1903-1990) studied under the tutelage of Master Luo Guang Yu for almost a decade in the Shanghai Jingwu Association. He was a senior disciple under LGY and described as one of top four students in Huang Han Xun’s book, Six Harmony Double Sabers, 1956. Master Lin was a humble learned man who lead a peaceful life eventually settling overseas in Singapore where he continued to work ...
Continue Reading →Master Kai Uwe Pel performing Xiao Hu Yan in Penang, Malaysia.
The Xiao Hu Yan empty handsets (Xiao, Zhong, Da) are said to have been introduced by Master Wang Rong Sheng (c. 1854), who is generally recognized for expanding the Seven Star Praying Mantis style curriculum with a deeper integration of Shaolin long fist boxing traditions and content.
Born 1854 in Shandong province, Wang Rong Sheng is said to have already been a master of the Shaolin long fist ...
Continue Reading →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 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 ...
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Praying Mantis Kung Fu was founded 400 years ago in the tradition of Shaolin, integrating late Ming dynasty martial practices with Chan Buddhist meditation and Neo-Confucian philosophy. It evolved against a backdrop of political instability, social unrest, and large-scale violence premised on the notions of self-preservation, individual autonomy, moral agency and the natural right to self-defence. ...
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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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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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