Northern Mantis a unique style developed and proven in China’s past with a rich and long history.
Paul Brennan’s, in depth translation gives a look back into the history and times surrounding the creation of the style.
螳螂拳術闡秘
SECRETS OF THE MANTIS BOXING ART
順德黃漢勛編述
by Huang Hanxun [Wong Honfan] of Shunde
[published in Hong Kong, 1946 (revised Nov, 1954)]
[translation by Paul Brennan, Aug, 2020]
excerpt from the translation
” One hot summer’s day after his elder left, Wang found his stuffy room to be a very dreary place to be, so he grabbed his sword and some literature and went into the forest to get away from the heat.
Once he had disappeared into the woods, he was met with a cool breeze gently blowing through and felt elated in mind and body. Then as soon as he opened a book to start reading, he heard the buzzing cries of an insect, a chaotic chirping sound that seemed almost sorrowful.
“He raised his head up and saw a mantis and a cicada fighting to the death. The mantis was using its sharp arms and its determined stepping, and soon the cicada was dead in the hands of the mantis.”
The style would later branch out forming different sub styles from the parent, each tracing its origin back to the founder.
My first experience with the style. Master Park, taught what he called “Mei Hua Tang Lang (Plum Flower Praying Mantis Boxing) ” in Camp Casey, a US Army Camp located in South Korea not far from the DMZ.
One of Master Parks students. Mr Lee.
The style in Korea had a distinctive flavor
Example of some of the movement practiced by another Mantis gym in Korea . Very quick bridging movement, followed by trapping, and throwing.
