I wrote a post a little while ago about a show I’m currently watching called Marco Polo. While I’m finding it a little tricky to follow at times regarding its plot, it is a great watch, and I definitely recommend it. In the show, a specific form of martial arts, referred to as Praying Mantis Kung Fu, is mentioned and depicted several times, and because I had never heard of this type of Kung Fu before, I wanted to learn a little more about it.
In the show, a character known as the Chancellor is the main exponent of Praying Mantis Kung Fu. His character spends hours studying the actual insects and how they move and live, and from my own understanding of the way the show depicts this, the Chancellor mimics the movements and positions of a praying mantis while engaging in Kung Fu. It looks a little bizarre, but it is extremely effective.
According to martialjournal.com, “Praying Mantis Kung Fu, also known as ‘Tang Lang Quan’ in Mandarin Chinese, traces its roots back to the turbulent Ming dynasty (1368-1644) in China. Like many martial arts styles, its origin is shrouded in both historical fact and mythological tales.
“One popular legend attributes the creation of Northern Mantis Kung Fu to a man named Wong Long (Huang Long), a master of Shaolin Kung Fu. According to the story, Wong Long observed a battle between a praying mantis and a cicada. Inspired by the mantis’s incredible speed and precision, he developed a new martial art that mimicked the mantis’s movements and tactics. Thus, Praying Mantis Kung Fu was born.
“Another legend suggests that Wang Lang, a martial artist from Shandong province, is the true founder of (Praying) Mantis Kung Fu. Wang Lang is said to have been inspired by the movements of a praying mantis while observing it engage in combat with other insects. Wang Lang incorporated these observations into his martial practice, leading to the creation of a distinctive and effective fighting system.
Historical accounts often blur the lines between these legends, making it difficult to pinpoint the precise origins of Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Nevertheless, it’s clear that this martial art has deep roots in Chinese history, and its development was influenced by various masters and schools over the centuries.
“The core principles of Praying Mantis Kung Fu revolve around swift and precise strikes, close-range combat, and the use of a wide array of hand techniques, such as punches, grabs, and joint locks. The distinctive ‘mantis hook’ hand posture, resembling a mantis’s claw, is one of its trademark moves, allowing for powerful grabs and strikes,” the web page explains.
I hope you enjoyed learning about this as much as I have.
Photo by William Warby on Unsplash
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