the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

TriEssence Martial Arts
May 18, 2021

Following last episode where we took a look at whether mantis is more about striking or qin na and shuai, I've had people saying mantis style look really good why did I not continue in it, this video I will address my personal reason for stop doing mantis and moving onto internal styles.

Keep in mind this is an analysis on the mantis system I learnt, it is not a video on all mantis systems, so if your mantis system does not do things this way then good for you, but that is irrelevant to this video.

As always constructive comments are welcome and feel free to contact me for class details in Gauteng South Africa atm, and in NSW AU in the near future.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zewNOH9J_Ks

Ufff! Thank God, none of what is demonstrated on this video even remotely resembles the Kwongsai Jook Lum Gee System of Southern Praying Mantis taught to me by the late GM Gin Foon Mark many years ago.

Doc Stier wrote:Ufff! Thank God, none of what is demonstrated on this video even remotely resembles the Kwongsai Jook Lum Gee System of Southern Praying Mantis taught to me by the late GM Gin Foon Mark many years ago.

Interesting. How would you describe the main differences except for that it’s “everything”?

A visual description should be sufficient.

https://youtu.be/luKUJ8WhVio

Can you see the differences?

https://youtu.be/BHpfShjcDw4

Very nice, Doc.

GrahamB wrote:Very nice, Doc.

Thanks, bro!

Nice.

Yes, the body movement and methods are completely different.

https://youtu.be/Jaka2jtTHQM

This is the late Master Brendan Lai demonstrating one of the traditional Northern Praying Mantis styles. What is shown in the OP video for this thread doesn't look like Northern Mantis, either, but more like rudimentary karate or taekwondo, imo.

Based on all the video clips on his channel, it appears he has dabbled in many arts and one of which is northern mantis.

C.J.W. wrote:, it appears he has dabbled in many arts and one of which is northern mantis.

Yes, seems like he has practiced a whole lot of different things. However, if I’ve got it right, his main style is Yiquan. He might be more interested in general fighting and Sanda. I guess that it’s very hard to build some kind of recognizable shenfa if you are not completely dedicated to one style.

Doc Stier wrote:What is shown in the OP video for this thread doesn't look like Northern Mantis, either, but more like rudimentary karate or taekwondo, imo. :-\

I disagree. I think it looks like northern mantis done by someone who never learned how the art was supposed to work-- probably because his teacher never learned, either. No need to throw karate and taekwondo under the bus along with the desiccated carcass of what used to be mantis that's already there...

Speaking of Mantis styles, I really like the shenfa of Taiji Mantis. Not in the sense that it's "better", or anything, I just like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3hKaRwDVZU

It's very dramatic. One might even say, theatrical..... but that might just be the music

Bhassler wrote:

Doc Stier wrote:What is shown in the OP video for this thread doesn't look like Northern Mantis, either, but more like rudimentary karate or taekwondo, imo.

I disagree. I think it looks like northern mantis done by someone who never learned how the art was supposed to work-- probably because his teacher never learned, either. No need to throw karate and taekwondo under the bus along with the desiccated carcass of what used to be mantis that's already there...

Please note that I deliberately wrote "RUDIMENTARY karate and taekwondo", i.e. performed at a novice or beginner level. Thus, I certainly wasn't throwing these arts under the bus. I myself earned Black Belt ranks in both during the 1960's and, therefore, know from personal experience that expertise in Korean and Japanese/Okinawan martial arts definitely produces a far greater skill level than what was shown in the OP video.

C.J.W. wrote:Based on all the video clips on his channel, it appears he has dabbled in many arts and one of which is northern mantis.

Agreed, with "dabbled" obviously being the operative word describing it all. In fairness, however, that is very common in this age of quick and easy access to books and YouTube videos of every style on the planet. I rarely meet people these days who DON'T believe that their optimal personal skill level is best achieved by learning as many styles, forms, drills, and the supposed applications of same as possible.

Thus, quantity of training methods and material is generally valued more than the quality of anything in the mix. This approach creates a jack of all trades, but master of none. To be clear, this is very different than studying and practicing one style or system to a level of basic expertise before studying other compatible arts.