7 STAR MANTIS HISTORY

 

7 Star Mantis history was marked had a humble beginning almost 300 years ago in Northern China.

According to tradition, Wong Long, an unshaven monk, at the Shaolin temple, developed the 7 Star Mantis style. Wong Long studied at the temple during the period between the Ming and the Ching dynasties.

 

This time period marked the beginning of the 7 Star Mantis history. Although he practiced his Kung fu diligently, he found that he could not beat his kung fu brothers at the temple.

While traveling Wong Long consistently sought masters of different styles who would teach him in order to improve his skill.

Even though he trained hard and eventually became proficient in 17 different styles he found that his Kung fu brothers at the temple were still able to beat him. It is said that while walking he came across a Praying mantis fighting with a Cicada.

While the Cicada was obviously bigger, Wong Long noticed that the mantis was very skilled at evading the powerful attacks of the Cicada and was able to use its extremely strong forearms to eventually pin and defeat the Cicada.

Wong Long then started collecting praying mantis in order to study their defense and attack strategies while he was teasing them with a reed. From these observations he developed a fighting style that improved his skill as a fighter.

The next step was to develop his footwork in order to coordinate with the rapid and powerful techniques of his hands. Wong Long then looked to the trees where he found that the monkeys had quick and nimble techniques for moving through the trees.

And so, after combining the footwork of the monkey with the arms and hands of the Mantis as well as the best techniques of the 17 styles, Wong Long had creating a new fighting style. This form is demonstrated by Laoshur Muntu Isom, click here

It is with this method that he eventually returned to the Shaolin temple and beat his Kung fu brothers. 

7 Star Mantis style became very popular and spread throughout China and in so doing evolved into the following styles:

• 7 star praying mantis
• Plum blossom praying mantis
• Six combination praying mantis
• Flat plate praying mantis
• Secret door praying mantis
• Jade ring praying mantis
• Dragging hand praying mantis
• Tai chi praying mantis
• Rigid praying mantis