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Seven-Star Praying Mantis

A powerful and fast long to short range fighting system. It originated at the Henan Shaolin Temple in China. It was founded by Wong Lang. He used inspiration from the "arm" movements of the praying mantis and the leg movements of the monkey to initially create the system. He further developed the ideas and methods by working with other monks at the temple and using the best techniques and inspiration from other systems that he had studied to complete the system.

Seven-Star Stance 七星步

No position in fighting is fixed but every stance has a set of dynamics, including balance, directional strength, and ease of use with techniques. In Seven-Star Praying Mantis each stance can change smoothly and be used with different techniques.

The Seven Star Stance (七星步) allows you to engage the hands of the opponent while attacking their front with your forward leg, eliminating their defenses or forcing a change in position.

Tiger Riding Stance 跨虎步

The techniques are designed to work in different combinations. This allows you to change your attacking patterns so that the opponent has difficulty predicating what counter attacks will be effective.

The Tiger Riding Stance is similar to the Seven-Star Stance, both hands can be used to intercept, attack, block and counter. The leg can be used to kick defensively or weaken the opponent's stance by pulling and transitioning to a Hill-Climbing Stance (登山步) to quickly change direction and strike an opponent before they can respond.

Hill-Climbing Stance 登山步

Distance and angles are important to being effective. A change in stance can make an attack effective or allow you to diffuse one. Moving inside and out of the opponent's effective range of attack can be used to break through their defenses.

Hill-Climbing stance can be used to create a quick change in direction, extend an attack, or change your angle to intercept the opponent's attack while countering.

QUestions And Answers

Will Seven-Star Praying Mantis make me better at fighting?

Seven-Star will improve multiple aspects of your fighting abilities. The stance , form, and power training will increase your ability to attack and counter effectively as well as the body's strength and speed.The hands and legs are used together to block, intercept, and create openings to attack. Striking and gripping are used at vital points of the body to incapacitate the opponent in dangerous situations.

How is grappling used in Seven-Star Praying Mantis?

Each technique is used for immediate effect. Grappling is not prolonged but is focused on using existing force from the opponent to rapidly attack the joints of the body at different points. Additional attacking methods such as strikes, kicks, and sweeps are used in concert to break through and overwhelm the opponent.

How much attacking power does using Seven-Star Praying Mantis give me?

The system can be used to develop great attack force. Power is trained at the waist, shoulder, elbow, wrists, and fingers. This allows the body to be used in part and as a whole to generate force. Inch power is developed as well over a long period of hard training.

In addition to that, hardening exercises are used for the arms, hands, and legs.

Does Seven-Star Praying Mantis use weapons?

Yes, many including the staff, spear, hook swords, broad sword, straight sword, and three sectional staff.

What are some skills trained in Seven-Star Praying Mantis?

Seven star will train you to be aware of the opponent's distance, position, and direction of attack. The attacking methods utilize quick changes in direction and area of attack to push through defenses.

The hands and legs are used together and attacks flow continuously. When a defensive method disrupts an attack, another technique is used immediately until the other fighter's defenses are broken through.