Southern Praying Mantis

Chow Gar Tong long (周家螳螂) is a southern Chinese martial arts and is one of the four major schools in Southern Praying Mantis. It is an aggressive style with emphasis on close range fighting. These skills are developed by utilizing a range of training techniques which have been developed over several centuries.

This style is not related to Jow-Ga Kung Fu(周家), a southern Chinese martial art founded by Jow Lung in the early 1900's.

History

The history of Chow Gar Praying Mantis was transmitted orally with little supporting documentation until the 1900's. The origins of Chow Gar are similar to other martial arts of the Hakka community with references to the Southern Shaolin monastery and exploits centered around Southern China. Information prior to the turn of the century were speculative at best. In the modern era, Lau Soei is recognized by both the Chow Gar and Chu Gar practioners as the leading promoter of this style. The leading authority of Chow Gar are the students of Yip Shui and their schools can be found worldwide.

[edit] Chow Ah Naam

According to Chow Gar tradition, the founder of the style was Chow Ah Naam (周亞南) who lived in the 1800's. He had spent many years in the Southern Shaolin Monastery under the guidance of the abbot Sim See Yan. He created a new style which he called Praying Mantis from watching a fight between a praying mantis and a bird. His style is not related to the Northern Praying Mantis created by Wang Lang (王朗) during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Ah Naam taught the style to many people in the region and one of his student was Wong Fook Go.

Wong Fook Go

Wong Fook Go (黃福高) was initially a lay person but later became a traveling monk. He travelled throughout Southern China including Wai Yearn village in the area of Tung Kung (East River).

Lau Soei (1866-1942)

Lau Soei (劉瑞; 誠初; 劉水) was an accomplished teacher of the martial arts in his home village of Wai Yearn in Southern China before meeting Wong Fook Go. Oral traditions suggested that Lau challenged Wong and was soundly defeated by Wong. Lau then became a student of Wong and became proficient in the Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis. Using this knowledge, he futher enhanced his reputation and earned the nickname as the "Number one of the three tigers of Dong Jiang (東江三虎之一).^[1]

In 1913, Lau Soei moved to Hong Kong and established a Southern Praying Mantis school in Kowloon. Initially, he would teach his system only to members of the Hakka community. Near the end of his career, he opened his teachings to the general public. Yip Shui was one of his first non-Hakka students. Lau Soei passed away in 1942.

Yip Shui

Yip Shui (葉瑞; 啟瑞) continued on the tradition of Lau Soei after living and training extensively with Lau Soei. He established a reputation for the effectiveness of the Chow Gar style by meeting all challenges. He worked hard to teach and promote this style. Yip Shui passed away in 2004.

Yip Chee Keung, the son of Yip Shui, contines the family tradition as a promoter of this system. Chee Keung emigrated to London, England in the 1970's. He established a Chow Gar Southern Mantis School there.^[2] Paul Whitrod started his training with Yip Chee Keung at that school in 1974. Paul is now the UK representative for Chow Gar. ^[3]

Ng Si Kay (吳士麒), Yip Shui's son in law, is the current head instructor for Chow Gar Mantis Association (International) based in Hong Kong.^[4]

With the efforts and dedication of those teachers and many others, Chow Gar practitioners can now be found throughout the world. There are now Chow Gar schools and associations in Hong Kong, England ^[5], the Netherlands ^[6] and Australia. ^[7]

Forms

There are many different forms in the Chow Gar system and each instructor teaching a variety of forms. The name for some of those forms include:

• Sarm Bo Jin (三步箭; 3 step arrow)
• Gau Si Mun sau (9 seeking hands)
• Mo Ying Sau Chor Kui (no shadow hand crack the bridge)
• Bo Sim Sau (searching insect hand)
• Gen Tung Gen Sau Lin Wa say (shock power hand)
• Poon loong keok (flying dragon leg)
• Yau Loong Sau (游龍手; swimming dragon hands)
• Say Mun Sau (四門手; four gates hand)
• Bic Saan Quan (迫山拳; lifting mountain Fist)
• Yin Yang Sau (陰陽手)
• Fut Sau (佛手; Buddhist hand)

Techniques

Basic Movements

There are also 36 basic movements consisting of one or 3 moves, these are known as San Sau. they are;

• Bow Chong (cover hand, meaning to wrap up)
• Gau Choi (hammer fist to come down)
• Cye Sau (deflect)
• Doa Sau (spring hand)
• Narp Sau (hook hand)
• Got sau (cut back hand)
• Saw Sau (lock hand)
• Chum Chung sau (sinking elbow hand)
• Yong Sau (upward reach hand)
• Chuen sau (Transmit hand)
• Larp sau (snatch hand)
• Mut sau (sweep hand)
• Kum la Ja Jook (seize and hold hand)
• Kwor sau (circle over hand)
• Yui Sau (Shake off hand)
• Pai Kui (slicing hand)
• Cheet Jeung (cutting palm)
• Lau Sau (Leaking hand)
• Dun Chung (back elbow)
• Ngai Chung (Forward elbow)
• Jin Sau (scissor hand)
• Din sau (rivet hand)
• Soc sau (Shock pulling hand)
• Yong Kum sau (upward breaking hand)
• Yum Yearn Kor Sau (yin yang breaking hand)
• Lim Chung (Elbow picking hand)
• Tai Sau (Pulling Hand)
• Kok Choi (angular fist)
• Man Dan Sau (single bow pulling hand)
• Chup sau (thrusting hand)
• Noi Choi fun sau (inside hand and split)
• Chy Sau (grinding hand)
• Doy Chong ( double arm training)
• Sarm Bo Jin (3 step arrow)

Shock Power

The short-range power that can translate into shock power is a basic characteristic of this style. According to legend, this technique is created when the founder, Chow Ah Naam's saw a praying mantis fighting off a blackbird using quick sudden movements.