This article explores the living unity of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, where combat, longevity, and philosophy form an inseparable whole. Martial skill equips practitioners to act decisively; qigong preserves vitality for lifelong practice; and Confucian philosophy grounds training in moral clarity. Each element reinforces the others, creating disciplined, resilient individuals who contribute to family and society. Preserved in the Luo Guang Yu lineage as a living tradition, this art endures through sincere practice, ethical embodiment, and generational transmission.

This article introduces the meaning of lineage and transmission in Chinese martial arts, emphasizing their role as the living foundations of tradition. Lineage represents the human chain linking practitioners to past masters, while transmission is the embodied process of carrying knowledge, principles, and values forward. Rooted in Confucian ethics and teacher–student reverence, this bond preserves both skill and moral conduct. In Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, lineage and transmission ensure continuity, authenticity, and responsibility across generations, making the art a living inheritance.

My time in Shanghai this summer has gone by quickly, as it always does. Each visit is both meaningful and productive, but more than that, this city never fails to leave me inspired and reinvigorated as I prepare to return to Canada. Follow Nathan's recap here.

In this Primer to Starting Kung Fu, we’ll guide you through the essential steps needed to prepare both your body and your mind for traditional training. Whether you’re new to martial arts or returning after a long pause, this guide introduces the historical roots and philosophical foundations that give Kung Fu its depth and purpose. It also offers practical advice on how to develop basic physical conditioning, cultivate the right mindset, and set realistic goals for your early practice. By grounding you in both knowledge and readiness, it will help you take your first meaningful steps on the long and rewarding path of becoming a martial artist.