Mantis Kung Fu

Praying Mantis Kung Fu, known in Chinese as Tanglang Quan (螳螂拳), is one of China’s most respected and enduring martial traditions, with roots stretching back approximately four centuries. Its origin story blends legend, historical context, and the collective experience of generations of dedicated practitioners.

The system’s legendary founder, Wang Lang (王朗), is believed to have lived in China’s Shandong province during the late Ming Dynasty, a turbulent time that saw the transition to the Qing Dynasty. Some accounts place him even earlier, during the Song Dynasty, highlighting the challenges of pinning down precise dates in Chinese martial folklore. What is widely accepted is that Wang Lang was a highly skilled martial artist, already accomplished in the Shaolin tradition, specifically in Tai Zu Quan (Emperor Long Fist Boxing).

According to tradition, Wang Lang’s inspiration struck deep in the forests of Shandong when he witnessed a small green praying mantis fiercely engaged in battle with a cicada. Captivated by the insect’s quick, deceptive, and precise movements, he saw a natural model for a new combat approach: one that blended sudden strikes and withdrawals, close-in hooking and grasping, and constant shifts in range and angle.

Fueled by this insight, Wang Lang undertook a long period of rigorous experimentation, layering these natural tactics onto his Shaolin skills. He codified the system around twelve key principles known as the Shí’èr Zì Jué (十二字诀): Hooking (Gou), Grasping (Lou), Pulling (Cai), Hanging (Gua), Absorbing (Diao), Advancing (Jin), Smashing (Beng), Striking (Da), Adhering (Tie), Leaning (Kao), Sticking (Zhan), and Following (Nian). These principles became the core technical vocabulary of Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Wang Lang’s journey of refinement did not end there. Another piece of the puzzle came when he observed a troupe of monkeys in the wild. Their agile footwork and unpredictable evasive maneuvers inspired him to further develop a footwork system to complement his mantis hand techniques, creating a uniquely integrated style blending animal movement, human biomechanics, and strategic combat insight.

A final legendary chapter recounts how Wang Lang participated in a celebrated gathering known as the Eighteen Masters’ Exchange. Under the auspices of Shaolin’s Abbot Fu Ju, eighteen of the era’s most accomplished martial artists came together to share their knowledge. From this exchange, Wang Lang incorporated additional methods and strategies, broadening the scope and adaptability of his new system.

From its early days in Shandong, Praying Mantis Kung Fu spread throughout northern China, branching into multiple sub-styles as generations of masters contributed refinements. Some emphasized empty-hand forms and combat techniques; others developed distinctive weapons routines, internal energy exercises, and iron palm conditioning. The system became an integral part of the region’s martial landscape—valued by village militias, caravan guards, and martial scholars alike for its proven practicality in real combat.

In the early 20th century, the art found new life through Master Luo Guang Yu (罗光玉, 1888–1944). Trained under Fan Xu Dong, Master Luo was instrumental in introducing Seven Star Praying Mantis to the Jingwu Athletic Association in Shanghai in 1919, helping the style reach a wider national audience at a time when Chinese martial arts were undergoing revitalization and modernization.

Despite the upheavals of war, social change, and modernization throughout the past two centuries, Praying Mantis Kung Fu has endured—testament to the dedication of masters and students who preserved its principles through practice rather than mere preservation in books.

Today, at Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, we honor this legacy by transmitting the authentic Seven Star Praying Mantis tradition, staying faithful to its original principles while ensuring that its living spirit thrives for future generations of martial artists.

Wang Lang (王朗)
The legendary founder, Wang Lang, is credited with creating the foundational framework of Praying Mantis boxing. He synthesized earlier Shaolin combat systems with his observations of the praying mantis and agile animals like monkeys, developing the Twelve Keyword Principles (Shí’èr Zì Jué) that remain at the core of the art. His exchanges with the Eighteen Masters enriched the system with diverse fighting strategies.

Li San Jian (李三箭, c. 1821)
Li San Jian is recognized as a key historical figure in the recorded lineage, providing an early verifiable link that anchors the system’s oral legends to documented martial tradition. As a highly respected practitioner in Shandong during the early 19th century, Li San Jian ensured that the essence of Wang Lang’s teachings were preserved and passed on through turbulent times. His role solidified the continuity of knowledge through subsequent generations.

Wang Rong Sheng (王荣生)
Following Li San Jian, Master Wang Rong Sheng carried the tradition forward, contributing significant refinements to forms and fighting applications. He was known for his deep understanding of both the technical and philosophical aspects of the system, bridging old village-based boxing methods with the emerging martial societies of the late Qing era. His efforts laid the groundwork for the structured teaching approach later seen in urban centers like Shanghai.

Fan Xu Dong (范旭东, 1841–1927)
A towering figure in northern Chinese martial arts, Fan Xu Dong preserved and advanced Seven Star Praying Mantis during a period of immense social upheaval. Renowned for his fighting prowess and scholarly depth, he systematized many elements, documented Shaolin health practices like the Eighteen Luohan Xinggong, and passed this wealth of knowledge to his disciple, Luo Guang Yu.

Luo Guang Yu (罗光玉, 1888–1944)
Master Luo Guang Yu is often credited with establishing Seven Star Praying Mantis as a modern, accessible martial art. In 1919, he introduced the system to the Shanghai Jingwu Athletic Association, giving it a national platform and ensuring its survival during a time of rapid social transformation. His teaching emphasized practical combat effectiveness, disciplined forms, and a moral framework rooted in traditional virtues.

Lin Bo Yan (林伯炎, 1903–1990)
Master Lin Bo Yan was an influential disciple of Luo Guang Yu and played a vital role in preserving and transmitting authentic Seven Star Praying Mantis during the 20th century. Known for his practical approach and deep knowledge of the system’s core forms and combat applications, Lin Bo Yan helped standardize many training routines, ensuring consistency within the family style during a period when martial arts were rapidly evolving in urban centers like Shanghai and Hong Kong. He quietly taught dedicated students, upholding the tradition’s ethical values and practical fighting methods, and acted as a critical link between Luo Guang Yu’s generation and the next wave of instructors who carried the system abroad.

Xu Jin Ge (许金阁, Koh Kim Kok, b. 1949)
Better known by his Hokkien name, Koh Kim Kok, Master Xu Jin Ge was a devoted student of Lin Bo Yan and is revered for his role in introducing authentic Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu to the overseas Chinese communities, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia. A tireless practitioner and humble teacher, he maintained the core combat methods, traditional forms (taolu), and fighting spirit of the Luo Guang Yu lineage at a time when many martial arts schools were drifting toward commercialized demonstration routines. Koh Kim Kok emphasized real application and moral conduct, passing on not only the techniques but also the family’s strong values of humility, perseverance, and respect. His dedication inspired several generations of practitioners, many of whom continue to teach and promote genuine Praying Mantis Kung Fu today.

Kai Uwe Pel (裴凯, b. 1963)
A principal modern custodian, Master Kai Uwe Pel has dedicated decades to studying, practicing, and teaching Luo Guang Yu’s system. Through careful preservation and authentic instruction, he has transmitted the full depth of the system’s techniques, training methods, and philosophical foundation to new generations of students around the world.

Nathan Wright (王瑞轩, b. 1973))
Nathan Wright, Chief Instructor at Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, is a direct disciple of Master Kai Uwe Pel. With over two decades of training and research in Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, he upholds the core combat principles, traditional forms, and philosophical insights of the lineage. His commitment is to guide students toward genuine skill, moral development, and respect for this treasured martial tradition.

Honoring Our Lineage
At Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, every lesson and every movement connects students to this living history. By training diligently and upholding the values passed down through our masters, we keep this unbroken line of knowledge alive and flourishing for future generations.