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Chow Gar Southern Mantis Kung Fu

Chow Gar is a Close in fighting system from the Southern Shaolin. It is famous for its aggression and effectiveness in close in fighting. These skills are developed by utilizing a range of training techniques developed over the years and passed down through authorized teachers of the system.

One of the key elements of training in the Mantis style is to learn to generate the Gen or Shock power. One of the first exercises to help in this development is called Chia Sau or Grinding Arm. As one becomes more experienced the more one begins to be relaxed in the exercises, building power and strength through a relaxed force which otherwise, to a beginner, seems very physical. This is a stage where the power emanates from the joints and bones.

The whole of the body is used as a weapon including the use of the fingers, wrist, elbow, claw, phoenix eye fist, knee, shoulder and low line kicking.

In addition a number of weapons are taught within the system including Pole, Straight Sword, Broadsword, Sai, Tiger Fork and Spear.

Specific Training Routines

Dip Gwut Gung (Rib bone power)

Dip gwut gung, meaning rib bone power, is one of the Southern Praying Mantis Kung fu training skills used throughout its forms. This action is performed by the opening and closing of the rib cage, thus strengthening the rib bones and the ligaments that join them to the sternum and spine. The bones of the entire body are very much alive and just like the muscles they can be strengthened with certain exercises such as "dip gwut gung" (i.e. special "gung lik" training skills).

The ribs protect our internal organs and the ribcage bones are flexible and move as the body moves. Training methods such as the "Saam hay gen" (three air power drills) and "dip gwut gung" work on this movement through rigorous drills that build up the muscle tissue and ligaments around the ribs so the midsection and rib cage can withstand heavy blows.

Since it is reasonable to assume that every punch or kick cannot be blocked or prevented, training to absorb punches is crucial. There is a verse that states. "Dip Gwut Gung, Gen Tung Gen," meaning that the development of the shock-like power gen comes from the practice of the "dip gwut gung". These two forces combine to produce awesome striking power.

Inch Force Power

The Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung fu system is famous for its inch force power. This inch power not only emanates from the fist, but from every part of the body. Inch force power can only be achieved by practicing extraordinary mantis training methods. These methods may at times be hard and boring, but they will give the edge a martial artist needs to win a fight. Termed Gen, inch force is an explosive power that comes from within. There are many forms and drills in the mantis system which expresses this power using short range moves reminiscent of small explosions. In inch power, there is no need to wind up to throw a punch or pull back before striking. With this trained hidden energy, you can instantly explode through your opponent like a lightning bolt attacking a tree.

Gen power consists of a number of facets, including explosive power, heavy power, shock power, inch force power, soft and hard power, rooted power, and mind power. One training drill, "Chy sau" or grinding arm, develops the wrist, forearms, shoulders and back. Though it seems a simple exercise, its main task is to push out the vital internal power (Chi) to the fingertips, providing the explosive "gen" power. The bones, joints, and ligaments will become strong and the limbs will possess the heavy arm power.

This exercise has 18 variations, each guaranteed to produce a stronger, more powerful fighter. "Doy Chong" or double arm practice develops what is called "say bun lig" or 4 powers. This two-man drill enhances the forward moving power which many have talked about but few have experienced. There are too many training exercises to list but this gives an insight into the style.

Forms

There are many famous forms and hidden training drills which make Southern Praying Mantis Kung-fu unique. Novices begin with the basic but also one of the most advanced forms "3 step arrow" or "Saam Bo jin". They then move onto others 3 step forms including "Yui kui" or "shaking off the bridge". The advanced forms, of which there are 36 in number include -searching insect hands- "bo sim sau", 4 gate hands- "Say mun sau", 9 top asking hands - "Gau si mun sau".

Dim Mak

Southern Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung-fu exercises its vital pressure point striking within the complexity of its Forms and training Chongs. All Forms and training Chongs contain the appropriate angles and directions in which to strike these vital points. Just like a book that has many chapters, so too does a single Form/Chong contain many sections in it. Each section has its group of vital points, with some techniques using a single strike and other necessitating multiple blows. Certain Chow Gar Praying Mantis forms will highlight particular vital points. There are not any blocks in this system of Kung fu, all contact is aimed at pressure points to either weaken or destroy what is coming in at you.

 

My Master

Although I consider that I have only scratched the surface of a lifetimes training, I owe all I have learnt and achieved in Southern Chow Gar Mantis to Master Paul Whitrod. I owe him a great deal, certainly more than I could repay and this will never be forgotten. Sifu has shown understanding and a great deal of patience in his dealings with me, one who has certainly not been the perfect student. Often today we are all too busy, or thats the excuse, to show any respect to others. However I believe that Sifu is fully deserving of my respect and I hope that this is always apparent and that over the years I am able to repay him in some small way for all his kindness. I do not believe that we should act disrespectful to our teachers as is often seen at tournaments and on discussion boards.

A Brief History of Southern Chow Gar Praying Mantis

A BRIEF HISTORY The founder of the Chow Gar Praying Mantis martial art was Chow Ah Naam. He had spent many years in the Shaolin Monastery (Sil Lum Jee) harnessing the bodies hidden powers, through the Shaolin secret training drills. These special skills and methods were bestowed upon individuals that showed tremendous martial skill and intuition, and Chow Ah Naam was one of those rare individuals. Because of His incredible skill, the hall of Shaolin was given to him to teach this elite art. The short range powerful gen movements that He had harnessed easily overcame the other Shaolin arts, and the name praying mantis was given to the system, after seeing a praying mantis insect overcome a blackbird with sudden like actions, was reminiscent of Chow Ah Naam's shock like power. Chow Ah Naam had been staying in the Shaolin Monastery since he was 10 years old, after being cured of a stomach illness that he had suffered as a young boy. His first job was a cook at Shaolin, and then he started learning the Shaolin Martial arts. His martial skill grew exceptionally and so he was taught the highest Shaolin martial skills from the high monk Sim See Yan, which Chow Ah Naam incorporated into his own system. Of all the monks that Chow Ah Naam taught, it was a monk named Wong Fook Go that became Chows successor. Wong Fook Go later became a traveling monk, this was quite a common thing in those days to spread Buddhism, as well as martial arts. He had went to a place called Wai Yearn village in the area of Tung Kung (East River). Once there he met a young man named Lau Soei. Lau Soei was already a accomplished master of several arts, most notably the Ma Kuen (horse fist). It was said that when he practiced the Ma Kuen, his ponytail that he used to wear in those days, was always in flight. A great story how these two men met and how Lau Soei started learning Chow Gar Praying Mantis kung fu was documented. A challenge was issued by Lau Soei to monk Wong Fook Go, after Wong Fook Go stated that Lau Soeis art merely looked good at a demonstration he had shown. The Challenge took place and Lau Soei lost the bout, however not being satisfied with his first attempt tried again, but still lost. He told Wong Fook Go, that when he was hit it had felt like he was being hit by lightening (shock power). The monk Wong Fook Go explained to him about the Mantis art and its "gen" powers that are trained. It was from here that Lau Soei was convinced about this unique system, he became a student of the monk and was the first non monk to be trained in the Southern Chow Gar Praying Mantis kung fu. Wong Fook Go taught everything to Lau Soei and years later Lau Soei began teaching at Wai Yearn village. It was nearing the end of the Ching Dynasty that many people moved to Hong Kong. Lau Soei also moved to Hong Kong in 1913. He began teaching this hidden art and taught many people, including Yip Shui, Chu Gung Wa, Tarn Wa etc. But it was Yip Shui that became Lau Soei’s successor to carry on the name Chow Gar Praying Mantis kung fu. Many tried to topple him from this position of being the successor, but Yip Shui defeated them in martial arts contests and truly established his position. Later, Yip Shui heir to the Chow Gar Praying Mantis system taught his own family members. Later his son Yip Chee Keung came to England in 1974,. Where He taught many people, must notably, Nelson Chui, Steve Apple, Eric Tsang, Paul Whitrod and others. In 1987 Grand-master Yip Shui and Master Yip Chee Keung made a formal visit to the United Kingdom, and honored Paul Whitrod as the UK representative of the Chow Gar Praying Mantis kung fu. He now has students himself teaching this unique system carrying on the traditional methods that have been handed down over the centuries, and what made Chow Gar Praying Mantis kung fu a unique fighting martial arts system. FAMILY TREE from the 1990s.

Tony Willis is a student of Master Paul Whitrod who authorised him to teach the style.

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