PRAYING MANTIS KUNG FU

Expanded Meanings and Concepts

mantis hook, also described as 'false hand', a sideways push following contact with an opponent's attack

lou

pluck, tug, disrupt rooting, grasp

following a hook-grapple, a plucking movement accompanies any strike/punch
note: ou-lou-t'sai is a linked series of movements

to hang something up from lower to upper point ("hanging arm"), often described as a simultaneous upward block and straight punch technique, control of the centre-line

mantis hook when not followed by a pluck,
'go forward after intercept' with a sense of keenness and activity, trapping skills, also described as an 'intercept-hand'

the difficult skill of contacting an attack, intimately connected with tiao

a forceful fist chopping down heavily, as with the intent of a mountain collapsing, backfist strike

to rapidly 'advance and recede' are skills which are built into this concept, to 'dodge', to escape and avoid attack, the use of footwork and body position to avoid being struck

grasp, pinch, refuse to let go or be dislodged, control, applying a pressure point attack with fingertips, stick, often described as a linked movement 'chan-nien' 'contact-cling'

to get a close attack with the opponent, linked with kao, short-range technique, close the distance while your opponent attacks and move in on them while obtaining contact or trapping their attack

lean, disrupt balance and throw, close-quarters movements, the effective use of elbow strikes and arm breaks along with throwing techniques over short distances, the application of 'push-hands' techniques of sensitivity to the opponent's bodyweight coupled with the use of supple-linked body movements

'straight forward', the act of launching a fierce attack without fear, the skill of vehemence, to strike in the instant before your opponent attacks

this skill is principally applied for a quick movement in a close contact. It is personified by the skillful leg-kicking techniques contained within the style, also described as a 'hop-kick'

to punch diagonally from below to above, exemplified by the trap-uppercut technique

to contact an opponent's attack and simultaneously adjust body position to avoid the attack and provide an opportunity for an angled counter-attack, as exemplified by the first movement of the crushing-step form beng bu

another interpretation of tiao is to mean 'ward-off' and described as 'to sprout from below', embodied by movements of fist from low-to-high, typically used as a defence for a high punch, typically followed by a lower region attack, within the forms often accompanied by a palm-check to the forearm of the warding arm.

to close with an attack from the inside to the outside, the use of a circular movement with the fingertips of a palm-hand position followed by a mantis hand grasping attack.

a round or circular strike at opponent's unguarded regions, for example a swing-hammerfist strike, or a hook-punch, often employed with the 'check-hand'

an extremely powerful downward chop with the forearm or hammerfist from the outside-to-inside angle, for example 'hammerfist' from an upward block (kwa)

the skill of using hand traps to prevent an opponent's hand which has grasped one's arm to escape, can also be used to injure the attacker's hand while effecting an escape from the trap, often used in conjunction with an elbow attack which may be followed by a backfist

the use of a surprise attack to opponent's unguarded regions, as described by the palm-trap and simultaneous downward press/hook and palm counter-strike techniques

the use of skillful inside trapping techniques to slip between an opponent's arms for an attack to opponent's unguarded areas, as in the upward hand-trap followed by a low punch technique in a horse-stance

this technique involves the use of circular movement of the arms which can be used in either long or short ranges to effect either a block or an attack, 'wheel-strikes'
these 'chariot wheel' movements may be large or small, and applied in both forward or reverse directions.

a close-range fierce technique which employs a pull-punch type of movement, exemplified by the 'water-wheel' palm striking techniques

the use of a pressing-hand, or hand-bumping to break opponent's balance and topple them, exemplified by the cross-arm trap throw

a unique skill of reversing an opponent's attack and weakening their stance while attacking their joints, for example with a small circular trapping movements, also described as shuai jiao

the characteristic grasping press attack with two hands on opponent's arm so as to effect pressure on their elbow, press down attack on the elbow joint can be used to control opponent's balance and to throw them with a simultaneous elbow break, exemplified in the plum blossom forms

upward leg-hanging movement which is typically a lower-region defence employed while attacking high, 'hanging leg', also acts as a knee attack during certain movements

an elastic skill of expanding and contracting the fingers to the front and back, used to separate and strike as a continuous motion, uses circular patterns and waist-power

a whole range of movements which succeed in dislodging the opponent's control using circular movements, hand-traps, and grasp-neutralizing escapes

a skillful set of techniques which are comprised of upward leg-kicking methods simultaneously applied with mantis-hand traps and upper area strikes, eg: flick-kicks, upward leg-sweep throws

an elastic skill of expanding and contracting the fingers to the front and back, used to separate and strike as a continuous motion, uses circular patterns and waist-power