Why should I train Northern Praying Mantis?

Northern Praying Mantis develops explosive hand speed, intricate trapping ability, and deceptive footwork. Its Twelve Keywords tactical system gives practitioners a strategic framework for controlling and overwhelming opponents at close range.

What should I expect at my first Northern Praying Mantis class?

Wear comfortable loose clothing. Expect mantis-hook hand drills, basic forms (Beng Bu is often the first), and partner trapping exercises. Classes typically run 60-90 minutes.

Northern Praying Mantis — Martial Arts Guide

Q: What will I learn in Northern Praying Mantis?

Mantis-hook hand techniques for trapping and controlling. Rapid-fire combination striking at close range. Joint locks and takedowns integrated with strikes. Agile monkey-style footwork (Hou Bu) for evasive movement. The Twelve Keywords (principles) of Praying Mantis strategy. Multiple sub-style forms: Seven Star, Plum Blossom, Six Harmonies, Tai Chi Mantis.

Northern Praying Mantis

北螳螂拳

Striking🇨🇳 China

AI-generated content — may contain inaccuracies

Why train this

At a Glance

IntensityMedium

ContactMedium

Beginner FriendlyModerate

Belt SystemSash system (varies by school)

Origin🇨🇳 China

CompetitionWushu tournaments, Traditional kung fu competitions

Who It's For

TraditionalSelf-DefenseFitness

What You'll Learn

Mantis-hook hand techniques for trapping and controlling

Rapid-fire combination striking at close range

Joint locks and takedowns integrated with strikes

Agile monkey-style footwork (Hou Bu) for evasive movement

The Twelve Keywords (principles) of Praying Mantis strategy

Multiple sub-style forms: Seven Star, Plum Blossom, Six Harmonies, Tai Chi Mantis

Your First Class

Watch & Learn

Legends of Northern Praying Mantis

Huo Yuanjia (霍元甲)

Huo Yuanjia became a national hero in early 20th-century China by challenging foreign fighters who mocked Chinese martial arts as weak. He founded the Chin Woo Athletic Association to modernize kung fu training, and his legend — immortalized in films starring Jet Li — symbolizes Chinese martial pride.

1868–1910

Wang Lang (legendary founder)

Luo Guang Yu

Fan Xu Dong

Related Styles

Southern Praying Mantis

Southern Praying Mantis (南螳螂拳, Nán Táng Láng Quán) is a close-range Chinese martial art from the Hakka communities of Guangdong province. Despite sharing a name with Northern Praying Mantis, it is a completely different system — emphasizing short-range explosive power, sticky hands, and internal energy generation rather than the long-range hooking techniques of its northern counterpart.

Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin Kung Fu (少林功夫) encompasses the martial arts tradition of the Shaolin Si (少林寺, Shaolin Temple), combining Chan (禪, Zen) Buddhism with physical training. It includes hundreds of empty-hand — quan (拳) — and weapon forms — qi xie (器械) — conditioning methods, and qigong (氣功).

Kung Fu

Kung Fu — gongfu (功夫) — is a broad term for Chinese martial arts, or wushu (武術), encompassing hundreds of styles. Training typically includes forms — taolu (套路) — conditioning, and combat applications with an emphasis on philosophy and tradition.

Wushu

Modern Wushu (武術, "martial art") is the standardized, sport-oriented form of Chinese martial arts. Taolu (套路, forms) emphasize acrobatic, athletic performance, while sanda (散打, sparring) provides full-contact competition.

Wing Chun

Wing Chun (詠春拳) is a Southern Chinese martial art emphasizing close-range combat, simultaneous defense and attack, and economy of motion. Popularized globally by Ip Man and Bruce Lee, it uses centerline theory and sensitivity training — Chi Sau (黐手, sticky hands).

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