Northern Praying Mantis
北螳螂拳
Northern Praying Mantis (北螳螂拳, Běi Táng Láng Quán) is one of the most prominent kung fu styles from Shandong province, China. Attributed to the legendary Wang Lang, who combined insect-inspired upper body techniques with agile monkey footwork, it is a complete fighting system known for rapid, continuous attacks.
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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.
At a Glance
Who It's For
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
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.
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.
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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