Training the South Mantis Stances and

Footwork
Grandmaster Henry Poo Yee
Its techniques are deadly efficient. Movements are continuous and circular, soft and hard, except in
attack, where the middle knuckle (phoenix eye) of the index finger is used like a needle to pierce
the internal organs or nerve acu-points.

Practitioners of Southern Praying Mantis explain: "A punch with the fist produces an internal
bruise." Applied by a soft touch over a vital organ and the a powerful strike down into the organ
with a needle-like finger, the resulting damage may be stagnation of blood and air (chi), or as severe
as thrombosis (blood clotting) and internal hemorrhage.

Practitioners emulate the mantis fighting posture by extending their hands forward, with the elbows
slightly bent and tucked in close to protect the centerline – like a mantis.

A single movement may contain several of these actions: Tactical operations of the hand include
grappling, catching, holding, capturing, clasping with the fore-arms, slicing strikes with knuckles,
pressing with elbow, sudden quick punch with both hands, spearing with extended fingers, flicking
of the hands in quick jabs, exploding fingers from the fists, jerking the opponent's arm, slicing the
chopping with the edge of the palm, hooking and deflecting hands, elbow strikes, claw-like raking
actions, and poking with the back of the hands. Many of these movements are simultaneously
defensive and offensive.
The feet are separated by distance of about 12 inches, shoulder width apart, with the bent lead leg
supporting most of the weight, while the slightly curved rear leg acts as a strut. Body weight shifts
from heel to toe, toe to heel, back to front, front to back. This highly mobile posture facilitates the
strategic advance, lateral and spinning maneuvers essential to the style.

Sweeps are short and long, forward and backward and sideward. Kicks are high and low, including
snaps, thrusts, pushes, jumps, and stomps, through shin, knee, and groin kicks are emphasized of
efficiency.

Students master these basic maneuvers in the individual and two man forms, which incorporate all
the hand and foot techniques.

Jook Lum Kung Fu requires a lifetime training partner. The power of the system can only be
mastered as "live power", feeling the opponent. Eighteen dui-jong (two-man sets) known as Sup
Bot Mor Kiu, develop the ability to "feel", "adhere", or "redirect" power. Two of five men dui-jpng
training teaches the students hands to react instinctively ub free fighting. Hand-hand contact is used
to "sense" the opponent's strengths, weaknesses, power intentions, shifting of weight, and readiness
to attack. The mantis does not rely on brute strength to overcome his opponent, but "borrows" his
opponent's strength and turns it against him.

Several strategies may be employed when fighting: scaring, faking actions, tripping the opponent,
attacking from the left and right angles as well as from the front, adhering and discharging. Sight
and sound are also refined in order to understand and anticipate the opponent's movements.

The secrets of the original Shaolin Non Gong of Gum Jong Jon (Golden Bell) Tit Bo Yee (Iron
Shirt) are built around every traditional training form of the Jook Lum system for the purpose of
internal and external explosive inch powers. These hard chi kung formulas guide the breath to the
lower abdomen while lowering the center of gravity and deepening the root. They also develop the
system's deadly inch-powers in rolling waves. (It is said that the ging of the body can be produced
in waves similar to the appearance of a body seizure). The seven seeds (punches) of the system each
have 10 explosive ging powers. Each joint of the body can contain and release explosive power.
However, you must learn proper strength, balance, and feeling to develop the "lighting fast" hands
of Southern Mantis.

The basic three-power strike is a spring power (ging) action which comes from the shoulder, elbow,
and hands, allowing the student to strike three times without recoiling the arm. Consider this
analogy: A hard-style linear punch is like a single-shot rifle; you must recoil the arm as you would
reload the rifle. The three-power strike is like and automatic weapon with continuous firing. Though
deadly as self-defense, Mantis is also studied for health and spiritual development.
The following illustrations show the "Jong Tao" or trademark stance of Jook Lum Mantis. "Jong
Tao" is made up from the training of footwork (Ma Bo) combined with body posture (Sun Yen;
next issue). Without proper stance training it is unlikely you will attain the systems highest
potential. All power comes from the training of stance and footwork and is transmitted from the
ground through the legs and out the extremities as the body weight shifts from the heel to the back
of the foot and vice-versa. Explosive powers (ging) are trained in the hip, knee, and ankle and
bottom of the feet all, in one movement.

All this squatting and twisting has the purpose of training the whole body as a generator of power.
In the various gates, we twist and stretch the muscles and tendons and then contract and release
them, similar to a rubber band being twisted and released. This creates an explosive string power in
the whole body. This is known as "Som Bon Kiu" where the mid body takes a "half moon shape" as
a generator of upper body forward and rearward circular power of swallowing and spitting the
system's explosive inch powers, known as "Guen Han Ging".

For many generation, this rare and secret art been called "Hakka Shadow Boxing" and known for its
forceful power and speed.
Forming the Stance

2.1 Stand straight, place both hands akimbo gripping the waist for support.
2.2 Coordinating the knees with the weight on the heels, make a stance of front "V".

2.3 Keeping the flow of motion, sink down both knees to make a stance of back "/ \". Both heels
should be the width of your shoulders.

This is horse stance in the shape of forward "V" (bot) and back "/ \" (Chinese eight). This position
requires pulling your toes, knees and waist inward (refer to 1.1).

Preparing to Step

2.4 Pick up the forward (R) foot in a circular motion and place in a half step in front of the left foot.
Doing this will give you a shape between the "\ /" (bot) and the "ding". After you are able to form
this stance, try to make it comfortable in inhaling through the nose (yang) and exhaling though the
nose and mouth (yin) slowly in a relaxed way. Remember to pull both knees and elbows inward
when inhaling outward when exhaling (see 2.5 and 2.6).

This is the first step in learning the Jook Lum temple techniques of generating and swallowing and
spitting of body motion. During the breathing exercise, concentrate on making the body balanced
and comfortable (in the mantis stance).

Bom Bo Guan Ma: The Chop Step

This is the first footwork (bofat) exercise to the system of Jook Lum Temple Mantis. Keep the
position of leg and body posture as taught above at all times when doing this exercise.

2.7 Each step of walking the horse involves concentration of the mind (intention) to snap up the
forward knee (inhaling – internal). Continue the momentum by thrusting down the foot in a half
step (toe to heel) exhaling). The forward momentum will automatically pull the back foot forward
one half step behind the forward foot. (The back leg acts as a strut). This is called Bom Bo Ma.

Continue walking the horse straight ahead at least 10 times by raising the right knee up and
thrusting the right foot down the distance of half step. In 2-3 months of half an hour per day it will
become a second nature to your body.

2.8 This exercise can also be done by hanging both elbows in the upper position. Although this
requires more control it will give you more flexibility to form the upper body half moon shape.

Luo Bo Kuen Ma the Circular Step

2.9 The procedure of this exercise is basically the same as Bom Bo Gun Ma above except instead of
snapping up the knee, this time the knee (and foot) moves in an outward circular motion one half
step forward. The back foot automatically pulls up (as a strut) one half step behind the front foot.
The motion of right circular half step, back foot up half step in considered one complete step.
Continue walking the horse straight ahead at least 10 complete steps. The purpose of training the
footwork is to gain body control and balance wherein you may transfer the whole body weight
when swallowing (defensively) and spitting (offensively) the system's explosive inch powers (ging).
This training also allows one to apply the lower body inch powers (Guen Han Har Ging) of hip,
knee, ankle, feet and legs when infighting. Examples of this are shown in figures 2.10 – 2.16 on the
following pages.
Lower Body Training

2.10 Kum Yen Ma Bo – Swallowing – pull the knees together.

2.11 Spitting – Whole body inch power-knee out.

2.12 Scooping up an oncoming foot.

2.13 Knee up – Guk Sop.

2.14 Side Kick – Han Get.

All the above are basic Har Moon (lower gate) kungfu of Jook Lum Mantis and should be trained to
balance and connect with the upper body to issue whole body power. Again, it will take 2-3 months
of daily exercise to make this comfortable.

Sip Ma: Turning

After walking the horse several times forward (either Bom Bo Gun Ma or Luo Bo Kuen Ma), use
this turning method to about face and go forward again. The turning method is also important part
of Som Bon Kiu side gate 360 degree circular spinning and the Mui Far system circular powers.

3.1 From the right horse stance, relax your body and place the forward foot across the body with the
back of the front knee on the of the rear knee. All the weight of the body is on the left back leg.

The front foot is on the toes and the front leg is nearly empty weight and used only as a "door jam".

3.2 Shift the body weight to the front right leg (now the rear leg is empty and used as a door jam).
Bring the back left leg around and on top of the right leg (left knee on top of right knee) and shift
the body weight to the rear right leg. Now the left foot is on the toes and the left front leg is nearly
empty weight and used only as a "door jam".

3.3 Now shift the body weight to the front left foot and the rear leg acts only as an empty door jam.
Using the momentum of the cross step, pivot on the toes to the right, ending in a right horse stance.
3.4 You have made a complete about-face from your original right horse stance. Find your
centerline and repeat walking the horse several times forward, turn around (3.1 – 3.4) and walk the
horse forward again. Continue this training by walking the horse forward as many times as possible,
turn around, walk the horse forward, turn around...

A Letter from Sifu Henry Poo Yee

Since the summer of 1987, I have considered publishing a book as a training guide for practitioners
and an instruction for the general public on the rare kungfu known as Kwong Sai Province Jook
Lum (Bamboo Forst) Temple Tong Long Pai Southern Praying Mantis in honer of my Sifu. It is
with the request and blessing of my teacher, the 4 th generation Grandmaster, Sifu Lum Sang, I
have considered such.

By reason of conflict, the book never got off the ground before Sifu Lum Sang passed away in
November 1991.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet the Publisher of WuShu Kungfu magazine, Roger D.
Hagwood, himself a kungfu man for over two decades and a practitioner of Southern Praying
Mantis, and because of his interest and intention, he vowed to the memory of Sifu Lum Sang and to
me to help bring out this rare kungfu art for the benefit of the general public.

Over the past quarter of century, a new age of martial arts has been born. From Bruce Lee movies to
the creation of martial arts media, many new masters and grandmasters have appeared and with the
coming of each day, martial arts are more and more colorful. However, I fear most are performing
arts today, not the arts of fighting for survival. The kungfu of man-to-man fighting seems to be lost
in the fiction of this new age. How Sad!

In this article, I share my personal knowledge and experience of 37 years learning, practicing and
teaching. Knowledge and experience that was gained directly from my late teacher, Sifu Lum Sang.
My teaching is not to reflect on other or cause confusion to others. I teach what I know and what I
have practiced for 37 years. Any disciple of Sifu Lum Sang knows the depth of his kungfu. I don't
want to meet other practitioners of Southern Praying Mantis halfway or change my knowledge and
know-how of teaching. I will teach this traditional Jook Lum kungfu to a new generation, and I
hope my students and disciples will do the same to keep this rare and good kungfu alive for
generations to come.

Traditional Jook Lun Boxing system has been standing on its own roots, reputation and trademark
for close to 300 years. First the monastic monks of the Jook Lum temple in the 1800's, then famous
practitioners like Grandmaster Chung Yel Jung, Wong Yook Kong and Lum Sang in the 1900's,
kept the training secret, yet increased its popularity in south China as a deadly fighting art. Some
called it Mui Fa (Plum Flower) Mantis (after Monk Lee Siem See, nicknamed Red Plum Flower
Hand) and to others it was known as the secret Hakka Kuen. (The Hakka were a people who were
transplanted from northen China to the south and became known as "guest people").

Jook Lum kungfu truly emulates the image of the praying mantis movements with offensive and
defensive explosive power. It is a no-nonsense combative martial art. Our weight feels like the
weight of a buffalo, our strength like a tiger and speed like the quickness of a snake.

The Southern Mantis is suitable for men and women of any age and is an excellent way to gain
health, fitness and longevity. In a year of practicing, you can maximize your body with the
offensive and defensive movements of the mantis while learning basic self-defense. In fact, the
system's fighting philosophy is based on the anatomy of the mantis. Form the basic body posture
(Sun Yen) to the footwork (Ma Bo), all movement emulates a praying mantis. The hands and the
feet are one unit moving together. However, left side and right side (yin and yang) may act
independently, controlling and striking in different directions simultaneously, each side having
three mantis "legs" known as Som Bon Kui which combined with the Mui Far training known as
the combination of Lok Hop (six harmonies). It is exactly this which became a trademark of this
secret training. Of course, it will take a little practice and pain mixed with sweat to master it.

The following training guide is the curriculum of the Chinese Kungfu Academy of Southern
Praying Mantis, which is thought in my school headquarters and branches across the country. Some
branch instructors are students and some are disciples; however, all certified Branch Schools will
follow the traditional training as outlined for generations to come.

Form training without the explosive powers and the basic body control of the mantis are of limited
offense and defensive value. Like my teacher, Sifu Lum Sang said repeatedly in the then years
before his death, to train and practice Jook Lum kungfu without the strength and power of a mantis
controls are just the motions of fancy "flower hands" and will not produce good kungfu. In every
little movement of the mantis are hidden inch powers able to explode in any direction.

I have set up this training program of traditional Kwong Sai Jook Lum Temple Praying Mantis
Kungfu as a goal to every practitioner, student and disciple. Hopefully, some will be able to reach
the highest level of training in this rare and deadly kungfu to pass it on to the next generation to
come.