Posted by Royal Dragon on October 20, 2002 at 08:47:47:
In Reply to: Re: Perhaps you didn't understand posted by FERAL EXCRETIONS on October 19, 2002 at 20:36:03:
'I am mentioning this because of a movie a just watched. Thundering Mantis. It gave me some ideas. So, what I did was pulled some of the movement from the movie and put together a small routine. Which I practiced until it became familiar. Then I applied the style on a couple of my sparring partners. They did not know how to handle the movements. They kept saying they couldn't block the attacks. I actually had to step back a see what the difference was.'
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He he he, and that was just off of a movie, imagine what learning REAL North Mantis is going to be like!!!!
>>I believe the style of movement allows me to get into close quarters with my opponent and literally pick them apart. I can see getting into exact points with the movements. It feels so natural for me. Definetly an extension to what I already have as an arsenal of movements.
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Tai Tzu has a Mantis division (I have video of on of the sets). It is a bit different that the standard Northern Mantis, but it is quite like what you said about being able to 'Pick' them apart. It uses similar concepts as the regular Tai tzu, but with it's own expression and techniques.
>>Just to get a couple of forms from them to see if my natural body mechanics can handle the structure of the style
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What you should do, is make a consorted effort to master the body mechanics of the style. The body structure is quite different that Chung Moo. In fact all Chinese arts are like this. It is a VASTY superior structure, and would improve your abilities quite a bit. Since all traditional Chinese styles use this, it would be good to master it first, and then work on more advanced stuff.
I sugjest you take a step by step corse of study in the Mantis, since you seem to have an aptitude for it already. Don't just pick and choose a few forms here and there. You will miss the depth of the art entirely.
If you are still in the 'Dabbleing' stage, I sugjest you get some books, or video's on North Mantis. I have some at the store, go to my site at www.royaldragonusa.net and click on the store banner, and then on the books link in the store and you will find some good ones. I personally have the one's from Leung Ting in my library, and you can find some good combat techniques from the system in that book. I'm not sure about the quality of the videos, but there is quite a bit of someone's North mantis system there. It is MORE than enough to keep you busy for YEARS.
If you like, we could meet up in Westmont and I could pass the elements of Kung Fu you won't get in the video. I think I would need to charge about 12.50 an hour, but I could work some free intro classes in for you if you like or maybe even get you in under a 'training partner' status, which would allow you free use of the facilties so long as I am there and we are working together as equals as opposed to a teacher student relationship. Once You have the basics down, you could appliy the structure and fundementals to the forms and self defence from the video's and books till you ready to seek instruction under a live teacher.
*; =qq(