Impressions of training in Hakka Mantis Kung Fu in China

 by Sean W. Robinson:

I have been training in China for 3 years with Sifu Roger D Hagood (RDH).First in Huizhou and now in Pingshan Town and it is useful to begin this blog with a perspective of my feelings and impressions of training Hakka Mantis, in Guangdong China, the birthplace of Southern Mantis.

Well, RDH is first Kwongsai Jook Lum Temple Mantis and second, Chu Gar Mantis both by ceremony and transmission, with experience of Iron Ox Mantis in China. He is firmly established as one of the Mantis Pai here in China.

RDH in typical Mantis Posture

I have had a reasonable amount of experience in martial arts with various degree and dan grades having trained in UK.China, India and Malaysia. But RDH, since his twenties made it goal to become Mantis. In my experience, he has done it. In blog 3, I will relate why I believe this, and the attributes of a ‘Mantis Boxer,’ RDH has manifested and attained. RDH has had a varied career in Mantis and martial arts generally. He is also a publisher of books and magazines, actively researching Hakka Mantis. Currently, he is working hard to disseminate authentic Hakka mantis to the wider public via books and multi- media courses.

In practice, the training with RDH is structured, systematic and unadulterated. By unadulterated, I mean that the principles and attributes of Southern Mantis are strictly adhered to without adding techniques and principles from other arts. The Chinese martial arts are very varied in structure, principles, and application. Therefore, trying to mix them with Mantis can result in chop suey Kung Fu, where the core of the art is lost since there are no real standards and without standards there is no art. Of course, some students here in China also train in different arts and instructors without a problem but they tend to be peripheral to both the art and the teacher.

In daily training, the skills are literally built from the floor up, with walking the horse being considered beneficial at all stages of learning, to develop a strong, stable and mobile base. There is constant stress and effort in trying to mold and change into the Mantis body shape: rounding the back and extending the hands whilst holding the root: to engage the opponent early and at a distance. It can be a real exercise in diligence and patience as the results of hard training begin to accumulate slowly but surely. Unfortunately, there are no secrets or magic with ‘short cuts leading to shortcomings.’

Contrary to a lot of Mantis practiced currently in the west, relaxation is stressed so as to develop a ‘feeling hand’ allowing the Mantis player to sense and control the opponent’s attack: to ‘eat or cheat his power’ with superior technique. Relaxing fully also allows the development of the internal aspect of Mantis where power comes not through physical strength but rather through the Mantis shape and drawing the power from the earth with the horse stance.

There is a comprehensive syllabus of single man forms in the three Hakka Mantis Pai: Kwongsai, Chu and Iron Ox Mantis Boxing. The different Pai’s have much in common, although each Pai has a distinctive flavor which I will discuss in a later blog. But without the two man training, Mantis is just ‘shadow boxing’. The constant feeding of hands by a partner allows the instinctive, dynamic fluid development of both the defensive and offensive hands so that they become fully functional. ‘Hard dead power’ may feel satisfying as bone clashes against bone from the standpoint of conditioning and increased bone density. But in reality, the opponent is unpredictable, and is unlikely to stand still. With dead power it virtually impossible to react quickly enough to the attacker. If you can only see the attack rather than feel it then your reaction will probably be too slow and you will be hit.

The principle and attributes finally come together in the two man forms such as Loose Hands and Sam Bo Gin. Each of these forms has core principles, which can be drawn out through repetition. Again I will discuss these in later blogs. So in the future, this blog will be regularly updated with news, publications and technical information regarding Southern Mantis.