Year of the Monkey

Well, now it is the Spring Festival here in China and the New Year as being welcomed by families throughout China. The year of the Monkey, has replaced the year of  the sheep. I have returned to Qingdao the home town of my wife's family to celebrate and relax.

Qingdao is well-known for its beer and seafood. Occupied by both the Japanese and the Germans, it is interesting for its European architecture and for a Mantis practitioner, Qingdao is also of interest as a center of Northern Mantis.

I briefly trained in tàijí tángláng quán, when I first came to Qingdao many years ago and met my wife. Training was carried on outside and the group was open and friendly and the transmission authentic and of a high standard. Although both Southern and Northern Mantis are inspired by the attributes of the Mantis: they look different in many ways, but in a technical comparison it can be seen that there are also common principles.

Despite the differences between the Southern and Northern branches, it is very obvious when Mantis is performed by an experienced player from an authentic lineage. Here is a good example performed by Sifu Lee a Kwongsai Mantis teacher in Hong Kong.

There are some technical points that area worth paying attention to:

1. The horse is stable and despite quick pace of the form he never becomes separated from his root.

2. The eyes are bright and alert and follow his targeting: his attacks have meaning and purpose.

3. Even though his movements are brisk the different techniques can be clearly seen: a common fault in the desire for speed is that the player merely flicks his hands in attack and defense.

4. The rounded posture: allowing for greater reach and extension