Tang Lang Quan
The Tang Lang Quan ( Chinese 螳螂拳 , Pinyin Tanglang quán , W.-G. Tang Lang Chuan , Cantonese Tong Long Kuen - " praying mantises - Kung Fu ") is a popular Chinese martial arts style . According to legend, the style was founded by a monk named Wang Lang .
The Tang Lang Quan from Laiyang in the province of Shandong has been in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the People's Republic of China was added (no. 805).
Creation legend
According to a legend by Wang Lang, from Shantung Province , the "style of the praying mantis" was created in the period between the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) in the famous Shaolin Monastery in China , Province Henan developed.
Wang Lang was a skilled fighter and skilled in 17 styles of kung fu. He traveled to the Shaolin Monastery to test his fighting skills. Although he trained hard, he could not defeat the monks of the Shaolin monastery. Wang Lang withdrew to a nearby forest. While walking there, he observed a fight between a praying mantis and a cicada . The praying mantis managed to defeat the cicada despite being much smaller in size. Wang Lang was impressed. He caught the praying mantis to study its movements. From this he developed the hand techniques of the style. In his style, he adopted the most effective techniques from 17 other Kung Fu styles. In order to do justice to the quick hand movements, Wang Lang decided to adopt the foot techniques from the so-called monkey style . After he had trained and internalized his style, Wang Lang returned to the monastery. He managed to defeat a large number of the monks in a friendly tournament. The abbot of the monastery was very enthusiastic.
There are different versions of the legend, but they always have the same essence: The observation of the fight between the cicada and the praying mantis and the subsequent processing in a new style. The Shaolin monastery is also always mentioned: Sometimes Wang Lang is portrayed as a pure fighter, sometimes as a (Shaolin) monk. Partly it is about a conflict with a Sihing (a high school student), partly about competing in a friendly tournament. Sometimes Wang Lang defeats one, a large number or all of the monks. Wang Lang is also often referred to as the monk of the monastery, but this is not correct.
A statue in honor of Wang Lang and a memorial for the restoration of Tang Lang Quan are located in Lao Shan .
distribution
From the 17th century onwards, the style spread rapidly in China. The praying mantis style was mainly practiced in northern China; in the south the style was taught later. From Hong Kong the style made its way to Europe and the USA.
Today the style enjoys great popularity; There are schools around the world that teach the various styles of the praying mantis style. Not only among Chinese martial artists, the praying mantis style is considered to be one of the most aggressive Chinese styles.
Development of style
Over time, the style of the praying mantis has evolved into different styles. This results in today's classification of the style:
Main styles:
- Qi Xing Tang Lang Quan : Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu ( Chinese 七星 螳螂拳 , Cantonese Chat Sing Tong Long Kuen )
- Mei Hua Tang Lang Quan : Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Kung Fu ( Chinese 梅花 螳螂拳 , Cantonese Mui Fa Tong Long Kuen )
- Liu He Tang Lang Quan : 6-Harmony Praying Mantis Kung Fu ( Chinese 六和 螳螂拳 , Cantonese Lok Hup Tong Long Kuen )
- Ba Bu Tang Lang Quan : 8-Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu ( Chinese 八 步 螳螂拳 , Cantonese Baat Bou Tong Long Kuen )
There are also other, less known sub-styles:
- Chang Quan Tang Lang
- Baji Tang Lang
- Guang Ban Tang Lang
- Mi Men Tang Lang
- Tong bei Tang Lang
- Taiji Tang Lang
- Taiji Meihua Tang Lang
- Shenji Tang Lang
- Wah Lum Tang Lang
- Yuan Yang Tang Lang
The reasons for the emergence of the different styles are varied. Often there is a generation change with new emphases in the principles of style conveyed. However, certain principles of Tang Lang Quan can be found in all sub-styles. See also training .
The advancement of the sub-styles has not stopped even today. In China as well as in Europe and especially in the USA there are many deviations and “newly” created sub-styles whose differences to the main styles mentioned are often only marginal.
training
In addition to the generally known exercise contents in martial arts and martial arts (such as strength, endurance, balance training, gymnastics, applications and combat training, etc.), the principles and methods that occur in all sub-styles are particularly decisive for Tang Lang Quan. If terms such as Shenfa (body use), Bufa (footwork), Quanfa (hand techniques), Tuifa (kicking techniques), Yongfa (applications) can be found in all traditional Kung Fu styles, the type of execution and application in the individual styles is of course different . In Tang Lang Quan there is a canon of traditional practice methods and handed-down principles such as:
- Ba Shi - the eight positions
- Ba Zhou - the eight elbows
- Ba Gang - the eight hard methods
- Shi Er Rou - the twelve soft methods
- Ba Duan / Qi Chang - the eight short and seven long techniques
- Shi Er Zi Jue - the twelve key words
- Wu Nei Xing - the five inner elements
- Wu Wai Xing - the five outer elements
The designs of the techniques are open and leave a lot of space to convey your own style. However, the actual principles behind the techniques are always the same.
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Paul Eng: Praying Mantis Kung Fu: Spear Hand. California 1984, ISBN 0918869013 .
- ↑ a b Taichi Mantis Volley Catch Boxing 1985 Tse Ming Wing & Yan Sang, Hong Kong. Yih Mei Book Co.
- ↑ a b Chinese Praying Mantis oxing Book II 1981 HC Chao, Republic of China Unitrade Company, Taipei
- ^ Mantis Boxing, 1998 Zhang Yuping, Beijing ISBN 7-119-01803-5
- ↑ http://mantiscave.110mb.com/
- ↑ Leung Ting: Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Hong Kong 1980, ISBN 962-7284-11-4 .