The Complete Guide to Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu

The book is one of few books written and able to find on the subject of the praying mantis systems. The reader is given a basic overview of the art with some illustrations. I would reccomend it as a supplemental source of knowledge.

After going through this book, I would say its a pseudo book of Northern Praying Mantis which is not establishing its Mantis core factors solely on the Praying Mantis system. The Author has a strong foundation on Tai Chi Chuan and it overtakes the principles of the praying mantis system. He is unable to describe a technique in Mantis, however because of this lack of knowledge he equates it to Tai Chi, although this is often done when a person is familiar with multiple Chinese and/or other martial arts styles. It can be confusing to someone new to Chinese martial arts whom might be thinking from reading this book that Praying Mantis and Tai Chi are the one and the same. They are not, the applications are different as well as the motion, spirit, attitude and discharging of the techniques. Thus, if anything this is an intermediate book relating to the generalization of the Northern Praying Mantis system. I would suggest a better book for such people would be The Praying Mantis System Vol 1. By James Wong or Seven Star Praying mantis by Leung Ting. I studied 7 Star Praying Mantis under Si-fu John Chiu for a number of years and I am also a practioner of the Hung Gar and White Crane systems. I am also familiar with various other styles of MA as I trained others while I was in the United States Navy in VA.

As someone who has been in the martial arts since 1968, who has won championships and taught world class fighters and champions (both traditional and kickboxing) and, who has studied four branches of Praying Mantis Kung Fu (been co-president of a North American Mantis Kung Fu association and Canadian rep for another Mantis Kung Fu association out of China) all I can say is, don't waste your money on this book. I really don't like to speak ill of another martial artist or their work but I also would not want someone new to this art to think this book represents good Praying Mantis Kung Fu. The fact is, when it comes to martial arts books, this has to be the saddest book I have ever seen. The information is lacking and the pictures show very poor martial arts stances and postures. If the author is good at martial arts, and he may be, it sure does not come across in the book. If you are a beginner at martial arts or Praying Mantis Kung Fu specifically, then look elsewhere for information. If you are a seasoned martial artist, you will feel really duped, once you see this book, if you buy it.... that is how I felt.

This book is very good for beginners to this style. It has a clear, concise and above all -accurate- history that focuses more on fact than mythology; the principles of the style are all laid out, the warm-ups and their names so you can find the complete series elsewhere, the stances and why you should do them, the footwork methods and how they tail into the stances, as well as the kicking techniques. The book included the hand positions, but lacked the striking techniques, so I couldn't consider this a -complete- guide, but I definately recommend it for beginners in Northern Mantis Kung Fu and those who just like to read about it.There were a couple of formatting problems - some of the stances weren't completely explained and some names were used that weren't referenced anywhere in the book, but you could still figure out what to do from the pictures. About the usual quality for martial arts instruction books, though.-------------------------------So, looking back on this book a while after purchasing it, I can make a definite remark. The exercises are bogus. If you follow them as instructed, you -will- hurt yourself. Possibly quite a bit. I would recommend this more as a curiosity item than an actual training guide.

Very informational book A's I'm currently studying N. Mantis Kung Fu. Back to basics. Good info. My current instructor has used book in curriculum.

More like an INCOMPLETE GUIDE to Lo Han. This guy doesn't even have a form in the book. At first glance i can tell this was probly a waste. Hopefully the intro and history is good.

Great Mantis book for the price. Contains many exercises and stances that are very helpful for a budding Mantis stylist. The footwork section is a little confusing but decipherable. This book does not contain any info on strikes, although if you master all the stances and perform the very useful exercises you'll be off to a very good start with Mantis or Chinese martial arts in general.

what I would have like to have seen is a more in depth look at say maybe the basic forms of the northern mantis systems or perhaps the southern mantis system still all in all a very good read

Some of the history was interesting and I like the cover....The book looks at the very basics.... The stances shown in the photos look incorrect.

Pure quality of pics. Some history ok, but not suitable for practice. And low content for the price. Don't bother.

J'ai adoré ce livre. J'aime travailler en solo et j'aime les livres. Étant doublement attiré par le TaiChi Chuan et par le Kung fu de la mante religieuse, j'ai trouvé ce compromis, une synthèse entre les deux. C'est clair, facile et les techniques sont très belles. Le tour d'horizon est assez complet. Pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas le Tai Chi toutefois, il vaudrait mieux se munir d'un livre de référence car les renvoies aux différents mouvements de tai Chi sont nombreux et le néophyte s'y perdra. Autrement, un livre très bien fait.

The book offers a nice reading about the Northern Style of Praying Mantis Kung Fu. I'm a Brazilian guy and disciple of Gran Master Yuen Man Kai, Sifu Eduardo Rodrigues e Sihing Vladimir Naziel. The learning becomes more effective by practicing with who knows the applications. This kind of martial art requires intensive practice to apply the forms. So, in general, to the martial arts lovers is a nice reading.

Provideds invaluable description and purposeful training techniques and forms for improving ones kung fu

Basical movment and exercises of Tang lang

good read .

A good book with a few incorrect mistakes, Does not cover any of the complete forms.

The most complete book of martial arts and culture I have read. Kung Fu Praying Mantis is the best of

Ridiculous piece of work - although strengthening ones hands and fingers for fiddling around is always to be applauded.

very happy with purchase