Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu

The early morning mist was clearing in the temple courtyard. The abbot of the temple stood ready. The young man across the way had defeated all of his fighting monks and there was a debt to pay. Wang Lang was a seasoned fighter before he fought the temple monks but here was a man the like of whose skill he had yet to encounter. Wang attacked the abbot and was quickly repelled. Two more skirmishes ensued and Wang was quickly and soundly defeated. Humbled but unbowed he retreated to the woods just beyond the temple grounds to contemplate his defeat and try to understand why the abbot was so good.

In the woods young Wang lay down on a mossy knoll. Then he heard a small commotion next to him and was surprised to see a white praying mantis locked in mortal combat with a locust. Using its powerful forelegs and lighting-like speed, the mantis quickly defeated and consumed the larger insect.

Wang captured the victorious mantis and studied its attack and defense methods. He'd poke it with a small stick and see how it reacted. From these actions he developed a new style of fighting strategy. He named his method after the small insect and thus was formed Tanglangquan Men- the gate of the praying mantis fist.

Wang returned to the temple in Lao Shan an once more faced the abbot. This time he was successful in his challenge and was invited by the abbot to remain so that he and Wang might further refine the art of Praying Mantis kung fu. They observed the elusive footwork of the monkeys in the forest and added that to the system. The abbot then suggested movements and techniques from the seventeen fighting systems he was familiar with. Wang then brought the system to the famed temple at Shaolin (Young Forest) where it was taught in secret to the temple monks.