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Northern Praying Mantis 螳螂拳 Tángláng quán
ChinaEast AsiaStrikingNorthern ChineseShaolin legend
Legend says Wang Lang combined mantis hooking hands with monkey footwork after visiting Shaolin. Branches: Seven Star, Plum Blossom, Six Harmony, Taiji Mantis.
Key characteristics
- Mantis hook (diao shou)
- Fast combinations, 12 keywords
- Branches: Qixing, Meihua, Liuhe, Taiji
Forms & curriculum
- Beng Bu
- Lan Jie
- Bai Yuan Tou Tao
What training looks like
Classes typically combine stances and footwork (basics), conditioning, solo forms (taolu, kata or hyung) and partner drills. Sparring is introduced gradually, usually with protective gear.
Questions to ask a school
- How is sparring introduced and supervised?
- What do a beginner's first three months look like?
- Is there a family, health or seniors class?
- How are injuries prevented?
Quick facts
| Origin | China |
|---|---|
| Era / founder | Late Ming / early Qing – attributed to Wang Lang (Shandong) |
| Family | Northern Chinese |
| Type | Striking |
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