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The Double Sealing of the
Mantis
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Shifu Shi Zhengzhong is shown here
performing mantis double seals. Of the
double sealing of mantis there are several
varieties. This one includes a twist of the
body. The feet are on one line while the
hands are on another line. From studying
with Zhang Dekui of Mimen Mantis. |
Wei
Xiaotang of Eight Step Mantis
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Master Wei performs double seal of mantis at
the end of his first zhai yao form. Eight
Step Mantis keeps the hands spread far apart
for this move. |
Double
Seal in Plum Flower Road
Another variation of this
move is called mantis double seals down. The
difference in name is with the addition of the
character 'xia' or 'down' after the four characters
'tang lang shuang feng' - 'mantis double seals.'
This version of double sealing is found in several
forms of the Plum Flower School of Mantis Boxing
such as the well known form Plum Flower Road.
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Kevin Brazier performs mantis
double seals down. To get here you
start facing the other way then leap high
into the air turning as you land. |
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On the right is Li Kunshan's
calligraphy from his Plum Flower
Road manuscript. This
move is named after the
mantis, but to see it you might
think that it is the movement of the leaping monkey. It has been said that the
footwork of mantis boxing is patterned after
the monkey and this movement is an excellent
example of that. The grasping method of this
move is strictly that of the mantis.
The jump of this move
starts from the outer gate of the opponent
and crosses directly across his center line
for the purpose of upsetting his balance and
causing him to topple. |
Mantis double seals down is a single leap applied
the moment the opponent enters our gate, but we
have broken them down step by step to show the grab
and angles of the jump.
Kevin Topples Paul
Paul applies the yang zhang to my neck.
As he comes in I first secure his wrist with my right
hand followed by controlling his elbow with my right hand or
forearm.
In this jump the right leg comes up first.
In practice once one leg comes up and I leap so
that both feet come down as in the following picture
below. To show angles clearly I have added this
picture to show the angle and location of where the
jump is headed. Notice how I am
now standing in front of him.
I land in front of him in the minor hill climbing
stance.
 I
can either land close to him or far away from him.
In this picture I have landed so far away that he
topples.
From the first to the last picture this sequence is done as a
single leap.
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From Double Seal to Left Seal
Double seal is an excellent way to gain control of
your opponent so that you can perform other moves of
attack on him. In Plum Flower Road the following
attacking move is called left seal right outer
forearm elbow. Striking with the outside of the forearm is called
bi zhou. Left Seal Right Bi Zhou
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Kevin Brazier performs left
seal right outer forearm elbow. |
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The calligraphy from the following
move as written by Li Kunshan is shown at
right.
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Shifu teaches left seal right bi
zhou while in Brazil. |
Within the Peng Lai school this posture
is also used for training the minor hill
climbing stance in the routine ba da ma bu-eight
great horse stances. |
Applying the Right Forearm
 Landing
close to Paul. I step behind him with my
left leg and strike forward with my left hand to
his eyes. In the photo he has blocked his face and I
grab and pull his hand.
My right hand no longer needs to control him and it
is free to strike the groin. Proper application of
this technique makes it easier to finish off the
opponent.
Although Paul is in a tangle it is easy for him to
step out and counter attack. That suits Plum Flower
Road just fine. |
The above moves work to strike and topple him with
my left knee and leg. That is the way Mantis
Boxing works. If one side doesn't work the attack
naturally moves to the other side. Left, right, high
or low[
For more on bi zhou review my
article
Bi
Zhou-The Outer Forearm Elbow
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