Thanks for posting this video of Al Cheng. I recall reading about him in an episode of "Inside Kung Fu" many moons ago...

I think I do understand you and have respect for your years of practice and dedication. I too practice martial arts (not mantis but 5 animal kung fu) so I appreciate what you are saying. My only point was to say that this particular clip is meant to demonstrate a form to someone who does not know it and may not have a good teacher nearby. I am sure that this particular person in the video performs this form properly in individual practice. Keep up your good work and practice! God bless...Peace

This the great master Al Cheng.He is a disciple of Grandmaster Wong Hon Fun. My friend has this video series. It is a definitive instruction on the great 7 Star Mantis system.If I hadn't found Eagle Claw Kung Fu I would have enjoyed Tang Lang.

Thank you for posting this. His movement are extremely clear, discrete, and at an excellent reference pace. I'm about 700 miles from my sifu so this is excellent for brushing up.

Respond to this video... This is Al Cheng, the teacher of Jon Funk out of Vancouver Canada. If someone thinks his Praying Mantis is wrong, meet him face to face and share your concern. Most internet criticism is laughable....

It's been three plus years since I've done that form, but it was a fun one to do.

@topshonuff by the way, Bruce Lee didnt emphasize on high kicks when he was less experienced mainly because he studied Wing Chun. A linear style of kung fu that emphasizes on mid to low level kicks to begin with.

This is a good vid, whoever is complaining about his stances needs to realize that this video is more to give you some info about Mantis. Not focussing on the stances. I studied mantis style for 2.5 yrs and trust me, we had to hold deep stances just like anyone else. There are about a million reasons why everyone should train deep stances, but i wouldn't even try it in a fight.

This is the won hon fun lineage/lo kwank yuk 7-star mantis version. It is the first mantis form and the only one that wang lang ever created. It contains all the 12 character principles that comprise the style. Take it, train it, then learn how to use it and shadowbox with it. Then you can use it like a boxer and train more like a fighter.

Thank you AlCheng for teaching me from 1986till your studio closed in 92. I enjoyed the no belt no bullshit sytem that you emphasized.

Yes this is Al Cheng. We say low stance for beginners and high stance for experts.

Interesting. I've never heard that before, but that's very interesting. I know that many Northern styles tend to stand taller than the kungfu of the Southern regions. And Preying Mantis, especially is effective with speed. I think Al Cheng is terrific in this video.

yes, but i have to say i pratice tang lang qi xing from 14 years. My master is zhong liang bao and his master was lin jin shang if you read tang lang history you can see the "direct line" of style.with this i can't want say my master is the only good, there is lam tong chue master is really strong. aniway i see when the people pratice form if there is the "application" intencion in they moves. sorry for my english i can't explain good my point of view but am sure you can understand

You do make a good point, however it looks to me that this form is being done to demonstrate and teach. Many teachers demonstrate forms this way in order to teach them, once the movements are learned, the "flow" of the form can then be added. Thank you for your input. God bless...Peace

I don't think so Brad. I am trying to get my friend to perserve it to dvd. The company that produced them is out of business I think. If I hear anything I'll post it. Take care.

@AssassinGhost Ok, Old school training.. The whole reasoning of a Deep Stance is to build your legs, have better balance, build power and better posture.. The Old school teachers didn't jump around and do Matrix kicks.. Even Bruce Lee didn't believe in kicking at the head till he met Chuck Norris.. Now, if this is an "old Form" it should be slower and deeper stance.. "To learn more knowlege you must empty your cup"..

yes i agree with you but in the mantis style one of principal carateristic is move all body all togheter for applicate power and technic...and him move like karate.

I have to disagree with this statement. Although many forms are more of a dance, most good martial art forms are full of great applications. The biggest problem is that there are not too many teachers that can teach the applications well. If you train and know what you are doing, forms like this are a great resource for fighting ability.

hi i just put this as an example, not that i'm into his kind of kungfu or that i think it is highly skilled ;-)

@topshonuff if you really think that, then you completely missed the point of kung fu as a whole. First of, not all kung fu is fluent like tai chi. In fact, alot of people find that tang lang quan (praying mantis) look very much awkward to look at and can be mistaken for being useless in combat. However, understanding the concepts of tang lang quan would actually create less movement and less "wasted space".

@AssassinGhost @AssassinGhost Ok, Old school training.. The whole reasoning of a Deep Stance is to build your legs, have better balance, build power and better posture.. The Old school teachers didn't jump around and do Matrix kicks.. Even Bruce Lee didn't believe in kicking at the head till he met Chuck Norris.. Now, if this is an "old Form" it should be slower and deeper stance.. "To learn more knowledge you must empty your cup"..

The reason of the forms cause to hide some of the teachings in them.. It was to train you and not to forget your skills.. Most of techniques weren't written down but passed down to families or students.. In old Japan was illegal to know self defense.. So they train in secrets and to hide it.. To rank up you must know the forms, it's a requirement.. If you look around you'll see a video of a real master with low stance and continues smooth movement instead of marching..

This style doesn't emphasise low stances like in Huang Gar or things like that. But more importantly, wasted movements?? Most Kung fu styles give you an arsenal of brilliant moves. Don't hate the style, all styles are good, it's the practitioner who you must judge

yeah I grabbed a few of this vids for the ones I aws interested in.. and then one day the web site just didn't exist anymore..

Ok, your right.. Not Japan.. I guess It's like Music, everybody hears but interprets it differently. Took Tae Kwon Do, Karate and Kung Fu.. Maybe I was just being Bias.. If I did this same Form, it would be slower and deeper stance. Probably cause my instructors were old. A younger teacher probably go faster.. 1st rule of Martial Arts is to Humble yourself.. Good day & Thank you for posting the video.

I picked-up the 7-Star Mantis form "Praying mantis Exits Cave" some years ago from a Gung Fu brother of mine and continue to practice it along with my other training. This is Al Cheng; I wouldn't be correcting his mantis unless yours is of a higher caliber (highly unlikely as Cheng is a former full-contact champion of Hong Kong). Check my channel and subscribe. Thanks.

are you threatening me?

nice from Italy

@AssassinGhost I took Karate, Tae Kwon Do, White Crane, Ninjitsu, Jui-Jitsu, Kendo, and Kenpo.. There are some arts who emphasis more in forms.. But, like I said before, Forms is like Music.. Everybody listen and hears different things.. It's how you wanna interpet.. I usually enjoy doing Forms .. But Most of the forms I've seen is what I wrote needs to be improved.. But that's just me..

@topshonuff I teach Praying Mantis, in this type of 7 Star Praying Mantis, most of the practitioners use a high stance. E-mail Jon Funk, who is an expert in Praying Mantis, he will agree...

wow, i know that exact mantis form...

al cheng! my first sifu.

Heeyyy! I study under Sifu Glenn Johnson, a student of Sifu Jon Funk.

really? I have always felt it was packed full of useful stuff..

@kempobrad Wrong guy.. Yeah your right, it was a year ago.. Talking to AssassinGhost..

Isn't it the other way round, Northern styles sit deep and southern styles like Southern Mantis sit higher?

i would say : video tape it and put it on youtube ;-) i'll give you some hints then :-)

Wow, I can't believe I found this. I studied this in my early teens by Sifu Al Cheng from Vancouver, Canada. I had memerized every step, but recently forgot half of it until I watched this video. And I think that is my old Sifu. Can anyone confirm if this is in fact Al Cheng? I also trained in kung fu style kick boxing under Al but unfortunately I allowed myself to get busy with life and stopped training. These preying mantis techniques are very traditional, but affective if used properly.

Why does the way Sifu John Funk does it is totally different than this.

@topshonuff what are you talking about? This isnt fast at all. This is actually pretty slow as is. You may be talking from a different martial art background dealing with forms (probably karate? I dunno) but this is way too slow. Well at least it was done pretty well and not half-assed but no emotion nor a sense of individualism as well. I agree with your other points though.

Lovely comment mate

your welcome ! i'l soon post a version of my own about this form ; keep looking out for it on my channel ;-) greetz g

what do you need to know?

huh? we have a misunderstanding here :-) i was asking what tp meant in your first remark :-)

Is this the 7 star version?

i need tp for me bung bo

I'm the guy who writes comments about Forms.. Who are you?? I took Kung Fu, Tai Chi, & White Crane.. All was Deep Stance.. It was to build your legs muscles.. A lot of the Old Traditional styles have deep stance and barley kick(Chinese).. If they did it was waist level.. That's why it was call Kung Fu boxing, barely did kicking.. Now with everything diluted who knows what's tradition, made up, or mix in with other styles.. Even TKDoe, have some deep stance in there forms..

useless for be applicate. is like dancing.

hi, personally i do not think this is the best performance of mantis style.... but maybe it is the way it should look ? i've learned it and taught it in my version of it to students of mine... a version that i like better in all humbleness :-))

He's doing he's forms not fighting.. Yes in combat no Deep stance.. In Forms Deep stance.. Old School teachers would show you this.. Needs more fluid, not stopping and going but all continues movement..

He needs to be in a deeper stance.. All old school training is in "Deep Stance".. It's not speed and power that your looking for but the flow, and being fluid.. He needs to slow it down.. That's the whole reason of Tai Chi.. Even though it's not Tai Chi, should be the same principle.. My opinion Kung Fu as a whole, is a lot of wasted movements. Not just "Forms", but combat, or self defense..

Utterly WORTHLESS for present day society.