Ahh Brendan Lai... Love this guy. One of the few who even could apply their style....
@hemispace6413 жыл бұрын
Master Brenda Lai had such a great understanding of the "application of power" of the different Praying Mantis techniques, and a deep knowledge of the Praying Mantis principles within those techniques. From what I can see in the video (and others), his waist-chopping 7-Star stance throw/trip is just on-point! Much respect to the gentleman being the punching bag for this demo! I'm sure his 7-Star Praying Mantis is great as well after being on the receiving end of Master Brendan Lai's well-executed techniques.
@jeffwagner20865 ай бұрын
One of the best. He was my mantis teacher's little brother in Hong Kong. When I re introduced them in 1990, they were like 2 little kids. He was my sparring partner leading up to when I would fight. Great man.
@stevechan6244 Жыл бұрын
His Sister was my mother Anna Marion Lai. I did not learn the 7 Stars or any version of it do to a Boxer's stance that will punch with the opposite hand and step off on the opposite leg. The Western Boxers Foot work is what will throw off the Mantis leg work and upper body Counter Strikes. I believe he modified it to work but I was far away to learn it as I joined the US Military. I chose/had to use Chinese Shaolin Kuntao. As my USAF AFB was not in California. My primary instructors who knew my Uncle was Willem De Thouars who taught me Ciemande Silat and Benag Camat who taught Filipino Chinoy Style Kuntao, and Danzan Jijitsu that I did when I was in middle school in San Bruno from Henry Okazaki under William Cahill in the SFO Bay Area. San Bruno to more exact. My Uncle Brendan lived in the Daily City/ South San Francisco City Area and had his store in San Francisco that closed down around 2018. He passed away from complications to diabetes around 2002. I last saw him in 1995/96. I will always miss him and he was my Hero. We rarely got to visit each other or his son Alvin and my Aunt his wife Ester. I followed my way and wanted to speak to him about modifications to 7 Stars using Kuntao and Silat. It never happened. The other Animal forms I never learned from him, but from Kuntao's 5 Animals forms and Ling Sing Toy- Two/Twin Dragon Tails which I can barely pull off at my age. Thanks you for the tribute on behalf of my Uncle and his family since Alvin never responds? Anna Lai Chan's husband was my Father Walter Chan. I am Cecil Chan her son. Steve is my middle name. Sigong Lai had several brother's as well. Out of everyone in my family on both sides I am the only one who pursued the mental and physical aspects of Sim Lum or Shaolin for cultural historical reasons. I learned that Shaolin was destroyed in 1644AD and they fled to Nippon/Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and of course India. The Shaolin in Red China was built in 1983 and is essentially a tourist attraction. I do not know if the Red Chinese retain all of the Shaolin knowledge and I doubt they did. There are Shaolin Monasteries or remenants of them in Indonesia and the Philippines. My wife is Chinoy or Chinese Filipino so Banag taught me his strategy of slapping the throat and eye blinding while Willem showed me Monkey foot leg breaks along with way more shoulder and head spins and Fa jin, fajin or fa chin (fājìn, 發勁), sometimes misspelled as fajing? A lot of rolling under the opponent to blow out the legs. I only got to learn Espada Y'Dagga with elements of Chinese swordsmanship. My Unlce told me NEVER advertise because we do not know who is watching. I will take my leave now. I just wanted all to know his family is still around. Thank you.
@randomdds4 жыл бұрын
Just to add, Brendan Lai is moving in *slow motion* for the video. I met him about 2 years before he passed away...maybe 30-40 years after this clip was filmed. He could easily still move twice as fast as in this video. Salute to a true master!
@DJAraRealSalsa3 жыл бұрын
Many kung fu masters maintain their their speed until old age. Do you happen to know what the Grand Master passed away from?
@stevechan6244 Жыл бұрын
@@DJAraRealSalsa His Sister was my mother Anna Marion Lai. I did not learn the 7 Stars or any version of it do to a Boxer's stance that will punch with the opposite hand and step off on the opposite leg. The Western Boxers Foot work is what will throw off the Mantis leg work and upper body Counter Strikes. I believe he modified it to work but I was far away to learn it as I joined the US Military. I chose/had to use Chinese Shaolin Kuntao. As my USAF AFB was not in California. My primary instructors who knew my Uncle was Willem De Thouars who taught me Ciemande Silat and Benag Camat who taught Filipino Chinoy Style Kuntao, and Danzan Jijitsu that I did when I was in middle school in San Bruno from Henry Okazaki under William Cahill in the SFO Bay Area. San Bruno to more exact. My Uncle Brendan lived in the Daily City/ South San Francisco City Area and had his store in San Francisco that closed down around 2018. He passed away from complications to diabetes around 2002. I last saw him in 1995/96. I will always miss him and he was my Hero. We rarely got to visit each other or his son Alvin and my Aunt his wife Ester. I followed my way and wanted to speak to him about modifications to 7 Stars using Kuntao and Silat. It never happened. The other Animal forms I never learned from him, but from Kuntao's 5 Animals forms and Ling Sing Toy- Two/Twin Dragon Tails which I can barely pull off at my age. Thanks you for the tribute on behalf of my Uncle and his family since Alvin never responds? Anna Lai Chan's husband was my Father Walter Chan. I am Cecil Chan her son. Steve is my middle name. Sigong Lai had several brother's as well. Out of everyone in my family on both sides I am the only one who pursued the mental and physical aspects of Sim Lum or Shaolin for cultural historical reasons. I learned that Shaolin was destroyed in 1644AD and they fled to Nippon/Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and of course India. The Shaolin in Red China was built in 1983 and is essentially a tourist attraction. I do not know if the Red Chinese retain all of the Shaolin knowledge and I doubt they did. There are Shaolin Monasteries or remenants of them in Indonesia and the Philippines. My wife is Chinoy or Chinese Filipino so Banag taught me his strategy of slapping the throat and eye blinding while Willem showed me Monkey foot leg breaks along with way more shoulder and head spins and Fa jin, fajin or fa chin (fājìn, 發勁), sometimes misspelled as fajing? A lot of rolling under the opponent to blow out the legs. I only got to learn Espada Y'Dagga with elements of Chinese swordsmanship. My Unlce told me NEVER advertise because we do not know who is watching. I will take my leave now. I just wanted all to know his family is still around. Thank you.
@billyhillyer64668 жыл бұрын
saw him once in Houston he's was awesome
@martialhealth4062 Жыл бұрын
Fantastic mantis practitioners. R.I.P.
@cdubsj210 жыл бұрын
I came across this vintage footage of Sifu Breandan Lai who passed away. Now some of you guys from EPA and East Menlo Park remember that we used to take trips up to San Francisco to purchase Uniforms, Weapons, supplies and Magazines (Karate Ilistrated and Inside Kung-Fu) from his Martial Arts supply company and not mentioning names, but some how when we got back in the van, some of you had more items then we actually purchased, Again not mentioning names I will just say this "Nunchaku Sticks" hehehehe
@michaeldore89911 жыл бұрын
Lai Sifu could always please the crowd.
@pacificawuji33396 жыл бұрын
he had that perfect poise that Bruce lee had...
@jorgejgleandro4 жыл бұрын
@Dan Iacobescu Can you elaborate on that? I'm interested in any document that support this affirmation. Best.
@irenestewart19425 жыл бұрын
I get where some experts have said that Bruce Lee's JKD is more like Praying Mantis than anything else, and Bruce had studied some Mantis with someone in Hong Kong, I think. Before he came out here. Mantis Kung Fu is impressive. That driving forward action on their counterattacks! They like to do it with a classic front stance. I've always had a huge problem with Wing Chun Back leaning stance on their forward movement. Their traps are fine. They're fun to do, but bullshit with that back leaning stance, if you're trying to go forward, that is. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I've had better results controlling opponents with a forward stance on going forward, that leaning backward and trying to go forwards.