The Twelve Basic Key-word Principles
or Methods of Attack and Defense
The exact 12 vary from school to school, but almost all are similar. There are, of course, advanced theories as well. These 12 serve as the fundamental principles of our Mantis system. Even though one may translate the names of the theory/techniques of the Mantis style, only a practitioner of the system really understands what they mean. I always see many people who are NOT Mantis stylists try to explain the main ideas of the style. That also holds true for other styles as well. Books and magazines only hold part of the information. There is not enough room in any book to adequately explain the theory of any style. Furthermore, only the top disciples of a given system truly understand the intricacies of their Art.
1. O (or Au or Ngau) -Hooking
This refers to the ACTION of hooking. As the opponent’s punch comes toward you, your hand makes a hooking action to intercept the attack. This can be done with any hand form but usually a simple open hand is used. The open hand can easily grab or go into another hand formation.
2. Lo (or Lau) – Grapple / Hold (especially downwards)
Lau is usually applied after Au as the basic technique. Lau can be a simple grab or a complex pressure point lock. Unlike boxing, Kung Fu allows one to hold the opponent while hitting them. In the Mantis system, the downward grab is used to hold and pull the opponent while striking him. The grab may often start from the side and then turn downwards as you pull the opponent in close.
3. Choy (or Tsai)– Plucking (striking afterwards)
To pluck means to snatch or yank something. As the attack comes, you pluck it out of the air. This is followed immediately with a strike. Thus, you yank your opponent’s punch after you have hooked him, and jerk him into your own strike (often a punch, but it could be anything like a palm, eye poke, etc.)
4. Kwa (or Gwa)– Hanging or Suspending
The technique used to represent the Kwa principle is the overhead block (usually accompanied by a punch). Although the overhead block is a way to express this principle, it limits the idea or scope of what Kwa really means. Kwa simply means to hang in the air. This applies to striking, blocking, and even uprooting the opponent.
5. Diu (or Tiao or Dil)Hook
This refers to the mantis “hook” hand formation. This hook is a noun as in a fishing hook, as opposed to the hook in Au, a verb implying the action of hooking. The Diu can be used to strike as well as trapping and even throwing the opponent. Furthermore, the back of the Diu (wrist) is used to strike as well as the knuckles. According to Great Grandmaster Raymond Fogg, one of the most important concepts about the method of hooking and forming the hook is the idea of interception. First, it is important to realize that the hand or wrist area makes contact first and rides the opponents force in the direction given and the hook aides in redirection and/or plucking. Secondly, it is interesting to note that some schools of Mantis only use the outward redirecting hook, while our lineage (which was taught to Great Great Grandmaster Chiu Leun by the Yip Ming Duk Jee monks) also uses an inside pulling or yielding hook called the “Gaht Sao,” which further adds to the intricacies of the soft and hard principles.
6. Jun (or Chin)– Advance / Move Forward
This principle involves the body and hands moving forward in an attack. Literally it means “to go forth”. One can advance after a block with the same hand (Diu Jun) or block with one hand while striking with the other (Diu Da / Bung Da). Advanced practitioners block and strike at the same time. “Lin siu bong da” (the block and attack happen together). This applies to hand / foot combinations as well.
7. Bung (or Peng)– Crushing Downward
This implies smashing down from above. In the system we have two
forms of “backfist” strikes. The gwa choy and the bong choy. The gwa
choy represents the same type of side backfist strike as many other
styles. But the bong choy represents an overturned backfist that comes
downward from high to middle or low. In Bung Bo (Bong Bo, Peng Pu)
the kneeling stance (gwai ma, yup wan bo) ends the first road with a
bong choy (downward crushing backfist.) This is commonly mistaken as
a simple backfist, but the move is a power move. The stance collapses
and the fist crushes. The term Bung Bo (crushing / collapsing step) has
two meanings. First is the technique itself as just explained. Secondly, it
means that if you master this form, your opponent will have his steps
crushed (be knocked down / defeated). Bung Bo is the first form created
in the system by Wong Long. It was his desire to make it a
comprehensive fighting form. Do not be fooled into thinking it is a basic
form. The complexities of Bung Bo are many.
However, the ability to crush in a downward fashion is not restricted to
the backfist. The Hammer fist (or Peck Choy) is also used to crush
downward with devastating effect. The method of Bung can also be
achieved with chopping motions using the side of either hands or both
hands at one time. The most important function of this method/principle
is how you shift your weight while executing the downward crush.
8. Da (or Ta)– Strike / Hitting
To strike means that you strike with all of your body weapons. Hand, foot, knee, elbow, head, wrist, forearms, shoulders (the 8 obstacles). The Bung Da is commonly used in the system. That means that your strike should carry strength behind it. “The blows fall like rain” is an expression that implies striking with impunity. The idea of striking as a prime objective is essential to the Mantis style. The notion is that the main technique is to strike and all other techniques (chin-na, tripping, trapping, pushing, etc.) are with this in mind. Indeed, 7-Star Praying Mantis is a system that is designed to win at all cost using any body part as a weapon.
9. Jeem (or Jim or Chan) – Contact
The next few principles have to do with touching your opponent. Jeem means to simply make contact. This initial contact is often made with the hands or arms and is used to feel your opponent’s intention, strength, temperament, and commitment. Contact can be made by grabbing, pulling, pushing, striking, kicking and slapping. For example: if you punch at your opponent and he blocks it you have made contact. Now, if the punch was not really your true attack (the unreal) you have made contact for the next movement. You should always be at least two moves ahead of your opponent (the real). We say the unreal to the real must go (looks like an attack but really is a set up).
10. Leem (or Lim or Nien) – Clinging / Sticking
The idea of clinging is meant to indicate that, after an attack the action continues. Jeem and Leem are often used in conjunction with each other (contact, cling). Clinging can be inner gate or outer gate. Clinging can also be used for defense or lead into offensive strategy. The clinging or sticking action can be done advancing and retreating. Once contact (Jeem) has been made, you keep the contact by staying “stuck” to one arm or the other. By doing this, you can ride, control and most importantly predict your opponent’s actions. Furthermore, if used properly, you can use the opponent’s attacks, energy, strength, and speed against him. There is a special two-person practice to develop the sticking process called Jeem Leem Sao. This is what is known as the sticking hands of mantis.
11. Teep (or Tieh) – Tagging / Closing In
Tag or tagging along means to go a step further in closing the gap. In fact, it means to glue your body to the opponent, not just the arms. In other words, after contacting and sticking when the opponent throws a strike, you want to yield and pluck in a manner that your center of gravity or body (Dan Dien) is against his. So, in essence, Teep means that you are “Glued Body to Body.”
12. Kao (or Kau) – Leaning / “Using Full Force Causing Opponent to Fall”
Kao means to lean on the opponent in a manner that should cause the opponent to fall. For example, if you had many dominoes lined up side by side and leaned on one, due to their close proximity, they all begin to fall. Many techniques and stances can be used. For example, blocking and stepping behind the opponent in a horse stance as he throws a punch, then your left elbow comes up from underneath the opponent’s arm as the right hand holds the same arm outstretched. You then turn your waist and body into a bow stance and throw him backwards. This technique is akin to Tai Chi’s “Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane.” However, Mantis is unique in that we have a plethora of “Teep-Kau” techniques that can be implemented to cause the opponent to fall or crash down in a very violent and debilitating manner.
A Final Note about the 12 Keyword Methods of
Attack and Defense:
From Great Grandmaster Raymond Fogg
An important thing to remember about the 12 key-word formula is that although many practitioners use techniques to demonstrate how they work, one must realize that these are not simply techniques but “Methods” or “Principles” of Attack and Defense. Once you have achieved these methods as they are with some degree of proficiency, you should be able to mix the order up in your fighting. In other words, you can have hooking, grabbing, plucking, punching, tagging, and leaning or any other order.