The History of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu
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He watched its movements and how it reacted to various situations and then copied the actions. Slowly the system evolved. This led to the development of the Praying Mantis style of Kung Fu, with its characteristic strong and rapid movements. When Wong Long was satisfied that his studies were complete, he added to it the best movements of seventeen other styles, and used the footwork of the Monkey to give it maneuverability. Wong Long passed the art to Sheng Xiao who in turn passed the art to his disciple Li San Jian. Li San Jian ran an escort guard service in Shantung Province. His achievements in the martial arts were outstanding and he had many followers. Li San Jian accepted Wang Rong Sheng as a disciple, Wang was a third degree martial arts graduate under the imperial system. Wang taught the art to Fan Yu Tung who in turn passed the art to Lo Kwang Yu. GRANDMASTER LO KWANG YU (1889-1944)
In 1909, Master Huo Yuanjia helped establish the Chin Woo Athletic Association in Shanghai. When he requested that Fan Yu Tung come and teach, Master Fan declined, in part, as he was already in his eighties. Instead he sent his student Master Lo Kwang Yu to teach in his place. For the first time, the Seven Star Praying Mantis style was taught openly outside of Shandong Province. Lo Kwang Yu practiced hard and became one of the "Four Super Lords" of the Ching Mo Association in Shanghai. In 1930, Grandmaster Lo Kwang Yu traveled south to Hong Kong to further the Seven Star Praying Mantis style at the Hong Kong Ching Woo Association. His disciple Chiu Chi Man joined the Ching Woo Association in 1924, Grandmaster Chiu studied the Tam Tui, Eagle Claw and Taiji styles. GRANDMASTER CHIU CHI MAN (1901-2002)
In 1938, Master Chiu Chi Man and his Kung Fu brothers set up the Man Keung Athletic Association in Hong Kong. Master Chiu was elected as the first chairman while Grandmaster Lo was appointed Chief Instructor of the executive committee. Some time later, the Pacific war broke out, the Man Keung Athletic Association was forced to close down and Grandmaster Lo returned to his home in Shantung province China where he died shortly after the war. After the war the majority of Grandmaster Lo's students went into the commercial field. Those who remained were few and scarce, Chiu Chi Man was the outstanding promoter of the Seven Star Mantis system. GRANDMASTER LEE KAM WING
Sifu Lee has also made advanced studies of osteopathy and acupuncture and is a graduate of the famous Fatshan Orthopaedics Hospital in China. He has also been a practicing Buddhist since 1981. Master Lee has taught his art to many students from around the world, he also regularly travels overseas to enable the martial arts community and Mantis practitioners in particular to know and understand the true transmission as handed down by Grandmaster Lo Kwang Yu. Master Lee has taught in Hungary, USA, Australia, England, Germany, Italy and France; he is willing to teach the inside secrets of his art along with the closed-door weapons forms like the Fong Ting War Gek. SIFU BRIAN BATEMAN
Master Lee has also taught Sifu Bateman Traditional 7 Star Praying Mantis Drumming and Lion Dance Routines. Sifu Bateman and his students have been performing traditional Lion Dances in Rochester for the past 15 years in Restaurants, Major Corporations, and local schools and universities.
In 2006 Sifu Bateman Achieved the rank of 7th Level Black Sash in the With the assistance of his teacher and a close friend Joy Cheng, Sifu Bateman has been Interpreting Poems, Books, and other material related to the 7 Star Praying Mantis System. He is close to finishing the Lo Hon Gung manuscript entrusted to him from his Sifu. |
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The Praying Mantis style of Kung Fu originated in the Shaolin Monastery about 350 years ago, between the Ming and Ching Dynasties. History recalls that a Buddhist priest named Wong Long created the Northern Praying Mantis style after watching a fight between a Praying Mantis and a Cicada. He was so fascinated by the aggressiveness, speed, and strength of the apparently overmatched mantis that he caught it for further study.
Upon Master Lo Kwang Yu's arrival in Hong Kong, Chiu Chi Man began the study of Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Under Master Lo Kwang Yu's personal instruction and through laborious practice, Chiu Chi Man achieved remarkable results. In 1933 Chiu was appointed as master Lo's assistant instructor, in the same year he was also nominated as the department head manager of the Chinese Martial Arts division of the Ching Woo Association.
Lee Kam Wing was born in Hong Kong in 1947 and began studying Praying Mantis Kung Fu at the age of 15. He is now the leading practitioner in Hong Kong. Under Master Chiu's guidance Lee Kam Wing has inherited the complete system of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Herbal medicine and Bone Setting. In 1972 with the encouragement of Master Chiu Master Lee opened his own martial arts gymnasium. Grandmaster Chiu has presented Sifu Lee with four hand written books detailing the complete system of Seven Star Praying Mantis Fist Forms, Weapons, Bone Setting and Chi Gung. These books had previously been given to Master Chiu by his Master Lo Kwang Yu.
Sifu Brian Bateman is an 8th Generation Closed Door Disciple of Master Lee Kam Wing. Sifu Bateman has made numerous trips to Hong Kong and China to continue advanced study and compete in Chinese Martial Art tournaments.