Poem

[Cynikal Mantis]

Hang the arms like cables


Capture and Seize


The head like the word "thousand" 1


Back like a willow basket


Iron Waist


Knees like a young frog


The body form requires sinking the shoulder and droping the elbow,


Hollow the chest to pull out the back


If you hollow the chest then you will not fail


Do not use up the saliva


If you have saliva, swallow


If you don’t have saliva, swallow sideways

[JamesHFYofAZ]

This poam, did it come from your sifu?
What I got from its essence was heart of mantis-
Hang the arms like cables- One must relax befor one can ingage
Capture and Seize- capture and control ones opponant
The head like the word "thousand" 1- ? maybe talking about having an open mind, not getting stuck on a one way path, know your options?
Back like a willow basket- Roundness, streagth of structure, and flexability(recoaling actions)
Iron Waist- not allowing your opponant to turn you away
Knees like a young frog- mobility
The body form requires sinking the shoulder and droping the elbow, - body method for mantis
Hollow the chest to pull out the back- a way one distributes energy
If you hollow the chest then you will not fail- ...
Do not use up the saliva-
If you have saliva, swallow-
If you don’t have saliva, swallow sideways- chi gung methods?
I took a stab at it but need some help putting it together.
Thanks, JHFYAZ

[Jonathan_AZ]

good observations!

Perhaps the saliva section refers to spit/swallow tan/to energies?

Jonathan

[Cang Long]

Perhaps the saliva section refers to spit/swallow tan/to energies? Good point Jonathan I was thinking the same thing. Spit the motion of forward and back, swallow the motion from side to side.

[Cynikal Mantis]

Hang the arms like cables
When shoulders rounded, chest hollow arms will hang not sit, gar sau = hanging hand

Capture and Seize
Attack before being attacked and seize your prey/opponent

The head like the word "thousand" 1
Keeping mind open not getting fixed how to engage, keep your options open

Back like a willow basket
Back flexible but still fim

Iron Waist
Chow gar concentrates on alot of abdominal breating, its the essence of our art Chi stored in dantian, hard like a rock

Knees like a young frog
Flexible mobility, fast

The body form requires sinking the shoulder and droping the elbow,
The body form you aqquire, just like the mantis, how strikes are initiated

Hollow the chest to pull out the back
Where the force is released

If you hollow the chest then you will not fail
When chest is hollowed your shoulders are automatically pulled foward. (so what its saying if you hollow your chest you will get the shape of the mantis, also 2-3 inches extra reach)

Do not use up the saliva
Tounge pushed up to ridge of mouth

If you have saliva, swallow
If saliva forms swallow

If you don’t have saliva, swallow sideways
Hard chi kung methods

I found this on a web site and it realy intreaged me, this is what I made of it, what do you guys think chech out the new thread i found

[JamesHFYofAZ]

Thanks for the poam, I enjoyed it very much!

[Cynikal Mantis]

Move yet do not move


It’s the Eight principles and Yet not the Eight Principles


Hand strikes from the mouth and heart


If you don't come, I don't strike.


If there is a bridge then cross the bridge,


If there is no bridge then make a bridge,


The bridge does not turn with the hands.

What do you guys make of this?

[Cang Long]

Very similar to the kuen kiuts of wing chun which lead me to believe there is a Shao lin connection in there. What do you think?

[Cynikal Mantis]

Definatly, it is said that our oral history wing whun and bak mei exchanged ideas with southern praying mantis, all being centre line styles

[Cang Long]

Sounds plausible because centerline is where it at :) Do you have a story depicting the origins of centerline theory?

[Cynikal Mantis]

Very intresting questoin Cang, very intresting indeed. I will ask my sifu and look into that. Sound like a new topic is coming up. ORIGIANS OF THE CENTRE LINE THEORY

[Cang Long]

Hey
good idea very interested in hearing your sifu's take on things as well.

[tonglong]

In Chow Gar the head is tilted down and the chin kept in, this is called 'cheen tow' or one thousand head because the Chinese character for one thousand resembles a man with his head held down.