Taiwan's Six Harmony Praying Mantis Master 
Zhang Xian San (aka Zhang Yi Xi) studied from Ding Zi Cheng. He was among many top Kung Fu experts to migrate to Taiwan during the war in China. In Chang Kai Shek's Taiwan he taught his major art, Six Harmony Praying Mantis (Liu He Tang Lang). He was also a Kung Fu brother of Liu Yun Chiao and encouraged him to teach openly. Both men respected each other and Liu would recommend people to Zhang if they showed interest in Liu He Mantis.Zhang also talked some Seven Star Mantis. Zhang also wrote a number of books on his art many of which are now highly sought after.
Ding Zi Cheng's method of instruction was progressive (though in some ways a throwback to authentic traditional teaching) and influenced Zhang's method of instruction all the way down to his disciples such as Boris Shi. Deng would introduce movements and concepts from the form to be studied separately. After the student had practiced and mastered this application Deng would show another. Finally, with numerous skills acquired, Deng would teach the whole form.
Liu He Tang Lng is itself one of the most sophisticated version of Mantis boxing. Some have even said that it is essentially Liu He or Six Hrmony Boxing with the mantis thrown in as a flavor. Certainly some of the outward aspects of the style are quite different from what most people regard as typical Mantis hands. The hook hand, for instance, is not seen in the style. There is far less emphasis on either hopping (Mei Hua) or stomping (Seven Star) though practitoners of Liu He often start with some Long Arm training followed b Seven Star (often Zhai Yao) and then are introduced to Liu He. Movements are isolated, related to the forms, then isolated again with a gradual refinement process that includes trying to apply the movements in cooperative and non-cooperative means.
Books by Zhang Xing San:
|
| |
|
Zi Mu Liang Huan Quan | Qi Xing Tang Lang Quan | |
