Forms
Standardized 8-Step
Forms
Over 20 years after Grandmaster Wei's death, a number of
his students came together in Taiwan to remember his teachings
and standardize the 8-Step forms. Grandmaster Wei had always
encouraged each student to develop a unique understanding
of the forms that reflected each student's understanding
and body type. Grandmaster Wei considered it the sign of
a bad teacher if all the teacher's students looked identical
when performing the same form. After Grandmaster Wei died,
his students continued to progress, each viewing the same
forms with a unique perspective based on their own personal
understanding of Grandmaster Wei's teachings. In 2004, Grandmaster
Wei's students came together to share their individual understandings
of Grandmaster Wei's teachings and consolidate them into
a standardized version of the forms. Although the standardization
effort is still on-going for some of the forms, most of
the forms have now been standardized.
Articles
"From
the Brink of Extinction" (An 8-Step.com exclusive)
8-Step Praying Mantis and Grandmaster Wei Hsiao Tang were
both born at a time when China was cursed with warlords,
bandits, foreign conspirators, revolutionaries, drug lords,
and a collapsing empire. This remarkable style of kung fu
would have become extinct within a couple of decades if
not for Grandmaster Wei's lifelong dedication to perfecting
and spreading his knowledge. Learn about the life and times
of Grandmaster Wei and how he saved 8-Step Praying Mantis
from the brink of extinction, despite the attacks against
his life in Korea and Manchuria, the Japanese invasion of
China, and the Chinese communist revolution.
"Foundations:
Why the Basics Aren't So Basic" (Originally published
in Mantis Quarterly)
A fundamental tennet of 8 Step Praying Mantis is that kung
fu mastery comes only from a mastery of the basics--stances,
punches, kicks, and basic techniques. Find out why the basics
are often more important than advanced techniques, and how
to cultivate a mastery of the basics no matter which kung
fu style you study.
"Internal
Mantis" (Originally published in Mantis
Quarterly)
While every style of kung fu includes both internal and
external facets, 8 Step Praying Mantis was created specifically
to emphasize the internal arts within a Praying Mantis style,
incorporating techniques from Plum Flower (Mei Hua) Praying
Mantis with internal principles from Ba Gua, Hsing Yi, and
Tong Bei. Learn more about the most internal of all the
Praying Mantis styles.
"The
Physics of Jing" (Originally published in Mantis
Quarterly)
Mystery and mysticism surround the much sought-after power
of jing. Yet, despite the mystery, jing can often be explained
in terms of basic physics. Learn how jing can be categorized
into 3 basic types, and how one form of fa jing can be fully
understood in terms of simple physics.
"Cultivating
Jing" (Originally published in Mantis
Quarterly)
Understanding jing is quite different from incorporating
jing into kung fu techniques. Learn how relaxation, slow
practice, and a good teacher are the keys to cultivating
jing in any style of kung fu.
Links
Ba Bu Tanglang (http://www.wutang.be/babu/indexflash.html)
is perhaps one of the best web sites dedicated to Grandmaster
Wei and traditional 8-Step Praying Mantis. The site includes
information about 8-Step history, forms, techniques, and
fundamental principles, as well as a variety of downloadable
videos. |
