The Royal Family System

Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu had its origins during the Ming Dynasty and was taught only to members of China's royal family as a personal defense art against assassination and other co-existing styles of kung fu. At the time, the system was known as Jew Gar (sometimes pronounced Chu Gar, Chuka or the "royal family" kung fu). With the advent of the Ching Dynasty conflict, the Empoeror and his family fled to the Northern Shaolin Temple to escape certain death at the hands of the Manchurians. But the forces of the Ching followed. Knowing that the revolutionary spirit was being nurtured within the confines of the Shaolin monastery, the Ching burned the Northern temple to the ground. The royal family escaped and moved to the Fukien Shaolin temple of Southern China. Knowing the forces of the Ching were looking for Chuka practitioners they changed the system's name to Southern Praying Mantis in hopes of tricking the Manchurians into believing that their style was the same as the popular Northern Praying Mantis. Still, the Manchurians pursued and burned the Southern temple also. A number of the royal family escaped and went into hiding. They assimilated themselves into the Southern China community known as "hakka" or northern guests. From that time on, the art of Southern Praying Mantis was taught secretly to hakka only. In modern times you will find practitioners of Southern Praying Mantis from all nationalities and walks of life.

Unlike Northern Praying Mantis, the Southern style bears no resemblance to the insect, except for movements intentionally incorporated to disguise the system. It is both an internal and external style capable of delivering a spring-like explosive force when released. It follows internal principles such as using condensed breathing for energy, flowing-relaxed hand techniques, and borrowing the enemy's strength while at the same time applying external principles which are developed by isotonic and isometric exercises to build force for attack and defense. Although recognized as an in-fighting style, the system's method also extends the arms longer than most northern styles by applying specialized exercises and training apparatuses, enabling the practitioner to use explosive force at both shorter and longer than usual range.

Basically, a close in-fighting system, Southern Praying Mantis is known for its one-inch punch, similar to the one that Bruce Lee popularized. It also uses a variety of open-hand techniques and has specialized hand movements such as the ginger-fist, three-finger spear, and bamboo slicing hand, all of which attack the body's vital points. These strikes can cause paralysis, as well as a cutting off of blood flow and distribution of chi to vital areas of the body. However, at the heart of the rare Chuka style, is the phoenix-eye fist. The Chuka art makes limited use of the popular clenched fist attack seen in other styles, preferring to use this extended index finger knuckle to strike the enemy. This single knuckled attack allows the Chuka exponent to focus his energy on pressure points and other vulnerable targets on the body.

No traditional Chinese martial art would be complete without its own specialized training apparatuses. Students of Red Dragon Kung fu use such training equipment as iron rings worn on the forearms, metal and stone spheres for strengthening the fist, iron bars rolled along the arms, wooden dummies, spring dummies, hanging bags, and wall bags; all designed to afford the advantage speed, coordination, power and balance over the opponent in a self-defense scenario. Chuka Southern Praying Mantis is a complete and effective fighting system, with both soft and hard aspects uniquely interwoven. Ideal for men and women of all ages, comprehensive and stream-lined mechanics make it accessible regardless of age, physique or gender. Southern Praying Mantis as presented at Red Dragon Kung Fu is a superb form of training for mind, body and spirit, not to mention the overall physical fitness benefits.