summary
- “Shaolin Mantis” follows a young scholar who learns kung fu from a praying mantis, and tells a unique and profound story.
- The Mantis style used in this film is based on real martial arts techniques designed to redirect and counterattack enemy attacks.
- Produced by the Shaw Brothers, the film stands out for its unusual setting and realistic inspiration, making it an underrated martial arts film.
The protagonists of kung fu movies often come from poor backgrounds, but few have had such an orthodox beginning as the 1978 film, in which the protagonist learns to fight by watching insects. Although this film was not one of his best kung fu films of the 1970s, it definitely stood out due to its unusual setting. Also, despite the film's seemingly ridiculous nature, this is not a comedy. If anything, this movie is actually a very good movie and could even be considered one of his most underrated martial arts movies.
The film was produced by Shaw Brothers, one of the most influential and successful production companies in the entire martial arts genre. While this isn't one of the Shaw Brothers' best martial arts films of all time, it still shows signs of great command of the genre. What's more, while it may seem to veer into the realm of absurdity, the decision to have the film's protagonist learn how to fight from insects actually has a surprisingly real-life inspiration behind it. there is.
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David Chan's character learned kung fu from a Shaolin praying mantis.
shaolin praying mantis David Zhang plays Wei Feng, a young scholar forced by the Qing Dynasty emperor to spy for the rebels. That mission brought him a married life and then many dangers. However, Wei Feng, a scholar, was not well versed in martial arts and instead had to learn from a praying mantis he caught in the forest.. More battles ensue from there, but there's also a surprisingly deep and morally complex story at its heart.
Explaining the connection between Xiaolin Praying Mantis and the real world
Shaolin Mantis is based on a real martial art called Mantis Style
Kung Fu Weifeng's style is shaolin praying mantis is real and actually inspired by a praying mantis. This style is called the praying mantis style, or mantis fist, and is designed to imitate the way praying mantises forage.. Drawing on that inspiration, Mantis' style tends to focus on changing the direction of the opponent's attacks and using the opponent's momentum to deliver precise blows to weak points. However, the most notable feature of the Praying Mantis style is the Praying Mantis' use of the hook hand posture. This is used to grapple, block, and perform the precise attacks this style relies on.
Martial arts styles inspired by real animals have a long history, and the praying mantis style is just one of many. Other notable styles are influenced by dogs, cranes, monkeys, and tigers, among others. The praying mantis style was developed by Wang Lang. According to one of his various legends, he developed this style after seeing a praying mantis attacking a wagon wheel and deciding to imitate its unique attack.The legends are surprisingly similar shaolin praying mantisand it turns a seemingly comedic premise into one of epic origin.
Source: Kung Fu & Tai Chi Center w/Jake Mace
