The Seven Praying Mantis forms: The Seven Praying Mantis forms that Sheng Xiao Dao Ren learned from Wong’s monk students were made up of the following branches of Praying Mantis from the Shaolin temple: Chi Xing (Seven Star style), Mei Hua (Plum Flower style), Guang Bang (Shiny Board style), Chang Chuan (Long Fist style), and Fan Che (Chariot style).
The Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu style, as it is taught today, is made up of: 50% Chi Xing (Seven Star style), 30% Mei Hua (Plum Flower style), and 20% Guang Bang (Shiny Board style).
The Praying Mantis style, Guang Bang (Shiny Board style) is the root style of both Chang Chuan (Long Fist style) and Fan Che (Chariot style). Forms from each branch of Praying Mantis were adopted to create the Seven Star Praying Mantis system. Each form teaches a somewhat different aspect of Seven Star Praying Mantis. It is believed that the monk students of Wang Lang created the different Praying Mantis systems at the Shaolin temple. They did so to put a different emphasis on each style according to their own experiences. The Taoist, Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, during his stay at the Shaolin temple, had the opportunity to learn these different Praying Mantis systems and their forms from these Shaolin monks and later pass them on.
Chi Xing (Seven Star style) the forms are: 1 - Beng Bu (Crushing Step), 2 - Shyh Ba Sou (Eighteen Old Men), 3 - Duo Gang (Concealing the Hard), 4 - Tang Lang Chu Dong (Praying Mantis Exits the Cave), 5 - Tang Lang Tou Tau (Praying Mantis Steals the Peach), and 6 - Mei Hua Shou (Plum Flower Hand).
Beng Bu is the foundation form of northern Praying Mantis. It contains the twelve character principles that Wang Lang used to formulate the original Praying Mantis system. Most branches of northern Praying Mantis recognize that Beng Bu was the first form created by Wang Lang. contributes a number of forms to the northern Praying Mantis kung fu system: Mei Hua (Plum Flower style) contributes 1 - Mei Hua Chuan (Plum Flower Fist), 2- Yi Lu Jai Yaw, 3 - Er Lu Jai Yaw, and
4 - San Lu Jai Yaw (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Route Essence).
Guang Bang (Shiny Board style) come the forms: 1 - Mei Hua Luo (Plum, Flower Falling), 2 - Da Gia Shyh (Big Gesture Form), and 3 - Xiou Gia Shyh (Small Gesture Form).
Chang Chuan (Long Fist style) come two fist forms: 1 - Cha Chuey (Piercing Fist), and 2 - Syh Lu Bun Da (Four Direction Fist).
Fan Che (Chariot style). There are two fist forms, called: 1 - Da Fan Che (Big Chariot ) and 2 - Xiao Fan Che (Little Chariot).
It is these original Praying mantis forms that Sheng Xiao Dao Ren used to formulate the current Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu system. Although there are additional forms in the Seven Star Praying Mantis style contained within the original ones are all the principles and concepts of the system. It is possible with these original sets to master the complete system.
