As with most traditional styles of Kung Fu, the origins of the system are often shrouded in mystery and legend. Each school has a history that is passed from Sifu to student and over time.
There are differing accounts of the creation of Southern Mantis Kung Fu. Some assert that it is a descendant of the Shaolin system of Northern Mantis. Others state that it was the creation of a Monk from a Taoist monastery on Omei Mountain in China. The question of the origin of Southern Mantis will probably never be satisfactorily answered.
There is similar debate over which of the various branches of Southern Mantis was the original system:
* CHI GAR TONG LONG
* CHOW GAR TONG LONG
* CHU GAR TONG LONG
* IRON OX TONG LONG
* JOOK LUM TONG LONG
However, there are many parallels, which run through all Southern Mantis systems, including forms, exercises and weapons. So it is probably safe to say that they are all related in one way or another.
The creator of Chow Gar Praying Mantis was a monk named Chow Ah Naam. He was a Cantonese man, and was born into a wealthy farming family. When he was about ten years old he developed a stomach illness, which many doctors failed cure.
A friend of his fathers suggested the illness may be due to environmental factors, and recommended that he travel to different areas possibly finding a better climate. His father gave this some thought and decided to send his son away. He gave Chow Ah Naam money to travel North with a servant.
When they had travelled some distances his stomach illness grew worse. At the same time his servant became ill, and could not keep up with Chow Ah Naam, so they rested at an Inn. A few weeks later the servant died. After the funeral Chow Ah Naam had run out of money and sent a letter back home requesting more. But he was far from home and the letter was lost.
The owner of the Inn knew of the young man's illness and his financial prediciment and offered him a position of servant in the kitchen. He also advised him to go to the Shaolin Temple to see a Buddhist Monk named Sim Yan.
This Monk was a famous medical man, who did not usually treat outsiders. However he liked the Chow Ah Naam, and after a few months of treatment the young man had recovered fully.
The Inn where Chow Ah Naam worked was in fact was part of the Shaolin Temple, where the rules included Kung Fu practice for at least two hours each day.
During Chow Ah Naam stay at the Temple he had a work mate named Set. Now Set was a big man with powerful arms and he thought himself the strongest of the lot. He'd been training Kung Fu for many years and was always telling people off and picking on others, so Chow Ah Naam tried to avoid him.
One day Set was carrying two buckets of water and Chow Ah Naam accidentally bumped into him. Set was so angry that he hit Chow Ah Naam. Although Chow Ah Naam tried to defend himself he was knocked down with one punch.
Some time later Chow Ah Naam was in a nearby forest collecting wood for the stove in the kitchen. He heard a commotion and looked up to see a bird using its beak against a Praying Mantis.
Watching closely he saw the Mantis suddenly cut across the birds throat with it's arm; the bird fell and was covered in blood - it had stopped moving.
Chow Ah Naam was very surprised at this incident and being an intelligent person it occurred to him to copy this insect. He caught the Praying Mantis and many others after it, feeding them and using a twig to test their fighting reaction. Gradually he developed his boxing style based on the principles of these insects.
Nobody knew about this in the Shaolin Temple until one day, a few years later Set was showing off in front of some monks as Chow Ah Naam was passing through. The big man decided to pick on him, and Chow Ah Laam realised he could not avoid the challenged.
Set struck out at Chow Ah Naam, who was cool and avoided all his punches. Set became angry and used all his power to try to knock him down. All the other monks around were shouting and jeering, the noise was loud and so disturbed the Head Monk Sim Yan.
Sim Yan went to investigate what was going on and saw Chow Ah Naam fighting. Sim Yan knew that his fighting style was different to the Shaolin style, and while he was watching, Chow Ah Naam struck out at Set knocking him down to the ground.
Sim Yan stopped the contest and asked where Chow Ah Naam studied his Kung Fu? Chow Ah Naam told old Monk that he had observed the Praying Mantis' fighting habits and developed a system based on this.
Sim Yan praised Chow Ah Naam's ingenuity because there were not many people like him. Sim Yan personally taught Chow Ah Naam the highest of the Shaolin Temple training to develop a strong and powerful bridge.
Word of the style and its creator spread. Many years later Chow Ah Naam returned to Canton where he taught a monk named Wong Fook Go. After several years training Wong Fook Go went to a place named Wai Yearn and taught a young man named Lao Sui.
At that time it was the end of the Ching dynasty and Lao Sui went to Hong Kong where he became famous. His Kung Fu was superb and he had thousands of students in Southern China. After the death of Lao Sui there were only a few people who knew the highest of Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Grandmaster Ip Shui was one of the few.
Grandmaster Ip Shui is the father of Sifu Ip Chee Keung.
Chow Ah Naam remained in the Shaolin Temple for many years, and, as was the tradition, he passed his art on to fellow monks. One monk was called Wong Fook Go.
Wong Fook Go became very proficient in the art of Mantis boxing. In later years he began travelling around the country, preaching the Buddhist Dharma and seeking enlightenment.
It was while travelling through the Tung Kong (East River) region of southern China that he chanced upon a young man giving a display of martial arts.
Lao Sui was a student of several Shaolin animal systems, and by the time he had reached his early twenties, he had already acquired a reputation. The woodlands surrounding his home village were known to be riddled with wolves, and locals lived in fear as these hungry animals had taken to attacking villagers during the night.
One dark evening, Lao Sui was making his way along the perimeter of the village, when he was set upon by a vichious wolf. The animal lashed at Lao Sui, and, snarling, leapt for his throat. The speed of the wolf was no match for the reflexes of the young Kung Fu student. He sidestepped the oncoming attack and, as the wolf turned and leapt again, Lao Sui delivered an unforgiving kick to the animals throat, knocking it to the ground. Before the predator had an opportunity to rise and attack once more, Lao Sui moved in with a heavy stamp, finishing his adversary off for good.
When villagers heard of this incident, they were keen to learn the skills Lao Sui had employed to defend himself. His name spread throughout the region and soon many people were coming to him for tuition.
One afternoon, the young Sifu was demonstrating several of the animal systems to his students in the village square. As he displayed his skill to the onlookers, a monk stepped from the crowd and said 'young man, your Kung Fu is barely better than nothing at all. How is it that you feel able to teach anyone?
Luckily, Lao Sui was of humble character. Instead of being insulted, he bowed to the monk and said 'from what you say, your Kung Fu must be very good.'
The monk told Lao Sui that he was welcome to test his skill, and offered the young man initial strike. Lao Sui accepted, advancing with a powerful straight punch.
The monk appeared to move ever so slightly. Even so, young Lao was hurled some distance away. Lao Sui realised that the Monk had just demonstrated something that was far beyond his abilities. He recognised the Monk's martial skill was far superior.
Kneeling before the Monk, he asked if he would accept him as his student, and the kindly Wong Fook Go agreed..
Lao Sui invited Wong Fook Go back to his home for tea. Once seated he asked 'I felt as if I had been shocked by lightning when I made contact with you. How is it that you move so fast?'
The Monk laughed and said 'you possess great strength, but I was able to redirect it back to you. Therefore it was your own strength which you felt. The technique I used takes its force from internal energy, known as 'Chi', except that my system refines this energy into something known as Geng Khan (Shock Power). Consider the mantis. This small insect has an explosive power, which enables it to overcome opponents many times its own size. Follow my teachings diligently, and you too can achieve this kind of power'.
Lao Sui had proved that his character was indeed worthy of learning this high level of Kung Fu. The afternoon of the demonstration, the Wong Fook Go had been watching Lao Sui perform, and knew that the young man had great potential as a Kung Fu master. When WOng Fook Go had stepped into the arena that afternoon, his words had been a test. Luckily, Lao Sui had shown humility, which is why the monk had decided to accept him as his student.
Six years later, the Monk had passed all of his knowledge on to Lao Sui, and the Master and student parted company. Wong Fook Go continued to travel and seek his enlightenment.
Lao Sui, as a gesture of respect to his Sifu and SiGung, named his fighting system 'Chows Family Praying Mantis'. He founded schools in China where many thousands of students came to learn from the great Master.
Lao Sui moved to Hong Kong in 1913, and established a school in the Hung Hom area of Kowloon. He taught many people during his time there including Cheah Chung, Tam Wah, Chu Goon Wah, Lam Wah, Yip Hai, and Chai Ng
One day a couple of students from a rival school came to visit, and demonstrated their kung fu. Lao Sui commented that it was good enough, but that they were doing the wrong style.
So it was that in 1931, Ip Shiu began training with Lao Sui. During the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, Ip Shui and his wife helped Lao Sui - feeding and nursing the aging master. To thank the couple for their kindness, Lao Sui wrote down the essence of the Chow Gar Praying Mantis fighting theories and presented it to them, in addition to passing on the secrets of the art.
Ip Shui began teaching in the 1948 at Bulkeley Street, Hung Hom, soon establishing a reputation as a superb martial artist - he was well known for this excellence at Routines, Leigukung, Jingchanjing as well as Tanglang-puchangun.
With deep sadness on 27th April 2004 Grand Master Ip Shui passed away.
Ip Chee Keung