Characteristics of 8 Step Mantis

Characteristics of 8 Step Mantis

By Grandmaster James Shyun and Andrew Miles

Grandmaster Wei Xiao Tang in Sitting Belly Posture

Xing Yi Posture by Chen Pan Li

Unicorn posture in Yin Style Baguazhang

Grandmaster Shyun in Sitting Belly Posture

Bagua posture

Sitting on Plate Posture

 

Eight step mantis uses strong, flexible stances, agile footwork and has characteristics similar to ba gua, xing yi, taiji, tong bei and plum flower mantis.  These systems have had the most influence on 8 Steps growth and development.

What is 8 Step and what does it look like?  The definitive answer is the wrong one.  Based on the philosophy of change it should ideally encompass 8 pairs of defining characteristics totaling 16.  This style is all of these attributes depending on the situation.

Full- Eight step moves like a tank rolling through obstacles and destroying with every step and strike.  The fullness makes use of tensile structures that roll through the opponent’s defenses.  Iron body methods are used to protect the fighter.

Empty- Eight step is formless and can’t be attacked.  All attempts end in emptiness.  It looks like nothing happened, but the results are large.  Rather than accept a strike, emptiness and evasion are used.

Long- Eight step uses long kicking techniques and arm strikes.  Footwork covers long distance quickly.  Punches can launch people across the room.

Short-Eight step uses short strikes and footwork.  Short powers enter into internal organs causing severe damage.

Floats- Eight step fighters seems to float across the ground and effortlessly rise up for aerial attack.

Sinks-  Eight step sinks low to the ground, making use of it and shifting fluidly like an octopus.

Follows- Eight step follows the opponent’s force making use of every opportunity.

Leads- Eight step forces the opponent’s choices and leads them into your intended path of destruction.

Sophisticated- Eight step techniques are highly refined and delicately entering and deflecting the opponent.  Medicine and poison making are highly refined sciences and uses technique and tensile connectivity.

Brutish- Eight step smashes people into the ground, picks them and uses them as projectiles.  It smashes people with rocks and relies on physical strength using the most simple, obvious and practical techniques.

Attacks targets- Eight step uses highly targeted strikes to vital points.

Attacks Structure- Eight step attacks the entire architecture of the opponent’s structure making the exact place of impact less important.

Circular- Eight step is highly circular.  Everything rolls and turns.

Angular- Eight step makes use of precise angles which are found in every motion.

Shifu Miles and Navarro demonstrating characteristic mantis techniques which are refined and elegant

Grandmaster Wei demonstrating a technique that involves using someone's head like a paintbrush.

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