No comments about Secrets of 7-Star Praying Mantis (Kung Fu): Volume 2: Mei Hua Chien, Form and Applications.

No comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu: Cha Chui ("Piercing Strike") DVD.

No comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu Steals the Peach.

No comments about The Deadly Art of Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

2 comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu: Bai Yuan Tou Tao ("White Ape Steals Peach") DVD.

1. This DVD is excellent.
   The seven-star kung fu form "White Ape Steals the Peach" taught thorugh this DVD is well explained, well detailed, easy to understand, and focused in every important detail.
   Particular important is the fact that this DVD presents an in-depth analysis on real fight form applications.
   In my opinion, this is one of the best DVDs I have ever seen.



2. I must say the "White Ape Steals Peach" - DVD is VERY GOOD, with clear and precice instruction, that is easy to follow. I like the fact that they have included applications, different options to view the form, and detailed instructions on how to execute to moves.
   
   Mantis is quite a tricky style to learn, and through DVD it is even more difficult, but having a background already in Mantis, I found this instruction DVD to be very easy to learn from.
   
   This is excellent work!! Keep it up, and give us many more DVD`s in the future.
   
   I hope to see more weapons-DVD`s also (saber, stick, sword or other "exotic" weapons) from MartialSkill.
   
   I will definitely check out the other videos from MartialSkill as well, looking forward to see the "Chain Styles DVD" soon. :)

2 comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu: Lan Jie Quan ("Intercepting Fist") DVD.

1. This DVD provides an excellent source for whoever wants to learn one of the most important forms of the 7 Stars Mantis System, Lan Jie Quan (or Intercepting Fist Boxing). The form is taught very accurately and precisely, using well made video images shown under different angles. Furthermore, a wide part of the DVD is focused on real fight applications. Even for people who already know this form, I would recommend it for reference purpose.



2. Friends,
   
   I recently ordered the Lanjie DVDs from [...] as I mentioned in the first post. I ordered them on May 14th., the order was sent out on May 24th and I received the DVDs on May 26th.. Sifu Daily apologized for the delay in shipping and kindly offered me a reduced price on my next order. Good customer service!
   
   Production & Video Quality
   
   In the middle 1980s I hired a video company to help me produce a videotape on the Fu Hok Sheung Ying Kuen form of Hung Gar Kung Fu. It sold very well in the U.S..
   So, I have some experience in this field and the nightmare it can be to take on a project like this.
   
   Martialskill's end product is very professional. From the DVD packaging to the content breakdown, everything far exceeds the DVDs I have purchased from other Mantis practitioners in the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong and Canada. Kevin Brazier is the only one I have found who puts out a similar quality video (Shaolin Eight Step Continuous Fist).
   
   The video, sound, scene transitions, etc. are all professional quality.
   
   Form Demonstration, Breakdown & Applications
   
   First, I compared the demonstration of the Lanjie form to videos of other Qixing Tanglang practitioners found demonstrating this same form on YouTube and other video sites. Sifu Daily's performance is not only the best I have seen to date, but his "flair" in execution was quite inspiring.
   
   Sifus Daily, Lopez and Brown each did an excellent demonstration of the traditional form. Sean Daily, the primary performer in the video, had a firm grasp of: cadence, speed and qixing tanglangquan's subtle power generation methods.
   
   The form was broken down into five rows. Each row was taught step by step in a clear, precise manner. Footwork and power generation through the waist were constantly emphasized. The traditional names for the attacks were included in the instruction.
   Each movement in the form was then demonstrated with a partner to show the common application used for self-defense.
   One could choose to watch the step by step instruction of the movements, or watch a movement by movement application of the techniques separately.
   Sifu Daily is an interesting speaker who was able to hold my attention. He explains complex comcepts in a simple way that I believe even a beginner could understand.
   
   Summary
   
   I would recommend this DVD set to any tanglangquan practitioner. Especially to qixing tanglangquan practitioners. If you like the beautiful aesthetics found in forms, its in there. If you like the practical applications found in forms, its in there. If you want a solid and clear explanation of tanglangquan theories, its in there.
   I believe every penny I spent on these DVDs was a good investment in my own personal learning experience.

1 comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu: Praying Mantis Chain Styles Vol. 1 DVD.

1. This is a very good instructional DVD for helping beginners or advanced kung fu practitioneers to master practical fighting and self-defense technique applications from the 7 star mantis kung fu system.

1 comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu - Bong Bo Kuen.

1. Overall, I was pretty impressed with this DVD. The footage is of Master Tak Wah Eng doing a mantis form: Bong Bo Kuen. This DVD offers the form done once through from three angles, then the form again broken into sections from those same angles. Very good demonstration of Praying Mantis kung fu, although unless you already know the style I'm pretty sure you won't learn to much from it. They don't offer any explaination of what he's doing at all, just the form from the three angles.

4 comments about Praying Mantis Kung Fu: Bong Bo Kuen DVD.

1. I wish all martial art dvds were made this good. No skipping, no freezing, it just plays smooth. The dvd is easy to navigate and there is plenty of information. The form is shown at full speed, then broken down and applications are taught. As a long time martial artist with 42 years of practice, I have seen a lot of folks and a lot of videos, few would compare to Sean and his work here. Oh, and most importantly, this is authentic Mantis Kung Fu. Besides my training in Tang Soo Do and Hapkido, I have also studied numerous Mantis systems, 7 Star, Tai Mantis, Southern and Korean Mantis and I can assure anyone thinking about buying this dvd or any other dvds by Sean, that this is the real deal. One last thing, after being in the martial arts for over 4 decades, it is my honest and educated opinion that Mantis kung fu is one of the best systems for overall practicality, thus, if you are new to the idea of Asian self-defense methods and not sure which one to study, then my advice to you is this; you cannot go wrong if you pick Mantis kung fu.



2. This seven-star kung fu DVD, like all the other presented in the series offered by Sean Daily and Wes Hardy, is excellent. After purchasing this DVD, noticing that it was very well done, I kept purchasing the other seven-star kung fu DVDs offered by those martial artists.
   The Bung Bo Quan or Crushing Step Boxing form is presented in a very competent, neat, and easy too understand way. Images, moves and explanations are optimal and easy to understand, even for beginner kung fu students. Especially noticeable is the fact that about half of the DVD is focused on presenting in a distinguished way the form applications for a real fight contest.
   In my personal opinion, as an experienced martial artist, this all DVDs series is the best I have ever seen. I have been through a lot of bad, mediocare, and just ok kung fu Dvds during the past years....but I can say that finally I found what I was looking for.
   I would strongly recommend this DVD and the all series to whoever is interested in learning or perfecting the seven-star northern mantis kung fu style.



3. Excellent format for demonstrating both theory and practice of Bong Bo form and Sevenstar style thus far. A novice to martial arts would be well served to find an instructor to learn the fundamentals of breathing, chi, posture/stance, delivery, character (etc)--but if you're coming from a background with some martial arts, the martialskill products are particularly good at communicating the forms and the applications. Some of the supplemental two-person exercises are very useful for developing timing and delivery of strikes. Over-all, I'd recommend it both for the content of the form which is a library of most of the techniques within the mantis system, and the way the form is taught. I appreciated greatly the emphasis on waist-power. A common error is to teach a form/style much more linear, much more "hard"; another common error seems to be teaching a form as demonstrating movements devoid of application. Waist-power taught early more quickly translates into application-power for delivery of strikes--especially important to develop this type of power for close-in fighting characteristic of mantis. This particular form of Bong Bo is close enough to most lineages with some variations that learning it well will not have to be unlearned under another lineage. Foot-work is explicated, if not always emphasized; the principles are there to be extracted--and this is an important point for sevenstar mantis in particular. Also appreciate the note that each form should be practiced hundreds of times before achieving moderate proficiency. The over-all presentation should be a model for others wishing to preserve their branch/style of martial arts. Nothing replaces a good instructor in person, and nothing replaces multiple partners of different heights, size, strengths, weaknesses, levels-of-knowledge to work with to refine and learn about effectiveness of various applications under different conditions. But I will agree that most of the tools necessary to learn sevenstar mantis are already present in the form itself and the way it is presented gives a pretty well-rounded understanding. I was satisfied with the demonstrations of the forms that Wes Hardy, Sean Daily, Carlos Lopez are proficient, show clean form, executed power, poise, timing, and expertise. Look forward to the complete library of sevenstar forms being released.



4. Very nice job on the Bung Bu DVD! The DVDs are a very high quality production. The best I have ever seen.
   Sifu Wes Hardy's explanations were very clear and Sean Daily's performance of the form was excellent!
   I will definitely be recommending this video to all my students.
   
   Richard A. Tolson
   Wuying Tanglangquan Training Hall
   North Canton, Ohio

3 comments about Needle Through Brick.

1. I'd heard about this film through a trailer that I found on Youtube. I've fallowed its progress as it was submitted to festivals and was excited to see it finally on DVD. It is a very powerful, emotional and moving documentary about Traditional Chinese Kung Fu in our modern world. It's backdrop is Borneo Island where a lot of Kung Fu masters fled to after World War II and the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the 1960's. The sifu's that are interviewed were disciples of these masters and still work to pass on their heritage to a world where fewer and fewer children want to put in the time to study.
   
   This may be a print to order title, but the filmmakers have done a lot with so little. It is a powerful meditative piece that I hope will find a wider and wider audience. Highly recommended to those studying kung fu and anyone interested in Chinese culture in general.



2. A very timely film, considering the juxtapostion between time intensive, laborious, honored traditions and the fast, easy paced, and for the most part, less lethal, aspect of moderan life. A topic and an ungency that has been driving many martial masters for some time, some of the most notable, Park, Bok-Nam and Dr Yang, Jwing-Ming. A "Must see" for all who practice the traditional arts.



3. A wonderful movie about chinese martial arts and the effort to keep it alive. The only thing about this movie that I didn't like was that it wasn't long enough! I wanted more. I wished they had moved beyond China to seek out other masters as well that had moved from the area to practice elsewhere, but this was a small movie with a budget and they could probably only do so much. What they did do with it is amazing however. There's not much I can add that hasn't already been stated in the reviews here. So I'll just add that I recently purchased the soundtrack for this movie which has original music by gil talmi and I love it even more than the movie which is wonderful in and of itself. Just had to share that since it took some searching for me to find the soundtrack and I finally found it here on good ol' amazon.