This is the summary of the most commonly used Mantis Boxing elbow techniques, totaling 8 in number as listed in the Compilation of Mantis Boxing Fist, (THE TREATISE IN THE PRAYING MANTIS SCHOOL OF MARTIAL ARTS) This masterpiece of Grandmaster Wong Hon-Fan was drafted early in the late 1950s, but part of the manuscript was lost. After years of effort, the missing parts were recovered from other writings of Grandmaster Wong.
In Chinese martial arts, in addition to using fists and palms, there are also techniques involving
fingers, elbows and more. Elbow techniques involve short strikes close to the body and are
characterized by their effectiveness.
In Praying Mantis Boxing, there is a set of techniques known as the “Eight Elbows,” which can be
found in various forms and sets. While it may seem straightforward to use elbow techniques,
employing the elbow is not as natural and flexible as using fists and palms. To achieve agility
with the elbows, it is crucial to first loosen the shoulder. Loosening the joints is highly beneficial
in martial arts, especially considering the close connection between the elbow and shoulder.
In he appendix of Flying Goose Palm, it is also mentioned that elbow techniques differ from
finger techniques, emphasizing the importance of short strikes. Many martial arts schools
emphasize the concept of “sinking the shoulders and dropping the elbows,” highlighting the
significance of proper elbow utilization. Praying Mantis Boxing is renowned for its combination
of seven long and eight short techniques, with elbow techniques falling under the category of
the eight short techniques.
千鈞 translates to “a thousand catties” or “a thousand pounds.” In a martial arts context, it is often
used metaphorically to convey great force or pressure. 千鈞 is used to unload the elbow with
techniques such as overlapping elbow, elbow twist, sticking elbow, and pushing and sticking.
Overlapping focuses on pressing the opponents elbow, which is also known as the technique in
“Eight Strikes,” where you seal and then use overlapping to press down. If not handled properly,
there’s a risk of breaking the arm.
The ideal method is to use a combination of techniques. Techniques like twisting the elbow,
sticking close, and pushing and striking all involve close-range striking, either by lifting the arm
from above, supporting the arm, or using the hand to strike the opponents face or pushing
down during elbow twisting.
These techniques are skillful due to the strong force of the elbow, which shortens the distance
and increases power. Especially when used defensively, if the opponent has already lifted their
hands, you can imitate a long-range straight attack towards the lower-middle path and in a
dangerous situation, you can effectively counterattack by sinking. This is a technique with dual
benefits and no harm.
