Taiji Mantis form Bazhou part 1 - Yantai, 2013

A blast from the past: In 2013, I performed the Taiji Mantis form Ba Zhou part 1 at the Yantai International Martial Arts Festival.
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[@kwanarchive]

The main thing that sticks out to me about this performance is the whole body connection in each movement. A lot of Praying Mantis demonstrations on RUclips, the hands are moving to a different timing from the body and the feet, almost like they're doing their own thing. But in this performance everything is moving together, and doesn't feel rushed.

[@brianquint6126]

Impressive.

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Thank you!

[@josefranciscocrispo6181]

Espectacular!!!

[@blockmasterscott]

Man, it's rare to see traditional technique in forms. Good job.

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Thanks for the compliment, although I'm not sure why you mean by traditional techniques being rare in forms. Other than modern Wushu academies, but vast majority of forms practiced worldwide us traditional techniques.

[@blockmasterscott]

@@MonkeyStealsPeach Oh I just mean that in competitions, there's just a lot of non practical stuff like jumping, doing flips, dropping down in the splits and so on.
Not only Wushu, but in Japanese forms competition too here in the States. They do ridiculous stuff like multiple vertical kicks while moving in a circle, and twirling katanas and staffs around and throwing them up in the air.
And they do this with no practical application of power or knowledge of biomechanics. It hurts to see it.
Sorry for the rant, I'm just an ultra traditionalist, and seeing stuff like that makes me cringe.

[@GermanSausagesAreTheWurst]

@@blockmasterscott I would much rather watch Wushu than that American stuff. I think they call it "XMA" or something. Some of them are good athletes, and I can't do it, but at least the Wushu is based off of traditional styles. That American forms competition stuff is pure theatrics.

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Lol I’ve never heard of that. Sounds very American!

[@blockmasterscott]

@@MonkeyStealsPeach I am extremely embarrassed to say that is is very American! 😒

[@davidbarnwell6180]

Fantastic!!

[@livinginthetruthministries7094]

Nice! Good Tai Ji Mantis form

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Thanks a lot

[@ryanramos3491]

Great form there 👍👍👍👍👍

[@EzeHSK]

For someone who's not familiar with taiji mantis the form looks like it's not so easy to see the applications. I know that's not how you're supposed to learn a system, I'm just saying other styles have forms which look more obvious in their movements. I wonder if this is on purpose or just accidental. Is it more esoteric (as in you really need to be on the inside to learn it) on purpose or is it our (ok, my own) modern perception that just doesn't get it? As always, love your videos, the work you do. For other people who might read this, I'm a tcma guy myself and I know Will here is legit, I'm not criticizing, just an observation.

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Hey, yea its a good observation. Ba Zhou is done with particularly exaggerated Shenfa as it is used a kind of advanced practice. If you simplify the movements, you will see the applications are a lot of close range methods, like elbows, shoulders, clinch, some takedowns/throws etc

[@TheMaverickunleashed]

Very nice!

[@JacksonScully]

Have you specialised in any type of kung fu? What have you gained from learning from many styles?

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

This is actually my style - Taiji Mantis. I've picked up bits and pieces of other stuff on my travels, but probably 90% of my training has been in this style. If you look at my older videos especially, you will see I have talked about it quite a bit.

[@JacksonScully]

​@@MonkeyStealsPeachcool man I'll check out your older videos.

[@esferademanu]

Beutiful!

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Thank you!

[@Apollo108-hw1we]

Were you able to compare your version of bazhou and bazhou in Taiwan during yout travels?

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

Bazhou isn’t widely practiced in Taiwan. The only version I’ve seen there is a recent import from a Korean lineage of Hao Jia

[@Apollo108-hw1we]

@@MonkeyStealsPeach thank you for your reply. I use to comment here under the handle “mantisman”. I train with KB and now Shrye Shr Zheng Zhong. I recently saw Peng lai’s version of bazhou. Quite the treat to see. Its the only bazhou I have seen after 5 plus years living in Taiwan. Maybe its here but kept more under wraps among other schools.

[@randeldavisredforestchines7752]

.....when are you moving back home Will !!!??? I mean to China !!???

[@MonkeyStealsPeach]

I’m quite enjoying my life here in Australia! I plan to make a trip back to China next year hopefully

[@yatsufusazankhan3082]

sad....

[@julesjones2442]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Uussshhh

[@mikeposavic9646]

Interesting.