雙手長劍在中國歷代一般為儀衛所使用的武器。劍刃之所以這樣長主要有兩個原因：1）長大的武器能覆蓋更大的範圍，更適合侍衛使用；2）彰顯衛士與所保護者（皇室或政府要員）的威嚴。明代的圖卷我們可以看到長大的長柄兵器或斬馬刀取代了長劍作爲儀衛用途的功能。
Tag: Kung Fu
雙封 Double Closures
六合螳螂拳套路鍛煉的是身體的柔勁，又稱為“軟螳螂”，所以在套路演練裏很少有發出明顯剛勁的時候。六合螳螂的軟是在梅花螳螂剛的基礎上再進一步。梅花螳螂是以剛的打擊爲主，同時利用身體的柔勁去帶動身體的運動，使得動作連貫一氣呵成。梅花螳螂運動起來要有藕斷絲連的感覺，柔勁就是以充滿張力的“絲”去調動身體各部進行剛猛的打擊。六合螳螂則是利用同樣的原理去製造出不一樣、倒置的效果。它是以柔勁的運動爲主，以柔的絲包裹著剛勁去製造龐大的壓力。這稱為“棉裏裹鐡”。
崩步 Avalanche
崩步的中心思想在第一段，要求使用身體的動能高速的像山崩一樣輾壓對方以瓦解他的防綫。對方速退的話就跟隨他上步，如影如隨，不讓對方有喘氣的空檔。所以這叫做“崩步”，身法步法要活要快要猛，勁度乍看像瘋子一樣。這是梅花螳螂勁度的特色。
七長八短之説
張熙政1 傳統的「七長八短」 陳雲濤在《螳螂拳略論中》説道：「通背拳為七長之拳，而螳螂拳則七長八短，長短俱備，八剛十二柔，剛柔相濟，為短打之絕妙好拳」2。馬漢清在〈淺談螳螂拳的七長八短、八剛十二柔〉中提出長拳短打並不能計量區分，「七長八短」也無法精確說明，所以有「長拳即短打，短打即是長拳」之說，然後他再具體説明何謂「七長八短」3。 所謂的「七長」：
Fanning-Hand Adze 仙手奔
Class Note No. 4
Student kept resisting hard so the intended moves did not work, and I had to improvize instead. Since he was resisting hard, the stiffness allowed him to defend a couple moves, while at the same time created openings elsewhere. As a result, he got hit a lot, up and down, left and right.
That’s to show the essence of the combat art is not just hitting people fast and hard and with what, but the ability to contorl the flow of the action by adapting faster. This requires a way to acquire information and make timely decisions to not just take the initiative, but to take the initiative away from the opponent.
There is also no pulling back. That’s one central tenent of the Mantis Style.
Off-Helmet 霸王摘盔
Seal, Binding Throw 掛印捆摔
This is a compound technique with two disticnt phases. A “combo” would be a combination of moves on within the same movement range, say, punching or kicking range, but a compound is a combination of two or more techniques across the spectrum, for example, move from striking to grappling range.
First initiate with Seal, if the opponent fail to defend, it will then be just a hit. Should the opponent deflect the incoming Seal by pushing your arm towards his inside line, you can then cut to and bind the inside of his arm and perform a Binging Throw. Other techniqies can also be used depending on your arm’s position and if the opponent resists your throw. The binding throw is very similar to the Cracking Whip, min. (小摔鞭) in wrestling; the difference being the holding position of the opponent’s arm.
We can learn improvisation by practising compound techniqes as they emphasise on body movement and awareness across the range instead of just trying to strike standing on the same spot.
Basic Grappling: Self-Defence 101
The important thing to take away here is that the techniques aren’t the most significant factor; it is the mentality and the ability to follow and connect that allow the practitioner to perform effectively and efficiently.
Class Note No. 3
We are continuing our current theme of initial engagement then proceed to wrestling or grappling immediately.
This is a very fundamental concept to be instilled, as it helps the students understand why it is important to connect to the opponent and how to move across different measures.
If we only learn how to strike or wrestle, it would be very easy to be stuck when the opponent moves in and out of that particular measure, and you would be open for a counter. Connectivity helps us shorten our action cycle and keep the action flowing to maintain the initiative.
螳螂拳紀要 The Art of Mantis 