SEVEN-STAR SET AND SEVEN-STAR PRAYING MANTIS
The Seven-Star Set is different form Seven-Star Praying Mantis
Question
I noticed a couple of people mention that the Seven-Star set is good for a small sized person (something which always catches my eye!) which means I can't resist asking the question I was thinking of asking earlier.
When I heard "Seven-Star Set" my first thought was "Is this related to Seven-Star Praying Mantis?" and especially given it is being taught in Switzerland, our cradle of Praying Mantis Kungfu! But I thought others would probably already know this, and from reading what others said I figured it was probably something completely separate.
However knowing that Praying Mantis was known as being good for small people, and hearing now that Seven Star is as well, I do want to know if they are related?
And I would ask a related part of the question which is, if all things were equal, i.e. same time spent in stance training and combat application, same force developed, which would be the best combat art for small people to practise, or even what would be the top 3 in order?
Paul – Drunken Boxer
Answer
No, the Seven-Star Set is not related to Seven-Star Praying Mantis Kungfu.
The Seven-Star Set was already recorded in the Shaolin Classics in the Song Dynasty, whereas Praying Mantis Kungfu was invented in the Ming Dynasty a few hundred years later. Seven-Star Praying Mantis is a branch of Praying Mantis Kungfu, and was first defined even much later.
Although both are effective for the small-sized exponents against bigger-sixed opponents, they developed differently with different philosophies and methods.
The Seven-Star Set is a kungfu set of Northern Shaolin Kungfu, whereas Seven-Star Praying Mantis is a kungfu style. There are many kungfu sets in the Seven-Star Praying Mantis Style.
Both the Seven-Star Set and Seven-Star Praying Mantis are effective for small-sized exponents against bigger-sized opponents. But the principles and techniques they use are different.
Seven-Star Praying Mantis uses the curved arms of an exponent to neutralize the force of an opponent, whereas the Seven-Star Set uses the “threading” movement of the exponent’s arm. Both attack an opponent’s vital points, thus causing serious injury without using much muscular strength.
Seven-Star Praying Mantis uses the index-fingers and the knuckles of the mantis hook for this purpose, whereas the Seven-Star Set uses crab-pincers and fingers of the palm for the purpose. Both use kicks, but while the kicks in Seven-Star Praying Mantis are more varied, those in the Seven-Star Set aim specifically at the sexual organ.
Both the Seven-Star Set and Seven-Star Praying Mantis have their Seven-Star Stances, but they are different although the name is the same. The Seven-Star Stance of Seven-Star Praying Mantis is high, like a high False-Leg Stance but the front leg is straight with the heel touching the ground and the toes pointing skyward. The Seven-Star Stance in the Seven-Star Set is low, like a Unicorn Stance low on the ground. We should think of a different name for either of these stances to differentiate them.
If all other things were equal, in my opinion the best three types of kungfu in descending order are Monkey Kungfu, Seven-Star Set and Flower-Set. Three other kungfu types that are also very effective for the small-sized against the bigger-sized, i.e. the fourth, the fifth and the sixth top in order are Taijiquan, Wing Choon Kungfu and Praying Mantis Kungfu.
It is worthwhile to note that while these six types of kungfu are suitable for the small against the big, the reverse is not necessarily disadvantageous. In other words, if you are big-sized, by practicing any one of these six types of kungfu, you may not be at a disadvantage against opponents who are small-sized. Some of our Monkey specialists, for example, are not small in size.
This principle actually applies to all styles of kungfu -- if the exponents know how to use the kungfu for effective combat. If they don’t know, and most don’t, it does not matter what style of kungfu they practice, they will still be unable to apply their kungfu for combat.
Wing Choon Kungfu is another effective style for the small against the big
The above discussion is reproduced from the thread 10 Questions on the famous and legendary Seven-Star Set (七星拳)
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