For thousands of years there has existed a style of wrestling know as Bökh. This translates as 'durability', and is a folk wrestling art used by the Mongols as well as other regions in Asia. Ghenghis Khan (1162 - 1227), used this as a method of keeping his soldiers fit for battle. It was considered one of the 'three manly acts'. The Mongols, under Ghengis' leadership, went on to conquer many regions under his reign, and later his descendants. As such, the influences of the Mongolian culture spread; evidenced by the Qing Dynasty (1646–1911). Centuries later, the Qing held regular wrestling bouts. (wikipedia reference)
During the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), the history of a northern Chinese Martial Art style known as Eagle Claw Boxing (鷹爪拳) was born. Early references referred to the style as - 'Elephant Style'; coincidentally, also the nickname of Mongolian Wrestling. While Bökh contained some kicking to the legs, it was not a striking art by nature. Eagle Claw, growing off of it's grappling heritage, eventually incorporated other techniques for combat such as: striking, kicking, and joint locks.
Why the Eagle Claw? The Eagle Claw is a hand shape technique (Xiàng (象) means "shape, form, or appearance") that emphasizes grabbing techniques of an opponent when there are limited, to no clothes to grab. Eagle Claw uses the fingers to separate muscle, increasing the holding power on the opponent. Great stress is placed upon finger strength in this system.
Fast forward to the late Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and a style known as Praying Mantis Boxing (螳螂拳) appears in the northern Chinese province known as Shandong. [Note Shandong's relative geographical location to Inner Mongolia.]
Incidentally, around the same time another famous style of stand-up grappling appeared next door in Henan Province. Sharing many of the principles of the Mantis style and also based around stand-up grappling as it's core, this art was later to be known as Tai Ji Quan - 太極拳 (Tai Chi).
Scholar Douglas Wile points out in his book 'Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty', this region was "China's most fertile breeding ground for martial arts." due to it's volatile nature and generations of combat.
The Mantis Hook (Gōu 勾), is a 'hand shape' (Xiàng 象), and is the key indicator of the style, along with Clinch (Lǒu 摟), and Pluck (Cǎi 採). This seemingly innocuous hand shape, is highly effective and ingenious in design. Other martial arts styles also use hooks: White Crane, Muay Thai, Wrestling (Mongolian and Western), but the Mantis hook places emphasis on the curling of the fingers to strengthen the forearm and the holds.
When a Mantis Boxer latches onto an opponent, the hook has been trained to create a tight clinch. When a Mantis Boxer practices forms (tao lu 套路, or shadow boxing), they emphasize folding the fingers into the hook hand, engaging the muscles in the forearm. Training this focus, as well as other tools/drills, increases the hook strength in the arms of the Mantis Boxer, giving them more control over their opponent.
The common hooks are: neck hook, over hook, under hook, arm hook, wrist hook, and leg hook.
The Boxer Rebellion
The Rise of Mao
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