3.5.2024

We went over quite a bit of things, but I want to write down what we went through on the Cho Family Fist Mantis Hands

1. This is the one I know, no need to go on. On the pushing move, palm out, fingers up and at shoulder length. Do over push.
2. This is 3 moves: the first move of the set, move up to the throat, hook the neck, and then elbow with the back elbow. Move the body in to generate force with the elbow. Don’t pull back and telegraph.
3. Start with the third move from the set, hand slides up to push the chin up. Elbow down with the palm neutral.
4. Clear, back pam strike to chin, hook, and elbow with the hand hooking.
5. They try to take us down, shoot at us. Step back and strike down with the back of the mantis hand, go into horse stance, and chop their neck. Step back and push them down.
6. Down palm into their neck, hook with both hands, and knee low. Step away while holding their head and turning to the left to throw them. Holding their head and moving will generate tremendous force. It’s the fulcrum and forces the rest of the body to move.
7. Low punch with free hand fingers up and palm open. The free hand goes over their face and the punching hand goes behind them and strikes them in the back. Hook with the striking hand and turn their face while stepping back.
8. Low punch with the free hand up, punching hand strikes them the meaty part of the mantis hand. Kind of on the side. Elbow with the striking hand to finish.

Half stick notes:

1. The stick and front foot are forward like in the single stick.
2. Tapping and Striking is to learn control with power, don’t over-extend.
3. Solo practice:
   • Stabbing,
   • Reinforce end strike,
   • Choking, this is where we get behind them.
   • Holding is from the from, one palm up one palm down.
4. Block and Check- Don’t push their arm away, just place and make contact. Feel their movement, strike if it moves away.
5. Parry and Pass. Pass here means to pass the guard, which is really stepping in to take the outside position.

Work on my back stance, the back should not open out. Should be perpendicular to my body. It can point towards the front but don’t open it.

I need to write about myself, but I’m not sure where to start. Let’s just start now:

I’ve always had an interest in all things Martial Arts, but I didn’t get to start my formal martial journey until I was 26 in Kendo. I practiced Kendo for a little more than 12 years and attained the rank of Yondan (Fourth Degree Black Belt). Despite being a sensei rank, I did not feel that I could consider myself a true martial artist. Without a sword, bamboo or otherwise, I would not be able to defend myself. And so I embarked on my musha shugyo (martial journey). I started to train in Muay Thai to learn the basics of striking, and then went on with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Towards the end of the pandemic, a local Kung-Fu Sifu, whom I have known about since I was a third grader, was going to retire. And so, I wanted to become one of Sifu’s last students before he retires. At the time, Sifu was working on the Chinese Stick Fighting project. I was honored that Sifu wanted me to help him grow the system together. We continue expanding and refining the system into what we have today. (To be continued)