DURING the recently opened Laoshan intangible cultural heritage festival, a master of Praying Mantis Boxing, a Chinese martial art, Chen Leping displayed his Praying Mantis skills.

    Praying Mantis is one of the 10 Chinese martial arts schools. Qingdao was once called “Praying Mantis’ Nest” because a large number of people studied it in the 1960s and 1970s.

    Praying Mantis is especially known for its speed. Wrist and arm techniques in particular are emphasized, as well as knee and elbow strikes. Another prominent feature of the style is the complexity of footwork required.

    Chen, 58, started practicing Chinese martial arts in his childhood.

    “The most important aspect of Praying Mantis Boxing is the arm movements, which should resemble a praying mantis,” said Chen.

    Chen started learning it in the 1960s with Li Zhanyuan, an inheritor of the Qixing Praying Mantis Boxing. Li died in 1992.

    Fifty years of persistent practice have made Chen a master of the style.

    “When I became a follower of master Li, I found he always kept a close eye on a small wooden case. He would take out some papers and read them carefully,” said Chen.

    Chen secretly opened the wooden case, finding on the papers the secrets of how to practice Praying Mantis Boxing.

    With the help of the papers, Chen taught himself the theories while practicing regularly.

    According to legend, in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wang Lang, a monk at Huayan Temple on Laoshan Mountain, was defeated by another martial arts master at Shaolin Monastery in Henan Province. He then saw a praying mantis hunting cicada and, inspired by its hunting skills, he developed a form of martial arts called Praying Mantis. Soon he defeated his competitors.(Li Hao)