Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association 

What is the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association?

This is an association of like minded individuals, who are interested in the study and practice of Korean Ship Pal Gi Kung Fu or some other form of Korean style Praying Mantis Kung Fu and who would like to work with others in a friendly atmosphere of fellow martial art enthusiasts. 

Korean Mantis Kung Fu is really Chinese Mantis Kung Fu that has been given a Korean flavour by way its evolution in Korea. Many, such as Sifu Erik Brechun and myself (Mike Shaw) have incorporated Korean Hapkido into the Korean Mantis Kung Fu. Here is a Hapkido throw we use in Korean Mantis Fist.

As a member each instructor is free to teach their own Korean Kung Fu curriculum and as they see fit just so long as they keep the safety* of their students in mind. 

*All instructors, who apply for membership, must be actively teaching, either as a studio owner or as a workshop facilitator, in other words, all instructors MUST set up their own martial arts business and MUST have their own Martial Arts Insurance and any other Insurance that may be required to run a martial arts studio.  The Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association is a rank recognition and grading body that shares information, however, individual members do NOT represent nor teach the general public  for the Association, but rather, run their own schools and are responsible for their own finances, debts and insurance.  No member of the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association, including the founding members, teaches for the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association.  

For example:  Master Mike of Canada, who is a founding member of the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association, runs “Mike’s School of Self-Defence” which is his own school and which has its own martial arts insurance.  When Mike teaches, he teaches for his own school and not the Association. If Master Mike hosts a workshop and invites the members of the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association, then he does so through his own existing school which is, Mike’s School of Self-Defence. He may call the workshop a Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu workshop however, he must not say that the workshop is being presented by the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association, rather, it must be put on by his own business and not by the Association.  IN other words, whenever any member decides to host a workshop for others, be that workshop intended for other members of the Association or the general public or both, then that workshop must be presented by their own existing school or club.  Members cannot state that they are putting on a workshop for the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association.   

/The Association only serves him in his own learning about Korean Martial Arts, by the exchange of information and the joy of fellowshipping with like minded folks in the Korean Martial Arts, specifically the Mantis system. The Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association assumes no responsibilities for injury, loss or death to its members or their students through the practice of martial arts or any other way.

What Does the Korean Mantis Fist International Association Do?

[The following information is accurate at this time.  The legalities of the Association may change in the future.]

The Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association brings together people all over the world who have an interest in the study and or practice of Praying Mantis Kung Fu, specifically that Praying Mantis Kung Fu which has been influenced by Koreans or other Korean martial arts.

There is a board of directors, who are higher ranked members, who work as a governing body, seeing to the legalities of the Association and offering membership, rank testing and rank recognition to other members. 

All members work together to help each other learn and promote the Korean Mantis Kung Fu style, as diverse as that might be.   The association also seeks to help beginners or practitioners, under the rank of black sash and no longer associated with a teacher, find instructors in their area or attend workshops. 

DVDs may become available however, no distance courses will be taught.  DVDs will be sold as informational items only and not as courses.  Beginners seeking to learn Mantis Kung Fu must sign up at a local school.  If we do not have a school in your area, perhaps we can suggest an alternative.  It is very important that the beginner realize that they MUST train, IN PERSON, with a qualified teacher to insure proper learning and that the risk of injuries are kept to a minimum.  There is no way that we can teach this through video correspondence.   As such any beginner, or for that matter, any person at all, beginner or instructor, who purchases our DVDs, does so with the full knowledge that any practice of the techniques demonstrated on the DVDs is done at their own risk and they release the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association from any and all responsibility for injuries that may occur as a result of student’s use or misuse of the martial art information on the dvds.

Who May Join the Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association?

Anyone who is of good moral character and who studies or practices Korean Praying Mantis Kung Fu and wishes to become part of our Mantis family or anyone who studies other Korean Martial Arts such as Tang Soo Do, Hap Ki Do or Tae Kwon Do and would like to study Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu through one of the schools within our Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association and wishes to become a member may join the association [Check to see who is close to you and if you are willing to travel that far to study.]  There are several levels at which a person may join.

• (1)    Black Sash Korean Kung Fu Instructor Level:  If you have a black sash or higher in Korean Kung Fu such as Ship Pal Gi, Praying Mantis or Ba Gua, then simply send in a copy of your certificate, or detailed training history and membership fee and you will become a member and receive a certificate, membership card and association patch.  Members at this level are recognized right away as Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu Instructors.

• (2)     Black Sash Chinese Kung Fu Instructor Transfer Level:  If you have a black sash rank or higher in any style of Chinese Mantis and you wish to transfer your rank to the Korean equivalent then simply send in a copy of your certificate along with the appropriate membership fee and we will make the transfer.  You will receive a black sash rank certificate, a membership card and an association patch.  Once the transfer is done then you may start adding Korean martial arts to your existing system either by attending our workshops or by learning on your own. Members at this level are recognized right away as Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu Instructors.

• (3)    Colour Sash Practitioners Level:  If you have a colour sash in Praying Mantis Kung Fu you may also join.  Members at this level will receive a colour sash certificate and membership card along with a jacket patch.

• (4)    If you do not fall into the groups listed above and yet, you would still like to join, please email Master Mike at mantismike@start.ca and let him know your situation.