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Mike’s School of Self-Defence
Korean Mantis Kung Fu & Chen Tai Chi Chuan
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings we run Adult (16 yrs and up) Korean Praying Mantis Kung Fu classes. The system of Mantis we teach is called “Sha Mu Kwan Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu” also known as "Sa Ma Gui Hap Ki Yu Sul" and it is a integrated hybrid mix of, “Chinese Seven Star Mantis”, “Chinese Tai Chi Mantis”, “Korean Mantis”, “Korean Ship Pal Gi Kung Fu”, “Chinese Southern Mantis”, “Korean Hap Ki Do and Korean Tang Soo Do”. A short Chen style Tai Chi Chuan is also presented as a supplemental and complementary art. Combat applications for the Chen Tai Chi are taught. Classes are held at Trinity United Church. Cost is $70 per month for students and $100 per month working adults: Family rates available.
The Praying Mantis -
Warrior Kung Fu & Spirituality
Spiritual Aspect of the Praying Mantis -- Praying Mantis the Good Guide
…the ancient Pagan Greeks and the Medieval Christians believed that, upon encountering a Praying Mantis during one’s travels, the Mantis would guide travellers away from any peril that may be lurking ahead of them. The Mantis was also thought to come to counsel those folks who had strayed from the path of righteousness or holiness and lost their way. Their arms, when outstretched, pointed to heaven as the source of our strength and when folded into the prayer position indicated how to reconnect with God; when reaching forward, pointed one on his or her way along the path of Spiritual Sanctification… As such the Mantis was seen as an image of Christ and or one of his angelic assistants and hence, the Good Guide.
Warrior Kung Fu Aspect of the Praying Mantis -- Praying Mantis the Skilled Warrior
Throughout China the Mantis was revered for its fearlessness in battle and its skill in fighting. Many stories were told of its courage and abilities. One such story tells of a Mantis that stretches up its arms to stop a chariot, showing no fear at the larger opponent. Another story tells of a Mantis that attacks the front of a chariot wheel. Out of great admiration, for the Mantis, the Warrior has his charioteer back up and drive around the Mantis. Of course, there are also stories about how Buddhist and Daoist Monks were impressed so much by the fighting skills of the Mantis that these Monks copied their movements and adapted their own fighting methods to match them. It is from these Mantis Kung Fu styles that we, at “Mike’s School of Self-Defence”, base most of our own system; the other being Korean Hapkido.
Chinese Mantis Kung Fu: There are two main schools of Mantis Kung Fu that come to us from China; the Northern and Southern. The Northern style, which has several branches, originates, according to the most popular legends, with a Daoist priest named, Wang Lang and the Southern style was developed, according to the teachings of one Southern school, by a Buddhist priest named Chow Ah Naam. Another Southern school says that their style comes from a monk at the Jook Lum Buddhist temple; What ever their true origins, both the Northern and the Southern styles of Praying Mantis Kung Fu are considered to be extremely effective in combat situations.
Like the defence systems, Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do, both made popular by the late Bruce Lee, Mantis Kung Fu includes trapping hand techniques which are not found in all martial arts. Of course, the Northern Mantis style uses the Mantis claw giving it the very distinctive insect look.
Unlike some martial arts that block then counter, many of the Mantis defence strategies use a simultaneous block and counter. Like Western Boxing, Mantis stylists use a lot of slipping and parrying techniques. Northern Mantis is one of the main aspects of Mike’s Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu and with this in mind one should realize that the Northern style has a very well rounded approach to fighting as it includes locks, holds, throws and grappling.
Korean Mantis Kung Fu: Roughly there are three types of Korean Kung Fu: Ba Gua, Mantis and Ship Pal Gi. Actually, the Mantis and the Ship Pal Gi are one and the same style. Korean Mantis is not a true Mantis system, as it has many other types of kung fu mixed in, however, this is not out of step with Chinese Mantis Kung Fu which is famous for integrating other kung fu forms & moves from various systems and Mantisizing them and making them their own. In fact, when Wang Lang developed Northern Praying Mantis he integrated 18 various kung fu systems into his own, including three styles that were similar to what we would call Jiu-Jitsu or Judo.
Korean Kung Fu is known for its hard hitting aspect. It maintains the flow and grace found in its Chinese parent style, but adds a unique Korean power to it, making it a truly devastating defence system. This is why Korean Mantis is the second major part of Mike’s Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu.
If you ever see two Korean Mantis style kung fu practitioners face off; you will notice that they fight with their right foot forward, as do most Mantis stylists. In the world of Western Boxing, this stance is referred to as South-Paw and actually was the preferred stance prior to the introduction of boxing gloves. Of course, the Mantis stylist can fight with his or her left foot forward too, though they would only do this if the situation called for it.
Korean Hap Ki Do: Korean Hap Ki Do is in reality a Korean version of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. That said; it may be that the Japanese learned Jiu-Jitsu from the Koreans some 400 years earlier. However, modern Hapkido was developed by Choi Yong Sool (a Chinese Korean) from the Aiki Jiu-Jitsu he studied while living in Japan. When Choi went back to Korea, he developed Hap Ki Do with this Japanese knowledge. Hap Ki Do is a very effective grappling art and as such, it compliments any striking style of martial art and hence, why Hapkido is the third ingredient in Mike’s Korean Mantis Kung Fu system.
Hap Ki Do has both standing locks and holds as well as grappling moves for fighting on the ground. If you take a look below, on the next panel, you will see a picture of one such Hapkido ground technique, a counter to a move popularly known as the scarf hold. Long before today’s Mixed Martial Arts craze, there were already a number of Asian Martial Arts that taught a complete fighting system that included striking and grappling aspects. Many people, in the West, were not aware that even Karate, which most people think only contains kicks and punches, has, if you find the right school, locks, holds, throws and other techniques. Unfortunately, only a few Karate instructors in the West know these aspects. Because of those teachers who did not know of and did not teach this side of Karate, many students left Karate behind, thinking it was not complete. However, Karate or Tang Soo Do, is, in fact, very complete, if you find a teacher who knows and teaches the whole Karate/Tang Soo Do system.
If you are looking for something, a martial art school, that includes both stand-up and ground fighting and yet, maintains the spiritual and traditional values of old, such as; honour, integrity, loyalty, respect and courage, long associated with Self-Defence systems coming from both the East and the West. If you are looking for a martial art school in which the focus is not on developing a bad ass attitude but rather where the goal is to cultivate the virtues of true manliness, mentioned above, leading one to a life of nobility and loftiness, then look no further.
True martial arts are meant to improve one’s life, be it through developing the ability, through self-defence training, to better deal with aggressive people that may mean us harm, or, through learning to tame our own selfish and self-centred urges, so that they might serve us in an appropriate and civil manner, harmonizing with our higher altruistic desires, allowing for the cultivation of virtue, leading us to happiness and oneness with God.
What are the Requirements for Training
While you must be healthy enough to begin training, it is not necessary to be physically fit -- you will get there as you train. However, it is necessary to be morally fit. You must be at least 16 years old and be willing and able to attend class twice a week and set time aside to train on off days, except for your day of worship. You must be willing to set goals and develop mental discipline and physical fitness. It is unnecessary to have any previous martial arts experience. We are a fraternity of like minded men and women who believe in the Father/Motherhood of God and the brother/sisterhood of mankind/humanity. We believe we have a responsibility to leave the world a better place than we found it. We believe men/women must have honour and live in love, faith, hope, goodness, kindness, generosity and peace. If you believe the same... WELCOME!
Tang Soo Do & Hapkido
Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate) classes are offered every night of the works week, Monday through Friday. There are also classes on Saturday mornings. Basic Hap Ki Do is taught right in with the Tang Soo Do to insure that our students have the best of both striking and grappling techniques to assist in any self-defence situation that may arise. The styles we teach are: “Sha Mu Kwan So Rim Sa Yu Tang Soo Do” and “Sha Mu Kwan Hap Ki Do.” No martial arts classes of any kind are taught on Sunday. For class times on Mondays to Saturdays, please email mantismike@start.ca or call 519-852-1632 or call Trinity United Church at 519-455-2710. Cost for Tang Soo Do is $60 per month for students and $75 for working adults: Family rates available. For more information on the history of Tang Soo Do and Hapkido, click on the link above.
Yang Tai Chi Chuan
Yang Tai Chi is occasionally taught on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Trinity United Church. These classes are for relaxation and general interest. No self-defence aspects are taught. Call 519-852-1632 for further information and to see if classes are running.
Christian Ministry & Services
Master Mike also serves the community as Pastor Mike. Pastor Mike and his wife, Jeannette, run a Christian out-reach program visiting shut-ins at hospitals and nursing homes.
They also patrol the streets and assist the homeless with food gift cards, clothing, money and other supplies as well as directing them to various institutions that can assist them in their time of need. |
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Occasionally, Pastor Mike facilitates a Sunday service in the evenings at Trinity United Church.
He is assisted by his wife, Jeannette, who plays the piano.
Periodically, Pastor Mike and his wife, Jeannette, run afternoon Christian Meditation and or Christian Contemplation gatherings at Trinity United Church.
Mike and Jeanette also help animals and are both long time vegetarians. |
Community Service Programs
Over the years, Master Mike, has offered several Self-Defence Programs free of charge as a community service. Some of these programs were the ongoing “Women’s Self-Defence Workshops” aka Pentalph Self-Defence, held at various locations in the city, including; Victoria Hospital, Carling Heights, the Optimist Centre, Peaceful Warriors, Mike and Terry’s Tang Soo Do Academy, Peach Blossom Tai Chi Academy and Mike’s School of Self-Defence.
Master Mike also taught, as a community service, self-defence workshops and or course to groups such as Girl Guides and various libraries and colleges. One of Mike’s best attended groups was an 8 week free Jiu-Jitsu/Hapkido camp he held back in the Summer of 2000. |
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In the past, Master Mike has worked with Master Karen Eden, with the Denver Red Shield Warriors of the Salvation Army in setting up a local chapter here in London, Ontario. Other classes will be announced.
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