Seminar with Master Qu - Aachen 2026
On January 31th and February 1st the seminar with Master Qu in Aachen took place. First of all I want to thank everybody who joined this seminar for your interest in studying and your support. Also thank you to Master Qu who especially came from China to Germany to teach us.
We had participants from diverse martial arts backgrounds, most of them living in Aachen, but also some former students of Master Qu from abroad joined.
Resume of the seminar
On Saturday morning Master Qu first gave some brief instruction to the basic training of Chinese Kung Fu, including kicks and the basic stances of the Praying Mantis Kung Fu Style. In the following we started learning a form, in Chinese Taolu 套路, called Beng Bu 崩步. Beng 崩 can be translated as “bursting” or “fall into ruin”, bu 步means step. The name refers to the explosive power and foot work. The form gives a good foundation and therefore is one of the fundamental forms when learning the Mantis Style Kung Fu.
What is Taichi Meihua Tanglangquan?
To be more precisely the Style Master Qu is teaching is named Taichi Meihua Tanglangquan 太极梅花螳螂拳, Taichi Plum blossom Mantis Fist. The name comes from the characteristics of this style: The power that is used in the techniques is the same power that is used in Taichi. Also there are many techniques that are performed in succession like the petals of a Plum blossom that overlap. Furthermore the techniques are imitating the movement of a mantis, so it belongs to the Mantis style Kung Fu.
Master Qu also gave us a brief introduction in the history of Mantis Kung Fu:
Mantis was developed at the End of the Ming Dynasty and the Beginning of the Qing Dynasty. There was an experienced martial artist named Wang Lang 王朗. One day he was defeated in a duel by another master and this made him very disappointed. When he went home he decided to rest under a tree. Right then there was a Mantis fighting with a bird. Even though the mantis was much smaller the bird was not able to hurt her. Wang Lang was impressed by her great skill and body movement and decided study the mantis movements. So he caught a lot of mantis and started observing them. After several years he created the unique style of mantis boxing and defeated all people that came to challenge him. Later when more people were practicing the mantis style Kung fu several substyles like Seven Star Mantis, Liuhhe Mantis, Meihua Mantis and Taichi Meihua Mantis were developed.
On Saturday afternoon we repeated studied movements and Master Qu also gave an insight in the basic training of Baguazhang. For dinner almost everybody joined us eating out together.
As the participants really enjoyed practicing Mantis style Kung Fu on Sunday we focused on practicing the Form Beng Bu, and even finished it. It was great to see everyone engaged and share their experiences. I hope you all keep training and we see us again next time!