Chuka Shaolin Phoenix Eye Fist

Anybody know anything about Chuka Shaolin Phoenix Eye Fist i know that the style is part Chu gar southern mantis and the people are Hakka from Malaysia

Long time waiting for a reply eh

Yeah, I've read the books on it by the Grandmasters. It looks like a blend between Southern Praying Mantis and something else, according the the legend possibly White Crane. Hand techs resemble Hakka Fists a little, and uses the Southern Mantis Fist. Stances and legwork resember your typical Southern styles. However I see that they have no bow stance, and when they do turn, their legs still retain some of the original horse stance shapes.

Fire Hawk - Here's some info for you:



Chu Family Praying Mantis

Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu had its origins during the Ming Dynasty and was taught only to members of China's royal family. At the time, the system was known as Jew Gar (sometimes pronounced Chu Gar, Chuka or the royal family kung fu).

With the advent of the cold-blooded Ching Dynasty, the Emperor and his family fled to the Northern Shaolin Temple to escape certain death at the hands of the Manchurians. But the forces of the Ching followed. Knowing that the revolutionary spirit was being nurtured within the confines of the Shaolin monastery, the Ching burned the Northern Temple to the ground. The royal family escaped and moved to the Fukien Shaolin temple of Southern China.

Knowing the forces of the Ching were looking for Chuka practitioners, the system's name was changed to Southern Praying Mantis, in hopes of fooling the Manchurians into believing that their style was the same as the popular Northern Praying Mantis. Still, the Manchurians pursued and burned the Southern temple also. A number of the royal family escaped and went into hiding. They became known in Southern China as "Hakka", or northern guests.

From that time on, the art of Southern Praying Mantis was taught secretly to Hakka only, for fear that Manchurian spies would betray them. In Hong Kong, Southern Praying Mantis was primarily taught only to Hakka descendants. This rule was later expanded to include students that were of Chinese heritage. It is only in the past 25 years that occidental students have been taught the Southern Praying Mantis system.

Unlike Northern Praying Mantis, the Southern style bears no resemblance to the insect, and is strictly a short-hand system. It is both an internal and external style, capable of delivering internal force similar to a compressed spring that has an explosive force when released. It follows internal principles such as using condensed breathing for energy, flow-relaxed hand techniques, and borrows the enemies' strength to uses against them. The style also follows external principles, as it features dynamic tension-type exercises to build power and develop muscular strength for attack and defense.

Although recognized as an in-fighting style with the ability to explode power in any direction form short distances, the system's method also extends the arm longer than most northern styles by constantly rounding the back and stretching the arms, shoulders and rib cage, and also by shifting body angles for extension. Hence, the ability to use explosive force at short and longer than usual distances is developed.

Southern Praying Mantis is quick, direct, and effective. Chuka practitioners do not give their opponent a chance to deliver more than one blow. The practitioner attacks rapidly until his opponent falls and is disabled. The theory is to get your opponent off balance and not let him regain it. At the same time, the practitioner shifts in close and attacks with many rapid-fire short strikes. The opponent must desperately try to ward off this barrage of machine-gun like blows; however, the Chuka practitioner will not stop until the attacker is down.

Speed is essential. All attacks come from the elbows. The fist is not withdrawn to the waist as in karate and other Kung Fu systems, as the practitioner must be able to hit many times from the same position.

Chuka practitioners do not, themselves, draw back either – this is too slow. Instead, the practitioner slides forward and shifts his weight from side to side, backward and forward with each attacking punch. Instinctive reaction is vital due to the speed of the attack. The exponent of this art is hard to defend against. At one moment he may be upright, dodging quickly to one side. The next moment he may drop into a kneeling stance to attack lower areas without thinking what his opponent's next move will be. He then acts quickly to close all avenues of attack.

Basically a close-in fighting system, Southern Praying Mantis is known for its one-inch punch, similar to the punch Bruce Lee used so much. It also uses a variety of open-handed techniques and specialized hand movements, such as the ginger-fist, three-finger spear, and bamboo slicing hand, all of which attack the body's vital points. These strikes can cause paralysis, as well as cut off blood flow and distribution of chi to vital areas of the body.

At the heart of the rare Chuka Shaolin style is the phoenix-eye fist. The Chuka art makes no use of the popular clenched-fist attack seen in other styles, rather preferring to exclusively use this extended index-finger knuckle to strike the enemy. This single-knuckle attack allows the Chuka exponent to focus his energy to the one small area covered by the knuckle, rather than the larger area covered by the entire fist. It might be referred to as "acupuncture boxing", due to the fact that the phoenix-eye fist is used to strike vital acupuncture centers in rapid succession. When used in combination with various kicks, palm and finger strikes, Chuka Shaolin becomes a very effective art that aims its attacks only at an opponent's vital points.

Southern Praying Mantis kicks are all low and below the waist. This is done in order to maintain balance and speed. Low kicks are harder to block, because the practitioner always uses them with simultaneous hand techniques. Chuka Southern Praying Mantis is a complete and effective fighting system with soft and hard aspects uniquely interwoven into the style. It is ideal for men and women of all ages. Simple, basic mechanics make it easy to practice regardless of age, physique, or sex. It is a highly effective, easy-to-use method of self-defense. It is also a superb form of training for health and overall physical fitness.


IMHO, it simply kicks ass when the practitioner is skilled.

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Then we can laugh together until I crack a bottle over their head for being stupid enough to pick a fight with somebody they knew nothing about. - CLFSean

Yes, but Chuka Shaolin is NOT Southern Praying Mantis, last time I checked. The legwork is too different. . . .

How about this Reread the above post.

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Then we can laugh together until I crack a bottle over their head for being stupid enough to pick a fight with somebody they knew nothing about. - CLFSean

Sorry about that.

However, I'm confusing 2 different styles.

One is the original Chuka "Southern Praying Mantis." The other is the "Chuka Shaolin" Phoenix-Eye Kung Fu that is today only taught in Malaysia, because all the masters who practice the style lives there.

These are different. The "Phoenix Kung Fu" (let's call it that, and the original Chuka Southern Praying Mantis for simplicity) is a combination of the SPM hand techniques plus it's own, and alot of influences from Feuken White Crane, according to the history.

So I guess you are gonna push this "book" advertising in every thread huh? LOL

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
-Zen proverb

From the pine tree
Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

As a new member...only by accident. Just a little excited about my book I guess.

Ummm.... the "pheonix eye fist" is a fist from southern praying mantis not a style. Although other styles use this fist it is more common in SPM. Some styles stick out the second knuckle of the index finger and other the middle finger.

Who knows though, could be a style called that too however I have a feeling wires got crossed somewhere.

But SPM doesn't use the wide horse stances and stuff as seen in CLF and Hung Gar.

This "Chuka Shaolin Phoenix-Eye Fist" style. . . . makes usage of those. I've read his books.

I've seen their pics of their two-man forms and other forms, and they don't resemble ANY SPM that I've seen.

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“	Originally Posted By: KungFuMan I also learned a praying mantis fist style from watching the actual insect itself. This was before I actually learned some seven star mantis.	”

The Phoenix Eye Fist is used in a wide array of martial arts styles, though I'm unsure of it's origin. I learned it in Zui Quan, but have also heard of it being used in Crane and Mantis, and Choy Li Fut. I prefer it to any other kind of strike, and it's really effective when used in combination with the elbows. I was taught to aim around the eye/eye socket, and the temple, but practicioners of MA have used it to target many vital points on the body. Close range wheel punches in combination with a leg sweep also do well. I imagine Southern Praying Mantis uses a similar means of attacking. Also, I'd like to emphasize that you can't really make a whole style out of JUST the Phoenix Eye Fist, although I wouldn't blame someone for naming their new MA style after it. Great move, no matter what style it's used in.

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Noone can make me do anything except:

Bleed,
Fall Down,
& Die!

“	Originally Posted By: Infrazael But SPM doesn't use the wide horse stances and stuff as seen in CLF and Hung Gar. This "Chuka Shaolin Phoenix-Eye Fist" style. . . . makes usage of those. I've read his books. I've seen their pics of their two-man forms and other forms, and they don't resemble ANY SPM that I've seen.	”

There is still seems to be some uncertainty in regards to a style called this by other members. However if you say you read/saw it from a credible source then there is a good chance there was a system called that. Whether it is new or not as PEF mentioned is a whole different story I guess.

I do know in a Vietnamese MA with a strong CMA influence that I studied has a pheonix form and was intermediate level.

Also the wheel punches PEF mentioned are also a technique used along with this fist in the first form of SPM. Regards!

Hellbound, southernmantis *uses* a phoenix eye fist; it is not only in southern mantis but can be foudn in a large number of Chinese marital arts.

“	Originally Posted By: hellhound There is still seems to be some uncertainty in regards to a style called this by other members. However if you say you read/saw it from a credible source then there is a good chance there was a system called that. Whether it is new or not as PEF mentioned is a whole different story I guess.	”

IMO, some guy dabbled a bit in chu/chow gar, and dabbled a bit in shaolin and decided to mix his crap together and call it a style. A chop suey mix being taught in a McDojo somewhere, probably competing next door to Sin The and the Shaolin Do ninjas.

“	Originally Posted By: hellhound Also the wheel punches PEF mentioned are also a technique used along with this fist in the first form of SPM.	”

Do you even know what the first form is called or how it is performed? What style of southern mantis? What lineage? I can tell you quite decisively that there are no "wheel" punches in the first form of most lineages of southern mantis.

The "idea" of a wheel punch is in many styles, most notably wing chun and is simply the succession of a forward series of punches, not commonly used in southern mantis due to our agressive desire to produce short power and not withdraw our hands.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

There is low stances in Chu Gar. A little more square then sideways, usualy performed with a sudden drop of power going down and then back up. Or you can stay low. This is from what ive seen so far so dont quote me.

Plum Dragon In Chu Gar there are drills simmilar to chain punching usually with one hand open to clear. We dont retract but we do use bow and arrow movements.

I heard from somebody that Chuka might be the original system before going to Fukien Siu lum. Wouldnt it be a northern hand if its the original? It looks to be southern. Right now i think that its a hybrid. I didnt see the second book. What is so awesome about this style? I mean most of us havent seen the movements in motion or touched with somebody that knows it. I think those are important when trying to examine something.

Is there something interesting about Chuka that we should know about that hasnt been said?

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I imagine Hellhound's teacher was influenced by more than just Southern Praying Mantis, and probably incorporated alot of stuff not normally taught into his curriculum. At least, assuming that most forms of SPM don't use wheel punches as PlumDragon said. Of course, I've found that PD is very credible, and not once have seen anyone call BS on him. Lol.

Wheel punches don't necessarilly require you to withdraw your hands very far. If you practice enough, you can repeatedly hit your opponent in the face without spacing your hands further than an inch and a half apart. Beginners tend to get too close though and bust their own knuckles open. I know I did it when I was starting out, and payed the consequences too. I'm pretty good at it now though. They allow you to get in alot of quick, short punches at very close range, and as soon as your enemy learns how to block 'em (if your downblock power isn't too much for him) you can always come out with a triple fist/elbow combo and knock the Hell outta them. (The last move I mentioned is also used in Wing Chun)

__________________
Noone can make me do anything except:

Bleed,
Fall Down,
& Die!