Curriculum Overview

The Shyun Style Eight Step Preying Mantis System is organized in a step by step manner in which students learn the same material no matter which school they attend. This is very different from the way traditional martial arts were taught and learned. Typically students learned material in any given order depending upon the whim of the instructor.

Shyun Style Eight Step Preying Mantis is divided into three different categories: Sash Program, Silver Mantis Program, and Gold Mantis Program.

Sash Program

The Sash Program contains the following material and includes an array of physical fitness exercises for each of the 5 colored sashes.

Yellow Sash: 10 Body Coordinations
The 10 basic springing leg (Tan Tui) exercises focus on building a solid foundation combining power, speed, strength, and coordination. These essential techniques are designed to incorporate the whole body working together in harmony. This allows the practitioner to redefine the body’s potential and get in shape for the further study of martial arts.

Green Sash: Upper Body Techniques
The basic fundamental movements of 8 Step Preying Mantis are expanded upon at this level. Special attention is made to show the difference of each movement and how it applies to 8 Step Preying Mantis. The focus of this level is on the upper body and includes the following technique: 8 Stances (Ba Shi), 8 Hands (Ba Shou), 8 Fists (Ba Chui), 8 Palms (Ba Zhang), 8 Elbows (Ba Zhou), and 8 Blocks (Ba Dang).

Blue Sash: Lower Body Techniques
As in the previous two levels, the fundamentals are shown with emphasis placed on the lower half of the body. The introduction of kicking and footwork rounds out the individual fundamental components of 8 Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu. The technique at this level includes: 8 High Kicks (Ba Jiao), 8 Low Kicks (Ba Tui), 8 Knees (Ba Xi), 8 Kicking Blocks (Ba Dang), 6 Kicking Footwork’s, and 12 Kicking Combinations.

Red Sash: Sets
This is the level where all the fundamental components come together! The sets are combinations of individual movements which allow the practitioner to be fluid and powerful from one technique to the next. The sets for this level include: Basic Hands (Chi Shou), Small Rolling Wheel (Xiao Fen Che), Power Cut (Li Pi), Large Rolling Wheel (Da Fen Che), and Intercepting Fist (Lan Ji Quan).

Purple Sash: Weapons
This is the last adult colored sash level. Taking all the knowledge from the previous levels, the student now applies that knowledge to three traditional Chinese weapons; the Staff (Guan), Broadsword (Dao), and Straight Sword (Jian).

Silver Mantis Program

Silver Mantis Levels 1-5
The next level of learning in the 8 Step Preying Mantis System is the Silver Mantis levels. Similar to the Sash Program, these levels also have a physical fitness component, only it is much more stringent than the Sash Program. Each of these levels focus on the 2-person aspect of the material. Adding a simple fighting technique to each fundamental movement, the Silver Mantis levels delve a bit deeper into the theory behind each technique and how it is applied.

Gold Mantis Program

Gold Mantis Levels 1-5
The last program available with an Instructor’s invitation are the Gold Mantis levels. These levels prepare a student for becoming an instructor of 8 Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu and Shyun Style Tai Chi Chuan. Students undergo rigorous traditional martial arts training that include all of the above listed information and more. Each Gold Mantis level is centered around a specific area of martial arts similar to the Sash Program and Silver Mantis Program, but the focus is much more about theory and application.

Learning does not stop there however. Upon becoming an instructor in 8 Step Preying Mantis students are allowed to attend further classes for the next 20 years. In these classes student learn the intricate knowledge that is 8 Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu, Shyun Style Tai Chi Chuan, and Abimoxi The Ways of Chinese Martial Health.

It is through this program that the American Chinese Martial Arts Federation plans on securing qualified instructors for future generations. Through the help of current members and future members we will make certain that this traditional Chinese martial art continues to grow for generations to come.