This is a practice which imitates the movements of the praying mantis insect. It first originated towards the end of the Ming Dynasty. According to ancient descriptions of Chinese martial arts, this style was refined by the martial arts expert, Vuong Lang, from the village of Tuc Mac in Son Dông Province (Shan Tung), in northern China. Vuong Lang, having failed his university martial arts competition, researched exclusive techniques when observing a praying mantis hunting down crickets. He thus discovered an excellent and incomparable fighting technique: the Duong Lang of the North or Bac Pahi Duong Lang. In this method we find the “Nam Nhanh” (five fiery principles): Nhanh Tay (rapid upper limbs movements), Nhanh Chân (rapid lower limbs movements), Nhanh Buoc (rapid body movements), Nhanh Thân (rapid body), Chiêu Thuc Nhanh (quick technique applications). Or again the “Bay Dài ” the “Tam Ngan”
In the same period, the Duong Lang of the South or the Nam Phai Duong Lang emerged in Quang Dông Province, by an expert, Châu A Nam. Technical and training concepts of Nam Phai Duong Lang or Châu Gia Duong Lang are completely different from the Duong Lang of the North or Bac Phai Duong Lang. The techniques of Châu Gia Duong Lang or Nam Phai Duong Lang are very short movements, delivered in very close proximity to the opponent, and just the Praying Mantis stances are similar