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Praying Mantis Freestyle Kung-Fu History
Ji Yow Shin Shi Tong Long
Freestyle Praying Mantis is the most recent development of the Praying Mantis systems.
Founded in October of 1992 by SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr., SiJo first became interested in the Martial Arts when he first
seen the movie "Billy Jack" the star of which was Tom Laughlin, He credits the actor (Tom Laughlin) to be
the one who inspired him in the Martial Arts. Not long after he seen the movie he joined the United States Navy.
Among his duties he was a member of a special team, that their job was to recover special weapons if they were stolen.
The first style he learned was "Seven Star Praying Mantis." Which was a practical self-defense
oriented martial art utilizing hard-style techniques. The system uses long-range kicking strategies,
close-range trapping techniques, pressure points, joint locks, throws, and open-palm strikes.
The second style SiJo learned was "Eight Steps Praying Mantis." Eight Steps Praying Mantis was developed
during the Ching Dynasty by Chun Hus Lung, who had mastered the Seven Star Praying Mantis system,
and wished to place more emphasis on the foot work to bring the practitioner in closer to his opponent.
Master Chun had friends who were masters of Hsing-1, which is straight forward and powerful, and Tom-Bei,
a soft and circular martial art. He combined some of the Hsing-1 and Tom-Bei movements with Seven Star Praying
Mantis, with emphasis on moving foot work not just stances, and from that developed the "Eight Steps Praying Mantis Style."
After mastering the two styles Seven Star and Eight Steps Praying Mantis, SiJo Lane left the service when his
tour of duty was over and returned to his home in Tampa, Florida where he lived for a number of years.
He left Florida when his father went out of business, due to health problems. Not wanting to live on his father's
income or be a burden on his father, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where his interest in the Martial Arts
were side-tracked for a number of years while trying to support his family.
Around 1985, SiJo started seriously thinking about the 2 (two) systems of Praying Mantis he had Mastered.
Then around 1986, SiJo and his family got interested in the Martial Arts again. SiJo and his two sons Pascal S. Lane Jr.
and Roy B. Lane and his daughter Sandra L. Lane joined a local school and studied "Tang Soo Do."
After a short time SiJo realized that "Tang Soo Do" was not the type of Martial Arts he personally wanted for his family.
So SiJo and his family dropped out of the school in a very short time . Then is when he started thinking about training
his family, after thinking about it for a year or so he wanted to start training family but he wanted to train them in
a system that was based on "true martial arts skills and body mechanics not on superstition and innuendo" and that was
good for self-defense on the street and good to use in tournaments, so his family could complete in open tournaments
against all styles of Martial Arts. SiJo believed that closed tournaments or inner-school tournaments were a waste
of time because you only fought against selected styles not any style that was there. Open tournaments was the best
way to test your system of defense.
He loved the Praying Mantis systems he had learned and started research on the other Praying Mantis systems
and some Shaolin fighting techniques from Crane, Tiger, Dragon, and Snake styles.
The new style of Praying Mantis was to be called "Praying Mantis Freestyle." It was to be a combination style of 5 of
the Praying Mantis Styles and some techniques from the Shaolin Five Animals style of kung-fu. SiJo had already mastered
two of the Praying Mantis styles and started combining them with the other three Praying Mantis styles and the techniques
from Shaolin 5 animals style to create a no non-sense style that was based on true martial arts skills and body
mechanics with no wasted movements that was good for the street and to use in tournaments.
He added moves from the Northern Praying Mantis System, which emphasis the "Mantis Claw" or "Guo," is a
sideways and outside block with the emphasis on the last three fingers of the hand and the thumb, which
combined with the fore- arm muscle to form a vise-like grip on the Mantis opponents. The "Guo" is neither
soft or hard, but a 50/50 combination of the two.
Click on the pictures to enlarge
SiJo took moves from the Tai-Mantis system. He liked the Tai-Mantis system because the Tai-Mantis practitioners
were unique because they used in their fighting system what is called the "Trading Off Theory." Ferocious fighters,
the Tai-Mantis, actually lets his opponents punch strike him or deflect it slightly by quickly turning his body to
the side. In return, he is very close to his opponent and can strike back with a much more powerful blow.
This technique is normally reserved for serious fighting only.
SiJo also used moves from the Southern Mantis Style which is strictly a short hand system. Southern Mantis
practitioners do not give their opponents a chance to deliver more than one blow, and the Southern Mantis
attacks rapidly until his opponent falls to the ground and is disabled. The theory is to get your opponent
off balance and not let him regain it. When developing the Free-Style Praying Mantis System, SiJo used more
deflection techniques in his blocking system and redirecting power of his opponents punches to save energy
for offense techniques. He also used grabbing and jerking techniques to keep his opponents off balance.
Freestyle Praying Mantis is a combination of 5 of the Praying Mantis Systems, plus some techniques from the Shaolin
5 animals style. Each system relies on distinguishing characteristics to make them unique, such as hand and sticking
techniques, special foot work, rapid machine gun like strikes and different ways to convey power and deliver a punch.
But the Free-Style Mantis Fighter is unique, in that it combines all 5 styles of the Praying Mantis and the techniques
from the Shaolin 5 animals style and their special techniques into one deadly system using all of them with equal
importance with the knowledge of true martial arts skills and body mechanics not superstition and innuendo that he
believes has no place in the martial arts.
The weapon of the Freestyle Mantis warrior was designed by SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr. himself, a short staff 6 foot
long with distinguishing marks at both ends made of a medal alloy.
Free-Style Praying Mantis is a no non-sense system of Martial Arts, utilizing true knowledge of martial arts
skills and body mechanics without wasted movement to make it quick, direct, and effective. Focusing maximum power
to the smallest area of precise locations of the body to create the most damage possible in the shortest amount of time.
In October of 1992, SiJo Lane finished the manual of the Praying Mantis Freestyle system, which he was the originator of.
Not long after he started a small school in the area where he lived in Smyrna, Tennessee. He never took over 15
students per class, because he could not devote the time needed with each student. The Free-Style Praying Mantis
forms are short but effective training for the students with little or no wasted movement.
On October 16, 1992, SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr. dedicated the Praying Mantis Freestyle system of self defense manual to his
two sons and family, and with many thanks to Tom Laughlin for the inspiration he received from the movie"Billy Jack".
He dedicated the manual to his two sons and family with the hopes they would carry on the system for their family and
generations to come. SiJo Lane also received his Master Herbalist Degree from Emerson College of Herbology on
September 10,1996 his advanced studies and training included, Plant Botany, Formulation, Natura Medica, Botanic
Medicine, and Therapeutical Application. And now offers Herbs and Herbal Supplements at his school as well as a
herbal consultant service.
In May of 2000 SiJo Pascal S. Lane divorced his first wife and moved to Hermitage, Tennessee. Where he met
Rhonda R. Duncan a couple of years later. After dating a couple of years On May 22, 2004 SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr.
married Rhonda R. Duncan and she has two children Kayla and Anthony. And now they are all three learning the New
Style of Praying Mantis. Now they live in Hermitage, Tennessee where he has built a small school and is teaching a
small number of students.
His two sons Roy B. Lane and Pascal S. Lane Jr. owned and operate a Kung-Fu School in Smyrna, Tennessee and continue
to teach Praying Mantis Free-Style Kung-Fu and some other Martial Arts styles they have learned.
Click on the pictures to enlarge
Praying Mantis Freestyle Kung-Fu
"Ji Yow Shin Shi Tong Long"
Sash Colors and Degrees
1. White Sash Form , “Mantis Defending 6 Gates”
Exercises, Basic blocks and kicks, stances, hand and foot techniques, conditioning and training drills.
2. Gold Sash: 2 Gold Sash Forms
2-a. “Mantis Countering 6 Gates”
2-b. “ Mantis is Born”
(1.)Free-Style Mantis Fundamentals, Stances, Blocks, Hand and Foot techniques, conditioning and training drills.
(2.) Gold Sash techniques and workout.
3. Green Sash: 2 Green Sash Forms
(1.)Green Sash Form 1: "Mantis Becomes a Warrior"
(2.)Green Sash Form 2: " Mantis Penetrating Palm"
(3.) Green Sash techniques and workout.
4. Blue Sash: 2 Blue Sash Forms
(1.) Blue Sash Form 1: "Mantis Jumps Towards the Sky"
(2.) Blue Sash Form 2: "Crazy Mad Mantis"
(3.) Blue Sash techniques and workout.
5. Red Sash: 3 Red Sash Forms
(1.) Red Sash Form 1: "Mantis Opens the Tiger Claws"
(2.) Red Sash Form 2: " Mantis Fast Hands"
(3.) Red Sash Form 3: "Mantis Fights with Stick"
(4.) Red Sash techniques and workout.
(5.) Advanced Strategies and Tactic's reading section.
6. Brown Sash: 3 Brown Sash Forms
(1.) Brown Sash Form 1: “The Angry Mantis”
(2.) Brown Sash Form 2: “ Mantis Healing Breath”
(3.) Brown Sash Form 3: “Mantis Crazy Mountian Gorilla”
(4.) Brown Sash techniques and workout.
7. Black Sash: 4 Black Sash Forms
(1.) Black Sash Form 1: “Mantis Continuous Hands One (1)”
(2.) Black Sash Form 2: “ Mantis Continuous Hands Two (2)”
(3.) Black Sash Form 3: “ Master Mantis Sinks His Claws”
(4.) Black Sash Form 4: “ Master Mantis Golden Palm“
(5.) Black Sash workout: Free-Style Mantis Concepts on how to stay on your feet against a "Grappler" and techniques.
Sifu Greg Glaim, newest instructor of "Ji Yow Shin Shi Tong Long" - Praying Mantis Free Style Kung-Fu.
Now Sifu Glaim is teaching in Canada.
Grand Master Pascal S. Lane Sr. Presenting Sifu Greg Glaim with his diploma.
Click on the pictures to enlarge
Picture and information provided by Pascal S. Lane Sr.
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 |
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Click on the pictures to enlarge
SiJo took moves from the Tai-Mantis system. He liked the Tai-Mantis system because the Tai-Mantis practitioners
were unique because they used in their fighting system what is called the "Trading Off Theory." Ferocious fighters,
the Tai-Mantis, actually lets his opponents punch strike him or deflect it slightly by quickly turning his body to
the side. In return, he is very close to his opponent and can strike back with a much more powerful blow.
This technique is normally reserved for serious fighting only.
SiJo also used moves from the Southern Mantis Style which is strictly a short hand system. Southern Mantis
practitioners do not give their opponents a chance to deliver more than one blow, and the Southern Mantis
attacks rapidly until his opponent falls to the ground and is disabled. The theory is to get your opponent
off balance and not let him regain it. When developing the Free-Style Praying Mantis System, SiJo used more
deflection techniques in his blocking system and redirecting power of his opponents punches to save energy
for offense techniques. He also used grabbing and jerking techniques to keep his opponents off balance.
Freestyle Praying Mantis is a combination of 5 of the Praying Mantis Systems, plus some techniques from the Shaolin
5 animals style. Each system relies on distinguishing characteristics to make them unique, such as hand and sticking
techniques, special foot work, rapid machine gun like strikes and different ways to convey power and deliver a punch.
But the Free-Style Mantis Fighter is unique, in that it combines all 5 styles of the Praying Mantis and the techniques
from the Shaolin 5 animals style and their special techniques into one deadly system using all of them with equal
importance with the knowledge of true martial arts skills and body mechanics not superstition and innuendo that he
believes has no place in the martial arts.
The weapon of the Freestyle Mantis warrior was designed by SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr. himself, a short staff 6 foot
long with distinguishing marks at both ends made of a medal alloy.
Free-Style Praying Mantis is a no non-sense system of Martial Arts, utilizing true knowledge of martial arts
skills and body mechanics without wasted movement to make it quick, direct, and effective. Focusing maximum power
to the smallest area of precise locations of the body to create the most damage possible in the shortest amount of time.
In October of 1992, SiJo Lane finished the manual of the Praying Mantis Freestyle system, which he was the originator of.
Not long after he started a small school in the area where he lived in Smyrna, Tennessee. He never took over 15
students per class, because he could not devote the time needed with each student. The Free-Style Praying Mantis
forms are short but effective training for the students with little or no wasted movement.
On October 16, 1992, SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr. dedicated the Praying Mantis Freestyle system of self defense manual to his
two sons and family, and with many thanks to Tom Laughlin for the inspiration he received from the movie"Billy Jack".
He dedicated the manual to his two sons and family with the hopes they would carry on the system for their family and
generations to come. SiJo Lane also received his Master Herbalist Degree from Emerson College of Herbology on
September 10,1996 his advanced studies and training included, Plant Botany, Formulation, Natura Medica, Botanic
Medicine, and Therapeutical Application. And now offers Herbs and Herbal Supplements at his school as well as a
herbal consultant service.
In May of 2000 SiJo Pascal S. Lane divorced his first wife and moved to Hermitage, Tennessee. Where he met
Rhonda R. Duncan a couple of years later. After dating a couple of years On May 22, 2004 SiJo Pascal S. Lane Sr.
married Rhonda R. Duncan and she has two children Kayla and Anthony. And now they are all three learning the New
Style of Praying Mantis. Now they live in Hermitage, Tennessee where he has built a small school and is teaching a
small number of students.
His two sons Roy B. Lane and Pascal S. Lane Jr. owned and operate a Kung-Fu School in Smyrna, Tennessee and continue
to teach Praying Mantis Free-Style Kung-Fu and some other Martial Arts styles they have learned.
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 |
Click on the pictures to enlarge
Praying Mantis Freestyle Kung-Fu
"Ji Yow Shin Shi Tong Long"
Sash Colors and Degrees
1. White Sash Form , “Mantis Defending 6 Gates”
Exercises, Basic blocks and kicks, stances, hand and foot techniques, conditioning and training drills.
2. Gold Sash: 2 Gold Sash Forms
2-a. “Mantis Countering 6 Gates”
2-b. “ Mantis is Born”
(1.)Free-Style Mantis Fundamentals, Stances, Blocks, Hand and Foot techniques, conditioning and training drills.
(2.) Gold Sash techniques and workout.
3. Green Sash: 2 Green Sash Forms
(1.)Green Sash Form 1: "Mantis Becomes a Warrior"
(2.)Green Sash Form 2: " Mantis Penetrating Palm"
(3.) Green Sash techniques and workout.
4. Blue Sash: 2 Blue Sash Forms
(1.) Blue Sash Form 1: "Mantis Jumps Towards the Sky"
(2.) Blue Sash Form 2: "Crazy Mad Mantis"
(3.) Blue Sash techniques and workout.
5. Red Sash: 3 Red Sash Forms
(1.) Red Sash Form 1: "Mantis Opens the Tiger Claws"
(2.) Red Sash Form 2: " Mantis Fast Hands"
(3.) Red Sash Form 3: "Mantis Fights with Stick"
(4.) Red Sash techniques and workout.
(5.) Advanced Strategies and Tactic's reading section.
6. Brown Sash: 3 Brown Sash Forms
(1.) Brown Sash Form 1: “The Angry Mantis”
(2.) Brown Sash Form 2: “ Mantis Healing Breath”
(3.) Brown Sash Form 3: “Mantis Crazy Mountian Gorilla”
(4.) Brown Sash techniques and workout.
7. Black Sash: 4 Black Sash Forms
(1.) Black Sash Form 1: “Mantis Continuous Hands One (1)”
(2.) Black Sash Form 2: “ Mantis Continuous Hands Two (2)”
(3.) Black Sash Form 3: “ Master Mantis Sinks His Claws”
(4.) Black Sash Form 4: “ Master Mantis Golden Palm“
(5.) Black Sash workout: Free-Style Mantis Concepts on how to stay on your feet against a "Grappler" and techniques.
"Ji Yow Shin Shi Tong Long"
1. White Sash Form , “Mantis Defending 6 Gates”
Exercises, Basic blocks and kicks, stances, hand and foot techniques, conditioning and training drills.
2. Gold Sash: 2 Gold Sash Forms
2-a. “Mantis Countering 6 Gates”
2-b. “ Mantis is Born”
(1.)Free-Style Mantis Fundamentals, Stances, Blocks, Hand and Foot techniques, conditioning and training drills.
(2.) Gold Sash techniques and workout.
3. Green Sash: 2 Green Sash Forms
(1.)Green Sash Form 1: "Mantis Becomes a Warrior"
(2.)Green Sash Form 2: " Mantis Penetrating Palm"
(3.) Green Sash techniques and workout.
4. Blue Sash: 2 Blue Sash Forms
(1.) Blue Sash Form 1: "Mantis Jumps Towards the Sky"
(2.) Blue Sash Form 2: "Crazy Mad Mantis"
(3.) Blue Sash techniques and workout.
5. Red Sash: 3 Red Sash Forms
(1.) Red Sash Form 1: "Mantis Opens the Tiger Claws"
(2.) Red Sash Form 2: " Mantis Fast Hands"
(3.) Red Sash Form 3: "Mantis Fights with Stick"
(4.) Red Sash techniques and workout.
(5.) Advanced Strategies and Tactic's reading section.
6. Brown Sash: 3 Brown Sash Forms
(1.) Brown Sash Form 1: “The Angry Mantis”
(2.) Brown Sash Form 2: “ Mantis Healing Breath”
(3.) Brown Sash Form 3: “Mantis Crazy Mountian Gorilla”
(4.) Brown Sash techniques and workout.
7. Black Sash: 4 Black Sash Forms
(1.) Black Sash Form 1: “Mantis Continuous Hands One (1)”
(2.) Black Sash Form 2: “ Mantis Continuous Hands Two (2)”
(3.) Black Sash Form 3: “ Master Mantis Sinks His Claws”
(4.) Black Sash Form 4: “ Master Mantis Golden Palm“
(5.) Black Sash workout: Free-Style Mantis Concepts on how to stay on your feet against a "Grappler" and techniques.
 |
 |
 |
Sifu Greg Glaim, newest instructor of "Ji Yow Shin Shi Tong Long" - Praying Mantis Free Style Kung-Fu.
Now Sifu Glaim is teaching in Canada.
Grand Master Pascal S. Lane Sr. Presenting Sifu Greg Glaim with his diploma.
Click on the pictures to enlarge
Picture and information provided by Pascal S. Lane Sr.
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