O.C.G Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu

O.C.G Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu We are a small kung fu school in oxford. teaching well known style for its direct self defence fighting techniques. offering hand combat, weapons, & more.

04/07/2026

Chow Gar has many two-person drills (Chongs), each designed to develop different attributes of the system, including structure, timing, conditioning, sensitivity, and practical application.
This video demonstrates a destruction drill taught progressively in three stages.
The first stage is practised stationary, allowing the student to develop the correct mechanics, condition the arms through repeated contact, and learn accurate targeting.
The second stage introduces movement while maintaining a low stance. This develops coordination, footwork, balance, and leg strength, while reinforcing the structure and power.
The final stage demonstrates the practical applications of the drill, showing how the techniques can be used effectively in combat. Training in this progressive way ensures that sound fundamentals are developed before the techniques are applied dynamically.

NG HANG GWUN 五行棍 FIVE POLE ELEMENT FORM
17/06/2026

NG HANG GWUN 五行棍
FIVE POLE ELEMENT FORM

09/06/2026

In Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis, pole/staff two‑person drills (Chongs) are a method for refining precision.
The pole acts as an extension of the bridge, revealing gaps in alignment, timing, accuracy, and intention. When two poles meet, the feedback is immediate: your structure must be clean, your line correct, and your movement decisive.

Two‑person Chongs develop distance, pressure, accuracy, and coordinated whole‑body movement, all of which transfer directly into empty‑hand training.
We don’t train the pole to become weapons specialists — we train it to make our Chow Gar structure and intention sharper.

03/06/2026

Why We Train the Forearms in Chow Gar
Forearm training is a fundamental part of Chow Gar Kung Fu. The forearms are often the first point of contact with an opponent's limbs, making strong, conditioned forearms essential for effective close-range fighting. Through regular training, practitioners develop heavy, resilient forearms that can absorb impact, maintain strong bridges, and deliver force with power and control.
Forearm conditioning develops both physical and mental strength. Physically, it increases toughness, endurance, structural integrity, and the ability to withstand and apply pressure during contact. Mentally, it builds focus, determination, discipline, and the confidence to remain calm and committed under pressure. Together, these qualities help practitioners apply Chow Gar techniques with greater effectiveness and resilience.🙏

New poster for our adults-only Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis training in Oxfordshire.We focus on close-range combat, ...
28/05/2026

New poster for our adults-only Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis training in Oxfordshire.
We focus on close-range combat, conditioning, two-man drills and real contact work.
For anyone who can't attend in person, we also run online training covering forms, conditioning, footwork and power development.
If you want details about either option, just drop me a message.👍🙏

In Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis, Gau Choi, also known as (Hammer Hand) is more than just a strike — it is a universa...
08/05/2026

In Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis, Gau Choi, also known as (Hammer Hand) is more than just a strike — it is a universal destructive technique. The strike is delivered with the ulnar edge of the fist, developed through structure, conditioning, and short explosive power.
Heavy hands, rooted stance.
Many people assume the ulnar edge of the fist is too weak to strike with, but within the Mantis system it becomes a powerful structural weapon through correct training and conditioning. This is developed through bag work, two-person conditioning, and especially through practising Sarm Bo Jin.
My Sifu told me many years ago that this conditioning becomes a tester of your Sarm Bo Jin — if the form is trained correctly and consistently, the structure, connection, and strength in these striking areas naturally develop over time.
Gau Choi is designed for close-range destruction. It can target the head, neck, shoulders, ribs, limbs, or any opening available. The power does not come from large swinging movement, but from rooted structure, body connection, and the release of short explosive force.

PHOENIX EYE IN CHOW GAR MANTISThe Phoenix Eye, or Fung Ngaan, is a distinctive hand formation in Chow Gar Southern Prayi...
01/05/2026

PHOENIX EYE
IN CHOW GAR MANTIS
The Phoenix Eye, or Fung Ngaan, is a distinctive hand formation in Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis. It is created by curling the fingers into a tight fist while slightly protruding the knuckle of the index finger. This creates a focused striking point, allowing for precise, penetrating power rather than broad impact.
Unlike conventional punches that rely on surface area and momentum, the Phoenix Eye emphasizes accuracy and structure. It is commonly used to target vulnerable anatomical points such as the throat, ribs, solar plexus, and pressure points along the body. Because of this, it reflects the system's core principle: efficiency over force.
Training the Phoenix Eye requires careful conditioning. The knuckle must be gradually strengthened, and the wrist aligned correctly to avoid injury. Power is not generated from the arm alone, but through coordinated body mechanics— rooting, short-range energy (ging), and proper stance.
In Chow Gar Mantis, we also practice Hay/Chi Gung to cultivate internal energy, focus the mind, and enhance the power behind the Phoenix Eye. Through breath control, intention, and energy flow, the strike becomes not just physically strong, but energetically alive.
In application, the Phoenix Eye is rarely used in isolation. It is integrated into the rapid, close-range striking sequences that define Chow Gar Mantis, often delivered in quick succession with minimal telegraphing.

Training the bridge tonight with Mantis bar rolling.A simple method — rolling a 7kg bar along the top of the forearms. N...
16/04/2026

Training the bridge tonight with Mantis bar rolling.
A simple method — rolling a 7kg bar along the top of the forearms. Not heavy, but enough to forge the bridge.
This drill develops a strong, connected bridge, helping to absorb impact, maintain contact, and apply pressure effectively.
100 repetitions to build strength that carries into practice.

Pai Kui, or the Slicing Bridge, is the "heavy hitter" of Chow Gar Mantis, where you use your forearm to slice through an...
01/04/2026

Pai Kui, or the Slicing Bridge, is the "heavy hitter" of Chow Gar Mantis, where you use your forearm to slice through an opponent's guard at point-blank range. Instead of a long swing, you generate a "shockwave" of power from your elbows and feet to deliver short, explosive strikes—often aimed at the neck or specifically targeting the arms and biceps to cause instant paralysis. By "breaking the bridge" of the attacker’s limb, you effectively destroy their weapon and collapse their structure, proving that your power is heavy and solid like a lead pipe rather than light or floaty.

Here’s Adam, my long-time student, running through the Iron Ruler. He’s been a student of this system since the late 90s...
29/03/2026

Here’s Adam, my long-time student, running through the Iron Ruler. He’s been a student of this system since the late 90s.

In Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis, the weapon often called the Sai is known in Chinese as the Tit Chek (鐵尺), which translates to “Iron Ruler.” True to its name, it’s used with precision, structure, and control rather than flashy movement. The Tit Chek reflects the system’s close-range power—short, sharp, and direct—emphasising trapping, striking, and deflection. Like the hand techniques in Chow Gar, its use is efficient and practical, reinforcing the art’s focus on rooted stance, explosive energy, and disciplined intent.

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Kennington Road
Oxford
OX15PG

Opening Hours

7:30pm - 9:30pm

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+447191075543

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