17/01/2023
GM YU Hai 1942-2023 (於海, Yue Hoi)
Yu Hai, born (July 18, 1942) in Yantai City, Shandong Province, is a Chinese actor and martial artist. Originally named Yu Tian Tang, the former national "Praying Mantis Boxing" champion had also been the team captain and coach of the Shandong Sports Academy's martial arts team. Yu's dexterity was later discovered by director Zhang Xinyan of Great Wall Pictures, who cast him in The Shaolin Temple.
He was one of five children, but his elder brother and sister both died young due to poor health and unsanitary conditions. With only younger sisters left, Yu inherited the most precious position in a Chinese family as the eldest male. But just like his deceased brother, he was a sickly child. His father was a worker for the electric company and a devout Christian. In fact, Yu Hai's given name was Wu Tiantang ( tiantang means "heaven" and is a common name among Chinese Christians). Fearing for his bloodline, Yu's father sent him to a Christian friend named Lin Jingshan (), a master of Seven Star Praying Mantis (qixing tanglong ), in hopes of fortifying his son's constitution. Yu was around nine years old then.
Shandong is the birthplace of mantis. All of the pioneers in Seven Star, Plum Flower (meihua ) and Six Harmony (liuhe ) mantis came from this northeastern province, where wild mantises thrive everywhere. Near to Yu's hometown lies Laiyang, considered the birthplace of Seven Star Mantis. In addition to Seven Star, Yu also studied Plum Flower Mantis from his aunt's husband and exchanged skills with many other local practitioners.
In April of 1959, the first Yantai competition was held. By then, Yu had over half a decade of practice under his belt. His teacher encouraged him to compete, despite Yu's own misgivings. Much to Yu's surprise, he won a slot as the Yantai representative for the Shandong Province championships. A few months later, he did well there too, securing a position on the Shandong Province team for China's historic 1st Athletic Games. There he earned second grade (like the ancient Confucian examination system, competitors weren't awarded lone first,
