---
title: Mantis Canon — Open English Translations (Brennan)
---
A reference index to the **open-access English translations of the Northern Praying Mantis canon** — primarily the work of **Paul Brennan** at [brennantranslation.wordpress.com](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com), who has translated **40+ of Wong Hon Fan's published books** to English with the original Chinese preserved alongside. This is, by a large margin, the **single most comprehensive open English-language Praying Mantis library in existence**.
Brennan's English translations are in copyright; the original Chinese they preserve is public domain. The codex's policy is to *link to Brennan, not re-host*, and credit him as the translator.
This index is grouped by curricular role to help practitioners and researchers navigate. Where a posture list or short verse is reproduced on the linked codex page, it is reproduced under fair-use citation with credit.
## Category index
The complete index of Brennan's Wong Hon Fan translations:
→ [**brennantranslation.wordpress.com/category/books-by-wong-honfan/**](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/category/books-by-wong-honfan/)
## Theoretical / treatise material
| Work | 中文 | Year | Brennan URL |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Secrets of the Mantis Boxing Art | 螳螂拳術闡秘 | 1946 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/secrets-of-the-mantis-boxing-art/) |
| Collected Mantis Boxing Articles (56 essays) | – | 1951 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/collected-mantis-boxing-articles/) |
| Forty Years (Wong's anniversary commemorative) | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2022/12/23/forty-years/) |
## Foundational forms
| Form | 中文 | Brennan URL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Avalanche Steps Boxing Set** (Bung Bu, 1947 version, 48 postures) | 崩步拳 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2020/01/26/avalanche-steps-boxing-set-beng-bu-quan/) |
| **Bengbu Poems** (1954 verse edition, 47 postures + verses) | 重訂崩步拳 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2025/06/30/bengbuquan-poems/) |
| **Understanding the Avalanche Steps** (two-person companion) | 領崩步 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/two-person-avalanche-steps-boxing-set/) |
| [Mantis Tantui (14 lines)](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/mantis-tantui) | 螳螂彈腿 / 十四路彈腿 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2025/04/28/mantis-tantui/) |
| [The Eighteen Luohan Exercises](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/luohan-gong) | 羅漢功 (18 named) | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2021/09/17/the-eighteen-luohan-exercises-according-to-wong-honfan/) |
## Core empty-hand forms
| Form | 中文 | Postures | Year | Brennan URL |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Charging Punches](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/cha-chui-quan) | 插捶 | 48 | 1944/1953 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/charging-punches/) |
| [Eighteen Elders](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/eighteen-elders-form) | 十八叟拳 | 42 | 1944/1954 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/03/02/eighteen-elders/) |
| [Dodging Hardness](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/dodging-hardness) | 躲剛拳 | 40 | 1944/1953 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/04/30/dodging-hardness/) |
| [Interception Boxing](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/interception-boxing) | 攔截拳 | 35 | 1957 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/interception-boxing/) |
| [Plum Blossom Fists](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/plum-blossom-fists) | 梅花拳 | 55 | 1957 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/10/10/plum-blossom-fists/) |
| [Plum Blossom Hands](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/plum-blossom-hands) | 梅花手拳 | – | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/10/10/plum-blossom-hands/) |
| [Plum Blossoms Falling](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/plum-blossoms-falling) | 梅花落拳 | – | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/10/10/plum-blossoms-falling/) |
| [White Ape Leaves the Cave](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/white-ape-leaves-cave) | 白猿出洞 | 49 | 1958 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/white-ape-leaves-the-cave/) |
| [White Ape Steals a Peach](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/mantis-steals-peach) | 白猿偷桃 | – | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/white-ape-steals-a-peach/) |
| [Drunken Luohan](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/drunken-luohan) | 醉羅漢拳 | – | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/drunken-luohan/) |
| [Large Frame Postures](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/large-frame-postures) | 大架式拳 | – | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/07/31/large-scale-postures/) |
| [Small Frame Postures](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/small-frame-postures) | 小架式拳 | – | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/07/31/small-scale-postures/) |
| [Large Wheeling](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/large-wheeling) | 大番車拳 | 51 | 1971 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/large-wheeling/) |
| [Linked Brocade](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/linked-brocade) | 連環錦套 | 55 | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/linked-brocade-boxing/) |
| [Charging Four Directions](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/charging-four-directions) | 四路奔打拳 | 59 | 1973 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2025/01/26/charging-to-the-four-directions/) |
| [Mantis Steals a Peach](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/mantis-steals-peach) | 螳螂偷桃 | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2022/11/11/mantis-steals-a-peach/) |
| [Mantis Leaves the Cave](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/white-ape-leaves-cave) | 螳螂出洞 | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/mantis-leaves-the-cave/) |
| [Continuous Boxing](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/continuous-boxing) | 連拳 | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/continuous-boxing/) |
| [Soft & Nimble](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/soft-nimble-boxing) | 柔靈拳 | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/soft-nimble-boxing/) |
| [Black Tiger Blocks Path](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/black-tiger-crossing) | 黑虎交叉 | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/black-tiger-blocks-the-path/) |
| [Flying Goose Palms](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/flying-goose-palms) | 飛雁掌 | – | 1971 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/flying-goose-palms/) |
| [Descending Eagle Palms](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/descending-eagle-palms) | 落鷹掌 | – | 1972 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2022/11/11/descending-eagle-palms/) |
## Weapons forms
| Form | 中文 | Year | Brennan URL |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Yan Qing's Single Saber](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/yan-qing-single-saber) | 燕青單刀 | 1944/1956 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/12/23/yan-qings-single-saber/) |
| [Liuhe Double Sabers](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/liuhe-double-sabers) | 六合雙刀 | 1945 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/12/23/liuhe-double-sabers/) |
| [Mantis Liuhe Staff](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/mantis-liuhe-staff) | 螳螂六合棍 | 1956 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2021/01/26/mantis-liuhe-staff/) |
| [Sundial Sword (Ziwu Jian)](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/sundial-sword) | 子午劍 | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/08/16/sundial-sword-ziwu-jian/) |
| [Fifth Son's Eight-Trigrams Staff](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/fifth-sons-staff) | 五郎八卦棍 | 1955 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2019/01/26/fifth-sons-staff/) |
| [Tiger-Tail Three-Section Staff](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/tiger-tail-three-section-staff) | 虎尾三節棍 | 1944 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/tiger-tail-three-section-staff/) |
| [Spring & Autumn Halberd](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/spring-autumn-halberd) | 春秋大刀 | 1958 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/spring-autumn-halberd/) |
| [Large Saber Techniques for the Army](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/army-large-saber) | 軍中大刀術 | 1947 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/large-saber-techniques-for-the-army/) |
| [Eight-Trigrams Saber](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/eight-trigrams-saber) | 八卦單刀 | 1958 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2023/07/31/jingwu-eight-trigrams-saber/) |
| [Drunken Groundwork Saber](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/drunken-groundwork-saber) | 醉酒地躺單刀 | 1960 | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2022/03/17/drink-guinness/) |
| [Nine-Section Whip on the Ground](https://wulin.openmindspace.org/nine-section-whip) | 九節地躺鞭 | – | [link](https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/nine-section-whip/) |
## Other valuable open sources
- **Plum Publications — Bong Bo Kuen posture chart** by Sifu Paul Koh (companion to a Tak Wah Eng DVD): [plumpub.com/kaimen](https://www.plumpub.com/kaimen/2020/bong-bo-kuen-beng-bu-quan/)
- **Ravenswood Academy — Index of Wong Hon Fan's Works** (complete Chinese+English title list): [theravenswoodacademy.com](http://theravenswoodacademy.com/index-of-wong-hon-fans-works)
- **northernmantis.com — Forms of the Praying Mantis Style** (30 hand + 33 weapon + 14 two-person form catalog with Cantonese transliterations + English): [northernmantis.com/forms.html](http://www.northernmantis.com/forms.html)
- **leanpub — Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu** by Kai Uwe Pel (pay-what-you-want $9.99+): [leanpub.com/luoguangyu](https://leanpub.com/luoguangyu)
- **archive.org — H.B. Un (Wong Hon Fan) Praying Mantis Kung Fu** (full free PDF/EPUB, 195MB): [archive.org/details/hbunprayingmantiskungfu](https://archive.org/details/hbunprayingmantiskungfu)
## Other lineages — open Chinese-language form scripts
For **Eight Step (Wei Xiaotang lineage)**:
- \*\*Hsu Chiu-Te (許秋德 / 八極拳協會) — \*\****螳螂拳力劈拳譜與影片*** — Taiwan Bajiquan Association blog with the multi-lineage *Li Pi Quan* posture script (28- and 38-movement variants): [hsu363.pixnet.net](https://hsu363.pixnet.net/blog/post/351102707)
- **健武學會 — 八步螳螂-力劈拳** independent script: [blog.xuite.net](https://blog.xuite.net/jianwu8509/wretch/110241958)
- \*\*左顯富 (Zuo Xianfu) — \*\****憶述衛笑堂*** (definitive insider Wei Xiaotang biography): [onlypower.pixnet.net](https://onlypower.pixnet.net/blog/post/51606914)
- **Suntrans blog — 衛笑堂 biography + 八步螳螂技擊原理** (combat principles): [suntrans88.blogspot.com](http://suntrans88.blogspot.com/2016/11/blog-post_33.html)
For **other branches**:
- **Douban — 七星螳螂拳之摘要拳四路** (Liu-family Fourth Path Zhai Yao posture detail): [m.douban.com/note/711565258](https://m.douban.com/note/711565258/)
- **Kung Fu Magazine forums** — Bung Bu cross-branch comparisons, mantis form syllabus discussions: [archive.kungfumagazine.com](http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/)
- **Monkey Steals Peach — Taiji Mantis overview**: [monkeystealspeach.com](https://monkeystealspeach.com/praying-mantis-kung-fu-%E8%9E%B3%E8%9E%82%E6%8B%B3/taiji-mantis/)
## See also