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Chu Nan-Chieh

A student of master Tung Chan, who brought the praying mantis style to the Hakka people in Guangdong; they named it Chuka Southern Praying Mantis in his honor.

Quick Facts

Country of OriginChinaChina

Biography

Chu Nan-Chieh is the founder of the Chuka Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu style (Chuka Gar), a southern branch of the praying mantis style. We have not been able to verify his dates of birth and death in the sources.

He was one of the few second-generation students of master Tung Chan, a monk from Shaolin, under whose guidance, according to the source, the praying mantis style arose at the end of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).

Disguised as a beggar, he moved to the south of China and settled in Wu-Hau county in Guangdong province, in an area inhabited by the Hakka. He taught the local Hakka community a modified version of the style. In his honor, the Hakka renamed it Chuka Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu: chu from the master's surname, ka meaning family. The style remained secret and was taught only in the Hakka area until the end of the Second World War.

The modern school Chuka Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Inc. was officially founded in August 1984.

Associated Martial Arts

Chuka Gar (Chuka Southern Praying Mantis)Founder→

A branch of Southern Mantis tied to the Hakka community. Tradition traces it to Chu Fook-To, the Chuka Praying Mantis Kung Fu organization to Chu Nan-Chieh.

Organisations