Tang Lang Shou
螳螂手
Literally: mantis hand
Also known as: Tanglang gou
Hook-shaped hand of the praying mantis style made of one to three fingers, which deflects an attack, sticks to the opponent's arm and controls it.
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Tang Lang Shou (螳螂手), mantis hand, is the characteristic hook-shaped hand of the northern praying mantis style; sources also list it as tanglang gou (螳螂勾), mantis hook. The hook is formed by one to three fingers, and the power is delivered with a whipping motion. The hook is used to deflect an attack, to stick to the opponent's limb and control it in close-range fighting, and also to strike with the back of the wrist. The principle comes from observing the mantis, whose limbs cannot withstand perpendicular force; the style favours deflection over direct blocking, unlike hard covering techniques. The northern praying mantis style (Tanglangquan) is traditionally attributed to Wang Lang, placed at the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties around 1650. His historical existence, however, is disputed among researchers.