Style Ton Long: Mythology x Reality.

Style Ton Long: Mythology x Reality

Continuing the theme of "Mythology x Reality" in which, in our first article we talked about the origin of Kung Fu (link:https://www.facebook.com/416701395181190/photos/a.416707248513938.1073741827.416701395181190/421182364733093/?type=1&theater ), this time we'll talk about style Kung Fu Ton Long.

Once again it is interesting to note that such stories are great controversies cores with regard to truthfulness, and we don’t intend to convince or impute an unquestionable truth. But remember that, while there is no evidence that the facts thus gave also no concrete evidence which hasn’t happened.

One of the reports that link the origin of the style Ton Long narrates that one day, a skilled warrior, named Wang Lang, aiming to test their own abilities, went to the Shaolin temple and the site launched Challenge a friendly duel.

According to the stories, such duels occurred frequent form, since they were used as a way to make known the winner warrior and often even came to be hired for some feudal lord.

After some insistence the Monk Master allowed Wang to fight with one of the monks of the temple, but contrary to what requested by Wang, who imagined defeat the strongest of the monks, this fight with a new temple, and only after the victory, could fight with a senior.

It happens that, for challenging's surprise, Wang this was defeated in the first fight, the youngest monk of the temple, which took him to the forest for meditation and contemplation of what had occurred. After constant training and strengthening, Wang returned to the monastery, certain of victory and superiority of his Kung Fu.

Despite winning some fights, Wang was unsuccessful in winning the highest category of monks, and was even able to achieve a single blow to the Master. Again, sense his pride Wang returned to his isolation, not losing a determination to prove their skills.

So while resting under a tree, Wang noticed a fragile Mantis god engaged in a fight with a big cicada that, despite the tenacity and the apparent advantage relative to the size of this, the Mantis God reacted with ferocity, using face strong legs, to win and to consume the victim.

Impressed, Wang captured the winner animal, watching the defensive and offensive moves insect when in astutely, teased with a stick. Agile and persevering Mantis God has become the fighter's inspiration, which now mimic those movements performed by the animal.

Finally after training such movements, Wang once again into the temple. It turns out that the this time the result was made differently, with the challenger defeated the Monks Master with his tactics and rapid movements, which until then had never been seen.

Surprised, the monks complied with respect to Wang's victory, going to learn this new style of Kung Fu. The story then spread to several provinces, leading to achievement of Wang's dream come known and surrounded by disciples, and its style regarded as one of the largest at the time.

It is inevitable to say that the style of the Ton Long (“praying mantis”) it’s a heritage transmitted and developed by Wang disciples and followers, as there are reports of how they were developed and also inherited other styles of Kung Fu, as Fei Hok Phai, Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Bak Sil Lam. But that's another story ...

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Pou San Chuan
Academy of Arts Maricias
São José do Rio Preto
São Paulo Brazil