The Origins of Chow Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu

From Illness to Innovation: The Journey of Chow Ah Naam

In the rich history of Chinese martial arts, few styles are as unique—or as misunderstood—as Chow Gar Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu. With its devastating close-range power, low stances, and lightning-fast hands, Chow Gar has earned a reputation as one of the most compact and efficient systems of traditional kung fu.

But where did it all begin?

To understand the origins of Chow Gar, we must go back to one man: Chow Ah Naam.

A Sick Child in Search of a Cure

Chow Ah Naam was born into a wealthy farming family in Canton, China. His life took a dramatic turn around age ten when he developed a mysterious stomach illness. Despite the family’s wealth and access to doctors, no treatment seemed to help.

Eventually, a family friend suggested that perhaps the illness wasn’t physical—but environmental. He recommended that Chow travel north to experience different climates and maybe find better care. Chow’s father agreed, giving him money and sending him off with a servant and a parting message:
“Wherever you go, do as you please.”

Hardship and Healing at the Shaolin Temple

The journey was long and difficult. Chow's health worsened, and his servant eventually fell ill and died. Stranded and penniless at an inn far from home, Chow wrote to his parents for help—but he was too far away to receive any support in time.

The innkeeper, seeing his desperation, sent him to the nearby Shaolin Temple, where a revered monk and healer named Sim Yan took him in. Sim Yan normally didn’t treat outsiders, but he saw something special in Chow.

After several months of herbal medicine and rest, Chow Ah Naam fully recovered.

With nowhere else to go, Chow stayed on at the temple, working in the kitchen. As per temple rules, all residents—monks or not—were required to train in kung fu for at least two hours a day.

The Bully Named Set

While working in the temple, Chow crossed paths with a powerful and arrogant man named Set. Set had been practicing kung fu for years and was known for picking fights and showing off his strength.

One day, Chow accidentally bumped into him while carrying buckets of water. Enraged, Set struck Chow violently, knocking him to the ground. Chow was unable to defend himself.

From that day forward, Chow avoided Set—but Set continued to provoke him.

A Chance Encounter with Nature

One morning, Chow was gathering wood in a nearby forest when he heard a loud commotion. Curious, he followed the sound and came upon a startling scene:

A bird was repeatedly attacking a praying mantis.

Suddenly, the mantis struck—its sharp forelegs slicing through the bird’s throat. The bird fell, instantly killed.

Chow Ah Naam was stunned.

He had just witnessed a small insect defeat a much larger and faster predator. That moment changed everything.

The Birth of Praying Mantis Kung Fu

Inspired, Chow caught several praying mantises and began studying their movements. He fed them, tested their reflexes with twigs, and mimicked their strategies.

What he discovered was profound.

Using their footwork, forearm strikes, short explosive power, and deceptive stillness as inspiration, Chow began to develop a unique fighting system—what would eventually become Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Years later, he encountered Set again. This time, when Set tried to fight, Chow remained calm. Dodging every strike with ease, he countered with a single precise blow—knocking Set to the ground in front of the entire temple.

Recognition and Legacy

The commotion caught the attention of High Monk Sim Yan, who witnessed Chow’s new style and immediately recognized its brilliance. When he asked where Chow had learned it, Chow humbly explained:
“From the mantis.”

Sim Yan was so impressed that he gave Chow the highest level of Shaolin instruction to further refine his system—especially in building what martial artists call a “strong bridge” (the connected structure between arms and body in close contact).

Years later, Chow returned to Canton and passed on his system to a monk named Wong Fook Go, who taught Wai Yeurn, who in turn taught Lau Soei.

It was Lau Soei who would bring Chow Gar Praying Mantis to Hong Kong, becoming one of the most influential martial artists in Southern China. His reputation was unmatched, and he trained thousands of students before his death.

Chow Gar Today: Tradition with Power

After Lau Soei’s passing, only a few close students knew the complete Chow Gar system. But his teachings continue to live on in those who carry the tradition with discipline, integrity, and respect.

What started as a sick child’s journey to find healing became a legacy of precision, power, and purpose. The Chow Gar Praying Mantis system is a testament to observation, resilience, and the ability to learn from nature itself.

Final Thoughts

If you train in Chow Gar today—or are considering starting—know this:
You are stepping into a system built not from theory, but from real survival, deep curiosity, and centuries of refinement.

From the forest floor to the temple hall, from Canton to Hong Kong—this is the legacy of Chow Ah Naam.