7 star praying mantis vs pa-kua

[aku aku]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me about these styles? There's a kung fu school in the area that I'm thinking of checking out and these are the classes that work with my schedule. I realize I should probably check out a class but I found that sometimes it's hard to see the overall picture from just a few classes. You learn some stuff but you don't really see where they're going with it at first.

[shen lao]

I Have Trained Both Systems For 15 Years, And All I Learned Is That No System Is Better Than Another One. They Are Merely Peices Of A Puzzle. Research All You Can From Every Style Possible. As For Me, Pm Has Great Trapping, And Pa Kua Is Great For Multiple Opponents And The Energy Work Is Awesome.

[tigerofironfist]

I would definately reccomend th Pa Kua

[aku aku]

Turns out the praying mantis class is the only one that fits my schedule. It's been pretty basic because it's a beginning class but so far so good. During the warm up we do these rather stylized weight exercises and I was wondering if that's common to a pm class? How standard is a class and how much is left to the instructor to fill in?

[humble_student]

i have seen pakua from a true pakua master and i say that it is one of the most devastating martial arts ever. it relies on the action of reflex and not on techniques because techniques fail when you get afraid or feel fear. his movements were so fast and unblockable i always serve as his punching bag every time he teaches. high and fast kicks are intercepted with the aid of the reflex, which is gained from from practicing daily. strong punches to a pakua master only serve to increase the speed of a pakua movement, which is at most occasions unblockable and unseen. but i do respect pm bacause it also is a martial arts. i heard that the preying mantis was developed to defeat all the other styles before, so it must be formidable too. i must say that a martial art gains prominence depending on the user, and martial arts must not be blamed for being ineffective because of the flaws of the masters. an art can be raised to such a high degree of effectiveness depending on the user, and such is the case of that pakau master i have seen.

[TheUglyEye]

Ive been doing pm for about three months, a year and a half of kenpo before that. I find pm to be devestating once it closes in. It seems to lead the opponent in to a place they don't want to be. Practiced regularly it is an amazing style. Very effective both standing and on the ground.

[peppi]

No System Is Better Than Another One. They Are Merely Peices Of A Puzzle.

You said it well

[kanik]

CHeck 'em both out, and go for the one you feel a stronger connection or like for.