Walk away from the crowds and noise in front of Parkson's on Huaihai Rd. South just two blocks and a hop over Fuxing Rd, you enter a different realm of older buildings, relative quiet and leafy streets. If you happened to curiously peek into one of the driveways, you might come across a long abandoned Chinese theatre with a high domed roof. And if you dared to look inside you';d be surprised to find it full of people in frenzied activity. For one group of mysterious inhabitants, it's Praying Mantis Kung Fu.
After a quick investigation, the mysterious inhabitants are not so mysterious after all, but an unusually-mixed, and very friendly bunch. Local Chinese and Hong Kongers, business expats and foreign students, young and old, beginners and old hands.
There are other activities going on too, even yoga. The building is the Longwu International Kung Fu Centre run by Shanghai Wushu team captain, Alvin Guo. Going back in time now to pre-WW2 Shanghai, there was another famous centre teaching the Chinese martial arts that even made it into a Bruce Lee movie.
This was the Jingwumen martial arts association founded by Huo Yunjia around 1912. They also had an exceptional master teaching the praying mantis style. His name was Luo Guangyu and this is where history incredibly repeats itself. Luo Guangyu's students became famous in Hong Kong and, due to turmoil on the Mainland, the teaching of his style, Seven-Star Praying Mantis, moved there. Master Kai Uwe Pel went to Hong Kong from Germany as a teenager to study Seven-Star in the Hong Kong Jingwu. After becoming an accomplished master himself, he has finally settled for Shanghai as his main teaching location in the Longwu Centre.
So we have come full circle, and Seven-Star Praying Mantis kung fu has come home. So what is taught in the classes? Everything you'd imagine there to be in a kung-fu class. Stylised forms that display the attacks and blocks and movement of the Mantis family. Traditional Chinese weapons such as the three section staff, the spear and even the Chinese straight sword (Jian). When Master Kai is asked if self-defense is taught in the class he laughs and explains that the entire art is fighting movements, self defense is the entire thing. Students are thus made to learn the application of every move and go through blocking drills with full contact.
As a wanderer happening upon this place you might wander out again never to come across it a second time, although they have put up a fairly obvious sign since. But the people you may meet there are back every day working hard at this unique and ancient slice of Chinese culture. Chinese martial arts groups are like families and strong, even lifelong friendships are made there. The students find something meaningful and rewarding outside of the endless routine of the workplace, bar/restaurant and home.
Which brings us back to Parkson's, down to the tube and back to that routine. Master Kai Uwe Pel teaches Luo Guangyu's Seven-Star Praying Mantis Kung-Fu at Longwu International Kung Fu Centre, No. 215 Shanxi South Road (near Fuxing Road) Tel: 54650042
Turn up to watch or try a class at the following times:
- Monday: 7-9
- Thursday: 7-9
- Saturday: 2-4
Or contact Kai directly by email at
kaiuwepel@chinwoomen.comIf you decide to join permanently, classes are charged three months at a time - 900RMB (includes 3 times a week, 2 hours a time, 36 classes) It's up to you how often you come once paid, once or twice a week, no problem. Again, 900 RMB includes all three months, up to three times a week.
