NEW
SEVEN STAR MANTIS SCHOOL
GRAND OPENING IN SHANGHAI
The
Shanghai Luo Guang Yu Seven Star
Praying Mantis Kung Fu School
celebrated the grand opening of its
newest location on November 12,
2011, in Qing Pu district.
Boasting over 300 square meters of
spacious training facilities with
modern amenities and overlooking the
Suzhou creek, the new school will
serve as an extension of Master
Pel’s efforts to promote traditional
Seven Star Praying Mantis kung fu
publically in the great city of
Shanghai. It is also featured
as the only public kung fu school in
Shanghai teaching strictly
traditional Seven Star Praying
Mantis Kung Fu.
About the Festivities
Festivities started
Saturday afternoon 2:18pm with
highlights including the unveiling
of new school signage, fireworks,
traditional Southern (Foshan) lion
dance, Mantis forms demonstration by
Master Pel, and a barbeque featuring
traditional German food. In
attendance included head instructor
Kai Uwe Pel, partners, students,
friends, and family.
The opening lion dance
ceremony was initiated by Master Pel
with the “eye dotting” (Dian Jing)
ritual symbolizing the awakening the
lion’s spirit. The traditional
performance blessed the four corners
of the training hall warding off
negative energies and blessing the
school with good luck and prosperity
to come.
Following the lion dance
Master Pel and students delivered
exciting demonstrations from a
number of traditional hand-sets.
Master Pel provided an explosive
performance featuring Seven Star
Praying Mantis’s highest handset -
Beng Bu Quan. Following, students
Nathan Wright and Cameron Hirst
demonstrated the hand-sets Yi Lu
Zhai Yao, and Mei Hua Lu
respectively.
The remainder of the
evening was followed by group photos
and a spectacular barbeque featuring
traditional German prepared cuts of
beef, pork, chicken, sausage, and
select German / Danish beers.
Overall it was a successful grand
opening amongst friends, family and
students.
About the New School
Although Master Pel has
been teaching Seven Star Praying
Mantis Kung Fu in Shanghai for ten
years, the opening of the new school
location remains significant on a
number of levels. One, it marks the
return of Kai Uwe Pel to the public
teaching arena. Previously he was
teaching privately and closed door.
Two, with the return of Master Pel,
it also marks the return of Seven
Star Praying Mantis to Shanghai’s
public arena. It was first brought
to Shanghai Jing Wu Men (cantonese:
Ching Mou Mun) in 1919 from Shandong
province by Master Luo Guang Yu.
Three, it is the only traditional
Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu
school in Shanghai, and strictly
follows the traditions, teachings,
and approach of Master Luo Guang Yu.
This presents perspective students
with a unique opportunity. And
lastly, it boasts some of the best
training facilities for traditional
Chinese martial arts in Shanghai.
The new facilities provide students
with over 300 square meters of space
including a large open carpeted and
matted training hall; a large
collection of traditional weapons,
heavy bags, pads, and equipment; and
newly modern renovated amenities
including fashionably designed
change rooms, shower stalls and
bathroom facilities. In addition it
features a well stocked
(not-for-profit) health shop, and a
beautiful outside patio overlooking
Suzhou creek making the perfect
setting for summertime corporate
events.
About Master Kai Uwe Pel
Master
Pel has been involved in the
traditional Chinese martial arts
community for over 30 years
dedicating himself exclusively to
the study and teaching of Seven Star
Praying Mantis Kung Fu under the Luo
Guang Yu family lineage. He
has lived in Asia for over 20 years
including such countries as Hong
Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and
China. Master Pel first moved
to Shanghai in 2002 when he was
invited by the Shanghai Jing Wu Men
organization to teach Seven Star
Praying Mantis full-time. This
also provided him with the honor and
privilege of being the first ever
full-time foreign teacher in the
Shanghai Jing Wu organization.
Since then Master Pel has resided in
the exciting city of Shanghai
featuring 23 million people.
He remains the grandfather of Seven
Star Praying Mantis boxing in
Germany, and is unarguably a living
legend in the traditional Chinese
martial arts community today.
Master Pel remains a modest and
unassuming individual who leads by
example and prefers a simple
no-nonsense approach to teaching,
training, and work.
Contact:
Shanghai
Luo
Guang Yu Seven Star Mantis Kung Fu