一、螳螂拳概说 Brief Introduction of Tanglang Quan
螳螂拳是在少林长拳攻防技术的基础上，吸取了螳螂的许多特长编制的一种优秀拳术。螳螂拳是在长期的传习过程中，又广泛地吸收其他拳术的一些优点加以改造，不断地丰富和发展而形成的一个独立拳派。
Tanglang Quan(Mantis Style)has absorbed specialties from mantis and was created on the base of attacking and defending techniques of Shaolin Chang Quan.During the development，it has absorbed advantages from other styles of Quan and formed its own independent style.
螳螂拳主要流传于山东胶东各地。主要流派有“七星”、“梅花”、“六合”。七星螳螂拳和梅花螳螂拳在动作的组合结构上更为相近。这两种螳螂拳的许多套路名称、动作组合、攻防办法等方面都大同小异。
Tanglang Quan(Mantis Style)is popular in Jiaodong，Shangdong and the main schools are“Seven-Star Tanglang Quan”，“Plum-Blossom Tanglang Quan” and“Six-Conformity Tanglang Quan”.Seven-Star Tanglang Quan is similar to Plum-Blossom Tanglang Quan in movement structure and they share quite similar Taolu，movements，attacking and defending techniques.
螳螂拳虽属“象形拳”类，但从总体来讲是“重意”不“重形”。螳螂拳气势要求紧快即眼快、手快、身快。演练要式快招连、一招三变，气势逼人而又变化莫测，处处表现出刚柔相济、长短互用，勇猛泼辣，机智灵活，变化多端的风格。
“Tanglang Quan”falls into the category of Imitation Quan,but it emphasizes more on the spirit than plain imitation.It requires the eyes，hands and body to be quick.When practicing it，the movements shall be fast，continuous，changing and imposing.It should always show forcefulness with flexibility，braveness with fierceness and cleverness with most changefulness.
螳螂拳各种不同派别，在演练上有很大不同，比如六合螳螂拳就是取意的典型。少林螳螂拳对形体更加讲究一些。这只是偏重的不同，事实上都是讲求形意合一。形是载体，意是本质。