Northern Shaolin Seven Star Praying Mantis.
Long, short and grappling empty-hand techniques and 18 weapon styles — all taught with real application.
One of the original mixed martial arts.
Seven Star Praying Mantis combines the best techniques from 17 different styles of kung fu with the fierce, lightning-fast predatory style of the praying mantis and the extremely efficient footwork of the monkey.
Our classes cover every aspect of the martial arts — from long, short and grappling empty-hand techniques to 18 different weapons, short and long, single-handed and double. Each develops a different part of the body, building strength, fitness and endurance alongside focus, self-confidence and self-discipline.
Adult training schedule.
Teens move into adult classes when Sifu decides they’re ready.
Fighting Principles
5:15 – 6:15 PM
Techniques
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Advanced Class
8:00 – 9:00 PM
Techniques & Forms
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Open Practice
Intermediate / Advanced · 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Principles from the original manuscripts.
Sifu Bateman was entrusted with the hand-written manuscripts of the style and is the first to interpret them into English for his students.
Forms · 套路
The traditional sets of Seven Star Praying Mantis Fist — the living library of the system’s techniques.
The Twelve Character Principles
The twelve key words that define how a mantis practitioner hooks, grasps, sticks and strikes.
The 8 Hard Principles
Direct, powerful methods that teach the student to meet force decisively.
The 12 Soft Principles
Yielding, redirecting and flowing techniques that balance the hard.
5 Internal & 5 External Elements
The alignment of eyes, body, hands, stance and footwork with spirit, breath and power.
The 7 Long & 8 Short
Principles for fighting at every range — from long-range strikes to close-quarters trapping.
The 18 Family Styles
The schools whose best techniques were unified into the mantis system.
Stances & Footwork
The monkey-inspired footwork that makes the mantis so efficient — and so hard to catch.
Traditional methods, faithfully passed down.
Rochester Shaolin adheres to the traditional methods passed down from Lo Kwan Yu to Chiu Chi Man to Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing.
- Sifu Bateman is a closed-door disciple of Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing
- One of only a few 8th-generation successors — the only one in Upstate NY
- Rankings recognized internationally by the Lee Kam Wing International Martial Arts Association
- Sifu sits on the executive board of the World of Traditional Seven Star Mantis Style Federation
A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.
Come watch any class, or join an informal class to see if it’s right for you. Call Sifu Bateman to set up your visit.