Randy Brown Mantis Boxing

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Crushing Step - Bēng Bù - 崩步

Bēng Bù (Crushing Step 崩步) is a prevalent tào lù (form 套路) of tángláng quán. It stands as one of the more popular fighting sets on record for the mantis boxing style, and is a commonality amongst many of the branches of mantis boxing after it split during the turn of the 19th and 20th century.

Although the name translates as 'Crushing Step', this is a bit of a misnomer. Bēng means - ‘to collapse and fall into ruin’. Rather than an actual crushing ‘step’, Bēng Bù is more specifically about the ‘steps to Bēng’. The set is a series of techniques leading to the ‘collapse and fall into ruin’ of our opponent. This can be represented at times with single moves in the form such as crazy ghost fist, but there are many interconnected sequences of techniques as well.

A series of counters to counters, ultimately leading to the enemies collapse. Think about Rule of Three from our 12 boxer principles. While execution and power generation of a bēng dǎ (crushing strike 崩打) is riddled throughout the set, the overarching theme is causing the collapse of our foe in a myriad of ways.

The character (step 步), is defined as a step-by-step process. Or, in this case, using the step (footwork) to generate an ultimate end goal. Bēng Bù in its entirety, contains a myriad of attacks and positions that include - throws, grapples, plucks, kicks, elbow strikes, and more. Bēng however, is the foundation of this tào lù (form 套路).

The ‘engarde’ position known as ‘mantis catches cicada’ shows up in bēng bù right at the beginning. In bēng bù, as well as in other mantis sets, it is branded with the mantis hooks instead of the signature open palms found in other northern boxing sets such as plum boxing (meihuaquan).

At the end of the first road of bēng bù, there is a move often referred to as a ‘tiger tail kick’. There are versions with one instance of this as you start the second road, and others that end the first road with this move, and then repeat it in the opposite direction before heading into road two of the form.

Plum Flower Maiden Dancing from Pole to Pole. Circa 1880. Source: Wikimedia (though I believe that Stanley Henning was the first person to publish this image in his essay for Green and Svinth.)

Thanks to an article done by Ben Judkins on his Kung Fu Tea blog, I found a drawing of this exact same move. The article - “Research Notes: “Background of Meihuaquan’s Development During Ming and Qing Dynasties” By Zhang Guodong and Li Yun” discusses the influence meihuaquan had on the area of Shandong during the late 1800’s. This same ‘tiger tail kick’ move, as seen in the drawing from 1880, is inside the meihuaquan forms.

This plum boxing influence on such a staple form as bēng bù, draws into question any uniqueness of the techniques within, and points to a larger common vernacular of boxing methods found amongst styles in northern China during this time period.

As with many other tanglangquan forms, it is an exciting set to delve into with many great combinations inside.

Crushing Step Lexicon

Road 1

  1. Crazy Ghost Fist

  2. Mantis Catches Cicada

  3. Thrust Palm Closing Attack

  4. Knee Hook Lapel Punch

  5. Leg Hook Lapel Punch

  6. Falling Elbow/Reaping Leg

  7. Rowing Hook

Road 2

  1. Tiger Tail Kick

  2. Double Sealing Hands

  3. Chop with Fist

  4. Deflect Parry Punch

  5. Rowing Hook

  6. Thrust Palm Closing Attack

  7. Knee Hook with Lapel Punch

  8. Step Up to Double Seal

  9. Waist Chop

  10. Wicked Knee

  11. Beatdown Chop

  12. Rising Elbow to Double Seal w/ Wrist Bind

Road 3

  1. Seize Leg

  2. Seize Leg

  3. Closing Door Kick w/ Eye Plunder

  4. Piercing Hook

  5. Point At Star

  6. Change Moon

  7. Lifting Hook with Leg Hook

  8. Catch Kick & Leg Hook

  9. Seize Leg

Road 4

  1. Seize Leg

  2. Seize Leg

  3. Waist Chop

  4. Circle Punch

  5. Rowing Hook

  6. Lapel Punch w/ Trip

  7. Closing

Crushing Step Applications
Road 1

01 - Crazy Ghost Fist

04 - Knee Hook Lapel Punch

06 - Falling Elbow

03 - Thrust Palm Closing Attack

05 - Leg Hook Lapel Punch

07 - Rowing Hook


Crushing Step Applications
Road 2

01 - Tiger Tail Kick

03 - Chop with Fist

05 - Rowing Hook with 7 Star

07 - Knee Hook Lapel Punch

09 - Waist Chop

11 - Beatdown Chop

02 - Double Sealing Hands

04 - Deflect Parry Punch

06 - Thrust Palm Closing Attack

08 - Double Sealing Hands

10 - Wicked Knee

Timestamp - 00:49

12 - Sticky Elbow