The meaning of “GOU”(hook) in praying mantis

The translation for the word ‘gou’ is hook, like a fish hook or a grappling hook. it is a name given to an item or tool that used to catch hold of something and pull it in. In the praying mantis system it is one of the first of the twelve words used for the essence of the style. There are more than twelve words that are used to formulate the system, depending on the branch of praying mantis and the lineage there can be any where from twelve to thirty one. Over time I will go over the  main twelve  and will continue with the others if and when I feel the need.

The term gou as a technique in Seven Star and Plum Flower Praying Mantis is generally connected with the signature hand position practitioners refer to this as the Praying Mantis hand. It is also called the Intercepting hand or tiao shou. The hand extends out and the fingers drape downwards in a kind of hooking position as in the following illustrationss.

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This is not a grabbing maneuver. The intent is not to hang on the opponent to keep them from moving away but to break an opponents timing and alter their avenue of escape. When the opponent reaches out with and attack of some sort the response is to extend, intercept and hook along the line of force that has already been given.

One of the misconceptions regarding the hooking method is that in the praying mantis system is the idea that tiao shou or the signature praying mantis hand is required for it to work. In the beginning of practicing this method it may be true that this is only way to do guo. The main reason is because in the beginning we can only understand this as principle of technique rather than a principle of force. In the pure essence of all practices if we have the ability to intercept, adhere and follow a force then a physical latching maneuver is more of crutch than a necessity. In other words the use of the tiao shou technique when performing guo is useful but not required. This hooking energy can be done quite well without the use of the hand at all. The less encumbered we are by the physical mechanics of a method the more easily we can respond with immediacy to a force we encounter. The following illustration give one example of just a condition.

When examining any technique or methodology of practice we must always keep in mine that in the end it comes down to how we respond to and generate forces.