Eight Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu & Tai Chi

Kung Fu, martial arts, self-defense, & Tai Chi classes in Princeton, New Jersey.

“Eight Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu is a complete system of traditional Chinese martial arts. Its beauty when practiced is rivaled only by its effectiveness in combat. With practice, the system builds the mind, body, spirit and character of the practitioner.” — Grandmaster James Shyun

About the School & System

Princeton Mantis is a school of the American Chinese Martial Arts Federation (ACMAF), which teaches Shyun Style Eight Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu & Tai Chi Chuan.

The system is recognized for its practical effectiveness in real-world self-defense scenarios. Eight Step combines striking, grappling, and evasive maneuvers, making it adaptable to various confrontational situations.

The advanced techniques mimic the preying mantis’ ability to draw in its opponent and strike with devastating power. Combined with efficient footwork, joint locks, throwing techniques, and internal energy work, this system represents a complete traditional Chinese martial art.

Lineage

The history of the Preying Mantis Style of Kung-Fu began with Wang Lang during the Ming Dynasty. Generations later, Jiang Hua Long, the 7th‑generation master known as “Ghost Hands,” took it upon himself to develop a new system of footwork that would use energy efficiently but also maintain the Mantis’s devastating effectiveness, by studying the footwork of many styles such as Bagua and Tom Pei. After 10 years, he narrowed down the most effective to eight short and eight long steps. Jiang Hua Long had taken one of the very most effective fighting systems in the world and was able to improve it. The Eight Step Preying Mantis system had been born.

Fong Hua Yi was the 2nd generation Grandmaster of Eight Step Preying Mantis. He had learned the entire system of fighting, which included incredible hands techniques, long and short range techniques, as well as pressure points and devastating ground techniques. All that really could be added were throwing techniques and joint locks. Fong Hua Yi later accepted Wei Hsiao Tang as a student.

As the 3rd‑generation Grandmaster, Wei Hsiao Tang learned and incorporated Wu style Tai Chi Cuan, from Grandmaster Wu Ching, into the Eight Step Preying Mantis system. In 1949 the communists took over China and Wei Hsiao Tang left China for Taiwan. Eventually, Grandmaster Wei took on Shyun Guang Long (James Shyun) as a student, and made the decision to pass the true heart of the Eight Step Preying Mantis system to him.

James Shyun made his way to the United States where he worked instructing law enforcement agencies on both coasts. He had seen that many styles of authentic Kung Fu had been lost. Grandmaster James Shyun realized that in this modern day the same could happen to the Eight Step Preying Mantis system. He had to take steps to prevent this from happening. This is when he decided to open his school in San Francisco, California. The year was 1984.

Read more about the history & lineage on the 8 Step Website

Curriculum Overview

Sash Program

The Sash Program contains the 10 Body Coordinations and fundamental movements of Eight Step Preying Mantis, with emphasis on upper and lower body techniques, footwork, kicking, physical fitness development, and sets that develop fluidity and power between techniques while establishing the foundations of self‑defense.

Silver Mantis Program

The next level of learning in the 8 Step Preying Mantis System is the Silver Mantis levels. Similar to the Sash Program, these levels also have a physical fitness component, only it is much more stringent than the Sash Program. Each of these levels focus on the 2-person aspect of the material. Adding a simple fighting technique to each fundamental movement, the Silver Mantis levels delve a bit deeper into the theory behind each technique and how it is applied.

Gold Mantis Program

The last program available with an Instructor’s invitation are the Gold Mantis levels. These levels prepare a student for becoming an instructor of 8 Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu and Shyun Style Tai Chi Chuan. Students undergo rigorous traditional martial arts training that include all of the above listed information and more. Each Gold Mantis level is centered around a specific area of martial arts similar to the Sash Program and Silver Mantis Program, but the focus is much more about theory and application.

Instructor - Shifu Jeremy

Shifu Jeremy began training in Eight Step Preying Mantis in 2016 under the guidance of Master Alan and Shifu Jenny while living in San Francisco. After moving to New Jersey in 2018, he continued his study under Master Jack, Shifu Bob, and Shifu Tom. He attained the rank of 1st Duan Shifu in May 2025.

As a Shifu, Jeremy remains committed to the continued study and instruction of Eight Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu. Outside of kung fu, he works with the Computer Science Department at Princeton University and is an avid runner. He teaches Eight Step Preying Mantis in South Amboy and Princeton and will teach self‑defense at Princeton University beginning in Fall 2026.

Classes

For a typical class you should expect the following:

Stretching & Physical Conditioning
Upper & Lower Body Techniques
Self‑Defense Applications
One & Two‑person Drills
Forms & Sets
Tai Chi

Training focuses on body mechanics, footwork, engagement timing, power generation, and Eight Step Preying Mantis techniques by solo and partner practice.

Classes are offered in Princeton, NJ & the curriculum is primarily tailored toward adults.