The Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy is one of a small number of kung fu and wushu schools in Sydney NSW Australia. Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Tong Long quan or Tang Lang quan) is over 1000 years old. It's creator, Wang Lang, is documented in the archives of the Shaolin Temple as one of the great masters of the time. Wang Lang developed the style after training at the Shao Lin temple and being inspired by the praying mantis insect. Shifu Daniel Wang Yun Kuo teaches this traditional style of Chinese martial art in Leichhardt a suburb close to the Sydney CBD, NSW Australia. Within the praying mantis kung fu syle there are several variations. The variations taught by Shifu Wang are the Seven Stars and Plum Blossom styles. The Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy teaches other styles of Chinese KungFu including Wu Shu (wushu is a style of competitive Kung Fu made famous by Jet Li), Chin Na and Wu Dong (also known as Wudan, Wu Tang or Wudang) Tai Chi (taiji, taiqi). Sifu Wang also teaches styles such as Xing Yi (Hsing I) and Ba Gua (Pa Kua). There are many styles of Kung Fu including Chow Ka (Jow Gar), Hung Gar, Chin Woo, Choy Lay Fut, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun (Ving Tsun) and many others. Kung Fu is very different from other martial arts known in the West such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do or Kickboxing. These are often referred to as "hard" styles as they use direct force to strike or block the opponent. Many Kung Fu styles combine hard techniques with "soft" moves. Soft techniques use the momentum and energy of the opponent against them. Kung Fu first gained exposure in Western culture from the 1970's TV Series "Kung Fu" starring David Carradine. More recently, Kung Fu has been gaining popularity in the West as it is exposed to "Wu Xia" kung fu culture from movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, Fearless and famous Kung Fu actors including Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Zhang ZiYi, Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh. Kung Fu has even influenced popular music for example, the Wu Tang Clan and Asian Kung Fu Generation. But the most famous of Kung Fu pop songs is "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas. Praying mantis kung fu is often mis spelled as preying mantis kung fu or playing mantis Kung fu