Northern Praying Mantis is unrelated to Southern Praying Mantis. Some observable differences:
| Northern Praying Mantis | Southern Praying Mantis | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Northern Shaolin; animal styles; weapons | Hakka people; empty-hand combat |
| Signature Technique | mantis claw for grabbing | phoenix fist for striking |
| Forms | many forms, with many (e.g., 50-80) movements | few forms, with few (e.g., 20 or less) movements |
| Range | mid-to-long range | close range |
| Strikes | whipping, circular; long fist | circular; high-low; short-range power |
| Kicks | long range (low to high, head level) | short-to-medium range (low, at-below waist) |
| Stances | low; open; wide | more upright |
| Footwork | complex; sweeping, long steps; sometimes jumpy | short steps; narrow angles |
If you're looking for Northern Praying Mantis training in Toronto, Ontario, the GTA, Niagara, or Golden Horseshoe areas, here are a few schools that I've Google'd for you.
| School | Location |
|---|---|
| Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu Association | Toronto, ON |
| Niagara Kung Fu Academy | Niagara Falls, ON |
| Golden Harmony Martial Arts & Wellness | Toronto, ON |
| Six Degrees Health | Toronto, ON |
| Wu Tan Canada | Ottawa, ON |
| Wu Shen Kung Fu Academy | Windsor, ON |
| Ting Shen Kung Fu | London, ON |