Book Description
This complete and comprehensive introduction to kung fu--and other aspects of ancient Shaolin wisdom--will prove invaluable to everyone interested in the martial arts, chi kung, or meditation. It shows how kung fu, as well as other Shaolin practices, can bring you health, vitality, mental focus, and spiritual joy. It includes a history of the various forms of kung fu, an in-depth study of kung fu patterns and sets, and an introduction to kung fu weaponry, along with many stories of Shaolin wisdom and healing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Good book for intermediate students
Good book with a helpful grasp of the history of kung fu. Also has some very useful information for proper foundations and stances. I feel that you should already have a grasp of some style of kung fu to properly appreciate and understand this book

Go to CMAOD dot com and learn real Shaolin and other martial arts styles for cheap -- avoid imposter teachers!
Shaolin kung fu is without question beautiful and if you wish to learn complete kung fu forms for only seven ninety nine per video disc, or slightly more for English-Chinese DVDs, visit the website that begins with the first letters of "Chinese Martial Arts On Disc": CMAOD dot com. "CMAOD dot com" offers every kind of kung fu form and style you would ever wish to learn from beginning to end: traditional hong gar, almost all styles of Shaolin, Dim Mak, traditional hong fist, animal styles, many fighting self-defense videos, wudang, er mei, and dozens of other complete systems of kung fu, including weapons, forms, and self-defense. You name it, you can learn it, without having to spend thousands of dollars to learn from phony kung fu teachers. Many Americans don't know that this website allows you to buy the best instructional VCDs and DVDs available. Visit the "wushu for youth" section of CMAOD dot com and you can buy the wushu fundamentals VCDs or DVDs that will teach you from the beginning stages. Visit the Shaolin section and you will find more fundamental Shaolin VCds or DVDs taught by two allegedly real Shaolin monks called Shi De Juan and Shi De Jian. I don't know how real their monkhood is, but they are gifted martial artists, and you can learn complete forms in many styles of martial arts. You've got to see this website to believe it. The owner Bill is a great guy, and offers great discounts on his website. You've got to visit CMAOD dot com to believe it. There are literally thousands of kung fu artists here that are "at least" as good as the so-called real Shaolin monks in China and America, and many are far far better. With a few bucks, they can be your teacher. If you can't find a good teacher in person, here's your only chance to learn real Shaolin or other styles for almost nothing. Ever wish you could find "the secret kung fu manual" to teach you various styles? Well, here it is in video disc or DVD form. Buy these VCDs or DVDs and enjoy learning great martial arts from top Chinese masters without worrying about being fooled by phony kung fu masters. Finally, every American has access to real kung fu learning at his or her own pace! I have written three international cover stories for Inside Kung Fu and Wushu Kung Fu magazines (now Kung Fu magazine) and can vouch that CMAOD dot com is the best source for learning authentic Shaolin and other kung fu step-by-step without being bamboozled by and kowtowing to phony practitioners of fake kung fu styles or schools. Learn at your own pace, according to your own interests from the best Chinese masters and grandmasters for less than eight dollars for VCDs.

One of the best books on Shaolin Kung Fu
I am a student of Shaolin Kung Fu and have regular classes with our Shifu. This book clarified issues I had questions about and brought up new areas of learning that Shifu hadn't covered, particularly about chi power and focusing energy. Once mentioning the topics from the book in class, we went into new and exciting areas of kung fu that were deeper and more powerful. The author is also a well known expert on Shaolin Kung Fu, so he speaks from vast experience. He strives to help the student in a clear and comprrehensive way. It's my favorite of the thirty or so books I have on Kung Fu. I would highly recommend it to other students.

Shaolin Kung Fu
This book is one of my favorites! My copy is old now and the pages are underlined and bent from reading and re reading this book. The book gives one more than enough reading materiel to practice and think about! If you don't have a school near by or good teachers, Mr. Kit gives you more than enough information to begin practice. To this day, I'm fortysix years old, I practice the Shaolin eight exercises Mr. Kit explains in his book for exercise! I have also emailed him to ask him questions and he actually took time to write back and comment on what I should focus on inmy practice. I enjoyed this book so much I bought all his other books!

A good fiction type book being sold as a reference on Martial arts or Kung Fu
Hi,

This book is a good pictorial representation of some of the concepts of some of the Chinese Martial arts.Not necessarily Kung Fu - Least Shaolin Kung Fu.

It is refreshing and entertaining to read the material with accompanying pictures as a fictional novel.But as far as the knowledge on Kung Fu or Martial Arts is concerned it has very very little to offer in that area.The book is written in good and simple English.However it lacks the scientific approach, the thoroughness and completeness required for any Martial Arts or Kung Fu reference book.In fact the book does not have even 1 % knowlege on the traditional Shaolin Kung Fu !The book tries to demonstrate a lot of techniques as Kung Fu techniques but their overall applicability from this book is only fictional (not real).For a serious martial arts student or a Shaolin Kung Fu seeker the book is of a very little value. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fans of the series must have this book
The book gives a basic overview of the series without getting bogged downed with actor biographies, it sticks right to the series.Included in the bookis an overview of every episode of all three seasons including a plot summary and listing of the main actors.It also explores the relationships of the characters to one another especially Caine and his teachers Master Kan and Master Po.A fantastic book that I used extensively as I rewatched the series (all three of the seasons are now available on DVD).An excellent companion to a fantastic show.

Excellent TV Series...and Book!
When this TV show was originally being aired on ABC back in the early 1970's I was a teenager and never watched it.

But several years later in the late '70's while at college in California, reruns were being shown on some station out there in L.A. - and I became hooked.

The flashback scenes with Masters Po and Kan are FANTASTIC, teach insightful lessons of life to live by, and really are the essence of the show.

Pilato's "Kung-Fu Book of Caine" is an absolutely tremendous supplement to the series, and with all the interesting background information he provides, one can appreciate the show even more.

Yesterday I was even inspired to purchase the recently-released DVD of the first two seasons of "Kung-Fu" here on Amazon [...]

Kung Fu -- The Book of Caine
What a terrific way to re-live and reminisce about the great old days of the original Kung Fu TV show.The book gives a very interesting behind-the-scenes look at the creative and talented writers and actors who worked on the show, and follows with an episode-by-episode synopsis.The book, like the TV show, leaves you wanting more, so I can only hope that more will become available soon.In the meantime, the Book of Caine is a nice addition to any fan's collection.

A MUST FOR "KUNG FU" FANS!
This book has it all: a show by show guide, photographs, and more pertaining to the best television program ever. I have even more love towards the show after reading this book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A Classic in the Field
Chow and Spangler's "Kung Fu: History, Philosophy, and Technique" broke new ground when it was first published, sharing many details about kung fu which were not available elsewhere. The foundational chapters of the book are the ones on Daoism, "external" styles, chin na (which features techniques), dynamics, kung fu and entertainment (movies), and the westernization of kung fu.

The section on Daoism is very good. The rest of the chapters are more overview-ish, but still contain good material. The dynamics chapter has a bunch of chi kung training drills which are illustrated and will evoke interest, if not hilarity. Chow's work on the television show "Kung Fu" shows in places, and even though the show was campy, Chow seems to be in tune with Shaolin philosophy - especially given his comments about training in the chin na chapter.

I highly recommend this book to those who don't know anything about Chinese martial arts, and wish to increase their exposure.

Very good info on Kung Fu
This book was originally published in 1977 as a way to introduce Westerners to the complex history and traditions of Kung Fu.This book covers the history of the Chinese martial arts quite well, given the space they had to work with.The history goes all the way back to the bronze age, and is followed throught the centuries.Bodhidharma, the legendary figure who brought the movements of Kung Fu and the philosophy of Chan (Zen) to the Shaolin temple is given an entire chapter.The Taoist influence over the Chinese arts is mentioned, specifically when talking about the internal styles of T'ai Chi, Pa Kua, and H'sing Yi.The emphasis is on T'ai Chi.Several external styles of Kung Fu are featured as well: Northern Shaolin, Dragon, Wing Chun, White Crane, Praying Mantis, Monkey, Hung Gar, and Choy Lee Fut.Each style is given a one or two page description that includes history, techniques, fight strategy, and overall philosophy.There is also a chapter on Chin Na, but those familiar with other Chin Na works will find that the techniques covered here, while effective for self-defense, don't even come close to showing the complexities of the "seizing and controlling" art.There is also a chapter on how to perform amazing feats, with much of the text taken from an ancient Chinese book.I believe that this chapter has some value, though I can't verify the various Kungs that emphasise Chi power.The last bits of the book are on Kung Fu films, the Westernization of Kung Fu, and some neat little proverbs.Overall, this book is very good for introducing people to the Chinese martial arts, whith a very broad range of subjects covered.There are some weaknesses, though, notably that the text seems a little dated, and the photos are in awful condition.Still, the self-defense moves are fairly practical, and the insight into the history of Kung Fu and the different styles makes this book worth buying.

limited overview of chinese boxing culture
This is a good book for someone just starting to explore martial arts. Chow gives historical information about the origins of chinese martial arts (legends included), brief overviews of the more mainstream internal and external chinese boxing styles, some chin na techniquue, chinese philosoophy and training methods and disciplines. Has a cool section on some obscure styles of martial chi kung. Also talks about the spread of martial arts into western pop culture. This book helped me get started in kung fu and provides a lot of information about chinese boxing. I only give it 3 stars because the information held within the book is limited and common place upon further study of chinese boxing.

EXCELLENT BOOK...
This is a GREAT book. I originally picked up a copy half price in the bargain bin at a used bookstore. I would have purchased it sooner but didn't know if it was good or not. This is one of the greatest Kung Fu books I have ever found. It shows technique of defense/offense, talks about different arts origins (Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Mantis, Shaolin, Tai Chi, etc), media, and shows the old ways people trained years ago (digging a hole in the ground, punching sand, amongst others). I'd rate this higher if I could.

Excellent Kung Fu Book
If you are interested in the Shaolin history and spirit of shaolin system, this is a great book.It will give you a foundation of the shaolin system.It is even worth reading a second time to pick up missed details. ... Read more

Book Description
Cassidy's kung fu class has been invited to compete in a Wing Chun tournament in Hong Kong, and only the ten best students can go. Cassidy is certain that going to the country of her ancestors will help her unravel the mystery of the coins, so she resolves to practice kung fu in every spare moment. But strange things are keeping her busy— first an evil fox demon possesses her best friend. Then her house is burglarized, and people start blaming her for things she didn't do! Can Cassidy defeat the demons and become a real warrior? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Demons, and spirits, and warriors, oh my!
Since defeating two very powerful demons - the snake demon and the plague ghost - fourteen-year-old Cassidy Chen is finally beginning to come to terms with her destiny, and embrace her inner warrior. The fact that her ability to overcome both of these demons, of course, is only the beginning. Since her first two battles, she has developed the power to not only heal immediately from any injury, but to also see spirits, and communicate with them. But that's where the benefits of her destiny come to an abrupt halt. While Cassidy wishes that she could shake this newfound ability, she can't help but wonder what is left to come. What adventures the three remaining coins hold. However, when they begin to come forth, calling upon her, she wishes that she could just disappear, along with the coins. After all, the last three coins are bringing nothing but bad luck to the people she cares about the most. Suddenly, Cassidy is left feeling that she is the one to blame for her best friend, Eliza's, maniacally absurd behavior; and she can't help but feel as if the recent break-in at her home was not caused by the magical coins. In an attempt to protect herself, and her family, Cassidy sets up a shrine, embracing her ancestors, and begins training as hard as she possibly can, in an attempt to be ready when the next demons decide to attack. When she learns that Master Lau will be choosing four students from her Wing Chun class to compete in Hong Kong, Cassidy just knows that she has to be picked. And, when Master Lau contacts her for private Wing Chun lessons to hone her abilities, and test her senses, Cassidy feels that she has been chosen to represent his class. However, the more time that Cassidy spends with Master Lau, the more she begins to develop strange feelings about him, and his sudden interest in both her abilities, and the coins. It is only with a little prompting from her crush-turned-friend, James Tang, however, that she begins looking deeper into the soul of Master Lau, trying to figure out whether he is friend or faux. And, if he's faux, why he's spending so much time helping her to better her skills for battle.

It is hard to stumble upon a book series that features such astounding, spellbounding adventure and conflict that both overpowers the reader, and leaves them hungry for more. However, that is exactly what Pamela Walker's KUNG FU PRINCESS series invokes. While DAUGHTER OF LIGHT was a fantastic introductory novel into the world of Cassidy Chen, IN GOLD AND JADE has picked up exactly where the previous installment left off, placing Cassidy into even more turmoil-ridden events that make her confront various demons, both on the outside, and within. As in DAUGHTER OF LIGHT, Cassidy's heroic personality comes forth from page one, drawing the reader in instantly, and taking them on an adventurous joyride filled with various battles, and in-depth training that really brings the martial arts world to life, illustrating both the spiritual and physical sides of Wing Chun and Kung Fu, in general. While James Tang was a slightly more prevalent character in the previous novel, his wisdom does arise at times within IN GOLD AND JADE, and really paints the picture of him as an excellent ally who Cassidy can rely on. However, it's Cassidy's tumultuous relationship with the people around her, such as her best friends, Eliza and Luis, as well as her inner demons, that come to the forefront of this particular installment, making the reader look inside themselves to discover the darkness that they've hidden away behind the joy. Walker has penned another remarkable tale that blends the worlds of mysticism and mythology together with martial arts, to create a diabolical combination that leaves the reader breathless. Demons, and spirits, and warriors, oh my!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Grandmothers Second Book
I reviewed the # 1 Daughter of Light and as stated in the review, I was so glad that I had purchased two of the three books because I could not put them down. I even went out and bought # 3, before I finished # 2. The book is spellbounding and you have all emotions reading it. Each page would keep you on the edge of the seat. I can't imagine the author having such an imagination when it came to several of the scenes. I highly recommend the books, don't just buy the first one because you will be trying to find #2 and #3 before you finish the first one. If you buy for your children or grandchildren, that have no interest in martial arts they will equally enjoy it and I recommend you mothers and grandmothers plus fathers and grandfathers to read these. ... Read more

Book Description
This martial arts manual is a comprehensive guide to the basic forms and principles of Wing Chun kung-fu. In over 300 black-and-white photographs, Wing Chun Kung-Fu: A Complete Guide leads the reader step-by-step through the beginning forms of Wing Chun kung-fu, including Chi gerk, Chi sao and Wing Chun sticky-hand and sticky-leg techniques, as well as detailed commentary on the theory behind each move. Other sections include specialized fighting and grappling techniques and instructions on using weapons. An additional section is devoted to weight and power-training exercises that will be of particular benefit for serious students of Wing Chun. ... Read more

Product Description
Regan Johnson takes the classic children's nursery rhyme and provides it with a new twist.Set in China, this bunny doesn't like to play with field mice.Instead, he prefers chopping down bamboo.Unfortunately for Little Bunny Kung Fu, many creatures in the forest rely on the bamboo.Eventually, Great Dragon must come down and set Little Bunny Kung Fu straight.Join Little Bunny Kung Fu in his romp throught the Chinese forest as he learns respect for others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

You and your kids will love this book.
Giggle inducing story. Captivating artwork - ink drawings . Really clever book. This will make an excellent gift.

Pure Delight!
Regan Johnson is an incredible author and artist.Little Bunny Kung Fu is a must have for your child or grandchild's library.I look forward to many more fine books by her. This book is pure delight for any age!

A rhyming children's picturebook with an underlying theme about respect for others and the environment
Little Bunny Kung Fu is a rhyming children's picturebook with an underlying theme about respect for others and the environment. Little Bunny Kung Fu loves to practice martial arts among the bamboo, cutting stalks in half with his attacks and his throwing stars. But what are the creatures who eat, live in, or hide in the bamboo to do in the wake of Little Bunny Kung Fu's destruction? One by one they ask the bunny not to harm their bamboo; he disregards them all, until at last a visit from the Great Dragon sets Little Bunny Kung Fu straight. The black-and-white artwork, drawn with a Chinese theme - the Great Dragon is clearly an Asian dragon, and Little Bunny Kung Fu wears a traditional Chinese shirt - brims with enthusiasm in this delightful tale.

What could be worse than bopping field mice?
Remember the camp song, "Little Bunny Foo-Foo, hopping through the forest, scooping up the field mice and bopping 'em on the head."?

Well, Little Bunny Kung Fu doesn't torment furry little creatures but he does go around destroying bamboo with his kung fu moves. He is warned by Panda, Monkey, and Tigress..and then Great Dragon comes down.

This charming story illustrated with intriguing black and white photos is a perfect way to teach your child how to care for the environment and respect other creatures. Kids who are involved in martial arts programs will especially get a kick out of this book. (Pun intended) ... Read more

Book Description
Selected as One of the Village Voice's Favorite 25 Books of 2001In this landmark work, historian Vijay Prashad refuses to engage the typical racial discussion that matches people of color against each other while institutionalizing the primacy of the white majority. Instead he examines more than five centuries of remarkable historical evidence of cultural and political interaction between Blacks and Asians around the world, in which they have exchanged cultural and religious symbols, appropriated personas and lifestyles, and worked together to achieve political change. "In this brilliant exploration of the often surprising historical solidarities linking black and South Asian experiences, Prashad demolishes the conservative conceits of ethnic essentialism and so-called multiculturalism. In the usual dead zone of debate about identity politics, this little book is a refreshing oasis of original insight and unexpected affinity." -Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz and Magical Urbanism"Finally! A book that just might bring an end to all the silly talk of 'identity politics.' Vijay Prashad's powerful, original essays reveal that neither brown skins nor cultural commonalities explain the long and dynamic history of Afro-Asian solidarity. Rather, the answer lay in dreams of emancipation, dreams borne of Empire but nourished in the imaginations of so-called colored people who had to learn to trust each other in the trenches. This is one complicated and uncompleted journey we all need to know about." -Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

interesting but frustrating
This is not a straightforward book by any means.Vijay Prashad has written a book that is by turns, illuminating, fascinating and maddening.

In many ways, reading this book is like one of those lively and entertaining conversations you have in British pubs with the local sagacious man: Prashad describes some tantalizing connections between Black and Asian liberation struggles and just as you think, "Aha, here comes the good bit", he does the authorly equivalent of popping off to the lavatory. And when he comes back, he has another bright idea to tell you about, and there's no sign at all of the first one.

In all fairness to Prashad, the tidbits he has to recount are pretty interesting. For example he notes that W.D. Fard, the inspiration behind Elijah Mohammed's bizarre origin myth for the Nation of Islam was actually a New Zealander (half South Asian and half Maori) who came across the US border with Canada as an illegal immigrant in 1913.He also talks briefly about the truly inspiring AJA leftist Yuri Kochiyama, who worked with Malcolm and cradled his head as he lay dying at the Roseland ballroom.But there's no follow through.We wonder in vain as to what the implications or lessons of these vignettes are but Prashad never tells us.

The most useful part of the book is the first half where Prashad presents a very useful theoretical analysis of the way race has been conceptualized and can be conceptualized in the future as a path to more effective and ongoing coalitions and hence to more effective social justice work.

Prashad distinguishes 4 different modes for thinking about race:colorblindness, primordialism, multiculturalism and what he calls polyculturalism.

Color blindness is the approach currently favored by mainstream conservatives (including many white liberals and elites of color) which argues that race should be ignoredbecause the state and all our decisions as groups and individuals should be "above" race.As Prashad notes, colorblindness assumes the neutrality or benevolence of existing social and power relations. Prashad's discussion and analysis follows the standard radical critique of this way of thinking.

Primordialism for Prashad is a kind of essentialist thinking about racial identity, where biology determines cultural, moral and intellectual qualities.Proponents of primordialism include the extremist supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan but Prashad also discusses groups amongst communities of color who subscribe to similarly essentialist notions such as the Nation of Islam, Afrocentrists and Dalitcentric thinkers.For Prashad, race must be viewed within the context of capitalism and the effect of capital on different groups of people in different nation-states and different historical moments.Race alone is not an accurate descriptor of all the dimensions of privilege and oppression that exist within a society.

In multiculturalism different races and ethnicities are treated as essentially equal aspects of identity and where tolerance (rather than engagement) is the requirement of the day.Here Prashad does a excellent job ofdeconstructing the way in which multiculturalism is in many ways simply aimed at the incorporation of communities of color into a consumer capitalist economy as consumers or producers of goods and services. In multiculturalism, diversity becomes a matter of management rather than a site at which people genuinely learn about, respect and deal with conflicts with one another.

Prashad's response to these three conservative approaches is to propose a more radical "polyculturalism": In this view, cultures are not autonomous and isolated, but are interpenetrated and influence one another in a dynamic fashion. Prashad also encourages us to pay attention to issues of class and of orientation towards "success" in a culture that emphasizes competition and hierarchical ranking.

The final chapter, on kung fu and the uses made by US revolutionary movements like the Black Panther Party of Third World liberation struggles (particularly in Vietnam and the People's Republic of China) was, at least to my mind the least satisfying chapter.While no-one would doubt the popularity of Bruce Lee, nor his significance in the personal pantheons of young men and women of all races, one wonders what if anything this symbolic affinity does.Does liking Bruce Lee or respecting his abilities allow you to respect the abilities or empathize with the life stories of real Asian Americans or Asian immigrants or even people in Asia?Once we get past the recognition of incidents of common suffering at the hands of a common oppressor, what else is there?

I am verymuch conscious of the probability that, as with hip-hop among Asian Americans, modern African American interest in Asia and Asian cultures generally emerges from the context of entertainment and spectacle rather than cultural critique.Whilst Bakari Kitwana encourages us to see the creation of real trans-racial solidarity based on love of an artform, the people involved almost always concieve of themselves as atomized individuals, and their journeys towards participation in the liberation struggle are seen aspersonal journeys of discovery and respect rather than political acts of alliance.

Prashad in fact provides a few tantalizing examples of exactly the kind of response to this question.In one chapter he proposes (following Eric B. and Rakim) "It ain't where you from, it's where you at": that a common sense of place may be one avenue that enables people to unite across differences. Unfortunately he does not really develop the argument further.

In the end, I'd say that this book has a great deal of value, particularly as a place to start asking some hard questions: What commonalities existed between various different groups?How did people create and maintain solidarity?How are people able to expand their personal politics to embrace other groups and to see their interests as being interwoven with those of others? While the book gives a sense of a large number of different cases of black and asian interaction, in the end, I would have liked to see more discussion of the specific circumstances under which these kinds of alliances became more than symbolic.

Sloppy!
This book is conceived and written in a sloppy manner. Prashad sets up straw men and then proceeds to demolish them, which may be fine to score debating points but is unhelpful in understanding contemporary society.

Optimism of the intellect!
Strong, strong stuff--as thought-provoking and energizing as KARMA OF BROWN FOLK, and much more thoughtfully argued. But the guy needs to slow down and write a book as carefully and lovingly researched as his first (UNTOUCHABLE FREEDOM)!

a fabulous book
vijay prashad has written another stunner of a book - sweeping in its subject matter, fresh in its analysis, and fun to read. a must for anyone interested in the thorny questions of race in the 21st century.

Based on flawed assumptions
Vijay Prashad is untiring in his radical left analysis of Asian and African communities. But he doesn't make a sound case and the book doesn't deliver what it promises. ... Read more

Book Description
The term Basic 45 Lessons is really an understatement. Within these 45 well explained techniques you can develop an arsenal of skills that are invaluable.This book thoroughly explains the details within eah lesson so you will understand why and how the technique is performed effectively.An introduction to Kung Fu San Soo is included for those new to this devastating and highly effective art.

These lessons are shared with you by a San Soo Master who studied directly with Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo in El Monte, CA for over 28 years.The author taught these lessons to his students for years so you can be assured of their accuracy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

An excellent work from our main archivist.
While Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo (Lo Sifu Chin Siu Dek) was teaching in Southern California a variety of students recorded the lessons.Since Grandmaster Woo was the first to teach this martial art to anyone who wasn't Chinese, no one was sure about what was the best way to write out the techniques in English.So, those records vary greatly in the quality and clarity of what was written.Master Gatewood kept meticulous records, including many 8mm films and later video tapes.I have a number of copies of these lessons from varying sources and feel that Master Gatewood's book explains the lessons with particular clarity and stresses the priceless principals involved with each technique.

Some reviewers have complained about the book lacking enough photographs.That would be true if one were trying to learn Kung Fu San Soo from a book alone.You can't, there's too much to it.If you are an experienced martial artist, looking to gain a familiarity with Kung Fu San Soo, this book will be very informative about our basic techniques.(There are hundreds of Kung Fu San Soo techniques-- the Basic 45 are the foundation for the rest.)So, if you want to learn Kung Fu San Soo, you must learn it from a knowledgeable instructor.For anyone who is, this book is very well written and invaluable.

NEEDUM PICTURES!!!
Ah, fourty-five self defense moves.Shame that there are only thirteen pictures in it!OK, the book had some good concepts, and I'm sure that most of the self-defense lessons are servicable.However, the lack of photos is more than disappointing.I did like the fact that after every lesson, there was a "Concepts to Learn" portion.I'd like to see that in more books like this.In the beggining of the book, concepts, basic striking tools, and stances are covered, though not very well.Many of the terms used in the book are not explained well, or sometimes not at all, and this makes reading difficult.It's an OK book for a martial artist to use, mostly to incorporate into his self-defense studies, and also gives some insight into San Soo, but in that respect is by no means complete.It's a little useful, but may not be worth the price.

Bringing it all back
I have been out of the art for over 13 years for a variety of reasons and was lucky to find this book. Starting with lesson one, it all began to come back. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the art of Kung Fu San Soo.

Every Picture tells a story...
I agree without pictures it is very hard to visualize exactly how do to do the lessons that are presented. Someone should revise it an do it justice by adding pictures to it to make it more understandable.

A picture is worth a thousand words
The care taken to convey the material as accurately as possible is evident. However, without step by step pictures it is still hard to follow. I was a little disappointed.

This should be remedied in future editions as it would add immensely to the value of the book. In its present form, this book is not worth the purchase price. ... Read more

Book Description
Devised by Shaolin monks, this form, one of the most beautifully effective elements in hung gar kung fu, combines the power of the tiger and the deceptive agility of the crane. Demonstrated by Bucksam Kong, co-author of Hung Gar Kung Fu: Chinese Art of Self-Defense and chief instructor of the Sil Lum Pai Gung Fu Association. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Good reference, but don't expect to learn everything just from the book.
I never understand how people can expect to learn advanced martial art techniques from books alone. The rhythm, timing and transition are simply impossible to capture onto static media. That being said, this book is as well presented as the limitation of static media allows. It is particularly clear and easy to follow if you already know Tiger-Crane from other sources. Thus it is a great reference book to have. Master Kong is also very faithful to the definitive but ancient Lam Sai-Wing book on the same subject. There is little deviation from the Tiger-Crane form as it was practiced a hundred years ago. Therefore this book is able to help clarify for me some dubious recent changes in the Hung Gar system. Overall, a good buy for people interested in Tiger-Crane.

fun review
oh my goodness! when ok'tar gave up his right of charlin for maybo....I cried like a new born wampa rat that can't find it's powpow....

anyways...the book itself does have a huge selection of moves to learn and it describes them very well. It also has an explanation of the stances used for all of the moves. However, it did not contain anything in the way of basics for getting started. The book seems to come from the assumption that the reader already has experience with Tiger/Crane and that this is just like expanding your repertoire of moves. Some of the moves do look really sweet though!

Good Forms Reference
This books contains detailed step-by-step explainations of the forms, and their applications. I really liked the two man sets showing applicatation. I don't think any book can teach you a martial art alone, but if you already know one or you are using this in conjunction with a live class, this is an excellent reference. No matter what style you practice this book has techniques that can be applied along with what you already know. A good technical book.

Excellent Text--What Do Some People Expect?
This is a great book that goes into the detail that was expected of martial art books of the time.Apparently, some people expect to learn a form from a book--what ridiculousness!How can anyone learn the complexities of a form from a book?That is not how the system has been transmitted in the past, nor should it be that way in the future.It does what it serves to do: act as a reference.The real deal takes place with a live teacher.The photos are pretty good with nice documentation of the form.Anyone who wants to see how this can really work is still able to train with this man.

Excellent reference
I studied Hung Gar with one of Bucksam's Top students for a couple of years. This is a great reference book. Very well put together, illustrated and written. You won't find a better book on this classic form. ... Read more

Book Description

From the balletic intensity of Bruce Lee to the gravity-defying swordplay ofCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the Chinese Martial Arts film has captured audiences' imaginations around the world, while absorbing influences ranging from Beijing Opera to computer games. Its global impact can be seen in the Hollywood crossover of stars like Jackie Chan and Hong Kong-influenced films likeThe Matrix. In this wide-ranging study, Leon Hunt looks at the mythic allure of the Shaolin Temple, the 'Clones' of Bruce Lee, gender-bending swordswomen, and the knockabout comedy of Sammo Hung, bringing new insights to a hugely popular and yet critically neglected genre. In addition, he considers the impact of new technologies on a genre focused on physical performance, from the 'wire fu' of Jet Li to the digital 'stars' of console games like Tekken. Films discussed include both popular and cult classics likeGame of Death, Fist of Legend, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin andDrunken Master.

Book Description
This comprehensive and clearly presented book outlines the history, theory and practical applications of the uniquely effective Wing Chun art.

Included in the book are sections on the Wing Chun principles, practical self-defense for men and women, sticky hands and a complete outline of the Sil Lim Tao form.

"... the author is so highly regarded in Wing Chun circles that this book was chosen as the textbook for the Hong Kong Wing Chun Association..." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Classic Basic Intro to Wing Chun
I bought this book because I have been studying Wing Chun for a while and am always trying to gain more understanding of the system.The book is a nice intro but it is not at all comprehensive.The material about the principles are not as complete of a picture as one would hope from a book that is supposed to Represent the VTAA.It only represents a very very small part of the system.

I would get the book if you would like to have an extra book on Wing Chun, but there are far better books out there.I don't know Sifu Jim Fung and I believe he is probably a great teacher, hopefully he will put out a better book.

This is REAL Wing Chun!
It is a great introduction to Wing Chun for beginners, and an even better training supplement for any Wing Chun practitioner or martial artist (of any experience).

The author, Sifu Jim Fung, is a famous martial arts figure in Asia and Australia, not for making extravagant claims like the majority of current masters, but for expressing genuine skill and unparalleled teaching in the Wing Chun Kung Fu system. This is reflected in this book as it steers clear of any grandiose recollections of previous fighting achievements and instead presents a clear and comprehensive look at the traditional art of Wing Chun from the ground up.

The book also manages to present realistic fighting applications of Wing Chun movements in photographic progressions. What I found valuable was how these applications demonstrate the strengths of Wing Chun as a close quarters martial art, unlike others which may only be effective from several feet away from your opponent.

Other notable features include a comprehensive guide to the first empy hand form of Wing Chun, the Sil Lim Tao form.

This is the only Wing Chun book I have found which has the Hong Kong Wing Chun Association's approval, evidenced by a certificate in the front cover. I strongly recommend this book to anyone practicing, or interested in practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Simplicity
As a whole, this book is a good introduction to logical thinking in the martial arts - in it's principles it shows good methods of determining which action is the best to take at any time.

Even if you've only done a couple of classes of Wing Chun, the pictures will make sense - it contains photos of the Sil Lum Tao Form, the first empty-hand form of Wing Chun.

Overall a good read that gets the point across without sounding overly technical. ... Read more

Book Description
Marchini, Black Belt Hall of Fame member and top tournament competitor, demonstrates this weight-training regimen with partner and kung fu expert Leo Fong. Included are weight routines, iron hand exercises, kicking and non-weight resistant exercises. These drills supplement regular martial arts workouts for developing explosive power. Fully illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Your Grandfather's Manual
This book is amply illustrated and clear on instructions to begin. However, a modern workout maniac would probably want a little scientific or physiological explaination of what the routines does for you and how it really benefits your targeted workout. You could probably see results from your workout soon but you will never know if your doctor will advise againts some of these routines. Going amatuer? This book might do.

Great book!
This is one of the best common-sense books available. No mumbo-jumbo, no mystical nonsense. Instead it offers sensible and practical basic bodybuilding exercises. From a purely bodybuilding perspective however, its easy to find fault, but considering that most martial artists are more concerned with catching flies between chopstix than benchpressing, the text is suitably pitched.

On Tough Woirk-out
This is the best workout book I have ever read or used. Performing the exercises in this book brought me tremendous results in a very short time. The book outlines programs for the beginner and the pro. I highly recommendthe use of this book for the serious body builder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

One of the best Kung Fu books...
This book of essays is the distillation of years of columns in martial arts magazines. The original features made Adam Hsu a famous writer and martial thinker in the Kung Fu world (he was already very well known in Taiwan and the mainland). These essays show a wide understanding of the very core concepts of martial arts yet they definitely show Hsu's character and interests. With humor, humanity and insight he cuts through much of the myth. But the truth he reveals is completely different from the simplified stuff most people say. He sees Kung Fu as essentially functional but the level of skill and types of skills needed as completely different from the straight street fighting orientation most people have. In truth some of his points are so educated and culturally informed that many people won't be able to understand him. That's why his newer text--Lone Sword Against the Cold, Cold Sky-- is even more appropriately named. Not just a good book, a must have book for any thinking martial artist.

P.S. Another reviewer wished he had cited more examples from his many unusual Kung Fu styles such as Baji, Pigua, Mantis and Bagua: Lone Sword Against the Cold Cold Sky goes more deeply into these.

Interesting Book, But Not What I was Looking For!
I understood when I bought the book that it was a compilation of Sifu Hsu's articles but I thought that the breadth of his articles would be more substantial.Like the other reviewer said, it stated a lot about what isn't Kung Fu, and not so much on what is.I wish he went deeper into principles instead of alluding to them.There were a few choice chapters, but it was funny that everything he refereced was to Chen Style Taiji/Tai Chi.I would have thought he'd reference some of his other styles he knew such as Mantis, Baji or even piqua.Some times he touched on Changquan or Long fist but that was it.I thought it would have been more beneficial if he referenced his other styles or just stuck to body mechanics.

What IS true kung fu?
Mr. Hsu takes a lot of time describing false Kung Fu, but as mentioned in other reviews here, he only sometimes tells us what true Kung Fu is.Is it what he does and only what he does? How does he know what he does isn't fake? He tackles issues about mixing styles and such (that it is not for the serious practioner), but does he realize that's what people have done for centuries? No! Praying Mantis blends monkey and mantis moves, White Crane mixes birds with the ape,etc. I've looked a long time for a good non-instructional Kung Fu book(with in- depth history and philosophy), and this proves to be a disappointment. Kung fu is way too diverse to generalize into a certain "way" like other martial arts. Mr. Hsu attempts to do way too much in so few pages. A noble attempt, yes, but the many flavors of Kung Fu are best left exposed by the many practioners of it.

Begin here. . .
In your quest to find good and traditional kung fu begin with this book. After you have completed this book begin to search for an artform that you will believe in and use your head and other resources to find what you have been looking for - real kung fu.

Are you REALLY studying KUNG FU??
An excellent collection of articles from start to finish.

After reading this book, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach that I might just be "playing around".I've been to different schools and practiced on my own, never thinking quite as deeply as I needed to about Kung Fu.Mind you, I thought pretty deeply about it, but after reading Polishing the Sword, I think maybe I need to spend MORE time training and less time "playing" Kung Fu.

His articles are dead-on, he politely skewers myths, delusions, phoney Kung Fu and detrimental Kung Fu practices.Not many books on Kung Fu take the time to analyze what the Kung Fu student must BECOME in order to achieve Kung Fu.

Not many books focus on finding the right school, choosing the right style and developing the proper attitude and respect for the art.

This should be required reading for any Kung Fu student.It teaches no forms, tells no fairy tales, it is for the modern, Western Kung Fu student to study and re-study in his/her quest for authentic Kung Fu.

Also, it approaches the MUCH needed subject of Martial Arts vs. Fighting Ability.That alone was worth the price of the book.

Are you Wu Shu or are you a Poseur?

Graydon Webster Northern Shaolin Student ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Lacks theory and detail; incorrect movements.
This book LACKS a great attention to detail in the most common of areas. Hands are left open on every movement, footwork is almost non-existant, and the center of gravity is every BUT where it belongs. The demo of the Muk-Yan-Chong goes back and forth with pictures of Dr. Smith and one of his students. Every Wing Chun practitioner knows the swords are NEVER turned backwards along the forearm, yet he displays this quite often. The pole form is over 50 movements, yet Dr. Smith displays approximately 10 and claims this is all there really is. There is very little detail in the execution of movements outside of a general description. In short, this book looks to be written for someone who has no knowledge of Wing Chun, Wing Tsun, or Ving Tsun whatsoever. Those that do, I recommend not wasting your money.

about the book
I rate this book a ten.It is a very detalied book and it talks a lot about the ways of wing chun and I appreciat that.I took wing chun when I had a short stay in Korea and it was really nice. I am a black belt in Karate and it was really diffrent.Ther were a lot more meditation and a lot of advanced techinques for the higher and more serious martial artists

about the book
I rate this book a ten.It is a very detalied book and it talks a lot about the ways of wing chun and I appreciat that.I took wing chun when I had a short stay in Korea and it was really nice. I am a black belt in Karate and it was really diffrent.Ther were a lot more meditation and a lot of advanced techinques for the higher and more serious martial artists

about the book
I rate this book a ten.It is a very detalied book and it talks a lot about the ways of wing chun and I appreciat that.I took wing chun when I had a short stay in Korea and it was really nice. I am a black belt in Karate and it was really diffrent.Ther were a lot more meditation and a lot of advanced techinques for the higher and more serious martial artists ... Read more

Product Description
"Fast and fiercer than ever! The son of the Flying Tiger is back!" ... Read more

Product Description
Kung Fu Elements is the Wushu training manual that martial artists have long awaited. It is the first of its kind in the English language. It contains the essence and elements of both Internal and External Styles of Wushu. It is an invaluable training reference for any instructor or seriousstudent of any style of martial arts! This book contains seven chapters, plus an extensive glossary, including:�� Classifications of Wushu styles, history, and philosophy�� Traditional methods for building a strong foundation�� Techniques for developing powerful kicks�� Sanshou fighting applications and combinations�� Effective uses of grappling (Qinna) and takedown (Shuaijiao) techniques�� Iron Sand Palm training and Cavity Press (Dianxue)�� Internal Strength, Light Body, and many other Kung Fu attainmentmethods�� A Glossary of Wushu styles, practitioners, and termsIn Wushu, we train the physical to aid the shapeless; cultivate the shapeless to care for the physical. The training of Wushu gives one the necessary conditioning to master one's own physical body, and gain a greater understanding of the inner workings of the mind and spirit.This book includes the training methods used by ancient Wushu masters to achieve great heights. With this book at your finger tips and your desire to excel, you too can achieve great heights in your martial arts training! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

good stuff
Very detailed book, exellent reference material, as well as gives some insites into different styles.I am very happy with it and it has helped me already. Highly recomended to anyone intrested in the martial arts of this type.

Best non-Chinese book on wushu
This volume is nothing but great. It covers all the things you'll need for your wushu training and is crammed with loads of extra information about styles, people, weapons and more.

I especially like the fact that it stresses jibengong, the fundamental excercises of wushu, and not taolu (form). The sanda applications are well explained and covers a lot of ground. A little bit more fighting strategy and tactics would be a good thing though. The explanations and presentation of neigong, the internal martial arts, are also very good. I think that neigong and qigong have to be felt and describing them in words is an impossible task that nobody ever will be able to do well, but Shou Yu Liang does a good job none the less. The glossary in the end is very impressive indeed. It has a LOT of entries of which many are illustrated. Very well.

My only real criticism of the work is that I don't think it covers wushu history well enough. It's too much of a runthrough and dosen't really give any in-depth information. It is a subject that is very dear to me so I guess I'm biased on that point. Also their explanation of the character wu (as in wushu)is not satisfactory. There are generally two mainstream theories in linguistic circles of the original meaning of the word (the most popular by far is Berhard Karlgrens) none of which is the one presented in this volume.

However, that is only a tiny complaint and it dosen't alter the fact that this is a very impressive book. It truly IS the best book on wushu in English. I live and train traditional wushu in Beijing and have trained for some 8-9 years. I am of the opinion that wushu cannot be learned from a book, no matter how good it is, but it can definitely help you improve and clarify things for you. This book is a very good reference, especially for beginners, but also for the advanced student. It offers a lot of information and is WELL worth the price.

Modernistic Kung Fu
This book does not illustrate the visually captivating "flowery fist" kung fu often seen in the movies. It really addresses the root elements of kung fu.Not only does it cover the fighting elements but also the fitness and spiritual aspects as well. This is a must have for anyone interested in martial arts.

Great book on Wushu
I think this is one of the most complete book on Wushu that I've came across.
It contains information on warmups, techniques, sanshou, chin na, and chi kung.
The appendix at the end of the book was very informative. It provides information about many of the Wushu figures and styles.
The only thing I was unclear on is how to actually apply the wushu techniques from forms in free sparring or fight. It seems that there is a disconnect between the techniques used in the forms and the techniques used in Sanshou. The technique used in Sanshou looked more like a combination of Kickboxing and throws or even jeet kune do.
Maybe for many people, it questions the usefulness of learning technique used in forms other than for training movements and calesnetics.

Most comprehensive Wushu/kung fu book in the English Language
I train with Master Wen-Ching Wu, the second listed author, and i have trained a little with Grandmaster Liang, and I have not been able to find any books that surpass the ones that they have written.Together they have an incredibly vast knowledge of martial arts and Qigong and share it quite willingly in their fantastic books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating but incomplete
I imagine that the author presumes a certain level of prior martial arts and/or law enforcement experience by readers of this interesting book. While it is well written it's only 123 pages, barely scratching the surface of the subject. His perspectives about combat and the nature thereof are quite valid, focusing on proactive movement, fluidity, martial power, and solid tactical execution. The individual applications, on the other hand, are a bit narrow considering the wide range of potential encounters and scenarios one might stumble upon in the field. Contents include how to train for hand-to-hand combat, techniques for fighting unarmed perpetrators as well as against those armed with a knife, gun, club, or bat, and police baton applications designed to work against individual suspects as well as for crowd control.

The principles are generally good, yet a few of the assumptions are suspect. For example, officers are taught to predict the type of attack a suspect will launch with a knife based on the type of blade used. The challenge with that approach is that most perpetrators are untrained individuals operating outside their normal mental state. In other words, an enraged, deranged, or otherwise unstable individual will act in unpredictable ways. Consequently focusing on the type of knife used is more often than not a waste of time, particularly when the knife-wielder is unlikely to know how to use it "properly" in the first place. And, anyone who has ever been assaulted by a knife knows that there is not much time for thinking anyway. The author does state to prepare for the unexpected because the bad guys rarely follow a script, but disassociation between these two concepts is a good example of a shortcoming in the text (which could easily be a result of the translation rather than a flaw in the original document).

There is a lot of good stuff in here about dealing with armed and unarmed assailants. Keep in mind that no book, no matter how well written, can ever be a substitute for competent hands-on training. Having said that, however, this really is an interesting tome.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Good Reference for Wing Chun/Kenpo/Etc. Practitioners
This book is very well translated and lays out the various techniques clearly (with a couple of exceptions). Students of Kung Fu, Kenpo, Ninjitsu, and similar styles will find much familiar material here, with some twists. Provides a good range of weapons defenses, from blades to handguns, and is quite comprehensive for its size. ... Read more