Good news! When we run out of stock on a book or VCD it is often the last time we see it. Alot of what we represent are in short supply. Some items have been around for years and we have found the last of the copies available. So when we are able to restock them, we are really happy! Here are a few that have just come back around…
14
2010
13
2010
12
2010
Courtyard, Camp and Village
Now, while the heat of the afternoon has not yet risen and the dust still lies there without tainting the air, they leave their huts, after tasting a bit of food and sipping their tea, and walk to the practice area.
12
2010
9
2010
7
2010
INB #21 Fooling the Flash
On consciousness and speed…
“Each of you is as fast as I am,” I often explain to my class despite the looks of some who only appear to believe me because I haven’t been caught in a lie – yet. “I know this because if you were snatching your hand out of the way of a slamming car door you’d move like lightning.” Continue reading INB #21 Fooling the Flash →
7
2010
5
2010
Product: 7 Star Sword
We have had this book in our private library for years and have always looked to bring it out for people to acquire. This “Seven Star” sword was created somewhere in the thirties probably by Wu Zhi Qing a student of the very famous Zhang Zhi Jiang mentioned in our book, Spring and Autumn. This is a no-nonsense set with great old pictures. We have finally located a supply which we think will assure keeping this collector’s book in stock.
OOOPS! We directed you to a page that didn’t have this book, but it should be there by now…
2
2010
2
2010
Product: Examining Cha Style Kung Fu
Sorry about the pun in the headline but I’ve been listing new books for a couple of hours! Cha Boxing is a large and popular art which has highly influenced the Kung Fu world. For those interested in this branch here is a book solely demonstrating Cha style self defense. There are a lot of knees, throws, etc. The pictures are clear as is the intent.
28
2010
Product: Wan Lai Sheng, an early rebel
For a long time we’ve only been able to show a copy of this book in our free reference library (do you know about our reference library?). Finally, we’ve acquired copies to offer all you aspiring Kung Fu scholars. Here is the book discussed in Brian Kennedy’s invaluable reference (now unfortunately out of print but still available through us). This is The Common Basis of Wushu by Wan Lai Sheng, fighter, teacher of ZiRanMen and Six Harmonies, friend of such people as Gu Ru Zhang.
26
2010
Training the Tiger
I just opened my mouth and out it came: I announced last week that in honor of the Year of the Tiger we would train this coming Saturday in Tiger Kung Fu. It didn’t take much time to realize that it has been years since had been years since I’ve performed Tiger style. What had I gotten into? On the other hand the tiger nature (oh, I was born in a Tiger year to compound all this) is very emotional. First it takes down the gazelle then it regrets eating such a pretty animal. Continue reading Training the Tiger →
25
2010
Product: Bagua Poles and Fighting
Two new Chinese books we’ve never had before, one in traditional and one simplified, on the art of Bagua.
1. Wang Pei Sheng, that famous teacher, shows the 64 hand applicatons from the Liu style of Bagua.
2. A book on the combined art of Xing Yi and Bagua, showing, among other things, section on pole work and applicatons with some nice, cartoony illustrations.
24
2010
Hurt: Tao of Gung Fu by Bruce Lee
Alright, I confess, Debbie and I are “book people” that seemingly vanishing group. We both love the thousands of books in our library. Continue reading Hurt: Tao of Gung Fu by Bruce Lee →
22
2010
The Fragrance of Distance
Some ideas challenge us because they are so counter-intuitive. On the one hand, for instance, we have to visualize an absolute speed of light while simultaneously conceiving of a totally relative thing like distance. But distance should be fixed, we try to reassure ourselves: implacable, stubborn and as dependable as a lawn troll. And yet it is not. Continue reading The Fragrance of Distance →
22
2010
Restock notice
We get them when and where we can. Here are some books to plump up our shelves again. Just a reminder that in some cases we only keep two or three copies at a time.In this case all books
are IN CHINESE…
A rather extensive Tai Chi book with old photographs
by Shi Diao Mei 施調梅 teacher of Canada’s Shifu Tchoung Ta Tchen.
A big book on Baji in simplified Chinese characters
20
2010
Differences between the two Green Dragon Forms
This article briefly covers the differences between the two versions of the Green Dragon Form: That offered in my book, and that offered on the Kunlun Four Shapes VCD (VCD#1059). By the way, these VCD’s are very good, and Master Huang Shuangqing really knows his stuff. The applications sections are a little weak, but he discusses the energy and method of each movement as he teaches. Continue reading Differences between the two Green Dragon Forms →
18
2010
Product: Six Harmony Spear, famous instructor
Some books are interesting solely on their contents. This writer, Jin Yi Ming, was one of the first to try and really represent good quality Kung Fu to the public in the early part of the 20th century. Along with Jiang Rong Jiao and Wang Lai Sheng, he wrote a number of books all important in Kung Fu literature. Here is a subject which many people have approached over the years, one of Kung Fu’s more famous sets: The Six Harmony Spear shown with some wonderful old time illustrations.
16
2010
Sale: ESPY Kung Fu DVDs
We have just been able to drop the prices of our representative collection of ESPY DVDs by 33 %. Here are titles which might interest you….
15
2010
14
2010
Restock: Hung Gar books by Buck Sam Kong

These were some of the first books on Hung Gar Kung Fu and are still some of the best. The Tiger Crane book shows the famous form with some applications where the Hung Gar book shows animal usage and the Tiger Crane two-person sparring set. The photos were big enough in these early editons to actually be understandable and the Tiger/Crane sparring is an exciting and energetic partner practice. Significant discounts on these classics.
13
2010
12
2010
You Have to See for Yourself
I’m sitting here with a pile of photographs next to my coffee thinking how stupid I was.
In the early days of my martial training Kung Fu seemed to hide its application and self defense skills as though they were the family jewels. Maybe it was me; coming from the considerably more prosaic art of Kenpo I was used to a more explicit style where everything wasn’t just revealed it was calibrated, tweaked and signed for. Continue reading You Have to See for Yourself →
10
2010
10
2010
Comparison of the two Wisdom Fists
This is a comparison of the two versions of the Wisdom Fist/Wise Hammers form–the one in my book, and the one in the Imperial Yang VCD.
Firstly, I would like to answer a couple of questions I have been receiving since I first published this book. Continue reading Comparison of the two Wisdom Fists →
9
2010
Product: A Selection of Neigong training
ZhaoBao is a style of Tai Chi little practiced world wide, at least so far. Here is a selection of Qigong associated with its practice. This is a demo-only tape but with tight camera shots and slow enough for the initiated to grasp much of what’s being done. Covering Zhaobao, Dragon Ball Rolling, NeiGong (the older term for Qigong and somewhat more martially oriented), and a special version of the Eight Pieces of Brocade: this is quite a package in one DVD.
9
2010
Product: More Living Treasures
We are happy to add even more of the China’s Living Treasures DVD series to our line up. This series, one of the first ever, is still going strong and adding some nice disks such as the heritage versions of both Yang Jian Hou and Yang Bah Hou Tai Chi. Peopled by such top instructors as George Xu, Ye Xiao Lin and Wang Hao Da, these are quality presentations of authentic traditional information. And we are adding the clips which One Hand Productions has already posted so you can get a sample of each DVD. Many new titles such as Ching Wu demonstrations, Chen style saber, Push Hands, Hua Shan Qigong and more…
7
2010
Excerpt: Hara, The Vital Center of Man
A good story starts In the middle. Karlfried Graf. Durckheim, a German, spent 8 years in Japan before WWII. Years later he wrote a book entitled, HARA: The Vital Center of Man”. The “center” related here is synonymous with the Chinese idea of the Tan Tian (at least conceptually). Since the days when K.G.D. brought his attention to the vital center in question his book has become one of those classics passed from person to person, one book at a time and quite the opposite of the Amazon consensus-nonsensus system. Continue reading Excerpt: Hara, The Vital Center of Man →
6
2010
5
2010
Event: San Jose Wing Chun Seminar!
February 27th and 28th Master Sam Hing Fai Chan is holding a two-day seminar on the Ip Man Wing Chun system. An expert in Wing Chun and Jow Gar, teacher Chan’s martial DVDs are offered here on PLUM. To find out more about the details of the seminar click here.











