NOTE: Please be aware that we only have one or two copies of some of these. Many aren't even in print any more. Even if it is listed here it may already be out of stock (we'll try to keep it updated but they may go fast).

Lion Books #LBPM-A303
New! WING CHUN KUNG FU #2
by Huang Jian Bo
US $19.95 319 pages, photographs, oversized book

It is rare nowadays to see much major new work in traditional Chinese on the art of Wing Chun. Here is the second book (see A 302 below) in this series. It is filled with information not associated with the more standard forms of Wing Chun. Besides sections on the Wooden Dummy, and the Butterfly Knives and Wing Chun Staff; there are also writings on Red Sand Hand, Shadow Hand, Small Cyclone Partner Staff and the Comet Straight Sword. A plethora of unusual information on this art.

Lion Books #LBPM-B402 US $13.95 166 pages.
KUNG FU CLASSIC BOXING ESSENTIALS
by Zhang Kong Zhao with Cao Huan Dou commentator

This book of martial essays seems to be the work of one person. Setting aside its claims of great antiquity it is a surprisingly thorough commentary on the boxing arts. It compasses the human body and its martial functions, principles of Buddhist belief, energy issuance, celestial footwork patterns and much more. According to Lion's comments this is a find for most martial scholars and should be "savored". Charming woodblock-type illustrations from old texts.
Read a translated section from this book.

Lion Books #LBPM-A210 US $12.95 209 pages.
EIGHT STEP PRAYING MANTIS FIST
by Wei Xiao Tang (Wei Hsiao Tang)

A good book on the Praying Mantis known as 8 step. Master Wei demonstrates the fundamentals of his style and movements from the important Zhai Yao or "key points" mantis set. Master Wei was THE 8 Step Mantis master of Taiwan. He taught such luminaries as Adam Hsu. Originally studying with his father (Throwing Mantis Hand) the both of them then learned under Feng Huan Yi the direct disciple of Jian Hua Long founder of the Eight Step. Applications included.

Read the description from the Chinese on the back of this book.

New ! Lion Books #LB -CO51
Collector's Reprint: The Luo Han Short Arm Boxing Illustrated
Compiled by Taoist Priest Sheng Xiao
US $22.95 137 pages, softbound,
oversized (apprx:7 3/4 X 11 3/4),illustrations.

Here is a new offering from Lion Books. This beautiful, oversized text is an inexpensive facsimile version of an old book on the practice of the famous Luo Han Short Arm Boxing. The hand-done style calligraphy font is mixed with some nice single and partner line drawings showing the Luo Han method. The oversized format is beautifully supplemented by the under printed calligraphy on each page. The covers are embossed with characters. The illustrations are charming and nicely done in brush style. The text shows usage based on the famous 18 Luo Han postures. The text contains the following sections all in traditional Chinese:

Secrets of Success
Short Boxing's Theory
Whirling Hammers 6 X 6 = 36
8 Strikes and Non strikes
The 8 "Firms"
The 12 "Softs"
7 Powers Continuous Strikes 18 Gatherings
Whole Body 12 Strikes evading to either side
Hand Method Theory
Poem of the Continuous Fists
Long becomes Short Boxing, Short becomes Long Boxing
Shot Boxing's 81 Song
Explanation of Four Directions and Eight Faces
Pulse Striking
Luo Han Portraits

Lion Books #LBTB-A105 US $7.95
Inquiries into Martial Terminology
by Tan Yun

Here a Wu Tan student of Liu Yun Chiao demonstrates many important terms from Kung Fu along with clear photographs. Starting at stances there are many applied movements all the way up to famous moves and stylistic usage. Weapons are also surveyed. Sort of a dictionary/demonstration. The movements are not just basic, many having "higher level" applications. A neat little book .

Lion Books #LBPM-A302
WING CHUN KUNG FU
by Huang Jian Bo
US $17.95 192 pages, photographs, oversized book

This is a rare Taiwanese book on the art of Wing Chun Pai. It covers all the basic concepts especially revolving around the standing fist and shows teacher and students performing Little Idea, Searching for the Bridge, Dart Fingers and the lesser known form Four Gates. The background information states that though many learn the art few known how to really apply it. According to the author, many parts previously unexplained are examined here.

LionBooks # LBPM- -A203 US $10.75
TWO ROAD LONG FIST
by Gao Tao Sheng

Another clear presentation of a Praying Mantis form in the Long Fist branch . This set, demonstrated by a seasoned teacher, emphasizes Long Fist energies and speed, opening/closing and Fa jin (issuing power). This is the Mantis version of Shaolin type moves, including jump kicks. Beautifully laid out, each page of text opposite a high quality page of photos.

LionBooks #LBTB-B501 US $4.95
Boxing Standards
by Hsieh Kung Ch'u

This is a discussion of martial arts from basic stances all the way through styles. Topics surveyed include External vs. Internal, and descriptions of famous sets and styles such as Tan Tui. NOTE: This book is text only and in Chinese . Nice short sections and possibly a fun book to translate.

Classic Reprint: LBRP-C005 $9.95
WuDang Sword Key Points by Huang Yuan Xiu

53 pages, old photographs.
Written in 1931 (republished in 2002), this is a classic text on the WuDang Sword. Huang Yuan Xiu not only discusses sword basics, construction and philosophy, but demonstrates a two-person usage. Margin notes clarify textual points. Photographs, though old, are clear and easily understood. The traditional Chinese characters are very cleanly printed. 43 illustrations, mostly photographs. A nice text. An appendix discussing the teachings of Li Jing Lin (Fang Chen) one of the greatest sword practitioners of the 20th Century and a person dedicated to organizing and preserving sword technique. This is a key book for the researcher.

LBRP-C009 $9.95
CHUAN NA BOXING
by Hsu Yi Chuan

Written by Xu Yi Quan (alternate spelling), this book's First Edition was published in July 1936 by Shanghai Commercial Publication. This book is republished corresponding to the First edition. The content includes: the inscription, the author profile, the Jin preface, the author's preface, the origin of Tai Ji Yuan Kong, the introductory remarks, the anecdote of Da-Chuan Sha, the diagrammatic explanation of Chuan Na Boxing 55 forms, the illustrations.

Chuan Na Boxing was created by "South Expert" Mr. Ming Sha (Da Chuan Sha). The movements were obtained from his master, Mr. Yue Qun Wang's, Tai Ji Yuan Kong. Mr. Yi Qian Xu reorganized the original 30 forms of Chuan Na Boxing, and added the "Lightning Hand" of Tai Ji Yuan Kong and compound forms. He deleted unnecessary moves and refined to 55 forms.

If we look up the meaning of Chuan Na, "Chuan" means to shoot with unfailing accuracy, and "Na" means to capture the opponent. This form appears to be from the Cha (Muslim) style.

Read the translated description from the back of the Chinese edition.

Classic Reprint:#LBRP-C014 $18.95 331 pages
Shaolin 72 Strikes Practice
by Chin Er Chih

This is a BIG book about External Training. Mostly text and a great candidate for translation it has many sections: pressure points; hand conditioning, Kung Fu hand positions (old photos). This is a collector's text living up to its name and concentrating on point manipulation, the right hand positions and associated information. As we've said, mostly text, but a very interesting reprint indeed. Originally issued in 1934 this is a hard one to find.

Lion Books #LBPM-C015
Rudimentary Boxing
by Jin Yi Ming
US $17.95 192 pages, illustrations, oversized book

August, 1930 first edition, Shanghai. This book is comprised of a number of sections including parts on martial history, general remarks, the Eight Sections of Brocade, Five Animals Boxing, Yi Chin Jing, and Twelve Road Tan Tui. The author was a Wu Shu scholar from childhood and had researched many styles and systems of Chinese martial arts. He was once an assistant deputy in the Nanjing Central Training Hall when Nanjing looked to be the center of the Wu Shu world. At that time he began the compilation of massive studies. This large book represents some of that work. All boxing sections are illustrated with, perhaps, the most unusual (or some of the weirdest depending) figures of the practitioner in what appears to be a Red Sox World Series Baseball uniform from around the turn of the century. Click picture to get an idea of how "unusual" the illustrations really are.

LionBooks #LBTC- C017 US $13.95
Tai Chi Essential Skills
by Huang Wen Shu

Yang Jia Tai Chi Chuan Ke Yi Yao Yi. 122 pages with photographs. this is a reprint of a book on the Yang style that was first published in June, 1936. Besides some very old photographs of teacher it contains a tipped in plate of the footwork for the Tai Chi set. Many topics are covered in this early series of writings: Tai Chi Classics, proper practice methods, many notes on the Tai Chi Sword, the Da Lu, the Primordial (Hun Yuan) Chi, Push Hands and others.

Classic Reprint:#LBRP-C019 $9.95 115 pages
Tang Style Boxing
by Tang Chi Ren, Editor

Originally published in 1933 this boxing book has some great old photos of the author demonstrating forms, chi kung and exercises. Though most of the book comes under the heading Da Hung Chuan (Big Hung Fist, a famous Shaolin term) there are also sections on Cross Hand Set, Ten Hand Legwork, Big Hung Fist, Tiger Claw Fist (actually more with Sword Fingers), Escaping Method, Yellow Dragon Boxing and more. The poses have that stiff but definite feeling of old masters photographed when Kung Fu photo-recording was just beginning. This is a family style from the Emei group which has many many forms. Originally from a family manuscript entitled, "Da Mo School Boxing."

Classic Reprint: LBRP-C025 $12.95 200 pages
NEW! True Writings on the Duckweed Sword
by Jiang Rong Jiao

Originally published in 1930 in ShangHai. After a preface the book is divided into six sections. Among these pages deal with the sword itself, the hand eye and body methods, single person practice methods, the Duckweed sword itself. The sword is derived from ancient sword practice which was, for centuries, a hidden technique. Until its publication this form was considered rare with technique passed on only rarely.

Learn about Master Jiang Rong Jiao

Classic Reprint: LBRP-C028 $9.95 76 pages
True Writings on BaGua ChiMen Spear
by Sun Hsi-Kun

This is a wonderful early BaGua text by Mr. Sun a student of Cheng You Long the son of Cheng Ting Hua. This book shows the 8 classic Palm changes, then has sections on Standing, two person work, BaGua knives, BaGua sword, BaGua Big Knife, BaGua Fang Tian and more. Photographed in front of a hypnotic spiral design this is a famous text from the very early days of BaGua publishing.

Classic Reprint:#LBRP-C035 $11.95 123 pages
Introduction to Chinese Boxing
by Zhu Hong Shou

This rare text was published at the beginning of the Republic making copies of the first edition difficult to locate. A student of Chinese martial arts since childhood, Zhu was a medical practitioner and a good writer. This was his attempt to meld modern gymnastics concepts with martial skills. This is indeed an odd text. It shows some very strange postures associated with a makiwara-like instrument and the plans for building it. (see scan).

Classic Reprint: LBRP-C041 $13.95
Martial Studies on the Tiger Tail Whip
Jiang Rong Jiao

100 pages, great old photos.
Originally:1930 ShangHai World Publishing. This is one of the few books every published showing the "Tiger Tail" whip also known as the "firm" steel whip. This ancient weapon is a segmented rod used somewhat in the fashion of the straight sword. A nice set with detailed descriptions. Additional calligraphy by Li Xian Mo, Zhang Shun Xiang, Zhang Jian Quan and Li Li. The author was a well known teacher of the whip which is an ancient weapon respect in the Tang and Northern Sung Dynasties. Whips come in "hard" and "soft" and different styles such as Watermill and Tiger Tail. This version is said to be from HeBei Salt Mountain through Liu Jiu Ru to Zhang Xian Dao then Li Yu San to the author.

Classic Reprint: LBRP-C047 $10.95
Nobleman's Sword
by Zhao Lien Ho demonstrator
94 pages, great old photos.

In this case "Nobleman" refers to a person of noble character. This rarely reprinted book shows the Nobleman's 24 strikes and the form. The type sword used here is of the "Double Handed" variety. Consequently the energy for the Double Handed Sword is said to come more form the heels, while the typical short sword comes more from the back muscles and spine: they are not played in the same way. Large, charming illustrations show an armored warrior with facing page explanations of the movements.

NEW! Classic Reprint: LBRP-C033 $15.95
A Boxing Teacher's Record
112 pages, NO illustrations.

The record of thoughts of a sage boxing teacher. September, 1923 Shanghai Zhen Min Editorial Society Publishers. Traffic Map Library distributors, Lou Tian Quan annotations. Xiang Kai Ran corrections. Mei Xia Hun editor. This book's author described this as “A catalogue of anecdotes observed in Chinese Boxing. Republished in 1933 there are numerous sections (117) including commentary on characters, Confucian principles, events and anecdotes, with specific sections like "A Shifu's collection", "Uprightness", "Chivalrous Record", "Teaching Students", "Punishing Traitors" and others. Could this be the original version of our "Instructor's Notebook"? This is a great candidate for translation, partial or complete.