"HURT" Books
A booksellers term, "hurts" are books with minor defects. Sometimes they are not even "hurt" but were in a batch the bookseller didn't want to sort. Each hurt book might have—in addition to its minor imperfection—an unobtrusive felt mark on the bottom or top of its pages. This is an industry mark denoting "hurt".All pages are present and attached. Each of these books is complete and an excellent and inexpensive edition for those more interested in information than cosmetics. Most problems will be: slightly stained or blemished pages or cover; light creasing and a wrinkled page or two. Comments by customers on Hurt Books.On the other hand not all these books are "hurts" some are simply discounted but they may still have a blemish or two. If condition is important on these discounted items e-mail ahead and we'll see what we can do.
KC064H Cheng Tau's 13 Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Cheng Man Ch'ing
$18.95 PLUM discount $9.50, 223 pages, softbound
From the Back Cover: "In this schoarly yet practical book, Professor Cheng shares the secrets of his lineage and takes the reader to the heart of TCC, presenting it as a martial art, a medicine, and a form of exercise and self-development. With examples from anatomy and physics, he demonstrates precisely how the postures and movements of TCC work, both internally as energetic principles and externally on opponents. Contrasting Western and Chinese techniques of healing, he emphasizes that disease,like an attack from an opponent, is an opportunity for training. Professor Cheng explains how the practitioner may serve as his or her own doctor and, at the same time, act as the physician or trainer of an attacker. The martial arts, he says, are not a special case of unusual power, but are simply an aspect of adapting natural and cosmic law to circumstance."
Extra information by Madam Cheng and Benjamin Lo.By ou standards this is the most approachable and useful of all Cheng's books regarding the art of Tai Ch Chuan. He explains key ideas for application, shows some simply but interesting geometrical principles and breaks down the form. One very nice touch is that each facing page has a single, large photograph of Cheng perfoming the set.
KC062H From the Back Cover: "The Complete Taiji Do presents a thorough overview of the art of Taiji Dao, including an illustrated history of Chinese swords and the dao in particular; an in-depth discussion of the Taiji principles from which Taiji Dao practice derives; the basic skills and techniques of Taiji Dao; and a detailed decription of the traditional Taiji Dao form,, including applications for combat. Over one thousand photographs help the reader to fully grap the techniques of movements explaind in the text. "
This book is an exhaustive treatment of this classical subject. The saber (Dao) of the title is of a different design than common Kung Fu sabers but most of the principles and movements can be applied to any version of the single-bladed weapon. On one hand this book is more than a success, giving information on just about every grip, stance, action and method with the saber and also much more like throwing daggers and coins with the free hand. Oddly enough the presentation of the form itself is somewhat lacking in that the photos are small and crowded. Overall, so much information that you would never even consider related to the Chinese Dao. A strong addition for someone wanting in-depth study.
KM014H Master Cheng's New Method of Tai Chi Chuan Self-Cultivation
by Cheng Man Ch'ing
128 pages, softbound, illustrations, photos
Regular price $13.95, PLUM discount save
50% pay $6.95,
From the Back Cover: "Master Cheng provides practitioners with a complete and concise guide to the Short Form, enabling them to make rapid progress. Expanding from the mechanical outline in T'ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Mehhod of Calitentics for Health and Self Defense, Cheng goes into great detail describing the postures, and more importantly, how to trransition smoothly from one stance to another. As in his previus work, Cheng Tau's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan, he continues his explanation of taichi's place in the history of Chinese philosphy, drawing parallel with the I Ching, and sampling from the Yellow Emperor's Classic. For martial artists in pursuit of internal achievement, this will be an essential volume.
KC018H Chinese Martial ArtsTraining Manuals
A Historical Survey
by Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo
$21.95 Plum price $9.95, 310 pages, softbound, photographs and illustration
see a list of original sources from this book available through PLUM
MING DYNASTY GENERALS WROTE THEM, Qing Dynasty soldiers studied them, Republican-era warlords pondered them, Shaolin monks consulted them, bodyguards and sports coaches took lessons from them - and they still line shelves in bookshops across China. They are training manuals, the do-it-yourself guides to Chinese martial arts.
Chinese martial arts masters of the past created special training manuals with text and images, sometimes themselves appearing in the illustrations. These manuals now provide an invaluable glimpse into how various martial arts were practiced in the period spanning the mid-seventeeth through the mid-twentieth centuries. Along with biographical portraits of thirty of the most influential masters, Kennedy and Guo provide contextualizing information on the history of martial artists and martial arts, how Chinese martial artists made a living, the Imperial exams, and the place of the Shaolin Temple in Chinese martial arts history. Beautifully designed, and illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings, this book presents a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture."
Brian Kennedy, an attorney, has practiced Chinese martial arts since 1976. His previous books, published in Chinese, include Witness Examination Skills and American Legal Ethics. This is his first martial arts book.
Elizabeth Nai-Jia Guo is a professional translator and practitioner of qi gong and hatha yoga. She has translated a wide range of books into Chinese, including titles on church architecture, the history of science, and criminal law. Together, Guo and Kennedy write a regular column for the magazine Classical Fighting Arts.
KC035H The Classical Three-Section Staff
by Rick Wing
211 pages, softbound, illustrations, oversized
Regular price $18.95, PLUM discount save
50% pay $9.50,
Rick Wing, student of the famous Wong Jack Man and main instructor of the San Francisco Jing Mo, returns with another text on Northern Kung Fu. This time we have a neat exposition of the Three-Sectional Staff vs. the Spear. Wing Sifu's light and breezy narration highlights a book with background information, lineage, notes about the weapon and more. What we particularly enjoyed was the explanation, during the set breakdown, of the strategy between the two weapons. Wing says this is one of his favorite demonstration sets and we can see why. Remember to wear gloves and a helmet when learning. Oh, and much bigger and more beautifully posed photos than Wing's previous Northern Shaolin book.
#KC 87 Cheng Man-Ching, Master of the Excellences click picture
by Cheng Man-Ching
Translation and commentary by Mark Hennessy
softbound, 166 pages, illustrations along with color plates
Regular price $16.95, PLUM discount save
50% pay $8.50,
This has always been one of our most popular "hurt" books. The essays in this book cover a wide range of topics. Their titles alone offer an insight: Eight discussions on poetry, seven discussions on painting, Self-respect, the Eight important points on Cancer, reading the I Ching and The Last Word on T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Cheng's reputation as a "master" of so many excellences has somewhat tarnished as those who actually have some training and a critical eye have come on the scene. His own top students have been less than enthusiastic about his medicine and his insights into T'ai Chi. There is some doubt as his place as a major or even memorable painter or calligrapher though his work does hang in the Gu Gong and can be bought in the museum shop there. He represented, especially to the conservative Taiwanese, a type of person who illustrated what was slipping away from their culture. Perhaps, when all is said and done, his icon was more significant than his contribution but these essays should be read by anyone who has an interest in his place in the martial world, at least.
KS001 Scholar
Boxer
Chang Nai Zhou's Theory of Internal Martial
Arts
and the Evolution of Tai Chi
Translated with Commentary by Marnix Wells
$18.95 PLUM discount $9.50, 247 pages, softbound
It is our belief that every one interested in the history of Tai Chi Chuan, and really the history of Kung Fu in general, should be familiar with the writings of Chang Nai Zhou. It will not change significantly anyone's practice but it will show a key point - one we often make along with other instructor's - and one that may indeed change one's attitutdes substantially. This key point is that Tai Chi, for instance, is in no way divorced from the general history of the Chinese Martial Arts. It is simply another branch of that history.
Change Nai Zhou was a scholar who worked around 1750. He not only practiced martial arts but left key writings on the subject. In this book Mr. Wells, a highly educated and knowledgeable writer, has translated Chang's work and added commentary. Many of Chang's writings are so similar - and predate - the Tai Chi Classics that there are those who believe Chang's work may have been the forerunner for Tai Chi's acknowledged Bible. Contained within this text we have:
Introduction:
Towards a martial philosophy
Chang's writings: Nourishing Central Energy
Chang's writings: Martial Defense
Boxing Laws
24 Word theoy
Rising and Springing Explained
Spear Laws
In addition the original illustrations, charming and basic, are reproduced along with pictures of living members of the Chang family performing and some other correlative historical works. Overall a major volume on a crucial part of Chinese martial history. Marnix Wells has done a fine job. If he had not, some other translation of this text would necessarily be in our libraries. Chang's work is that important to grasping the general schema of Wushu.
See the movements of the actual Chang Family style
KL011 Liu Bin's Zhung Gong Bagua Zhang
South District Beijing's Strongly Rooted Style
by Zhang Jie & Randy Chung, Richard Shapiro , William Baller, Mark Wigzell
$22.95
PLUM Price $11.50, 229 pages,
oversized 7'" X 9+ ", softbound,
Photos
This second book in the series is peppered with personal stories of Bagua masters, three open-hand forms and two weapons sets never documented in English before. Since the author has had personal contact with many of the people described he adds a liveliness and intimacy that is unique. These two books form a nice overview of a style including the history, impressions, culture and challenges of this branch of the Bagua family. Bagua, being a relatively new style, has the advantage of growing not only into the modern age but also through a time when documentation and human memory is still fresh. Unlike so many styles that must half-believe what they know, the Bagua framework allows for a very rounded picture of the style's development.
New Addition!! KC053H Classical Wu StyleTai Ji Quan
The Fighting Art of the Manchurian Palace Guard
by Tina Chunna Zhang and Frank Allen
203 pages, Softbound, photographs
Regularly $21.95
PLUM Price $11.00,
From the jacket: "While other well-known tai ji styles branched off into sports, health, and meditation, Wu Quan You's disciples have preserved the traditional practice methods and forms. In this book, Tina Chunna Zhang and Frank Allen explain the principles, characteristics, and essentials of the Wu method, detailing the direction, intent, breathing, and internal principles of all 324 segments of the 83 postures. Step-by-sep photographs and instruction in forms practice, fighting applications, push hands, and weapons skills illustrate the entire classical form."
In addition: The classical Wu style sword form with breakdown.
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KC040 Combat
Techniques of
Taiji, XingYi & BaGua
by Lu ShengLi
Principles and Practices of Internal Martial
Arts
Regular price $22.95 each. PLUM discount save
50% pay $11.50,
370 pages, softbound,
oversize, photographs
From the back cover:
"Grandmaster
Wang's longtime student Lu Sheng Li shows practitioners how to
attain a new level of practice. Learn to use your skills to
bring forth a more fluid, intuitive and fast-paced technique.The
book includes:
- Over
500 illustrations and photo sequences demonstrating each form,
its lineage and theoretical basis.
- A
sixteen-posture form never before published in the West that
integrates the most important fighting techniques from each
of the three major internal martial arts
- Core
movements from the fundamental fighting techniques of each
art
- Powerful
tools to recognize and use the unique strategies and skills
of each style.
- In-depth
practical and theoretical explanations of martial applications.
- History
and analysis of basic martial practices.
- Essential
movements, including fist, hand, shoulder, hip and knee skills,
stances and steps.
- Basic post-standing practice of each art, and usage of Fa Jin (explosive force) in each."
KW008 The Way of Chuang Tzu
by Thomas Merton
$18.95 Plum Discount 50%+ $7.95, 190
pages, 4.5'" X 7 ", hardbound with marker cord,
One of the two pillars of Taoism recreated by one of the world's most esteemed monks. Thomas Merton created a beautiful and heart-felt text retelling the wonderful stories of the Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu. Socratic in his insouciance, Chuang Tau points us to a life of obscurity and happiness, humor and depth. Besides Lao Tzu, the author of the Tao Te Ching, no other Taoist philosopher is thought to repesented this elusive and subtle view so perfectly. A delight to read, of particular importart to those in the martial arts or interested in Asian philosophy. This edition not so much "hurt" as some remainders (returns) which bookstore will so often do, especially in this era of unfair undercutting. Hardback edition.
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KW008 The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang
by Frank Allen and Tina Chun Na Zhang
$21.95 Plum Discount 50% $10.95, 238
pages, oversized 7'" X 10", softbound,
Back Cover: "Illustrated with over 500 photographs, the training sections teach a complete warm up followed by a step-by-step program for learning the essentials of the practice such as the classical Cheng style Basic Eight Palm Changes and the Cheng Style Deer Horn Knife Set of Grandmaster Liu Jing Ru. These chapters also include combat strategies, theory of ba gua fighting techniques, and a complete account of the unique weapons of ba gua zhang.
Much more than just a technical manual, Whirling Circles shows how bagua zhang developed from Daoist ideology and tells of inspiring historical accounts and legends of the ba gua masters. The final section explains how to use mindfulness, breathing techniques and meditation to recognize and combine the essential eight trigrams of the Yi Jing, the Book of Changes. This book also includes a new, full translation of Dong Hai Chuan's Thirty-Six Poems and Forty-Eight Methods, with expert commentary on their meaning."
KS041H A Study of Taijiquan
by Sun Lu Tang
translated by Tim Cartmell
Normally
$16.95 PLUM "hurt book" price only $8.50 (save
50%)
,
softbound , photographs,
Originally published in 1919. This is Tim Cartmell's translation, one of the first in English, of the famous book by Sun Lu Tang. Here is the first document of what would be known as Sun Tai Chi, taking it's place beside the other member of the "Five Big Family" style. Due to his writing ability and the early publication of books on subject which had not been covered in books, Sun won a place as a major writer as well as a major teacher and practitioner. His writing can be dense and overly philosophical at times but there is little doubt that this belongs in the library of any serious practioner of the art.
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#KE006H Empty Force:
The Power of Chi for Self-Defense and Energy Healing
Paul Dong and Thomas Raffill
Normally $16.95 PLUM price $8.50, 179 pages illustrated
"Empty Force, or Ling Kong Jing, is an extraordinary technique that harnesses the power of chi (the body's vital energy), enabling masters of the art to defend themselves against opponents and heal themselves and others without physical contact. Through the practice of this method, one gains mastery of the mind and spirit and gives rise to a physical force that can affect others—a powerful maifestation of the achievement of harmony wth nature."
There is little doubt that Empty Force is the most controversial of topics from the area of Kung Fu and Chi Kung. This is a reissue of one of the first books written in English on the subject.
- The Mystery of ChiThe Empty ForceThe Empty Force MastersThe Great DebateMartial Arts, Tai Chi and Chi KungThe Healing PowerA "How-To" Guide to the Empty Force
- The Students Speak
KC009H Chin Na Fa
Liu Jin sheng & Zhao Zhang - trans. Tim Cartmell
Normally $16.95, Plum Discount 50% $8.50;
111 pages, softbound, photos and drawings.
Back Cover: "First published in 1936, Chin Na Fa is the seminal work in the field, written by two of the foremost expert of the time, .... as a training manual for the police academy of Zheijiang Province. Renowned author and Brazilian jujitsu champion, Tim Cartmell offers this clear, compelling new translation with authentic historical documentation. Here is the primary source material and most comprehensive explanation available of these lock, choke, and breaking techniques of Chinese grappling, from which derive many current martial arts techniques that have been modified for use today in both competition and self defense. "
KN004H Nei Jia Quan
Internal Martial Arts Teachers of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan and Ba Gua Zhang
Compiled
by Jess O'Brian (Note: Second Edition Cover is the same but black)
Normally
$19.95 PLUM "hurt book" price only $10.95, 325 pages, Softbound,
This is a book of interviews. For long time practitioners that will be of sufficient interest in itself. Many of these are well known teachers, particularly in the Western world. The list includes B. K Frantzis, Tim Cartmell, Tony Yang and the ever interesting Allen Pittman. Opinions vary much on certain topics. Cartmell's section is particularly interesting as we witness his struggle with the concept of Chi. On the other hand, much of the information is similar; echoing well established truths: basics are important, Kung Fu is more than it seems, skill lies in little things, etc. Documents like this, where knowledgeable instructors give directly of their experiences are - we feel - vital to Wu Shu research. However, our feeling is that the editor/compiler, Jess O'Brien, did not dig enough to really reveal much. It was more like he snapped on the tape recorder and just let it run. A good example is the title of the book itself. More than one instructor pointed out that there is no such thing as the "Internal Arts" but of course that's is nonetheless the book's title. We know this is a popular name for these practices and recognized by many, but it shows the ambivalence of a book for people who know enough about the arts to know the "labels" but not enough to know what they are and aren't. Like Tai Chi Magazine, the range of information is often confusingly non-specific and unfiltered.
Some
nice moments:
James Wing Woo: "Then he (Bruce Lee)
said that he was going to show me Jeet Kune Do. I told him,
"B.S. Do! You should stick to Wing Chun, you'd be a lot
better off!"
Gabriel Chin: (Talking to Sun Chien Yuen about Cheng Man Ching) "She said, ' Cheng Man Ching? I never heard of such a person! Also Chen Da Gu (her relation with Chen Wei Ming made it possible for her to call him Elder Brother) was not in Chungking. He was in Shanghai at the time.' Then I realized that Cheng Man Ching was telling stories."
Other
teachers represented are Fong Ha, William Lewis, Gail Derin-Kellog,
Luo De Xiu, Zhao Da Yuan and Albert Liu with an interesting
history on the development of Liu He Ba Fa.
KH010H History, Philosophy, and Gung Fu of Shaolin Ch’an
The Shaolin Grandmaster's Test
by Order of Shaolin Ch'an
paper, 302 pages, oversized, photographs
and illustrations
Normally
$29.95 PLUM "hurt book" price only 10.95 (save
over 60%)
As we always say we really hate doing negative reviews. The arts are still too fragile to be overly negative about honest efforts but...
If this were a joke we’d be able to let it pass. We have here a murky, silly soup of simple facts, speculations, internet “facts”, just plain wrong headed writing and what is the lowest common denominator of the Shaolin story. Not everything is wrong. Most of the referenced information, though common, is relatively accurate. There are “mysterious” sections where the properly anonymous “Order of Shaolin Ch’an” passes on its unattributed rumors. There are sections on different styles where misinformation mixes freely with comic book versions of Kung Fu. Hear me, OSC there is no Wah Lum Temple, Monkey is not a subset of Tiger (and if you knew your astrology you’d know why), the Fu Jow Pai paragraph is without meaning, “Black Crane” and “White Tiger” are highly questionable in their relation to the Shaolin system. There’s more, much more. This is a combination of wiki-nonsense, some very common knowledge and—best of all— a sort of traveloge familiarity with the loosely reported facts. Yes, let's all stroll in the Shaolin garden before we have a bit of tea, coz. That sort of thing. Is this worth the price? Yes, now that we've dropped it so much and you get this kind of prose which, we admit, should have landed this book in our Fun Stuff section...
"... Few people already with the term "Shaolin" are unaware of the Order's intimate assocation with contemporary martial arts. Many schools of Asian martial arts claim some association with the famous temples and their arts."
Of course in this case the Order referred top couldn't be the Order of Shaolin Ch'an. We're more inclined to this of a take-out order...
One more, we can't resist... "Buddhism is notorious for its non-attachment." Well, Duh-Ohm.
KC052H Chinese
Internal Boxing
by Robert Smith and Allen Pittman
175 pages, softbound, photos and illustrations
Original Price $19.95 PLUM price 7.95 (save almost 60%)
A classic guide to two soft-style martial arts written by one of first and aided by the clear example of Allen Pitman's postures. We think this might be a "cut up" combining information from two other books on the same subject. It includes five elements, 12 animals and Wang Shu Jin's eight changes palms. Plus there is the background information and semi-gossipy approach that made Robert Smith one of the best read authors in the field. Somewhat sparse compared to the tomes published today but a good, solid introduction.
KT055H
T'ai Chi
Cheng Man Ching and Robert Smith
115 pages, Softbound, photographs
$19.95 PLUM price 7.95 (save almost 60%)
You can tell how early this book appeared just by the title. It's like having the phone number #16. Once, in the late sixties, I tried to learn Tai Chi from this book and I can't tell you how many other people have had a similar experience. This is the book that began the wave...with this premier text Cheng Man Ching and Robert Smith introduced Tai Chi to much of the Western world. Things have gotten a good deal more sophisticated since Cheng was presented as "the best in the world" but here is the beginning right along with the famous "reversed photographs" that so infuriated Cheng himself.
KP021H
The Pocket I Ching
by Richard Wilhelm,
Cary F. Baynes with simplification by W. S. Broadman
paper, 130 pages, 1987, read our introductory
article on this book
Normally 13.00 PLUM "hurt book" price only 5.95 (save
over 50%)
This simplified pocket edition concentrates on the original core writing of this book, one of the oldest in history and the basis of Chinese culture. Though some may have a problem with the sometimes divination use of the book it can also be studied as a classic of wisdom pertaining to one of the greatest concerns of human life: change and its many faces.
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KT012H The
Dao of Taijiquan
by Jou Tsung Hwa
233
pages, line
drawings
Normally
19.95, PLUM "hurt book" price only 8.95 (save
over 50%)
This is one of the first and most important books in English on the art of Tai Chi. Jou was a lifetime student and much appreciated for his efforts regarding the art. If you ever saw him move you saw a compendium of the styles he had studied and the knowledge he had gained over the years. This was a first in many ways, especially for English books. There is a discussion, one of the first, on Reeling Silk Energy. He also discusses, not entirely successfully but very importantly, Tai Chi's 8 energies. Jou also had some interesting theories on Tai Chi and extra-temporal physical perceptions. Jou was also a student of the I Ching. He has a section on this and also a section on experiences. A book chock full of information and ideas. Pretty much a must have for any complete Tai Chi library.