BOOKS ON WEAPONS Page One

Kung Fu weapons, including those of Tai Chi, offer a varied world of possibilities. They also can be of tremendous aid in perfecting one's style. Weapons are the martial heritage of the art. Many, many movements were developed in weapons training BEFORE they were incorporated into the hand sets. In addition weapons add an esthetic and historical interest which, from the anthropological sense, gives deep insight into cultural and social conditions regarding the art and the land from which it came. Click the picture in frame to see if there is one available.

BK#EWP99 The Dragon Tiger Double Broadsword Style
Leung Ting , 135 pages, softbound, oversized, photographs including color, 1982 first edition
US $13.50

Here is the ORIGINAL 1982 edition of this weapons book. An unusual text it shows a double sword form with the White Tiger and Green Dragon swords coming from a style of the same name. Unusual points include that this pair of swords are not the same with the White Tiger left handed weapon more closely resembling a sai and therefore technically called a “rod.” The other weapon, the right handed Green Dragon Sword, is more similar to a short version of the Chinese straight sword. This book also start with a very long introduction on the entire exodus of the teachers and the style. There are numerous color pictures. The book is over sized and most copies are a little scuffed up because the are over twenty years old. Two forms are shown and many applications. Definitely a different kind of book. Since these are the original edition, expect some foxing and not perfect condition.

BK#EWP75 Rope Dart: The Kung Fu Weapon
Eric Shou Li Yao , 211 pages, softbound, photographs, en face (English/Chinese)
US $19.95

Here is a new book on this "soft" weapon. This is nicely layed out considering especially how difficult a task this would be. The dart is a weapon like a yo-yo (which itself was inspired by such a weapon). Its heavy metal body is attached to a long rope. The rope is wrapped around the body in a number of ways and then released causing sudden skips and jolts with the weapon as it speeds away from the body. The author has much experience and the book is clear in its instruction, given the difficulty of the weapon.

Also, click on right picture and you can see the companion DVD for this book.

BK#EWP98 Tornado Broad Swords of Wah Lum Kung Fu
P. Chan, 128 pages, softbound
US $9.95

Demonstrated by the flamboyant and extremely limber Chan Pui. English and Chinese text. The entire set plus a valuable explanation of the key actions of the sword, and a "limbering up" exercise with a rod. One intriguing aspect is that many of the faces in the pictures of students in the back of the book have been obliterated in all copies. Probably a school schism of some kind. A good book with an authentic and do-able double saber set. Chan Pui is a well-known Shihfu and tireless promoter of Chinese Martial Arts. His people have not only competed and won in America but performed and impressed audiences in Shaolin's homeland itself.

BK#EWP97 Kwan-Dao Play
by To Sum, 291 Pages,
US $12.00

There are darn few books in English on the Kung Fu weapon known as the "Big Knife." An important weapon for developing "heavy power." Besides giving a clear explanation of the basic movements of the Kwan this book also demonstrates a Southern style Kwan Solo set. But that's not all. There's a partner set with Kwan Dao against Staff, another with Kwan vs. Double Sabers, and yet another with Kwan Dao against Three-Sectional Staff. These last three are short sets but all in one book, what can you lose? Fun, interesting and learnable.

BK#EWP96 Soft Kung Fu Weapons: Rope Dart &Steel Whip
by Li Ke Qin & Li Xing Dong
213 Pages,US $17.95

One of the very rare texts on the use and practice of Kung Fu's fascinating soft weapons such as the Steel Whip and the Rope Dart. More than 200 pictures show the basic rolls, tosses and loops of these definitely "advanced" weapons. Sections on history and background fill out this very informative text.

BK#EWP95 Ancient Chinese Hidden Weapons
Compiled and edited by Douglas Hsieh
152 Pages, softbound, illustrated,US $13.95

This English language text uses old time drawings from Chinese books to illustrate its contents. Published in 1986 it catalogs all sorts of "hidden" weapons and throwing instruments. We can read about the dagger, Mei Hua Needles, Whip chain Dart, Slingshot, Iron Mandarin Duck, Universal Bangle, Javelin, Iron Lotus, Steel Toad, Flying Claw, Steel Olive and other defensive defenestratum. Much fun and, believe it or not, much historical information on the subject.

BK#EWP94 Kwan Dao
by Leung Ting
129 Pages,softbound, photographs US $12.00

There are only a few books on Kwan Dao (Kwan's knife) play and yet Plum has two of them. Go figure. This one, ostensibly by noted Wing Chun teacher and martial writer Leung Ting, actually uses the demonstration skills of Sifu Chiu Chun Yat. There is a pretty thorough discussion of the history of the Kwan and related weapons such as the Big Knife, Bandit's Knife and others. Then follows a longish set with the weapon. And then Kwan vs. Kung Fu bench (you read right, just like the restaurant benches so beautifully employed in Jackie Chan movies). And, as if that's not enough for your money, there's a free poster of General Kwan for you guan (studio) altar.

BK#EWP78 Tai Chi DRAGON FAN by Bow Sim-Mark
74 pages, US $14.95

Bow Sim Mark is a treasure of the WuShu world. A fine martial artist and an accomplished performer she has dedicated much of her life to spreading the art. In this oversized text she shows a set with the folding fan. Unlike many such sets, hers incorporates strong stances and martially logical motions. One of the better. This entire text is en face (Chinese/English).

#EWP82 T'ai Chi Mantis Killing Fan Play
by Tse Wing Ming
Chinese/English en face
83 pages, softbound
US $ 11.00

BK#EWP83 Waddy Play of Tsai Lee Fo (Choy Lay Fut)
Chan Kin-Man & Yan Sang
111 pages with photographs softbound, English/Chinese
US $6.95

BK#EQS13 Yan Qing Dao (Saber)
by Huang Han Xun ( trans. Joseph Crandall)
61 pages with illustrations
US $14.00

BK#EWP88 Wing Chun WEAPONS
by Jim Fung
softbound, photographs
US $13.95

A good overall book on the basics of Wing Chun's main weapons: the Butterfly Knives and the 6 1/2 Pole. Introductory sections on Wing Chun teachers such as Yip Man and Leung Ting. Applications of the weapons according to Wing Chun theory. Basics and some correlations to open hand work. Sets for both weapons are profiled.

OUT OF STOCK! Please place me on your WANT LIST for this item.

BK#EWP86 TAI CHI WEAPONS: (Weapons of Primordial Pugilism)
by Dr. Tseng Ju-Pai
softbound, photographs, US $11.95

This is one of the first books ever written in English on the subject of Tai Chi weapons. It comes from Dr. Tseng Ju Pai. He originally wrote it in 1976 and published it through the estimable Crompton Ltd. in 1982. There are some interesting notes and, since Dr. Tseng was translating from the Chinese directly and was obviously educated, he often used terms which are different from the accepted jargon. Thus Chi is "intrinsic energy" and a good phrase it is. Photo breakdowns are given of the Yang style Tai Chi sword and saber. There are short, basics sections on Tai Chi Spear and the even more rare Tai Chi Halberd (Ge?). Tseng appears to have studied from Yang Chen Fu.

Special Editions

Here is a beautiful series of books in a special edition. Each one is oversized ( 8 X 11 inches). They are short (32 pages) but with extraordinarily clear photographs about six per page. Names of moves are in Chinese and English. Some features are outstanding. Though there is little explanation the layout of the book makes totally clear the sequence of actions. The pictures are set next to one another for easy scanning and a real feeling of the flow of the form: sort of movies on paper. Just do what you see. And then they are also in full Color - that right the entire book is color photographed.

Demonstrator: Lee Koon-Hung has a number of credits to his name. He is a fifth generation inheritor of CLF and Kung Fu instructor at the new Asia Chinese Kung Fu Club at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also an instructor at the Confucius Hall Middle School. He is also the Vice-Chairman and Competition Supervisor - Hong Kong Kung Fu Association. His moves are very clean and his actions flexible.

BK#EWP84 DRAGON FAN of Choy Lay Fut
Lee Koon-Hung
Chinese (traditional)/English
21 pages with 4 color insert on applications,Photos
US $9.99

Acutally two forms. Included is the CLF Fundamental Fist Set. This is followed by the Dragon Fan, a short and easily learned set. The fan here is used in a more martial manner with less emphasis on flicking it open and closed and more on using it needle-style as a weapon. Of course the opening and closing can be modified as one chooses. A nice, direct set.

BK#EWP76 SPINNING SPEAR of Choy Lay Fut
Lee Koon-Hung
Chinese (traditional)/English
21 pages with 4 page insert on applications, US $9.99
Color Photos

A nice Color presentation of a Choy Lai Fut set. Good solid movements with very clear actions typical of the style. Names given for each movement and a sequential approach that makes the transitions from move to move pretty easy to follow. This is also known as the Left Handed Spear. One of the most elegant of Southern Styles and one of the most complete.

BK#EWP77 WHIRLING STAFF of Choy Lay Fut
Lee Koon-Hung
Chinese (traditional)/English
21 pages with 4 page insert on applications, US $9.99
Color Photos

A nicely presented Choy Lai Fut set in Color. CLF has a number of excellent staff sets. This one is relatively short and learnable. It is also known as the Dragon Staff. Sifu Lee's motions are easy to understand especially in this format. Comes with an additional four pages on applications of the staff.