Nov
21
2023
Books: English, Eagle Claw |  | Nov 21st, 2023

The Eagle Flies

Eagle Claw Kung FuWe have a stack of new material to present over the next few weeks, but wanted to get this one posted without waiting to catalogue others.

Sifu Benson Lee, senior student of Grandmaster Leung Shum in Eagle Claw Boxing, has released a stunning new volume specifically targeting Tactics and Applications for Self-Defense. Intended to highlight and preserve the training techniques of Eagle Claw, this oversized, profusely illustrated text is written for intermediate and advanced students (so, you beginners have something for which to train hard). What this means is that there is no dilution, no holding back, on the information generously given. Sifu Benson works through the forms to highlight the usage throughout, with drills, theory, Eagle Claw principles, and even weapons work.

A great and needed addition to the library of this fierce system.

Sep
15
2023
Qigong |  | Sep 15th, 2023

Eight Silk Brocades Qigong from a Daoist Perspective

Incredibly excited to welcome Sally Chang to the Academy to teach this simple and important Qigong.

Scan Code or Click Image to Register

 

Sally Chang teaches the Eight Silk Brocades Qigong from a Daoist Perspective. One of the oldest and most influential Qigong forms still practiced today, this moving meditation will include the internal cultivation and health aspects of the form, and how to move through the dynamic Dan Tian as a longevity practice for body, mind, and spirit.

Foundations of alignment and integration of movement through the whole body distributes labor and conserves energy. For health practitioners, the form in part or whole can be taught to patients as active self-care, and is adaptable for different postures, such as seated and standing. Strengthens and tones the body and Qi while calming and focusing the mind.

Sally Chang spent 8 years training closely with Shifu Ted Mancuso at the Academy while attending Five Branches University and practicing acupuncture. After 15 years of training abroad with high level masters, she is honored to be invited back to share the integration of Daoist Internal Cultivation, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Principles, and advanced internal martial arts.

(Academy Students: Please check your email for more details about regular classes on that day, and to get an Academy Member Discount Code. If you have any questions, CONTACT US.)

Sally Chang is Chief Instructor of Evergreen Taiji Academy. Educator, Acupuncturist, and 30+ year practitioner of Daoist Wisdom Arts including Qigong, Taiji, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Sally’s teachings focus on cultivating the innate capacity for healing; and she is known for her warm, focused presence.

Sep
4
2023
New Products, Special Items |  | Sep 4th, 2023

Masters Write — (I’m Looking At You)!

Martial Arts Notebook

You know how we tell you all the time to keep a martial notebook? How important that can be at every stage in your development? How happy you will be if you do?

No? Well, it’s ok to repeat oneself when the suggestion is this important, but even better when we have something to back it up: Masters: A Blank Book for your OWN Martial Writings.

And what a nice book it is: fine paper, photos on almost every page showing masters from many different styles; plenty of space to jot down your own secrets (or the secrets of your partner in that last sparring session); places for your observations of mantises, monkeys and bears.

We can just about guarantee that you will be the envy of all your classmates and colleagues, and when they ask, “Where did you get something that cool, you can say, “Plumpub, of course!”

Sep
4
2023
Books: English, Self Defense |  | Sep 4th, 2023

Another Classic Returns: Grandmaster James Mitose on Self Defense in Kenpo

James Mitose on Kenpo

What Is Self Defense?

Although Plum, almost exclusively, represents books and videos on traditional Chinese martial arts, there are times when we bow or nod to important works from among our cousins; in this case, it is GM James Mitose’s classic treatise on Self-Defense techniques and theory, What Is Self Defense, that strongly influenced the development of Kenpo (often referred to as “Kenpo Karate,” “Chinese Karate” or, on the book, “Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu”).

This book is not historical fluff, but an important document of methods and techniques that built the self-defense movement in the latter part of the 20th century. There is also a decided Buddhist bent to his writings, with many admonitions to only use these techniques when absolutely necessary. This book has been difficult to find for a long while, and we are happy to have some copies available at Plumpub.

Sep
3
2023
Events, Qigong |  | Sep 3rd, 2023

Eight Silk Brocades Qigong from a Daoist Perspective (Santa Cruz)

Incredibly excited to welcome Sally Chang to the Academy to teach this simple and important Qigong.

Scan Code or Click Image to Register

 

Sally Chang teaches the Eight Silk Brocades Qigong from a Daoist Perspective. One of the oldest and most influential Qigong forms still practiced today, this moving meditation will include the internal cultivation and health aspects of the form, and how to move through the dynamic Dan Tian as a longevity practice for body, mind, and spirit.

Foundations of alignment and integration of movement through the whole body distributes labor and conserves energy. For health practitioners, the form in part or whole can be taught to patients as active self-care, and is adaptable for different postures, such as seated and standing. Strengthens and tones the body and Qi while calming and focusing the mind.

Sally Chang spent 8 years training closely with Shifu Ted Mancuso at the Academy while attending Five Branches University and practicing acupuncture. After 15 years of training abroad with high level masters, she is honored to be invited back to share the integration of Daoist Internal Cultivation, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Principles, and advanced internal martial arts.

(Academy Students: Please check your email for more details about regular classes on that day, and to get an Academy Member Discount Code. If you have any questions, CONTACT US.)

 

Sally Chang is Chief Instructor of Evergreen Taiji Academy. Educator, Acupuncturist, and 30+ year practitioner of Daoist Wisdom Arts including Qigong, Taiji, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Sally’s teachings focus on cultivating the innate capacity for healing; and she is known for her warm, focused presence.

Aug
30
2023
Article, Qigong, Sales!, Training, Video Tutorials |  | Aug 30th, 2023

Qigong: 10 Points for Body Control

A very long while back, we published a 30 minute video on 10 points for controlling the body in Qigong. Over the years, this was one of our most popular DVDs — it is simple, accessible, and provides solid information for any martial artist wanting to understand basic Qigong structure.

The information is ageless, but videographic technology is not so compliant —thankfully, our skills and equipment have improved over time — so when it came time to reproduce a new batch of DVDs, we decided instead to offer this Plum vintage video for free. Yeah, there is a blue tint to some of the film, and it definitely qualifies as lower-res compared to the quality gotten from newer cameras and even phones. Still, we hope you enjoy it.

By the way, if you are interested in Blossoms in the Spring, the book/DVD mentioned in this video, we have it on sale at the moment, HERE

 

 

NOTE: There is an annoying glitch in our “comments” section that does not allow for the normal comment process. Please leave your comments on the form below. They are important to us.

Aug
26
2023
Books: Chinese, Books: English, Sales! |  | Aug 26th, 2023

The Dao of Shipping

Daoist writings (and I liberally paraphrase here) teach us that ‘Nature is not kind.’ This does not mean that Nature is unkind; more like Nature is not a Disney movie.

At Plum, we recognize a variation of this wisdom: ‘The post office is not kind.’ In all honesty, the vast majority of what we send to customers arrives in beautiful condition, mostly due to Linda’s shipping kung fu. If we awarded titles, she would be Grandmaster.

But, despite the care taken by our vendors, some boxes reach us in less-than-perfect shape, the bad news being that we end up with a pile of mildly and minorly dented, barely scrunched books. The good news is, we can discount these puppies and pass a little savings on to you.

Here is our current offering; Click the TITLE to read about the book, and click the IMAGE to add it directly to the shopping cart (you can add other items too!) You cannot order these from the regular pages; if you do, they will add them at full price. Except for the Xing Yi Quan Xue, we only have 1-3 copies of each. We’ll add more as we have time.

Xing Yi Quan Xue $24.95 $19.95

Chopper Knife $13.95 / $12.55

Eight Step Praying Mantis $34.95 / $29.95

Complete BaJi Quan $51.95 discounted to $43.95

Aug
21
2023
Books: English, Shaolin, Southern Kung FU, Tiger Claw |  | Aug 21st, 2023

Yes, The Saber!

Black Tiger Claw Single SaberAnother great weapons book, Black Tiger Claw Single Saber, from the prolific Paul Koh, this one on Tiger Claw’s Single saber.

One of the many things we appreciate about Sifu Koh’s books is his emphasis on foundation as well as form and usage. A reader can easily learn and apply much from this text, even if not a Tiger stylist.

Weapons can be so easily passed by as tools to also develop empty hand technique, but in this text Sifu Koh actually has a section for the saber against a weaponless partner.

Much to see here, and as always, a beautiful layout and presentation.

 

Aug
10
2023
BaGua Zhang, Books: English, Long Fist, Sales!, Shaolin, Tai Chi, Xing Yi/Xin Yi |  | Aug 10th, 2023

A Martial Renaissance (再生 — Zaisheng): Xingyiquan, Taijiquan

There is a Renaissance going on in martial arts, and it is not purely physical. We are talking about the quantity of high-quality martial writing in English, which includes translations of Chinese origin.

This unexpected level of cogency delights us. We are seeing the maturity of an art, along with the rooting of well-planted seeds from earlier teachers.  The considered and well-tested appreciation of traditional skills and principles have found voices in both newly written texts as well as translations of older material, a good deal of the latter coming from the previous martial literary blossoming of the 1920’s, and 1930’s.

Some of these well-written volumes offer a broad survey of their master styles. Others expand on techniques or more advanced principles, the types of things you usually get only from working directly with a teacher as guide. And the translations — now aided by, though not restricted to, the newest technology — provide gems of insight from our fore-teachers, no longer out of reach of those who are not scholars of martial Chinese.

Take a look at some of these recent texts and translations — some are familiar, some new. Over the next period, we will rotate and highlight authors below and, to encourage you, add a discount to sweeten it up a bit.

Here is our next batch of titles to celebrate!

We have two NEW translations from Chen Faxing, both on Tai Chi. The first is on the lesser known Wu (Hao) style, wirtten by the well-respected teacher, Hao Shaoru. The second is Sun Jianyun’s famous text, compiling some of her father’s work (Sun Lutang) accompanied by photos of herself performing the set. Chen continues to pick put noteworthy texts for his offerings, and I am sure we’ll have more to come on Plum.

The last is also a translation, plus interpretation and explanations of some of the most well-known texts from Xingyiquan. Byron Jacobs, a disciple of Di Guoyong in Beijing, has been working on this book for at least 10 years, and it is one of those labor of love master pieces that enrich the canon. Before Byron had even had the chance to let us know of its coming, we had already heard from Andrea Falk, who praised the work and its importance, encouraging us to seek it out. You can read more about it in its separate post.

Use code “Zaisheng” in the Shopping Cart to get an additional 10% off these texts until August 20.

Small Frame Taijiquan: The Tradition of the Wu-Hao Style

Sun Family Taijiquan

Dragon Body, Tiger Spirit: A Translation and Explanation of the Classic Text of Xingyi Quan

 

Jul
20
2023
English Books, Southern Kung FU |  | Jul 20th, 2023

Phoenix Eye Fist

Phoenix Eye Fist Kung FuIt is said, “All good things come to those who wait.” At Plum, this is not exactly our motto, but it is a part of our reputation for which we take particularl pride. It brings us great pleasure to seek out the treasures that have disappeared, as well as those that are just coming to print for the first time.

Anyway, this post is about Phoenix Eye Fist: A Shaolin Fighting Art of Southern China, by Tjoa Khek Kiong & Donn Draeger. This classic text, one of the cornerstones of the literature in English on southern kung fu,  has been out of circulation for quite a long while, and we are thrilled to have found a stack just waiting for the right home.

To read more about it, and to purchase, click on the link above, or the image to the left.

Happy reading!

P.S. Thanks to Elliott Monds for catching our typo, and writing “…Northen China” Yikes!

Jun
15
2023
Books: English, Tiger Claw |  | Jun 15th, 2023

Tiger Claw’s Long Pole

Sifu Paul Koh’s tiger Claw Eight Diagram Longpole

Yet another excellent book from prolific writer and instructor Paul Koh, this one on the Tiger Claw Long Staff. Each of Sifu Koh’s books offer a step in the evolution and development of the Tiger Claw style he learned from Sifu Tak Wah Eng. Both have contributed a great deal to the modernizing and creation of a 21st century Kung Fu, without any loss of traditional principles.

The Tiger Claw Eight Diagram Longpole differs from other staff routines in its target precision. The book, as are all in this series, is colorfully vibrant and generous (a word we have used more than once for Sifu Koh’s volumes) in its offerings: a single person set, a matched set, lots of applications and, of course, basics and history.

Click the image to see more, and to purchase.

Jun
6
2023
BaGua Zhang, Books: English |  | Jun 6th, 2023

Tom Bisio’s Old Eight Palms of Master Wang Shi Tong

Tom Bisio's Old Eight Palms of Master Wang Shi Tong Bagua book

Click to see more and to purchase

What excitement! Books have arrived!

Tom Bisio has just published a new book on Master Wang Shi Tong’s Old Eight Palms of Bagua Zhang. Sifu Bisio, the only American disciple of Master Wang, details the forms, principles, training methods and many applications he learned directly from the Master himself.

Almost every style of Bagua Zhang has a version of Lao Ba Zhang, or “The Old Eight Palms,” and Master Wang’s version is  rooted in the skills of practicality and effectiveness. Each of the eight palm changes introduces a different energetic signature set of tactics, power dynamic and varied techniques.

As always, Sifu Bisio has done a remarkable job on this book, and adds yet another important work to the Bagua Zhang canon.

Jun
4
2023
DVDs, Sales!, Special Items |  | Jun 4th, 2023

Our Spring Cleaning Is Your Summer Enjoyment

Is it too late for Spring Cleaning? Hope not, since we expect this next batch of one-offs will take us deeply into Fall.

As we’ve said in the past, we end up with a LOT of material that, for whatever reason, we don’t add to our site. The number one reason is that these items are no longer available to order, hence, we’ve only got one or two to offer. 

So, here is the first batch of DVDs. We have ONLY one each, so once sold, it’s gone. We’ll do our best to update the post, but we may lag behind a little. Our apologies. Also, we will add other titles, so don’t despair.

Oh, by the way, prices are at least 25% discounted from regular price, and all are in Chinese with English subtitles.
CLICK EACH TO ADD TO THE SHOPPING CART

Yang Style 85 Posture 3 disk set: $38.95 disc to $28.95

Chen Style Lao Jia 4 disk set: $47.95 disc to $34.95

Yang Style Survey Hands & Weapons $15.95 disc to $9.95

Chen Style Short-Hilted Broadsword: $15.95 disc to 11.95

Chen Style 13 Pole $15.95 disc to $11.95

Yang Style 49 Posture 2 disk set: $27.95 disc to $20.95

Chen Important Pts of Boxing 2 disk set: $27.95 disc to $20.95

May
21
2023
Events, Tai Chi |  | May 21st, 2023

Grand Master Chen Zhenglei “Light of Taichi” Summer Camp – Las Vegas 2023

Click to see books and DVDs from Sifu Chen

We wanted to announce Sifu Chen Zheng Lei’s 2023 Summer Camp In Las Vegas this year, taking place from June 30 – July 5. Please click the READ MORE link below to see all of the information. There is an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT if you enroll on or before May 31.

Read more →

Apr
26
2023
Books: English, DVD, DVDs, English Books, Tai Chi |  | Apr 26th, 2023

A Feng Zhiqiang Hun Yuan Fest

Although we represent several books in Chinese on Sifu Feng Zhiqiang’s Hun Yuan Chen Taijiquan, (there are a couple on this page) we are a bit scant on material concerning his style in English; most of it has gone out of print.

But we were able to source a few long-out-of-reach items, so we thought we would annouce them all at once.

The first is a book, Special Taoist Taiji Stick and Ruler Qigong, imparted by Feng Zhiqiang and compiled by his disciple, Wang Fengming. Presented in both Chinese and English, it offers a detailed instruction on all aspects of this ruler system, including photos, diagrams and charts.

The middle DVD is Wang Fengming’s instruction on the Hun Yuan #71 Taiji set. Although there is very little verbal instruction, each move of this advanced set is repeated several times, at different speeds, making it learnable to those with knowledge of the beginning sets in this system.

The last DVD is a return of a long-lost VCD (#227 in our original catalogue), the Hun Yuan #24 set with Push Hands, all performed and instructed by Sifu Feng himself. We have limited supply on all of these, and are not sure what will remain available, especially on the DVD by Sifu Feng himself.

Click the images or the links to learn more and to purchase.

Apr
11
2023
English Books, Praying Mantis |  | Apr 11th, 2023

The Return of Spring and Mantis

Mantis Steals the Peach

Mantis Steals the Peach Volume 3

Single Thrust Blossom Volume 5

Single Thrust Blossom Volume 5

Here’s some good news: We have a couple of short stacks of Sifu Paul Eng’s classic books on Praying Mantis back in stock. These two volumes, Mantis Steals the Peach, and Single Thrust Blossom, have been gone since 2020, and we are hoping to bring back the rest of the series, but for now, these are the original printings. Get ’em while they last!

 

Apr
3
2023
Qigong, Sales! |  | Apr 3rd, 2023

Qigong Spring

Is it just us, or is there a deficit of spring in this year’s Spring?

Well, we’re hoping we can put a little more spring in its step (and yours, too).

This Spring, purchase our most popular qigong book, Blossoms in the Spring: A Perfect Method of Qigong, and get the 1 hour instructional DVD for only $1 more. Normally this package sells for $34.50, but for this limited time, it is only $16.25 — less than half price.

Blossoms in the Spring is written and demonstrated by Ted Mancuso, Plum’s director, with more than 50 years experience teaching martial arts and Qigong; and Narrye Caldwell, who not only teaches Taijiquan and Qigong, but also spent 25 years teaching Chinese medicine at Five Branches University. This collaboration creates instruction that is easy to follow, is clearly laid out, and has a solid basis in two of the Chinese healing arts.

And, hey, it’s a book produced by Plum, so it’s sure to be more than you would expect from anyone else!

Mar
16
2023
Books: English, Liu He Six Harmony Boxing, Tai Chi, Xing Yi/Xin Yi |  | Mar 16th, 2023

Xin Yi Liu He and Chen Taijiquan: Two Great New Books

It is complete coincidence that our two newest books — James Counsilman’s, “Ten Animals Kung Fu: Xin Yi Liu He Quan,” and Andrea Falk’s, “Shadowboxing in Shanghai: A Memoir and a Guide to the Traditional Chen Taijiquan From Dragon Park” — have something in common: they both come from records of the authors’ experiences studying in Shanghai.

Counsilman’s book is compiled from years of detailed notes he took while studying with his Master Li Zunsi in Shanghai. It is the first (and only, to our knowledge) book in English on the lesser-known practice of XinYiLiuHe; even in Chinese, there are not many texts on the subject. Counsilman’s book is unusual in that there are almost no photos or illustrations accompanying the precise textual instructions. Nonetheless, longtime Plum customer AJ had this to say when he got an advanced copy of the book:

“I truly cannot thank you enough for notifying me of James Counsilman’s treatise on Xinyiliuhequan…As for his Xinyiliuhequan book: WOW!
It is undoubtedly one of the finest martial arts treatises I have ever read. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have this. A lifetime’s training lies within.”
Andrea Falk’s newest book shines on its own. We are big fan’s of Falk’s translations, writings, and her cannot-be-praised-enough martial dictionary, but this new one exceeded expectations. She has combined detailed instruction on the 108 move Chen Taijiquan Yilu (first set) she learned in Shanghai (in the Chen Xin lineage), with notes on Taiji concepts, discussions with her sifu, conversations with other students and teachers, then added memoirs of living and studying in Shanghai in the 80’s and 90’s, with moving portraits of a city that refused to lay still as just a background. It’s an exciting work, and one we highly recommend.
Feb
13
2023
Baji Quan, Books: Chinese, Books: English, Praying Mantis, Southern Kung FU, Tiger Claw |  | Feb 13th, 2023

New Books!

We’re starting up the engines again, and digging into the ever-growing pile of new material coming to Plum. We’re excited about these first three:

Paul Koh's Tiger Claw Eight Diagram Tiger Claw Fighting SetLee Kam Wing Seven Start Mantis Volume 7Adam Hsu Baji book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sifu Paul Koh once again brings us a comprehensive book on Tiger Claw’s Eight Diagram Fighting Set. This new text, literally, takes it to the street, with an extensive section (over 100 pages) of applications and usage (done, not in the studio, but on the streets of New York). As always with Sifu Koh’s books, this one is beautifully presented and generous in its instruction. Click the image to learn more about the book, and to purchase.

We are delighted to represent Sifu Lee Kam Wing’s newest volume (#7) in his Traditional Seven Star Mantis series. Representing several routines in the system, the well-acknowledged Sifu Lee is compiling an almost encyclopedic collection from this large and popular style. Click the image to see more about the book, including its list of routines.

How many times have we been asked if Sifu Adam Hsu, acknowledged as one of the masters of Bajiquan, has a book on the subject. Well, now we can answer, “Yes!” This volume, Baji XinFa, is a collections of articles (all in Chinese) on both Bajiquan, and its sister style, Pigua Zhang. It also includes QR codes for videos of Sifu Hsu demonstrating the various forms. We only have a few of these at the moment, but hope to get more in the near future. Click image to learn more, read his intriguing Table of Contents, and to purchase.

Jan
10
2023
Article |  | Jan 10th, 2023

Safe In Santa Cruz

Hi all,
A lot of people have contacted us, after seeing Santa Cruz on the news this week. Thank you so much!

Just want to let you know that we are all ok here. Our house, and Plum are both a few blocks from the coast, and about a mile from the mountains where most of the flooding is occurring. The waves are high, and the sky is mostly grey with long stretches of rain. Last night, we had a mighty windstorm, something out of the ordinary for us. But, no trees or wires down in our neighborhood, and we’ve only lost power once, for about three hours, so not too bad.

Linda has a creek next to her house, which has almost topped the bank, but her house is high enough that, even if it did, the water would not reach it. Today she had to call out someone to come and remove a huge tree that had floated downstream and was damming the creek.

The cats, on the other hand, are bored, and really can’t wait for this to end!

We’re kind of sorry we cannot celebrate this rain more, since we need it so badly to relieve the annual drought.

 

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