A fine video example of Sifu Ark Yuey Wong performing. Click here to read about and purchase his book, Secret of Kung-Fu.
Aug
5
2022
5
2022
Jul
23
2020
23
2020
Heads & Tails: Adam Hsu on Martial Marketing
Plum’s new series, Heads & Tails, presents the thoughts, experiences and points of view from top martial teachers and practitioners (CMA). It is not meant to be a passive offering—these are ideas to wrangle, consider, argue for and against. This first excerpt comes from Sifu Adam Hsu’s newest book, “Life Is Too Short For Bad […]
Feb
26
2020
26
2020
Pakua Journal: Vince Black on Li Zi Ming
One of the richest resources we represent on Plum is the CD compilation of Dan Miller’s Pakua Journal. This CD contains ALL 38 issues (over 1000 pages) of this extraordinary magazine that ran from 1990 to 1997. CLICK HERE for a complete article from Volume 5, written by Vince Black, on the remarkable Li Zi […]
Oct
6
2019
6
2019
The Eye of Robert Smith
Here is a short and direct excerpt from one of the forefathers of western martial arts writings. Robert Smith was as much a story-teller as he was a reporter, bringing forth tales from the fringes of some styles, along with the hidden clashes between the masters of others. “Simply observing the art without participating […]
Sep
5
2019
5
2019
Excerpt from Falk’s Chinese Martial Arts Dictionary
In our excitement over the arrival of Andrea Falk’s Chinese Martial Arts dictionary, we neglected to post this generous sample from the text. These pages show, among other things, the thorough approach Ms Falk has taken in putting together this important resource. Order through September 30 to get a 10% discount on either the compact […]
Jun
7
2019
7
2019
Apr
23
2019
23
2019
Vince Black on Li Zi Ming’s Bagua Zhang
One of our favorite items at Plum is the Pa Kua Chang Journal CD, containing the entire 38-issue run of more than 1,000 pages. The original journal, published by Dan Miller, is a treasure for the martial and Bagua community. In many cases entire issues are devoted to a single topic, and contain interviews with […]
Dec
18
2018
18
2018
The Dragon in Bagua Zhang
One of Plum’s longtime favorite and recommended books is Tom Bisio’s “Essentials of Bagua Zhang.” Below is an excerpt dealing with his view of the Dragon’s influence on one of China’s greatest masterworks in the world of martial arts. You get an actual ‘two-for-the-price-of-one’ in the passage below, in that Bisio himself quotes Francois Jullien […]
Oct
12
2018
12
2018
Adam Hsu on Sparring
In my own teaching, I frequently apply lessons derived from Sifu Adam Hsu’s observations. Having trained with Hsu Sifu, I have had the experience, more than once, of “aha” moments. Sometimes the “aha” was not pleasant, but in every case the thinking was logical and truthful. So it is with great pleasure that I announce, […]
May
5
2015
5
2015
Adam Hsu Article: Black Tiger Steals the Heart
A Straight Talk about the Straight Punch: Technique, Principles & Usage You may not have realized it (how could you?) but PLUM has a brother we never told you about. This new addition is a site devoted to the works and writings of Adam Hsu. We have been feeding this site with much of PLUM’s […]
Apr
19
2015
19
2015
Treasures of the Sword
Adam Hsu, the only person every voted Instructor of the Year by both Black Belt and Inside Kung Fu, is once again tackling the gargantuan challenge of setting the art of Kung Fu aright. To aid in this, he is producing a whole new line of books and dvds. Without a doubt, one of the […]
Jan
23
2015
23
2015
Mar
23
2014
23
2014
Come to the Dance
Qigong is like a community dance. If only three people show up from the area, it is still a community dance. But as the music plays, revs up, more locals stroll in and join the fun. Eventually, every member of the community is involved, all joining the celebration and acting as a happy crowd. As […]
Mar
10
2014
10
2014
Aug
6
2013
6
2013
Pakua Journal excerpt: Too Many Teachers?
It came out twenty years ago and is still a minor miracle in the publishing of Bagua material. I remeber being surprised and delighted that just down the road from where I lived someone, Dan Miller, was producing a journal devoted entirely to Bagua with great photos, in-depth information, little politics and excellent translations and […]
Aug
5
2013
5
2013
A Thousand Years Ago: 1101 to 1125
excerpted from Professor Kang Ge-Wu’s martial history The Spring and Autumn of Chinese Martial Arts-5000 Years 1101 to 1125 Towards the end of the Northern Sung Dynasty, Wushu had become the main content of various performances, and it had many stylized routines. Dong Jing Meng Hua Lu records that Emporer Hui Zong watched the performances […]
Feb
26
2013
26
2013
Excerpts from our Favorites
The Japanese challenger said, “I am going to use hard strength to take your arm in a lock and break it. Let’s see if you can use your soft energy to overcome that!”
Nov
23
2012
23
2012
Excerpt: Bagua in Beijing
This from the new second volume of “Liu Bin’s Zhuang Gong Bagua Zhang” book: …Wei Wen Da’s son, Wei De Sung, was called crazy because he was quite talkative and didn’t always follow the social rules of the times; he was a free spirit. He was born in 1913 and died in 2002 at age […]
Feb
7
2010
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:…
Jan
19
2010
19
2010
