Our offering today centers around “two”—a triplet of Chinese texts each with a special relationship to the number. The first of these is a text recommended by Adam Hsu, on the rare “Wild Goose” saber, a cross between a saber and a straight sword. This unusual weapon balances perfectly the special features of both types […]
Nov
30
2018
30
2018
Aug
16
2018
16
2018
Four Books, Five Elements: Tong Bi With a Dash of Qigong
Announcing FOUR new books in our Traditional Chinese Section! The first three display an abundance of riches; all are on Wu Xing Tong Bi, or Five Elements Through the Arm Boxing, a style of ancient moves and modern popularity. Like Bajiquan, attention to this style is growing rapidly. Distinctive, fast, elegant and powerful, Tong Bi […]
Jan
22
2018
22
2018
Play Ball! No, Really, It’s Good for Your Martial Practice
If I’ve learned anything in my martial career it is that knowledge never walks in a straight line; while wandering through a labryinth, things like to leap out from behind the next hedge. We just acquired a new text, Ball Playing for Health, Illustrated (Nongwan Chienshen Tushu), a partial inspiration for Caylor Adkins text on […]
Dec
29
2017
29
2017
Mar
28
2017
28
2017
Three New Chinese Texts
Three new books added to our Chinese language section, a couple accompanied by video resources. Today’s emphasis is on intestinal fortitude or, as some people say, “internal style.” Wang Pei Sheng’s Nei Gong Xin Fan Tai Ji Quan This book, compiled by one of Wang’s students, pictures Wang himself performing his movements with great precision. […]
Feb
17
2017
17
2017
Jan
27
2017
27
2017
Jan
16
2017
16
2017
Dec
28
2016
28
2016
The Karate/Kung Fu Connection: Bubishi
Just arrived, TWO books: the premier translation of the martial-world famous Bubishi by Patrick McCarthy; AND more stock on the gorgeous hardcover edition of The General Tian Wubeizhi: The Bubishi in Chinese Martial Arts. The convergence of these two–the translation (Bubishi) and the commentary (General Tian’s Wubeizhi)–mirror the revelations contained in these two texts concerning […]
Dec
16
2016
16
2016
A Wire of Iron
What a year the monkey has been! Now, we have so much good stuff coming in we can act like the Rooster Year is already here, and can start to crow a bit. In the next couple of months, we’re looking forward to adding more and more top quality books and DVDs, often in English. […]
Dec
2
2016
2
2016
Bubishi Classic, Like You Have Never Seen Before (Updated)
Plum treasures our close affiliation with Lionbooks in Taiwan, both for their extensive library of authentic, hard-to-find martial arts literature, and the exceptional job they do of making these books beautiful. So, we are excited to announce their new english language study of the Bubishi, the foundational text of Karate, including two Bubishi manuals, both […]
Nov
17
2016
17
2016
Chen With Your Hands Full
A quick announcement of three new book/vcd packages in one of our favorite series; these are on Chen Style Tai Chi Ball, Double Maces, and Eyebrow Staff. This series, which you will find scattered throughout the Plum site, gives you a book in both Chinese and English (en face) plus a VCD (in Chinese, subtitled […]
May
8
2016
8
2016
Li Tianji’s Xing Yi Legacy; Andrea Falk’s Dictionary
Plum is adding another text by Andrea Falk, a translation of significance to Xing Yi practitioners: Li TianJi’s The Skills of XingYiQuan; 311 pages, with hundreds of illustrations. This is a thorough text on the style handed down to Li Tianji from his father, Li Yulin. It’s very well laid out with sections covering basic […]
Apr
15
2016
15
2016
Ever Heard of Shaman Kung Fu?
Even if you have only visited PLUM a couple of times, you will note that we have a huge selection of materials: DVDs, English language books, VCDs, Chinese texts, en face books and more. At present we have one of the largest collections online, and growing. When we started […]
Jan
22
2016
22
2016
The Basics
Jack Yan has emerged as one of our more favored writer/translators. His exhaustive series on the teacher Chen Zheng Lei has brought a lot of attention to this branch of the art, and his own series on Tong Bei is a welcome addition to what is otherwise a very under-represented field of texts and DVDs. […]
Dec
20
2015
20
2015
Oct
28
2015
28
2015
Tai Chi: Wu and Hong styles
Today, we add the last installment of our selection on the Chen Tai Chi exclusive branch named Hong style. Chen style has a well-known “short fist” version. And this style, developed by teacher Hong JunSheng, presents a smaller frame, demonstrating a soft, slow elegance. This last DVD shows many throws and takedowns with high emphasis […]
Sep
20
2015
20
2015
Adam Hsu’s Basic Kung Fu Training Books
Much earlier in his career, Adam Hsu Sifu created a special series of three linking sets. Each of these were progressively designed to waste as little time as possible, getting that crucial fundamental information to the students. For instance, there are no repetitious sections. Also, each movement is a crucial basic. Two of these sets […]
Jul
31
2015
31
2015
Dragon (re)Emerges from the Sea
PLUM revives one of the most popular Kung Fu books of the 80’s, during the Golden Era of Kung Fu movies and practice. Dragon Form Boxing is a short book displaying form and function. The moves are big and easy to learn. This was one of a series that look liked a paste-up directly from […]
Jul
3
2015
3
2015
Xing Yi and Taijiquan: 2 New Items
There is such a diversity and quality of materials on all major Kung Fu styles, that we sometimes can’t keep up with the new postings. Here is a version of probably the most famous and popular of Xing Yi style two-person sets: An Shen Pao. Not only does it pair up the two players from […]
