Pound for pound, Liu Xiao Ling is one of the most popular teachers on our site, especially considering the small number of DVDs he has produced from his wide range of styles and systems. The reasons are simple. His movements are accurate and simultaneously explicit. He contends himself with the “internal” arts such as Qigong, […]
Jun
7
2017
7
2017
May
26
2017
26
2017
Hung Gar Boxing: Clarity and Effectiveness
Here is another fine “workshop” session DVD from Sifu Don Hamby. This time his Hung style takes him to the topic of classical form and fighting. And he responds with sequences taken directly from Hung’s famous forms applied to unarmed combat. As is characteristic of the style, there are some powerful blows and even a […]
May
16
2017
16
2017
Appreciation: Double Swords, Flying Blades
There is at least one weapon in Kung Fu practice that is generally taught only to women. In fact, I have never—that I recall—taught this to a male practitioner. Leaving aside the irony of a male teaching a “female only” weapon (I’ll discuss how THAT works at the end of this article), I think it […]
May
11
2017
11
2017
Iron Wire Fist Book Has Arrived
Finally. At last. The wait is over. Lam Chun Fai’s Iron Wire Fist book/DVD, Tid Sin Kuen, has JUST arrived. The 240 page book is bound in a heavy, textured paper wrapped cover, with both black-and-white and color interior pages. It also contains a bonus 9 minute DVD of Sifu Lam performing key movements from […]
Mar
19
2017
19
2017
Random Circles—The Synergy of Taiji Quan
by Jason Tsou and Art Schonfeld By necessity, there are many levels of martial arts training. A person must develop foundational work before he can go on to more advanced work. One essential training method often overlooked today is that of Random Circle training. While this is not the highest level of training, it provides […]
Mar
6
2017
6
2017
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
10
2016
10
2016
A Welcome Guest: The Hakka Fist
I have a friend, Tek Young Lin, who is a born storyteller. He can weave a tale with every nuance—the smell, the expressions, the details—all brought to life. He can twist a yarn about anything or nothing. In fact, he tells a wonderful Daoist story about collecting holes, and how his best friend almost tumbled […]
Nov
8
2016
8
2016
Oct
7
2016
7
2016
This Is How Bagua Is Done
There are two ways to make a DVD, irrespective of a particular style. The first way is to follow your style’s structure: warm ups, basics, form and sampled applications. The second way, less common, is to offer, derived from your style, skills that might be universally helpful to appropriate seekers. Imagine a Long Fist practice […]
Sep
16
2016
16
2016
Ark Yuey Wong: 01/11/1900 to 01/11/1987
Grandmaster Wong Ark Yuey was born in Canton. His home village was Toysun Tien Cum Chien. His grandfather, the head of the family, wanted all males learn Kung Fu. His well-to-do family was worried by the persistent threat of bandits in the area. A family dispute had precipitated the rule that each Wong member would […]
Sep
5
2016
5
2016
From Taiwan: An Old Frame and a Lost Track
There are a lot of well meaning martial practitioners out there that have probably never posed in front of a camera. They make honest, traditional and studied demonstrations of each particular style. Despite the special qualities of the style, the survey of their forms may be tepid and self-conscious. No disrespect to them, they did […]
Jul
3
2016
3
2016
Adam Hsu’s Bajiquan Trilogy: Volumes 2 & 3 Are Here!
At Last! After more than one year’s anticipation, not just the second installment of Adam Hsu’s magnificent Bajiquan trilogy, but the fabulous third and final volume have both arrived. There is so much in this series of Baji DVDs that we’re just going to suggest that you either look at the descriptions on the sale […]
Jul
1
2016
1
2016
Thinking in Circles? Try Bagua!
Already wondering what you are going to do with those lazy days of summer? For those in our area (Santa Cruz, California) how about joining us for 4 classes on Bagua Zhang (Saturday, July 9 – 30, 11:00 – 12:30)? This course will focus on the core movements, routines, and principles of this great and […]
Jun
10
2016
10
2016
Remarkable Adam Hsu
Not for the first time, Sifu Adam Hsu is doing something remarkable. And, as with many projects that fall into the ‘remarkable’ category, it is also different enough that a few words of explanation are not mis-spent. In fact, he is producing something completely new based on one of the most traditional methods for teaching […]
Jun
5
2016
5
2016
Practical Qin Na: Second volume arrives
We’ve just received the second volume in Zhao Da Yuan’s big series on Qin Na (Chin Na). This new text reveals dead-hand training, live-hand loops, counters, and even anti-weapon work. An entire curriculum on Qin Na; not just a few moves as so many others do it. This valuable multi-volume set is projected for at […]
May
26
2016
26
2016
Kong Han Ngo Cho: Five Ancestors of Kung Fu
What a great book! If you have any interest in Five Ancestors Fist (Ngo Cho Kun) or Southern Boxing in general, this large, well-illustrated volume is a must-have for your library. The Five Ancestors is one style that combines five forms of Kung Fu fighting. Its core style is TaiZu, named after an Emperor of […]