Just added to our collection an exciting new book, Tiger Claw’s Wooden Master, from Sifu Paul Koh, who is brilliantly carrying on the lineage from his teacher, Sifu Tak Wah Eng. This new title is, like all of Sifu Koh’s books, a labor of both love and color. He outlines Tiger Claw’s system of using […]
Nov
10
2022
10
2022
Apr
30
2022
30
2022
Going, Going, Gone
At least monthly, we discover that Kung Fu books and videos that were previously abundant and available are now out of print. Unfortunately, we rarely hear about these things BEFORE they disappear. Back in the day, Unique Publications was one of the two main American publishers of martial arts books, along with Ohara (Kodansha and […]
Sep
30
2021
30
2021
Continuing Our Hung Gar Week
Finally, finally! Yesterday we received our long-delayed and even longer-anticipated GORGEOUS copies of Lam Chun Fai’s Tid Sin Kuen book. To be perfectly honest, we were a bit disappointed in the printing of the first set, so we went back and reprinted. To remind: Plum has become the official publisher of this important text; for […]
Sep
26
2021
26
2021
Who Doesn’t Love a Price Drop?
Prices are going up EVERYwhere. It is undeniable. So the chance to announce a price reduction brings us real pleasure, and when it is attached to a fine series of products, that makes it all the better. Sifu Donald Hamby has dropped the prices on all of his Hung Gar DVDs to $29.95 each, which […]
Jul
24
2021
24
2021
Paul Koh Interview Part 3: Present and Future Approaches to Kung Fu
This is the third in a four-part interview with Sifu Paul Koh, who has just released a series of beautifully designed books on traditional forms. Sifu Koh was gracious enough to grant Plum an interview, which turned out to exceed our expectations in terms of length and depth. Since the interview is lengthy, we decided […]
Jul
7
2021
7
2021
Paul Koh Interview Part 2: On Masters and More
This is Part 2 of a 4 part interview with Sifu Paul Koh, who has recently published a series of beautifully designed books on traditional forms. Although we know Sifu Koh to be a thoughtful teacher and good writer, we were delighted by the unexpected depth and breadth he applied when addressing our questions. Since […]
Jun
27
2021
27
2021
Southern Kung Fu Makes An Entrance
Fu Jow Pai Sifu Paul Koh has just released 4 new titles, and we are excited! These new books are beautifully done, and add English language instruction to the Southern Kung Fu canon, which is always in need of traditional material. The books, all found HERE, cover Tiger […]
Jun
27
2021
27
2021
Interview with ‘Fu Jow Pai’ Sifu Paul Koh, Pt. 1
When we learned that Sifu Paul Koh was setting off on a new publishing venture, to bring out a series of beautifully designed books on traditional forms, we asked if we might interview him, to expose a few more of our Plum followers to his Tiger Claw system. Although we know Sifu Koh to be […]
Oct
28
2019
28
2019
An Interview with Hung Gar’s Sifu Donald Hamby
Here is a wonderful interview conducted by Sifu Pavel Macek, with our friend, Hung Gar Sifu Donald Hamby. Sifu Hamby talks about his roots and the LA Kung Fu scene back when he started in the 1970’s, and some of the qualities and applications of Hung Gar (with a short demo showing usage, at the […]
Jul
8
2019
8
2019
Jun
21
2019
21
2019
Two Views of Sifu John Leong
At Plum, we are lucky to represent not one but two views of Hung Gar Kung Fu Sifu John Leong, in two new books added to our collection: Beginning Hung Gar Kung Fu, a classic text, and Living Kung Fu, a recently released photo collection of Sifu Leong’s martial journey. “Beginning Hung Gar Kung Fu” […]
Nov
30
2018
30
2018
Two Times Three, But Who’s Counting?
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 […]
Oct
29
2018
29
2018
The Cinematic World of Hong Kong: The Heritage of Hung Gar
Sometimes a book comes along dealing with a topic in which you thought you had little interest. Then you open it and—wow!—it reciprocates to open up a world for you. Lingnan Hung Kuen: Kung Fu in Cinema and Community is one of those books. It looked like a nice gift item. But once we got […]
Oct
15
2018
15
2018
More on the “Hard” Wing Chun
Here is a DVD on the Wing Chun “Upper Arm” set which we believe correlates to “Searching for the the Bridge” in the Yip Man tradition. This is a “harder” form of Wing Chun, and related to Hung Gar. It is not the only Hard version, but one of the better known. This DVD offers […]
Jul
11
2018
11
2018
Celebrating Skill and Friendship
Last week, we wrote about Sifu Donald Hamby’s Gathering of the Masters kung fu exhibition, showcasing some of the best traditional kung fu teachers and performers. This week, we have some video footage that we shot while there. These three videos feature a smapling of the rare and unique forms we saw there—many of which […]
Jun
27
2018
27
2018
A Gathering Indeed
Friday, we drove south, over 350 miles to Monterey Park, in Los Angeles, in answer to Sifu Don Hamby’s invitation to attend his 3rd Annual Kung Fu Gathering of the Masters. Despite expectations based on decades of tournaments and events, we could not have anticipated what we encountered once the drumming started. Sifu Hamby, widely […]
May
7
2018
7
2018
The Gift of a Teacher
Yesterday we attended the memorial for Wing Lam, my teacher for a number of years. Over a hundred students and family gathered in the chapel to pay last respects. Many people crowded the middle aisle, most of them dressed in black or white, as per the formal instructions for a Daoist ceremony. The middle aisle […]
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
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
24
2016
24
2016
Northern, Southern, Inside and Out
A few restocks for your reading pleasure–click images for more info Hung Kuen Fundamentals: Gung Gee Fook Fu (English/Chinese)This exceptional first volume of the Lam family Hung Kuen series is back in stock! We cannot say enough good things about this beautiful and comprehensive treatment on Hung Gar Fundamentals. We are so pleased to be […]
