Displaying posts tagged with

“authentic martial arts”

Mar
10
2020

Lost in Translation: The Hidden Gems of Kung-Fu

 In speaking with another shifu a few weeks ago, he brought up something that I took notice of quite some time ago, something that has always stood out to me, something that I have always made it a point to rally against in my Kung-Fu training and teaching. He spoke of today’s state of affairs […]

Feb
13
2019

The Righteous Blade

INTRODUCTION You grip the Kuan Dao but you haven’t lifted it yet. Something is different here. The blade is thicker than a saber and yours may have more edges; at the butt end, the metal or wood shaft may be capped with bronze. Your Kuan Dao looks fierce as well as heavy, the kind of […]

Aug
12
2014

Tradition: The Mother of Innovation

Tradition, real tradition, inspires innovation.

May
3
2011

Kang #2 Here, Bagua Power

Here is the SECOND DVD in our exclusive Plum Series…

Aug
15
2009

The Open Door

A note on the give and take of “information” when it regards the ancient art of Kung Fu.

Aug
13
2009

Hidden Masters

Are there really “hidden masters” out there? The writer thinks so and tells you why.

Jun
8
2009

A Lesson from Cousin Push

It was during one of those conversations that pepper a good workout that Robert Nakashima, Eddie Fong and I found ourselves agreeing that there were all sorts of problems to Taiji’s famous Push Hands, especially regarding the clarity—or lack of it—to students of Taiji.

May
25
2009

Who, What, Where, When , How and Why?

Although it almost sounds too vague to be useful, comprehensive martial training should concern itself with 6 essential questions…

Apr
15
2009

Tim Cartmell’s Standing Grappling

It is the bane of self defense techniques that they may look real fine in the book, look real good in the magazine or work like a charm when demonstrated by the teacher against a helpful crash test dummy, but in the clutch they do not work at all.

Mar
6
2009

Be Chain

Here I am pondering the personality of an ox…

Jan
8
2009

It Gets Better

Unlike my toothbrush, my Kung Fu is always packed and ready to go.

Oct
30
2008

INB #18: The Creek

A large rock squats in the middle of the creek. The water circles the rock without hesitation, uninterrupted in its career.

Aug
8
2008

The Tai Chi Rosetta Stone

There aren’t many code books for deciphering Kung Fu.

May
30
2008

INB #17: Assistance on Assistants

Your classes are well enough attended for you to need some assistance. . .

Apr
18
2008

Age and Kung Fu

For instance, let’s take the martial aspects. I teach people in their sixties to do the martial part. Why? To enliven them.

Mar
12
2008

The Crooked Line

If you are carrying on the work of developing, say, super string theory it helps to copy the equations accurately. But even correct equations are meaningless if you don’t understand them.

Aug
3
2005

On the Road to Sisyphus Falls

Sometimes the hardest thing is the world is just to keep in there. Refinement of the self can be a lonely business as Travis Rath contemplates while listening to music…

Feb
14
2004

INB #05: Telling Lies

I was one of them. I admit it. There’s a certain phrase that countless that many instructors throughout the centuries have boldly declaimed …

Feb
9
2004

INB #04: Those Advanced Sets, especially Weapons

There are a lot of fun forms I can hardly wait to teach.

Jan
17
2004

INB #03: The Use of Analogy

A teacher in the martial arts soon learns that knowledge is a dangerous thing – to you.