Hey, we’ve made it to December! Yes, this has been a tough year, but 2021 is almost here, so let’s celebrate with some discounts. Use coupon code December10 to get a 10% discount on any orders through December 7, and we’ll email you another 10% coupon that you can use in January. Out with the […]
1
2020
2
2019
“Baji” vs. “Taiji”—Only “One” “Dot” Different
Here is a new piece by Adam Hsu. This article contrasts two superstars of Chinese martial arts: TaiJi Quan Chuan and Baji Quan, each of them a brilliant martial art, each based on some profound principles, each a model for understanding Chinese Wushu. Never disappointing, he examines these two seemingly opposed arts and uncovers similarities […]
2
2019
9
2018
Back to Bajiquan
Just restocked a handful of Baji books, and they can be found HERE
27
2018
Tutorial: Tai Chi Tips, Stepping
If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes at Plum, you know how highly we prize basics as the foundation of good movement. ‘Stepping’ in Tai Chi, is one of those fundamentals that you might learn on the first day of class, and which you might be refining well into your advanced practice. We prepared a […]
25
2018
Tony Yang & Bajiquan: A Repeat Appearance
Just a quick note to say we are now stocked, once again, on Sifu Tony Yang’s elusive 2 part DVD on Bajiquan. Yang Sifu studied Bajiquan in the Wutan tradition with Grandmaster Liu Yun Chiao, in Taiwan, and has been teaching this for many years. If you’ve been waiting, get them while they are here! […]
29
2016
You Are Hired: Bodyguard Kung Fu
Put yourself in the thick of it. What would you do? Your world is split into two–principals and enemies in a constant power struggle. Many hidden factions promote ninja-type fighting skills. You must protect your principal at all costs, yet not every situation requires deadly force so you have to be an expert at making […]
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 […]
13
2016
Bajiquan Celebration in Taiwan
We were delighted to see this clip from a recent Liu Yun Chiao memorial held in Taipei. Sifu Adam Hsu leads the whole room in a simple exercise that GM Liu reported he performed over 200 times a day; he recommended this two-move loop for improving all Kung Fu training. Note the esteemed teachers of […]
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 […]
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 […]
16
2015
Adam Hsu Speaks Up
From a lifetime of teaching and writing about Martial arts, internationally known Adam Hsu has compiled many of his thoughts in this three+ hour discussion. Billed as a “debate” it would be more fitting to call this “debate points” like what you might rehearse with your own hometown debate team. His approach challenges many ideas […]
23
2015
2
2014
The Qigong You are Already Practicing…
I seem to be getting lots of questions about qigong from our readers. Some of these questions are pretty sophisticated and others ask more about beginning practice. I thought it might help people to discuss a really broad view of qigong from the martial arts perspective that, classically, is one of the three main divisions […]
2
2014
About Adam Hsu
Rarely has an instructor in a field like Chinese Martial Arts (CMA) had such a wide influence. Adam Hsu, within the first year of coming to the West, was singularly honored by being voted Instructor fo the Year simultaneously in the two major martial magazines, competitors at that, Black Belt and Inside Kung Fu. This […]
2
2014
Exclusive Interview: Adam Hsu
Interview with Shifu Adam Hsu on his book: Lone Sword Against a Cold Cold Sky Q: How do you see the place of reading in the study of Kung Fu? A: Reading is important, as in any other body of discipline. Initially you can go to a lot of different sources: study directly from […]
30
2013
Kung Fu Theater: Adam Hsu!
Here’s another entry from that great period on TV when Tat Mau Wong hosted Kung Fu Theater? Sifu would interview a different guest each week and then the teacher would go out on the floor and demonstrate his specialty. If you do remember, here it is. And if you don’t you are in for a […]
25
2013
Got Baji?
…there is the added attraction of hundreds of photos of his teacher—Grandmaster Liu Yun Chiao, considered one of the greatest of Baji Practitioners…
19
2012
A Rare Baji Announcement
At Plum, we love Baji Quan. But there is not that much available and, even some of what is produced is out of print. So, it is with a bit of excitement that we announce the return (in limited supply) of Su Yu Chang’s Liu Da Kai Baji DVD. We don’t have a tall stack […]
5
2012
Why Are the Forms on Your DVDs different …
At Plum we get this question all the time. On one level the answer is obvious as a spinning heel hook; different people teach differently. But that is not the whole story.