Continuing our Summer of Stars, we have two new offerings today. If your jaw drops on this first one you are not alone: Plum’s was on the floor when this book came to us: Jimmy Lee’s classic on Iron and Poison Hand Training, “Modern Kung-Fu Karate.” We have been in business for almost 30 years, […]
Aug
28
2022
28
2022
Mar
5
2022
5
2022
Spinning Bagua
When we think of Kung Fu and its long history, we tend to think of its venerable age, lineage, and established methods. But everything in Kung Fu was new once — VERY NEW — and innovative. Responding to environment, population and, most influentially, technology, these impulses sparked revolutionary changes, as well as temporary (and sometimes, […]
May
22
2019
22
2019
Fun Stuff: Bruce’s Older Kung Fu brother
Secrets of Kung Fu—a popular publication, especially during the Seventies—hosted a huge variety of topics. For this issue, we have a drumming platform, a wooden man, a banner dance, an ancient arms dealer, Bruce Lee’s senior classmate, Ancient Chinese rocketry, a 20 year old exponent of Chou style, Kneeling to a Kung Fu teacher, and […]
Apr
2
2019
2
2019
Where is Bruce?
Is he still with us? Should we light an incense stick to his memory? Why not? Bruce changed the world. He revised the image of the downtrodden who re-emerges and makes his way to victory. He brought a pair of cultures together—internally and externally—at just the perfect moment in history. And, some will say, he […]
Jan
2
2019
2
2019
The Passing of Wong Jackman
We are sad to announce the passing of Northern Shaolin Sifu Wong Jack Man. Known long before his famous fight with Bruce Lee, Wong Sifu had become a major proponent of Bak Sil Lum, Iron Body, and Golden Bell skills. With the death last year of Kwong Wing Lam, Gu Ru Zhang’s lineage has lost […]
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 […]
Sep
9
2018
9
2018
Speed: Unpunch & Unkick
The following simple techniques will drastically improve your martial speed. My confidence in this teaching tip stems from the fact I have used it so many times and it always delivers. It is based on a key concept in what people call “reptile response,” or conditioned reflex; in other words, actions that are hard-wired to […]
May
29
2018
29
2018
Jeet Kune Do & Wing Chun: Inexpensive Intro to Bruce Lee’s art
We’ve just added to our hurt books division one of the best explanations of Jeet Kune Do, its working and goals, that we’ve ever seen–Basics of Jeet Kune Do. This is one of the special series on Basics (we also have one by Sifu Paul Eng of Praying Mantis style) relying more on detailed explanations […]
Feb
13
2018
13
2018
Randy’s Back and Plum Has Got Him
For many years, Plum has represented the entire line of Randy Williams DVDs. But over the last year, some titles became scarce or went out of print. Good news! We are once again stocked on the ever-effervescent Sifu Williams and his valuable commentary and instruction on Wing Chun. We have glowed over the years about […]
Nov
20
2017
20
2017
Evolution of Wing Chun Kicking Techniques
Happy to announce the arrival of an important new text in the Wing Chun canon: The Evolution of Wing Chun Kung Fu Kicking Techniques. Osmond Lam’s beautiful book not only shows us some of the principles behind Wing Chun’s special and only sporadically known kicking methods, but adds a good portion of background technique on […]
Nov
29
2016
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 […]
Jun
28
2014
28
2014
Devilishly Clever Training Devices
Tyler Rea, martial artist and graphic designer, has come out with a new book focusing on the building and usage of inexpensive, DIY training equipment. This newest effort presents many types of equipment, much of which you can build. Two of Rea’s teachers were Sifu Edmund Kwai and his brother-in-law Sifu Lee Bing Choi; a […]
Mar
18
2014
18
2014
New book! Wing Chun Wooden Dummy
Each book on the Wooden Dummy seems to contain a little more information than the last. Here is a new entry by Sifu Sam Chan, a practitioner of both Wing Chun and Jow Gar. (Have you noticed how must cross-training there is in the Southern style Kung Fu? Similarity of moves and theories?) It has […]
Jan
2
2014
2
2014
Kung Fu Theater: The Legacy of Jeet Kune Do
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 […]
Aug
27
2013
27
2013
Secrets
In the early days, some of the early students of the Jun Fan club started by Bruce Lee were required to sign non-disclosure statements before they were allowed to study…
May
22
2013
22
2013
Retreat
There are times when the only way to advance is to back up…
Dec
21
2012
21
2012
Jan
17
2012
17
2012
The Speed of Thought
The point is not that they should try to hurry up their moves, but that they should abandon speed as something they can “control” or “will” into happening.
Nov
27
2011
27
2011
Al Novak Passes
Much respected, many practitioners treated Novak as a kind of Kung Fu gandfather.
Oct
25
2011
25
2011
Leo Fong’s Work
Student of Bruce Lee, enthusiastic martial artist, film maker, script writer, teacher, martial writer Leo Fong has worn many caps. He was also one of the first “indie” martial book publishers
