Displaying posts tagged with

“Chinese martial arts”

Jul
1
2022

The Excitement That is Meihuaquan

You’ve probably noticed that we have a hard time containing our enthusiasm when we add special items to our catalogue. As many know, we hand-pick each title that we represent, so by the time we offer it to you we already have a good assessment. But face it: some books and DVDs are even MORE […]

Oct
12
2021

May
20
2020

Practiced Intent

Internal martial practice is an important step to deepening and improving your kung fu. In this video, Sifu Ted Mancuso demonstrates and teaches a short exercise learned decades earlier from Sifu Wing Lam, for developing and incorporating intent into movement. Following the instruction is an interview with Ted, where he further elbaorates on these concepts. […]

Apr
24
2020

Kung Fu Training: You Always Hurt The One You Love

Over my years of teaching martial arts, I’ve had quite a good time explaining some of the more obscure switches of Kung Fu’s winding pathway: the splits, front and side; gyrating and rolling children, long past their bedtimes; and the fine art of setting things on small altar stacks, then crushing them. And that is […]

Apr
23
2020

Shaolin Sheltering: Weird Weapons

Among the first commandments for stifling COVID-19 is ‘do not touch your face’. This was extremely difficult for me. Spring is allergy season. It makes me cough and sneeze, and the last thing I want to be right now is a coughing sneezing Asian. What’s more, my nose is always itchy. To keep from scratching, […]

Apr
22
2020

Yes, We’re Shipping!

                        Not to mention that Linda has also repurposed our overstock of yellow sashes.

Nov
27
2018

The Sophistication of Simplicity

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to work with a group of beginning Tai Chi students. A few hours later, I met with another group of students in my advanced Tai Chi class. Now, relaxing at the dusty end of the day, I realize that what I had taught to these two classes was essentially […]

Sep
16
2017

Why Relaxation is Not Easy

The problem posed in the title is a constant concern in all CMA (Chinese Martial Arts) training. Of course, one immediate answer recognizes that relaxation and exercise are just plain difficult to coordinate. This is especially true when you add thinking to the mix. But the true approach, like all martial training, is both more […]

May
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 […]

Jun
16
2016

Fifty

Today I celebrate fifty years in the martial arts. It has been long enough now to seem natural that it became my fate or, at least, a “way of life,” as everyone calls it. People ask me what could possibly be the attraction. I have to tell the truth and admit that I always believed […]

Dec
29
2015

Adam Hsu Interview, Complete: Parts 1 – 8

All episodes now available! Watch and listen to our extensive (and intensive) interview that we conducted in Taipei with Adam Hsu. No stranger to controversy, Adam Hsu discusses usage, teachers and the problems of teaching, “spreading the word,” and what is necessary for practice in Parts 4 and 5. As always, expect to hear a […]

Nov
12
2015

Adam Hsu Interview, Part 5

This session concentrates on “the Kung Fu Instructor,” and spreading the word. Adam Hsu gives a little insight into his many decades struggle with practitioners and agencies to promote authentic Kung Fu. Want to watch ALL (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 2 on this […]

Nov
12
2015

Adam Hsu Interview, Part 4

In Part 4 of our interview, Adam Hsu makes some critical comments on what he sees in Kung Fu usage and applications. He speaks further of the goals and methods for Kung Fu training. Want to watch ALL (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 2 […]

Oct
18
2015

Adam Hsu Interview, Part 3

Continuing our discussion on weapon’s practice, the interview moves to the topics of Kung Fu forms, and where they fit into the curriculum. Want to watch ALL (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 2 on this site? Want to watch Part 4 on this site? […]

Oct
14
2015

Adam Hsu Interview, Part 2

Learning “true basics” is at the core of Kung Fu. In this session, Part 2 of our interview, Adam Hsu talks about communicating and the practice of Kung Fu Weaponry. Want to watch All (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 3 on this site? Want […]

Oct
13
2015

Adam Hsu Interview, Part 1

In Part 1, our interview starts with a question about Kung Fu’s true DNA. Discussion follows, on the Kung Fu experience, and what that means, and what makes Kung Fu absolutely unique as a martial art. Part 2 (on this site) Part 3 (on this site) Part 4 (on this site) Part 5 (on this […]

Oct
2
2015

Slow Learner

Next October, I will celebrate my 50th year in the martial arts. When I started studying, I had no idea or plan to make this a lifetime practice. I joined up for the same reason a lot of 16 year olds do: I was getting bullied at school and I wanted to learn some self-defense. […]

Aug
31
2014

Knights of Kung Fu

There is a word I would like to add to our martial vocabulary: WuXia. This translates pretty well into the English term, Knight-Errant (travelling knight). Wu of course is the word for “martial,” as in Wushu (martial arts). Xia (shee-ah) is a Chinese word composed of the characters for person and “in the middle,” somewhat […]

Jul
31
2014

From My Perch

I am sitting on the stairs of our studio, watching my husband, Ted Mancuso, teach his Bagua class. I have been sitting on these steps—not continuously, of course—for more than 20 years, and before that, in fold-out chairs; on warm or damp grass; on a hard wooden bench in a community hall; on an ugly […]

Jul
18
2013

Bagua, Xing Yi and Tong Bei added

We have just started to list this great new series of books, all with both Chinese and English texts; not to mention that each also comes with an accompanying VCD. The first two from this beautifully illustrated color series is a White Ape Tong Bei (TBQ is getting all sorts of attention right now) and […]