After 5000 years, an ocean of rumor and a mountain range of myth still proscribe the land of Kung Fu. And the stories that most attach themselves are often related to the origins of weapons. Not every weapon has a backstory and a legend. But the folk stories that accompany weapons—believable or not—range from the […]
Dec
14
2018
14
2018
Aug
29
2017
29
2017
3 Southern Styles
Southern Kung Fu styles are under-represented in martial literature, as almost any Southern practitioner can tell you. So we make a special effort at Plum to seek out the best material we can offer. Which is why an announcement of two new products and a long-waited restock is a bit of a celebration: A […]
Jun
14
2017
14
2017
Daniel Mroz on Tao Lu: Formal Movements from the Martial Arts
Here is something wonderful. Daniel Mroz, an associate professor in the Theater Department of the University of Ottawa and also a longtime friend, correspondent and Plum customer presented a lecture at last year’s Martial Arts Studies Conference in Wales. The subject of his engaging talk is Tao Lu, the martial art routine we call set […]
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 […]
Nov
24
2015
24
2015
Choy Lay Fut Returns
Just a short, happy announcement that we have been able to restock a few of these long-out-of-stock Choy Lay Fut (Tsai Lee Fo) DVDs. We only were able to find a few, but for the time being, we have a nice sample to offer again. (click image to go to page)
Mar
27
2015
27
2015
How to Work the Dummy
It’s solid teak, something that your hand will not let you forget if it happens to meet the wooden body straight on. This reminds us that the first requirement in working with a dummy is that we not injure ourselves so badly that we have no choice but to stop working with the dummy. Also, […]
Sep
23
2014
23
2014
When Speed and Power Tangle…
Mastering the right mix of speed and power is the type of fine adjustment a martial artist will make the length of his or her career…
Apr
1
2012
1
2012
The Southern Art of Ten•Wood•Rice
Southern Kung Fu styles turn, dodge and side step quickly with “rat steps.” At the same time hands flop out and haul in forming themselves into a menagerie of claws, paws, wings and edges.
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
Oct
3
2010
3
2010
Sifu Goldberg
I was watching Jackie Chan movies a decade or so earlier than most people had heard the name…
Jan
15
2010
15
2010
Jan
9
2010
9
2010
Tangs and Secret Societies -1
What exactly is a Tang? To some people it calls up images of a hatchet man hiding in a doorway…
Jun
25
2009
25
2009
Southern style Kung Fu
THINGS SOUTHERN And it is, of course, presumptuous to place all forms of Southern Kung Fu in the same box as though they were just different colored jelly beans. There are reasons, though, for this general categorization.
