Displaying posts tagged with

“Karate”

Mar
28
2021

NEW! Authentic White Crane Kung Fu Book

In traditional Kung Fu, we often talk about the shape of an Art, although that shape cannot always be easily defined. It might include a short list of specific qualities, a couple of hard-won principles, certain approaches to its qigong, methods learned from its secret songs…It is elusive and typically closely-held. The experienced eye might […]

Dec
19
2018

Caylor Adkins

We recently learned of the passing of Caylor Adkins, who died in November at the age of 84. Mr Adkins was well-known for decades as a Karateka, but his work bridged both Japanese and the Chinese martial arts, most specifically in his insightful text on Iron Ball, Wooden Staff, Empty Hands. We mourn his passing, […]

Jul
7
2018

Principle-Driven Skill Development

A book like Principle-Driven Skill Development was inevitable. The western attraction to de-construction can be highly functional and, as demonstrated here, is particularly applicable to martial principles. In this book, teacher Russ Smith not only presents solid information but dissects years of experience to show the foundational principles of martial studies. He really thinks about […]

Aug
20
2017

Instructor’s Notebook: Revelations

Sometimes, words that once held deeper meanings are now expressed in shallow terms. It’s just “aaawesssomme.” For instance, when people use the word, “revelation” they are probably pumping up some slight thing, like office gossip, or promoting the discovery of the correct word in a crossword puzzle. But the core meaning of revelation has more […]

Feb
10
2017

Coloring in the Picture: Bubishi and Hakka styles

The Colorful Bubishi… We now carry both the Bubishi and the new Lion Books, General Tian’s Wubeizhi, with painted figures. This special copy is unlike all other copies presently known. In an amazing confluence of facts, we just happened to read the following footnote in Patrick McCarthy’s Book on Bubishi: … According to Mr. Yoza […]

Dec
28
2016

The Karate/Kung Fu Connection: Bubishi

Just arrived, TWO books: the premier translation of the martial-world famous Bubishi by Patrick McCarthy; AND more stock on the gorgeous hardcover edition of The General Tian Wubeizhi: The Bubishi in Chinese Martial Arts. The convergence of these two–the translation (Bubishi) and the commentary (General Tian’s Wubeizhi)–mirror the revelations contained in these two texts concerning […]

Dec
16
2016

The Bible of Karate

What is the Bubishi? It is many things, but it’s most common attribution is “the Bible of Karate.” Why should Chinese stylists take an interest in a book that is fundamental to an Okinawan art? Because a closer look at this remarkable text opens up a widely different estimation, one that is both more expansive, […]

Dec
2
2016

Bubishi Classic, Like You Have Never Seen Before (Updated)

Plum treasures our close affiliation with Lionbooks in Taiwan, both for their extensive library of authentic, hard-to-find martial arts literature, and the exceptional job they do of making these books beautiful. So, we are excited to announce their new english language study of the Bubishi, the foundational text of  Karate, including two Bubishi manuals, both […]

Nov
7
2015

Deep Practices

Learning Kung Fu can be a unique experience or, if you are not paying attention, it can be just another subject with the same tired educational template thrown over it. By a “unique experience” I do not mean the kind advertised on vacation posters. I mean an experience that shoots through your veins and hovers […]

Nov
4
2013

Don’t Block that Block

Sometimes people tell me there is no blocking in their martial styles and I feel a little sad for them. No doubt they feel that not blocking is a more evolved level of martial prowess.

Jan
24
2007

ESPY TV

ESPY TV has concentrated on the Eastern seaboard and covered many fine teachers and active schools there.

May
31
2006

Lessons by Mail

Yesterday while writing a letter to a friend, I got to thinking about what the martial arts means in our lives. You know, though it’s been said time and again that you really can’t learn from a book or video, they sure are fun to have and collect. I remember being 7 years old and […]

Oct
7
2001

KARATE: Fear No Man!!

Really, how many of us would admit such sources…