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
Mar
6
2016
6
2016
FISTS AND PETALS
No one understands because no one can understand. There is something. There is something about martial arts. Opening and closing. Like the wind rising then dying down again. Like the mind with a thought blowing past. Thoughts like the rustling of trees in the invisible wind. Mind pours through the trees and they shake, they […]
Jun
16
2014
16
2014
The Spear Mightier than the Pen?
On starting a new book, or why would anyone read this? I’ve been working on a new book for the last little while. It explores the spear in Kung Fu history and practice, definitely not a best seller candidate. Like some inherited task it comes down to not so much why you would write this […]
Nov
16
2013
16
2013
WeaponsSpace Part 1
There is a resurgence of interest in weapons training, at least in some martial arts schools. For anyone wanting to really understand the nature of the martial arts, I think this is nothing but good. Weapons have for many centuries been a part of martial training and, I think they should remain so. After all, […]
Dec
15
2012
15
2012
Tutorial: Spear Lesson #6 More on the Dragon
The last spear lesson left you halfway through a new move …
Dec
8
2012
8
2012
Tutorial: Spear Lesson #5, The Dragon’s Tail
We begin the next stage of spear training with the first compound shape, the Dragon’s Tail, a low deflection action that “bites back” immediately…
Jul
19
2012
19
2012
Spear Tutorial #3: Spiral and something new…
Why do we love the spear? You may get a hint as I demonstrate the Spiral movement and, for the first time…
Jul
3
2012
3
2012
Spear Tutorial #2: Three Circles
Continuing our tutorial series on how to practice the basics of the Kung Fu spear. This time we take on the techniques of circling and thrusting.
Jun
26
2012
26
2012
Why the Spear?
What does the spear teach? A list of things you would hardly guess…
May
7
2012
7
2012
Video Tutorial: Primary Spear Moves
Here’s another of our video tutorials about the King of the Weapons…Learn the “Ghost Shakes Body” exercise…spearvid1 (This might take a minute to load.)
Apr
27
2010
27
2010
Playing the Spear
A good spear man looks somewhat like a belly dancer, torso waving and rotating with every motion of the weapon…
