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
7
2016
7
2016
Spring and Autumn of Martial Arts: 206 b.c.e.
from the SPRING AND AUTUMN of WUSHU excerpted from Professor Kang Ge-Wu’s book of the same name Time: 206 B.C.E. Liu Bang destroyed the Chin Dynasty and went to HongMen to meet with Xing Yu. At the banquet Xing Zhuang said, “We have no entertainers in the army. May I perform a sword dance?” And […]
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 […]
Mar
16
2014
16
2014
Kung Fu Theater: Adam Hsu Shows Weapons
Here’s another memorable 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 […]
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, […]
Sep
24
2013
24
2013
Three Swords Four Blades
We are posting, for the first time, a trio of sword and knife forms including the Miao Dao (forerunner of the samurai sword), double straight sword with tassels (a difficult weapon to master, X2) and a respectable version of Drunken straight sword (stock went so fast on this one you might have to use our […]
Jan
19
2012
19
2012
An Old and a New Xing Yi Book
This book is in the Li Cun Yi lineage and it combines (both in traditional Chinese) an old Xing Yi form text along with a newly photographed sword and 13 power fist set. Nice photos and, of course, neat old drawings of the 36 movement Xing Yi sword.
Jun
18
2011
18
2011
The Art of the Chinese Saber
This is EXACTLY the type of book we love to be able to offer you at Plum. Jack Chen has translated an ancient classic and presented it with illustrations and text in the original Chinese characters, the pinyin translation, and English.
Apr
24
2010
24
2010
Product: WuDang Sword
We’re pleased to see the increased interest in fencing with the Chinese sword.
Mar
12
2010
12
2010
Product: Sword Classic from Lion
He is a traditional Chinese character text of a classic on the sword.
Jul
20
2009
20
2009
Vocabulary: Chun Yang
Thus Lu’s flying weapon has been considered an inspiration for martial artists for centuries,
