A recent letter from one of our favorite correspondents, Gary Shapiro, put the question: “We spoke about how practicing taiji with the martial aspects in mind enhances it’s health effects. So— how does that work? Can one practice “martially” solo? (and how?).” In our newest video, Sifu Ted answers this and offers some training tips […]
Apr
14
2021
14
2021
Nov
27
2018
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 […]
Mar
27
2018
27
2018
Tutorial: Tai Chi Tips, Stepping
If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes at Plum, you know how highly we prize basics as the foundation of good movement. ‘Stepping’ in Tai Chi, is one of those fundamentals that you might learn on the first day of class, and which you might be refining well into your advanced practice. We prepared a […]
Nov
29
2017
29
2017
The Teacher’s Teacher
Last Sunday, I got a double-treat: my teacher, Adam Hsu, is in town for a couple of weeks and I had the opportunity to not only see and spend time with him, but to make his Long Fist Kung Fu class available to my own students, most of whom had never met him. Of course, […]
Apr
14
2017
14
2017
Kung Fu Saber: The Tiger Leaps
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, Plum pre-announced our newest book/DVD package by Ted Mancuso on the Kung Fu Saber. Needless to say, it took us just a bit longer to produce these than we expected, but we are thrilled to say, THE SABER IS HERE! This is the third in […]
Jun
16
2016
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 […]
Nov
7
2015
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 […]
Jun
3
2015
3
2015
Training and Training: Practice with Adam Hsu
There’s training and then there’s training. In Kung Fu there is a kind of training that so challenges the way of thinking AND the body that people successfully ignore it for years and even decades. So begins Shifu Mancuso’s newest article, printed on our sister site, adamhsukungfu.com. Click the picture to continue reading. We are […]
Jul
31
2014
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 […]
Jan
6
2013
6
2013
Terrible Terrain
“Under everything is the land” may sound like the slogan of a professional real estate organization but it is also the truth of martial practice. Thousands 0f years ago it was pointed out by one of the first major military writers, Sun Zi: “The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally…”
Jul
29
2012
29
2012
The DVD That Completes the Book
As we promised, though a little late, we have finally completed our DVD on the Bandit Knife form. This is the much-requested companion to our book, “The Bandit Knife: Kung Fu’s Rebellious Weapon.” This new DVD fills in where the book left off, covering demonstrations of basic strikes, and a step-by-step breakdown of the complete […]
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
20
2012
20
2012
Apr
8
2012
8
2012
QA: Mud Stepping in Chen Tai Chi and in Bagua Zhang
Is the mud stepping in Liang Shan the same as it would be in Cheng style Bagua? There is the young female Bagua master on youtube who gives some brief introductory lessons on mud stepping, as I believe it is called. Dear RP, The Cheng style mud stepping relies a bit more on the sliding/landing […]
Dec
31
2011
31
2011
Training: Arms like Banners
This may sound like I am a candidate for the Wrong Way Corrigan Award but I sort of like that about Kung Fu practice. It reinforces that very true statement that the direct route is always nice, if you can get it. But there is no guarantee.
Dec
16
2011
16
2011
My Bagua Book #2: Hitting My Friends
My manuscript is nearing its finish and now is the time to fill the remainder of the designated vacant white squares with photographs.
Aug
17
2011
17
2011
The Bandit in the House: Plum’s Newest Publication
In this 210 page book, illustrated with over 100 photos, Ted teaches the Shaolin Bandit Knife. This weapon that is rarely demonstrated, much fun to play, and—with such movements as “body spin under knife”—also makes a traditional and beautiful performance set. Plus, for the first time, an extensive usage section tests the Knife against its worthy opponent, the Spear.
Aug
2
2011
2
2011
The Corner Man
We all need a corner man now and then…
May
16
2011
16
2011
Progressive Defense: #2 Parry Power
The parry is elegant. As people progress from hard blocking to this gliding, subtle action they feel as though they had jumped the gate.
Jul
29
2010
29
2010
At last, Blossoms…
We are proud and happy to announce …
