Here is a new piece by Adam Hsu. This article contrasts two superstars of Chinese martial arts: TaiJi Quan Chuan and Baji Quan, each of them a brilliant martial art, each based on some profound principles, each a model for understanding Chinese Wushu. Never disappointing, he examines these two seemingly opposed arts and uncovers similarities […]
Sep
2
2019
2
2019
Mar
5
2018
5
2018
What’s Old is New: 3 Traditional DVDs
Despite the fact that Plum has built a catalogue containing almost 4000 books, dvds and vcds (!) we are actually quite picky about our products. We review a lot of material, choosing only what we believe will add to the martial conversation. So imagine how pleased we are when we are able to offer three […]
Feb
24
2017
24
2017
May
8
2016
8
2016
Li Tianji’s Xing Yi Legacy; Andrea Falk’s Dictionary
Plum is adding another text by Andrea Falk, a translation of significance to Xing Yi practitioners: Li TianJi’s The Skills of XingYiQuan; 311 pages, with hundreds of illustrations. This is a thorough text on the style handed down to Li Tianji from his father, Li Yulin. It’s very well laid out with sections covering basic […]
Apr
23
2016
23
2016
Tong Bei, Loose and Powerful
Here is a pretty advanced Kung Fu puzzle: along with Bagua Zhang, Xing Yi Quan and Taijiquan, what do all of the following styles have in common: Liu He Ba Fa (Six Harmonies, Eight Methods,) Mi Zong (Lost Track,) BaFa Quan (Eight Methods,) Liu He Quan (Six Harmonies Boxing) and Tong Bei Quan (Through the […]
Oct
31
2014
31
2014
Face-to-face translations
What are “en face” editions?
Dec
8
2013
8
2013
Kung Fu in the Next Century
The problem with Shaolin is not that it will disappear but that the name will become so common as to signify nothing.
Jun
16
2013
16
2013
A Couple of Old Friends (that is, Books) Return
Is it silly to get worked up over the return of books? If so, then color me silly, because I actually get excited when certain titles come back to Plum, in this case, two that have been difficult to restock for awhile: Chi Family TongBei and Chuo Jiao. In both cases, we were only able […]
May
17
2013
17
2013
Staying Fit with Wang Pei Sheng
many martial teachers would suggest specialized, one might even say custom-fitted exercises for people who were not their student necessarily…
May
2
2012
2
2012
Rare Chinese Texts
Produced in the first half of the 20th century, we have two more offering from the Taiwanese publishing and collector’s house: LionBooks. You might call these old texts Long Arm and Longh Leg. We have an early edition of the famous Tan Tui set which we have never offered (and very old drawings) and one […]
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
10
2011
10
2011
Sep
13
2011
13
2011
Tong Bei but Shaolin Style
You can’t help, when you are watching the Shaolin version of Tong Bei, thinking that this might be what Tong Bei was like when it was just developed…
Jul
28
2011
28
2011
Tong Bei is BACK
This next text is worth a look if you are interested in a style everyone will see a lot more of in the near future.
Dec
28
2010
28
2010
Wild Ape
The Tiger Year is almost at its tail. And, as predicted it has been WILD. So we thought we would, in these last days, bring out a wild performance of the famous White Ape Tong Bei style. So far the main representative we’ve had has been an estimable but definitely senior master. Now we have […]
Sep
3
2010
3
2010
Jan
26
2010
26
2010
Training Like Long Arm
“Training the limbs is easy. Training the body is difficult.” Old Kung Fu saying. It’s too bad. Kung Fu has a few big problems coming from centuries of “hiding” its own information. One of these difficulties lies in the relation of training the body and the four limbs.
Nov
6
2009
6
2009
Product: Five Element Tong Bi Quan book
We add this nicely done book on Five Element TongBi Quan…
Jun
25
2008
25
2008
PIGUA ZHANG
PiGua can be variously translated as Split-Deflect or Ax-Hitch Boxing. In the old days this was a form of Kung Fu used when warriors wore armor. The very famous Ming general Ch’i Chi-Kuang (Qi Jiguang) in his book New Essays on Martial Arts the act of fighting while armor-clad.
