The Chinese doctor of old was trained on a very different mode than we use in current medicine…
Jun
19
2013
19
2013
Jan
14
2013
14
2013
The Other Side of the Martial Story
There is another side of martial practice, a very good and important side, which might be called the “Yin” portion.
Jan
13
2013
13
2013
Dec
25
2012
25
2012
Martial Arts: How Good Can You Get?
Of course children rarely wonder. When you are nine just about anything is possible…
Sep
2
2012
2
2012
Sun LuTang’s Xing Yi Quan Xue: Alive and Well
I don’t think that we will ever get tired of announcing the returns of important works to martial artists, like today’s Xing Yi Xuan Xue: The Study of Form-Mind Boxing, which is now in stock at Plum. When we first started Plum, a lot of our quest to ‘bring to light’ these works involved rummaging through […]
Aug
18
2012
18
2012
Sun LuTang Returns to Plum
Plum’s first mission statement included the words, “…to preserve and promote Traditional Chinese Martial Arts.” That was almost 20 years ago…
Dec
11
2011
11
2011
You Could Look It Up!
One of our favorite martial references has returned to Plum: a bilingual Wushu Dictionary containing hundreds of entries in Chinese (both pinyin and simplified characters) as well as English. But this dictionary offers even more: it is profusely illustrated, with pictures of the techniques, for example, that it is referencing. It is well-organized into 12 […]
Dec
5
2011
5
2011
50 Ways to do Things Wrong, One Right Way
There’s an old saying, “Learn from your mistakes.” And of course I see the sense of this. But some students have the slightly mistifying habit of wanting to back track for everything.
Nov
11
2011
11
2011
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.
Apr
4
2011
4
2011
The Return of Kang
Several years ago, we took tremendous pride in being the first (and only) representatives to offer …
Mar
21
2011
21
2011
MA Library on the Cheap
We’ve just added five new (old) titles…50% off and that’s not for used but for hurt, a different animal…
Feb
21
2011
21
2011
“Tai Chi” is a Chinese Way of Thinking
Through natural processes this way of thinking became so profound and penetrating that it spread throughout the Chinese culture, influencing and appearing throughout martial culture…
Feb
16
2011
16
2011
Feb
7
2011
7
2011
Jan
29
2011
29
2011
Practice: A Suggestion
Practice. How do you do it? Year in and year out. It’s a task and a pleasure and a promise that, though broken now and then, still endures the years and the tears. Even though friends and lovers come and go there is that stubborn loyalty to something without a name (isn’t the greatest loyalty […]
Jan
6
2011
6
2011
Discovery: Make Your Tai Chi
Martial artists who don’t do Tai Chi often say that, “Hey, I can do my form slow, too.” Martial artists who only do Tai Chi are generally unaware that the Tai Chi practice method is not exclusive to Tai Chi.
Aug
29
2010
29
2010
Aug
24
2010
24
2010
Complete Jianshu: The Review
My first impression upon cracking open “The Complete Jianshu” was that this was professionally done…
Jul
28
2010
28
2010
Clicking
When it happens to you, you know it. That electric dusk-sensitive porch light clicks on…