Product Description
This complete and comprehensive introduction to kung fu--and other aspects of ancient Shaolin wisdom--will prove invaluable to everyone interested in the martial arts, chi kung, or meditation. It shows how kung fu, as well as other Shaolin practices, can bring you health, vitality, mental focus, and spiritual joy. It includes a history of the various forms of kung fu, an in-depth study of kung fu patterns and sets, and an introduction to kung fu weaponry, along with many stories of Shaolin wisdom and healing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Martial arts for the non-violent
Very comprehensive and well-written account of the Shaolin way of life. Might be a little esoteric but it is to be expected of a book intended for westerners who are eager to connect mind and body through a rigorous training and spiritual nurturing. Carefully illustrated but would be equally eloquent without the many drawings illustrating the various exercises.

Full bodied
This book is a solid introduction in to they hows and whys of kung fu. However, reading the book and viewing the illustrations reminds you that Kung Fu is so much more... It makes you realise the need for a skilled and wise instructor. This is in itself an invaluable lesson.

Good overall perspective of Kung Fu
I began practicing Eagle Claw Kung Fu only a couple of months ago.I bought this book during my first month.I found it very useful as a means to introduce myself into the art, and to learn about related practices such as Chi Kung and Tai Chi.Tne book also talks about Zen and the Spiritual aspects of Kung Fu.

If you are interested in learning how to practice Kung Fu, definitely this is not your book.(Perhaps it is impossible to learn a martial art from a book.)This book, however, provides you with good tips to focus your training,and introduces you to the art, its philosophy, and other related and also very important practices.

I strogly reccomend this book, as well as Kiew Kit's other books on Chi Kung.The author writes very clearly and his books are entertaining.He appears to master Kung Fu holistically and to be well developed in the external and internal aspects of it.

Great Beginners Book
As a beginner with my son, this book on Shaolin Kung Fu was very informative and the diagrams were very well done.The book starts with a description of what is kung fu to the many forms and techniques of the art.I would highly recommend the book to any parent trying to introduce their child to the method of self-defense.

Great Book
This book is very good.It completely explains the history and philosophy of Shaolin Kung Fu.It hits the five main aspects of why a person would practice Kung Fu and follows those five main points through out the book.After reading the book, you can understand that martial arts is not just self defence, it's also a good practice to bring the mind, body, and spirit together. ... Read more

Product Description

Po works hard to live up to his title as the Dragon Warrior. But it seems the harder he trains, the more trouble he causes. Can't Po do anything right?

Customer Reviews (3)

My son loves these
The number series is great for kids' progression in learning to read.My son loves the story lines.

kung fu
my son has read more with these books than any other.They continue to grab his interest and challenge his reading skills without the frustration..

Great fun for a young reader
We are always looking for ways to get our kids to read more.Really this entire series of books is perfect.First, they know the characters from the movie, so they are interested, second the books is just the right length, not too short, nor too long to easly bore a young reader.The words are easily read, and the stories easily understood for kids, 4-6 I would think.Obviously there are exceptions, but for K and 1st graders, this is a hit.Usually you can ge them with the 4 for 3 promo. ... Read more

Product Description
The complete guide to the incredibly popular 1970's TV series Kung Fu features facts about the series previously unavailable to fans and provides in-depth background information, photographs, and episode-by-episode summaries. Carradine tells his thoughts on the Kung Fu phenomenon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

CAINE REVISITED


If you're a fan, it's a must...if you're just curious, it's quite interesting and entertaining. This book gives you all the background on the creation of the series, it's making, the ending and what came after. If you are currently watching the series on DVD, it's fun to read the story of each episode before viewing. The only thing that's missing here are more anecdotes from the shooting of the series, such as the ones David Carradine talks about on the DVD series. Certainly worth the price!

A must have for all Kung Fu fans!
If, like me, you are a fan of the Kung Fu TV series, you will want this book.It is a sort of guide to the series.Each episode is outlined in good detail, and reveals behind the scenes ideas and intentions of the writer(s).It also says when each episode aired, who the guest stars where, like Don Johnson at 15! which happens to be one of my favorite episodes, in which he plays a young Indian boy.Anyone with the TV series in their library, should also have this book along side them.

Beautiful Book
A must-have for fans of the show, and fans of Carridine.Worth a look for martial arts fans, and anyone interested in TV or Asian cinema.The shimmering finish on the beautiful cover photo captures the spirit of the show; I'm glad they used that instead of one of the lurid pieces of fighting art that graced Kung Fu lunch boxes.Most of the book is a detailed episode guide, which is fine. There are lots of photos, both from the show, and from actors face shots, etc. One only wishes the book were longer, though it's not short by any means.

Kung Fu, Caine, and David Carradine
This is a fantastic book if you liked the TV series in the 70's, Kung Fu.Or if you would like to learn about it and then watch the show.The author interviewed Carradine and others, has a summary and comments about each episode.Sometimes the masters are quoted, as flashbacks into Caine's life at the temple--these teachings guide him throughout the series.Many comments add to the understanding of the episode and a section on Kung Fu, the Next Generation, and Kung Fu, the Legend Continues.There are many b/w photos to enjoy.

Fans of the series must have this book
The book gives a basic overview of the series without getting bogged downed with actor biographies, it sticks right to the series.Included in the bookis an overview of every episode of all three seasons including a plot summary and listing of the main actors.It also explores the relationships of the characters to one another especially Caine and his teachers Master Kan and Master Po.A fantastic book that I used extensively as I rewatched the series (all three of the seasons are now available on DVD).An excellent companion to a fantastic show. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A highly relevant guide for a beginner in wu shu
I began training wu shu half a year ago so I am definitely a beginner in the area. My perspective may therefore be limited - on kung fu as well as any literature on the topic- but I would anyhow like to post some thoughts I have over this book.

The reason I bought it was to learn more about the origin, philosophy and any religious aspects of kung fu. And a believe I truly got what I was looking for! It was easily read and logically structured. It did not fear to go into some depth in areas such as Taoism and other philosophcal influences on kung fu. And it did - on top of that- give what I believe to be a good overview of the historical development and current day many different 'dialects' of kung fu.

I am happy I bought and would definitely do it again!

A Classic in the Field
Chow and Spangler's "Kung Fu: History, Philosophy, and Technique" broke new ground when it was first published, sharing many details about kung fu which were not available elsewhere. The foundational chapters of the book are the ones on Daoism, "external" styles, chin na (which features techniques), dynamics, kung fu and entertainment (movies), and the westernization of kung fu.

The section on Daoism is very good. The rest of the chapters are more overview-ish, but still contain good material. The dynamics chapter has a bunch of chi kung training drills which are illustrated and will evoke interest, if not hilarity. Chow's work on the television show "Kung Fu" shows in places, and even though the show was campy, Chow seems to be in tune with Shaolin philosophy - especially given his comments about training in the chin na chapter.

I highly recommend this book to those who don't know anything about Chinese martial arts, and wish to increase their exposure.

Very good info on Kung Fu
This book was originally published in 1977 as a way to introduce Westerners to the complex history and traditions of Kung Fu.This book covers the history of the Chinese martial arts quite well, given the space they had to work with.The history goes all the way back to the bronze age, and is followed throught the centuries.Bodhidharma, the legendary figure who brought the movements of Kung Fu and the philosophy of Chan (Zen) to the Shaolin temple is given an entire chapter.The Taoist influence over the Chinese arts is mentioned, specifically when talking about the internal styles of T'ai Chi, Pa Kua, and H'sing Yi.The emphasis is on T'ai Chi.Several external styles of Kung Fu are featured as well: Northern Shaolin, Dragon, Wing Chun, White Crane, Praying Mantis, Monkey, Hung Gar, and Choy Lee Fut.Each style is given a one or two page description that includes history, techniques, fight strategy, and overall philosophy.There is also a chapter on Chin Na, but those familiar with other Chin Na works will find that the techniques covered here, while effective for self-defense, don't even come close to showing the complexities of the "seizing and controlling" art.There is also a chapter on how to perform amazing feats, with much of the text taken from an ancient Chinese book.I believe that this chapter has some value, though I can't verify the various Kungs that emphasise Chi power.The last bits of the book are on Kung Fu films, the Westernization of Kung Fu, and some neat little proverbs.Overall, this book is very good for introducing people to the Chinese martial arts, whith a very broad range of subjects covered.There are some weaknesses, though, notably that the text seems a little dated, and the photos are in awful condition.Still, the self-defense moves are fairly practical, and the insight into the history of Kung Fu and the different styles makes this book worth buying.

limited overview of chinese boxing culture
This is a good book for someone just starting to explore martial arts. Chow gives historical information about the origins of chinese martial arts (legends included), brief overviews of the more mainstream internal and external chinese boxing styles, some chin na techniquue, chinese philosoophy and training methods and disciplines. Has a cool section on some obscure styles of martial chi kung. Also talks about the spread of martial arts into western pop culture. This book helped me get started in kung fu and provides a lot of information about chinese boxing. I only give it 3 stars because the information held within the book is limited and common place upon further study of chinese boxing.

EXCELLENT BOOK...
This is a GREAT book. I originally picked up a copy half price in the bargain bin at a used bookstore. I would have purchased it sooner but didn't know if it was good or not. This is one of the greatest Kung Fu books I have ever found. It shows technique of defense/offense, talks about different arts origins (Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Mantis, Shaolin, Tai Chi, etc), media, and shows the old ways people trained years ago (digging a hole in the ground, punching sand, amongst others). I'd rate this higher if I could. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1909, because of their ties with the failed Boxer Rebellion and the rise of modern weaponry, Chinese martial arts were in serious danger of extinction. The Jingwu Association was formed to keep these ancient arts alive. Jingwu: The School That Transformed Kung Fu tells the story of this seminal institution. Extensively researched, the book shows Jingwu as the first public martial arts training school and the first to teach kung fu as recreation, not simply as a form of combat. It was also the first to incorporate women’s programs with men’s, and the first to use popular media to promote Chinese martial arts as both sport and entertainment. Through these efforts, the Jingwu Association helped guarantee Chinese martial arts would survive the transition from traditional to modern China.

This lively history covers the school’s tumultuous beginnings; the four historical phases of Chinese martial arts that inform it; profiles of important practitioners like Huo Yuanjia; those elements, such as the integration of women, that have made Jingwu distinctive and enduring; individual branches and practices within the larger system; and more. Rare historical documents and vintage photographs take the reader directly into one of the most fascinating and important stories in martial arts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

guter Stoff

Dieses Buch durchzulesen hat nicht lange gedauert. Es ist gut geschrieben und gut recherchiert. Das Autorenteam Guo/Kennedy konnten mich mit ihrer Arbeit vollkommen überzeugen. Einiges an Geschichtswissen konnte ich auffrischen, wobei auch einige falsche Details von den Autoren bei mir korrigert wurden.
Aufmachung und Preis sind ebenfalls in Ordnung. Daher die volle Punktzahl.

interesting find!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this perspective of Chinese Martial Arts.

The author under estimates the Shaolin and Wudang influences abroad, yet he brings us a clearer picture of the martial traditions that inspired an open door policy for martial arts.

Jingwu
Great historical background information to the international recongized Chinese athletic association
which includes martial arts.

Letting Jingwu speak for itself
I just received this book yesterday from Amazon, and I really enjoyed reading it, and would definitely recommend to all readers who are interested in finding out more about the cultural context of Chinese martial arts during the Republican period through the lens of the Jing wu organization, and for those who saw the Jet Li movie, "Fearless" this provides more information about the man Huo Yuan Jia and his back ground and times.

It is mostly based on the 10th Anniversary Issue published in 1919 by Jing Wu itself, with some additional commentary and analysis by the authors. Besides martial arts the book provides information on some of the other activities promoted by the Jing Wu organization, such as literary activities, gymnastics, track and field, western sports and photography, in an effort to create well rounded individuals. There is a wealth of pictures of the men's, women's and children's programmes. There is also a short piece on Chen Shichao, head of the Women's Jingwu programme. (Whom I have to admit I now have a bit of a crush on after reading about her in the book). Indeed this philosophy has carried over into modern day Chinese society where parents are very keen to have their kids learn violin and piano, sports and swimming as well as take additional tutorials in many extra-cirricular activities outside of school.

The stated purpose of the book is to highlight the role of how Jing Wu helped to adapt the role of martial arts and keep it relevant in a rapidly modernizing society. Indeed the full title of the book is "Jingwu - The School that transformed Kung Fu" and in that way provides food for thought for the cultural relevance of martial arts in our times, especially now that the PRC is heavily pushing the sports version of Wushu. In many ways it can be read in conjunction with books such as "Marrow of the Nation: A History of Sport and Physical Culture in Republican China by Andrew D. Morris" and "Yoga Body" by Mark Singleton which discusses the role of modernization of yoga in India in response to western influences, as another aspect of how traditional cultures grappled with the influence of the West and modernization.

If I had to make some criticisms of the book, I would argue that it is not academic enough. For instance in the first chapter, the history of the Republican period is simplified into warlords, Japanese and Central government, glossing over many of the nuances and constraints both the Central government and the warlords were working under. Indeed some of the warlords had a strong role in promoting the martial arts as a means of training their armies and as a personal interest. The New Cultural Movement which is of immense importance in the modernization of China is also glossed over and reads somewhat like a wikipedia entry. However, the authors aims are to introduce the background in an easily digestible way for a lay reader, which I believe to have succeeded.

Also sometimes certain assertions are made rather matter of fact. For instance Jing Wu is shown to be the first martial arts school where you could openly sign up. However the authors mention, " in fairness there were other martial arts groups in China who were doing the same kind of things that Jingwu was doing. But these other groups, for a variety of reasons, were all short lived and not particularly influential." I would have liked more analysis as to why Jing Wu succeeded where others failed.

Similarly, for the role of women, "...with some rare exceptions, martial arts were for men only. The Jingwu attempted to reverse this reality and place women's programmes on an equal footing with men's." The fact that there were women's programmes did not necessarily mean that the social mores would have permitted them to flourish (see Saudi Arabia in our own time). Some additional analysis on the changing role of women and influential ideas would also have been helpful in this section.

Finally there are certain areas where I feel the authors give up too easily, for instance p.29, "It is hard to say precisely how much twenty thousand yuan in 1915 would equal in modern US dollars". Many history books on Republican China have tentative conversion rates.

p.31 "It is impossible to divine what exactly the Jing Wu founders or members thought of foreigners". An analysis of popular writings (besides Jing Wu or private letters) may shed some light on this or possible interviews of members who are still alive in China, who may be in their 80s and 90s. There many Jing Wu Hong Kong publications on Jing Wu history that I believe may have shed some light on this topic. Also the Penang chapter of Jing Wu has preserved many historical documents in their archives as Huo Yuan Jia's son eventually settled there.

p. 41 "It is hard, if not impossible to assess the state of physical health of the Chinese people during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries" The book, "The China Study" by Thomas Campbell II provides details of many of the more backward provinces of China, which may provide a proxy for health conditions in the early twentieth century.

But in all fairness, Brian Kennedy himself mentioned that this book was based on a copy of the 10th Anniversary Book published by Jing Wu and he is in some ways content to let Jing Wu speak for himself. He also mentioned that many of the other branches of Jing Wu in America and South East Asia deserve a book by themselves. So he is to be commended for making this available for the English speaking public and I would definitely recommend this book to all.

Belongs on every martial artist's shelf
Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Guo have written an excellent book.It is straight forward, well researched, well illustrated and delightfully written!They have plumbed through the murky depths of legend, myth and plain old baloney to get to the heart of a tremendously important social movement. Yes, their research into the history of the Jingwu association shows how the association was and is more than just martial arts.They fit the Jingwu into Chinese history and culture of the early 20th century, thus revealing so much more than just a martial arts story.
Beside the main text I strongly recommend reading the 1st appendix which concerns historical research into Chinese martial arts.This is an essay that is long past due both for historians and martial artists.This book is an example of how martial arts history should be written.I strongly recommend the book not only for martial artists, but for libraries as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Developed by Wang Lang over 300 years ago, Praying Mantis Kung Fu is the only martial art based on the fighting skills of an insect. This fascinating system utilizes swift, methodical movements for defense and offense, and is well respected as an art that helps practitioners develop great strength and perseverance.

The Complete Guide to Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu provides an in-depth look at the history and practice of this remarkable martial art. Author Stuart Alve Olson, a student of T. T. Liang, draws on the lineages of Masters Feng Huan-I and Wang Han-Fon, but includes detailed description of all major schools, styles, and lineages. The first half of the book focuses on tactics and theory; the second half contains step-by-step descriptions of the fundamental Praying Mantis stances, exercises, footwork, and kicks, clearly illustrated by more than 200 photographs. What sets this book apart from other works on Praying Mantis is its philosophical depth; author Olson gives a clear account of the development of the art and the Taoist principles from which it arose. This book provides the basis for not only mastering the martial art of Praying Mantis Kung Fu but also mastering oneself—the true goal of all martial arts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This book is snoozarama.
Booooring.This book only demonstrates how to stand/posture.They don't teach you any strikes.Granted, you can only learn from a qualified instructor, but c'mon -- the only reason most people would buy a book like this is so they can see the martial art in action.Who wants to read a book with 30+-year-old black and white photos of some guy in a squatting fighting posture?

Good for beginners
This book is very good for beginners to this style.It has a clear, concise and above all -accurate- history that focuses more on fact than mythology; the principles of the style are all laid out, the warm-ups and their names so you can find the complete series elsewhere, the stances and why you should do them, the footwork methods and how they tail into the stances, as well as the kicking techniques.The book included the hand positions, but lacked the striking techniques, so I couldn't consider this a -complete- guide, but I definately recommend it for beginners in Northern Mantis Kung Fu and those who just like to read about it.

There were a couple of formatting problems - some of the stances weren't completely explained and some names were used that weren't referenced anywhere in the book, but you could still figure out what to do from the pictures.About the usual quality for martial arts instruction books, though. ... Read more

Product Description
Straightforward and efficient, Wing ChunKung Fu is one of the most popular forms of Kung Fu because it emphasizes techniqu over strength.By using the skills of Wing Chun Kung Fu, a smaller and weaker person can easily overcome a larger strong opponent.With its focus on technique rather than force, it is suitable for both men and women, young and old, and for those of all levels of physical fitness.
Grandmaster Ip Chun is regarded as the world's leading authority on Wing Chun.Bruce Lee--Wing Chun's most famous student--was taught by Ip Chun's father, Grandmaster Ip Man.Michael Ise is also a highly respected Qigong and martial arts master.Together they demonstrate that first form of Wing Chun (Siu Lim Tao) and show how it can be used for self-denence.They also outline the history and the art of Wing Chun and discuss its many other benefits, which include

Increased Energy and Vitality
Greater Confidence and Inner Strength
An Understanding of the Skills and Benefits of Meditation

With expert instruction and more than 100 step-by-step photographs, Wing Chun Kung Fu makes it easy to master the power and grace of this ancient martial art.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

good book, but what's it good for?
I have read this book cover to cover. It has some good writing about Ip Man's life, and Wing Chun's principles, and the same story about the origin of Wing Chun that you can get from Wikipedia. Much of the book is a step-by-step description of Siu Lim Tao, the first form in Wing Chun. As a Wing Chun student I cannot imagine how someone could ever learn this form from a book alone. I find it interesting for the theory and history in the introductory chapters, and as a quick reference for the chinese terminology for each of the hand positions in the Siu Lim Tao form.

Very,very Good Place to Start!!!!
This was my Very First Kung Fu Book. It was what made me fall in love with Wing Chun. This is a great book for the beginner student. There are other books that go well beyond this one as it pertains to Wing Chun. But this book has a soft quality about it that gives the reader a pathway of Wing Chun that other books do not. If you are exploring Marital arts and want a "Taste" of Wing Chun, this is a very, very Good start.

Suggested Books to read after this are:
Mastering Kung Fu, by Garrett Gee and Benny Ming (DVD's of a MAJOR help also).

Wing Chun Compendium by Wayne B.

And any book on Wing Chun By Randy Williams.

For WT Beginners
This is a good book for understanding what Wing Tsun (WT) is all about. This book explains where it originated why it was developed, who developed it, when it was deveoloped basically the history of WT. It also gives a little hindsight into how it has morphed into the WT the we have come to know through Bruce Lee and also how it has further developed into our day and age.

Can one learn Sil Lim Tao from this book?No, but...
...one might correct a few mistakes by following this book, notwithstanding the form being taught a little differently in every school.Good enough for a book, in my book.:-)The two photos on page 86 are in reverse order.Michael Tse brings a welcome combination of fluent English and unquestionable Wing Chun lineage.I also enjoyed the stories about the legendary Yip Man.

Pretty decent
At first, I thought this book was kind of "basic". Having studied wing chun for a while under a competent sifu, I went back and the book has some really good stuff in it. First of all, it details the first form well. It also contains clear photos, and explanations from people who obviously have spent YEARS with this art (I can tell, because many of their insights can only be won after long study). I also liked the final section, which shows you the real "street fight" applications of the art, and of the techniques shown in the first form. I liked the discussion of Bruce Lee and his relationship with wing chun (to put it in a nutshell: Bruce never gave up on wing chun, and his Jeet Kune Do had wing chun as its core !). I liked the historical information on Yip Man in Hong Kong. This book really packs a lot into a short book. I really recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the few modern Chinese martial arts derived from actual military combat experience, Eagle Claw kung fu is a powerful system featuring advanced locking-hand moves perfected over centuries of civil conflict in China. Kung fu and tai chi master Leung Shum brings this timeless art to today's practitioners, going beneath the veneer of gymnastic athleticism for which the style is known, and revealing many of its essential secrets and insider tips. Shum explains the fundamentals of Eagle Claw kung fu, including the crucial first thirty locking-hand techniques, the punches, kicks, and the all-important signature claws of Ying Jow Pai. Hundreds of striking photographs augment Shum's masterful text, creating the ultimate guide to Eagle Claw kung fu. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Good book
This book is definitely a good book for Eagle Claw practitioners. It provides the frame work and training outline to become proficient in the art. For those who train in it, it is a good reference to found out whatyou need to train more in to develop as a martial artist.
For those who find it impractical, you should know that it takes at least 5 years of hard training to grasp the basic concepts of Chinese martial arts. This cannot be learned from a book, unlike many self defense techniques. However, the training provides enhanced reflexes, power, and conditioning which in combat will undoubtedly be essential for self defense. There is no exception to hard work. I find that many people who are looking for practicality in a martial art are essentially looking for a quick way of learning without the hard training. I have met many students who believe they are excellent and practical, but in my eyes are very poorly trained. Feeling that you are a good combatant and being one are totally different things. But let me finish with a line that many of my teachers have passed on to me "It is the student and not the art."

Book worm
Nice illustrations, but I feel that the book leaves out too much.Perhaps I was expecting to read 10+ years of EClaw training in one volume, but did read it in one day.It sits on the shelf as a reference.

Secrets of Eagle Claw Kung Fu
Eagle claw kung fu has always been known for its grabbing techniques and this book is revealing to some extent. It would be even be better to share the remaing grabbing techniques in another book. Leung Shum Sifu might want to think about sharing his expertise on this style of kung fu through a series of books.

The Secrets of Eagle Claw Kung Fu: Ying Jow Pai
THe book does notgive any practical information much.As the Title said, it only tells general information about the type of kungFu butcontain not much useful information.
Don't expect to learn anything from the book.

Don't buy except you want to know what it is.

Not a book for self-defense
If you are looking for a book on self defense, you should probably pass on this one. It's got some interesting concepts, but the techniques shown would need heavy modification. Try grabbing a punch fromsomeone who knows how to punch properly, and turning it into a complicated joint lock- that's a good way to get knocked out or worse. You can't fool around trying to look pretty when you're in real danger. I'm not knocking Eagle Claw, but this book is about all I've seen of it and it doesn't represent the effective self-defense that the style may very well have. The book looks like a forms reference for students, and for this purpose it's probably perfect, hence my giving it five stars before to calm down the students. The author's students are of course biased and they of course know the style for real. You can't blame us readers without Eagle Claw experience for thinking the art may be over complicated and ineffective, seeing the awkward stances and the false sense of distance (some pictures even showing the protagonist's strike over a foot away from the enemy). Taking a step back to block a punch with a kick, as shown in this book, is absolutely absurd. Yes, you read it right, someone throws a punch at your face and then you take a step back to block it with a high kick. Even if you don't get knocked out trying this, there's still no chance that punch will still be there when you've even finished the step. Wait a minute, with this style it looks like your're supposed to keep your punch extended so it can be kicked! Chambering your fist at your hip is a big no-no as well. I'm sure the author wouldn't want you to do this stuff in a real fight, he just seems to be representing the forms and history. I don't doubt his abilities as martial artist or teacher. The publisher is responsible for misrepresenting the book as real fighting techniques to sell it. This standpoint is where all the bad reviews come from and what the majority of customers would be concerned about. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Great Introduction to Kung Fu
My copy is almost 30 yrs old. At the time I had done a bit of Judo, Tai Chi, Hsing-I, Pa-kua, Karate and TKD.
I was living in Gainesville Fl. and the best ma I could find was Cuong Nhu Karate. A very good school. Still very few ma books in english. A classic and still good book on Kung Fu. Studied only a tiny bit of classic Kung Fu But the more you study, the more relationships you see. The difference is in the emphasis. Find a good teacher, with a style and group you enjoy, practice, practice, practice, study and study.

Good luck!

Excellent
This is an actual instruction manual, complete with training techniques, stretches, and exercises that were performed by Shaolin monks. I have become much more flexible and well-balanced after working with the basics of this kung fu manual. The book also contains historical commentary, the legends behind various stances, etc. I believe this work is as close to an actual kung fu temple training as most Americans can get.

for class-reference, not self-study
This book and its corresponding DVD's (sold seperately) are not really for self-study. Mainly because Long Fist forms require ALOT of space, it's not something you can do in your living-room....you need at least an area of 7x7 meters or 23x23 feet...and then there's the jumping and such...if you have a big yard then it might be feasible.
Also, learning traditional martial arts from a book is not ideal ( DVD's are better :-) ).
[If you don't have much space at home but want to learn a martial art, I highly recommend Wing Chun kungfu.]

I intended to us this book as a reference to classes in Long Fist, "unfortunately" my teacher taught a different style of Long Fist so I did not gain as much as I hoped from this book and DVD's, although it was interesting reading and good for comparison.

What I really like about the book is that the techniques in the forms are broken down and their individual purpose explained: "this is a block and this is a strike to the head...".

By the way, the DVD that belongs to this book is: Shaolin Longfist Kung Fu Basic Sequences.

Better than most
Yang Jwing Ming has been publishing high quality martial arts books and videos for more than twenty years now, and this early volume, definitely fits into that category as well.

It gives a great overview of chang quan, long fist, and as usual with Yangs books, the explanations are clear, concise and satisfying. The pictures are all clear and easy to interpret.

I don't think that one can learn martial arts from books, but they can be a good help. Especially when it comes to the understanding of philosophy, history and indeed technique.

Highly recommended

A Literal Bible on Shaolin Long Fist
This book is so incredibly detailed, and so amazingly well written that I would consider moving to Boston to train under this great man myself. The only book I have EVER found in my life that is so powerfully efficient. Don't skip this up, this is not the average marketing product. He has considered every aspect that the reader could possibly need to know to learn the first few forms in this art. ... Read more

Product Description
Kung Fu Elements is the Wushu training manual that martial artists have long awaited. It is the first of its kind in the English language. It contains the essence and elements of both Internal and External Styles of Wushu. It is an invaluable training reference for any instructor or seriousstudent of any style of martial arts! This book contains seven chapters, plus an extensive glossary, including: Classifications of Wushu styles, history, and philosophy Traditional methods for building a strong foundation Techniques for developing powerful kicks Sanshou fighting applications and combinations Effective uses of grappling (Qinna) and takedown (Shuaijiao) techniques Iron Sand Palm training and Cavity Press (Dianxue) Internal Strength, Light Body, and many other Kung Fu attainmentmethods A Glossary of Wushu styles, practitioners, and termsIn Wushu, we train the physical to aid the shapeless; cultivate the shapeless to care for the physical. The training of Wushu gives one the necessary conditioning to master one's own physical body, and gain a greater understanding of the inner workings of the mind and spirit.This book includes the training methods used by ancient Wushu masters to achieve great heights. With this book at your finger tips and your desire to excel, you too can achieve great heights in your martial arts training! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Interesting, but unpractical.
The book has interesting parts, but it doesn't speak to many people since it contains many things you just can't learn out of a book...not to mention, a portion of it is in Chinese (useless for non-Chinese speakers), and a portion is a bunch of references noone will be interested in. You can't learn any real Kung Fu from this book, nor can you learn many real combat applications that work in a serious situation. However, you can learn some conceptual kung fu and kung fu background. My rating is so-so...

My Teacher.
I put off writing a review on this book for a long time,...Since Mr. Wu is my teacher. I did not want anyone to think I was Jumping on the band wagon, when this first came to Paperback, So I waited to review it.
So here it is:

This book is probably the most needed book on Kung Fu, Gong Fu, Shaolin.
It is HUGE,.....I mean HUGE!!
It just doesn't get any better than this book.
This book is "SO" worth the money that it is ALMOST OBSCENE!!!
Buy it, I guarantee you will not regret it.

good stuff
Very detailed book, exellent reference material, as well as gives some insites into different styles.I am very happy with it and it has helped me already. Highly recomended to anyone intrested in the martial arts of this type.

Best non-Chinese book on wushu
This volume is nothing but great. It covers all the things you'll need for your wushu training and is crammed with loads of extra information about styles, people, weapons and more.

I especially like the fact that it stresses jibengong, the fundamental excercises of wushu, and not taolu (form). The sanda applications are well explained and covers a lot of ground. A little bit more fighting strategy and tactics would be a good thing though. The explanations and presentation of neigong, the internal martial arts, are also very good. I think that neigong and qigong have to be felt and describing them in words is an impossible task that nobody ever will be able to do well, but Shou Yu Liang does a good job none the less. The glossary in the end is very impressive indeed. It has a LOT of entries of which many are illustrated. Very well.

My only real criticism of the work is that I don't think it covers wushu history well enough. It's too much of a runthrough and dosen't really give any in-depth information. It is a subject that is very dear to me so I guess I'm biased on that point. Also their explanation of the character wu (as in wushu)is not satisfactory. There are generally two mainstream theories in linguistic circles of the original meaning of the word (the most popular by far is Berhard Karlgrens) none of which is the one presented in this volume.

However, that is only a tiny complaint and it dosen't alter the fact that this is a very impressive book. It truly IS the best book on wushu in English. I live and train traditional wushu in Beijing and have trained for some 8-9 years. I am of the opinion that wushu cannot be learned from a book, no matter how good it is, but it can definitely help you improve and clarify things for you. This book is a very good reference, especially for beginners, but also for the advanced student. It offers a lot of information and is WELL worth the price.

Modernistic Kung Fu
This book does not illustrate the visually captivating "flowery fist" kung fu often seen in the movies. It really addresses the root elements of kung fu.Not only does it cover the fighting elements but also the fitness and spiritual aspects as well. This is a must have for anyone interested in martial arts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Man's guide to living in society
This book gives its readers a set of principles which when put to use can be the key to learning how to enjoy life in society in a civilized way. Definitely a must for every parent trying to raise a child in these must difficult times. This book gives you words that transcend race, religion and/or socioeconomic boundaries. If you are looking for a book that will leave you a better person than when you started reading it, then, THIS IS IT!

Great book treating deep esoteric subjects.
Great book treating deep esoteric subjects.

The stories/Sage advices are simple and have a strong effect. I love it. ... Read more

Product Description
Devised by Shaolin monks, this form, one of the mostbeautifully effective elements in hung gar kung fu, combines the powerof the tiger and the deceptive agility of the crane. Demonstrated byBucksam Kong, co-author of Hung Gar Kung Fu: Chinese Art ofSelf-Defense and chief instructor of the Sil Lum Pai Gung FuAssociation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

the Second form in the style
This form is the second form in the style and utilizes almost all the movement of other descendant or branched styles similiar to the hung gar system.It's historical record is interesting and seems to incorporate yet another major system.
A rather long and good feeling set a movements, Good, although start out on the first form and try some of the other southern secular styles to see the evolution of mimicry and/or exposure to other style inventors.

fun review
oh my goodness! when ok'tar gave up his right of charlin for maybo....I cried like a new born wampa rat that can't find it's powpow....

anyways...the book itself does have a huge selection of moves to learn and it describes them very well. It also has an explanation of the stances used for all of the moves. However, it did not contain anything in the way of basics for getting started. The book seems to come from the assumption that the reader already has experience with Tiger/Crane and that this is just like expanding your repertoire of moves. Some of the moves do look really sweet though!

Excellent Text--What Do Some People Expect?
This is a great book that goes into the detail that was expected of martial art books of the time.Apparently, some people expect to learn a form from a book--what ridiculousness!How can anyone learn the complexities of a form from a book?That is not how the system has been transmitted in the past, nor should it be that way in the future.It does what it serves to do: act as a reference.The real deal takes place with a live teacher.The photos are pretty good with nice documentation of the form.Anyone who wants to see how this can really work is still able to train with this man.

Excellent reference
I studied Hung Gar with one of Bucksam's Top students for a couple of years. This is a great reference book. Very well put together, illustrated and written. You won't find a better book on this classic form.

Thin, pricey, and incomplete
After seeing the Tiger/Crane form demonstrated to me, I noticed this book leaves out about 1/3 of the actual movements, transitional postures that are only held briefly. The power needed for Hung gar is not at all demonstrated in this book and does mention at all the isometrics involved when performing these movements. Not a bad book for reference, but don't even begin learning this form until you are taking classes, or at the least have gotten a video of the form demonstration. Applications are basic and weak, with none of the mayhem which Hung gar can be, like hair pulling into a knee slam to the face, and ripping out an attackers throat and groin at the same time. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (13)

Great read and reference!
Let me first level-set on my Linux experience and skills..... I am a relative beginner to Ubuntu. I've been using it for about 18 months and I'm on the third version since I started. I am a Windows Sys Admin by profession, but Ubuntu is what I use at home and outside of work.

The first thing I should say about "Ubuntu Kung Fu", is that it really was a pleasant surprise. This book is loaded with tips, tricks and hacks. While I read it cover to cover, you don't have to - it is an excellent collection of practical tips and is going on my desk for future reference. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced Ubuntu user, there are 315 very useful, well detailed shortcuts, hacks and little-known facts presented for easy reading.

I dog-eared many pages and have already implemented a few, and they worked just as described! Many have been marked for use on my next Ubuntu install. I definitely recommend this book - there is value for users at all levels. The author's style is light, thoughtful and well researched. I highly recommend "Ubuntu Kung Fu" for anyone interested in wanting to get more out of Ubuntu and their computer.

great ubuntu book!
As an experienced linux user I thought this might be too basic but I've got to say I've learned my way around Ubuntu thanks to this book. Have said goodbye to windows for good and have Ubuntu installed throughout the house. Ubuntu just works and this book gives alot of tips and tricks to make the experience that much better.

The book that helps
Title: Ubuntu Kung Fu Tips, Tricks, Hints, and Hacks
Author(s): Keir Thomas
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 1st edition (September 2008)
Pages: 400
ISBN: 978-1-934-35622-7

Book Format:

Like all other O'Reilly books, I found the indexing and over-all writing style of this technical book very adequate. Essential information is presented in a concise manner. I especially liked the "summary" style that was used when explaining important concepts. The author does a good job of showing code examples and directing you to additional resources for the topics covered.

Scope Overview:

This book gives very detailed explanations on how you can tweak your Ubuntu Desktop installs by getting down and dirty, with screenshots, possible issues that might arise from the tweaks etc. The book does not assume you have a very strong base in the Ubuntu world, but it's not for the light-hearted newbie Linux user either. After reading a few of the chapters, I decided not to navigate from a start to end kind of order, and instead review the tweaks from the index and pick the ones I was interested in, then applied them on my Ubuntu install. Everything happened exactly as the book had laid it out. I was very impressed with how easy they made it for the user.


Material Overview:

GNOME + gcompiz: Now this is true magic! The fact that you can enable the "gooey" GUI for your environment is just plain cool. The 3-D Cube effect when switching virtual desktops is just plain awesome!

RAR File Compression Built-in:Now, this was a nice feature to have! Like the built-in Windows .ZIP support, you can tweak your Ubuntu to allow for RAR compression by a right-click on the file in your X environment. Very nice...

Switch Nautilus to Old Tree View: Now with 8.10 they had somehow managed to get rid of the old view, and the new one, well... it just wasn't working for me! This tip made me a happy man.

View PDFs in shell: What can I say, beats needing to download a PDF reader if you just need a quick peek.


Conclusion:

This book, is pretty much for the every-day Ubuntu Desktop user. They have tons of hints on how to make your environment faster and more efficient, especially if you are a desktop user!

Overall, I wish they would have specified this was for the Desktop edition, and not for the server edition, as originally my intent was for the server tweaks. But still I enjoyed this book very much and would definitely recommend it to any and all Ubuntu fans out there! Thanks for publishing this O'Reilly.


Reviewed by:
Aras Memisyazici
Virginia Tech

Needs Updating
If you are new to computers, this is a good read. However, even Linux newbies who have used Macs or windows will not find much here that they aren't already familiar with.

A must have for any ubuntu user
I'm really impressed with this book. It doesn't go through a long overview of the desktop, the apps, the history of Ubuntu, or how to install Ubuntu. Sure, it does go into those subjects a little bit but it manly is a book full of tips and hacks. It is organized in a way that you can just look at the index find a tip that interests you then just read that tip, you don't have to read cover to cover if you don't want to.

Bottom line: If you use Ubuntu you should consider buying this book. Whether you are a beginner or advance user, with 315 tips I'm sure you will find some helpful tips! I personally found this book made Ubuntu more fun! besides there is a cute kitten on the cover, that should be a good reason to buy this book :) ... Read more

Product Description
The term Basic 45 Lessons is really an understatement.Within these 45 well explained techniques you can develop an arsenalof skills that are invaluable.This book thoroughly explains thedetails within eah lesson so you will understand why and how thetechnique is performed effectively.An introduction to Kung Fu SanSoo is included for those new to this devastating and highly effectiveart.

These lessons are shared with you by a San Soo Master who studieddirectly with Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo in El Monte, CA for over 28years.The author taught these lessons to his students for years soyou can be assured of their accuracy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A MUST HAVE KUNG FU SAN SOO BOOK
This is one of Kung Fu San Soo's treasures. If you train in Kung Fu San Soo or are interested in learning the fundamentals and mentality of Kung Fu martial arts this book is for you. The basic 45 are the must for every Kung Fu San Soo practitioner. For right now this book is one of the best until someone else makes a book with pictures like Bruce Lee books were made. I'm just very happy that there is a legitimate San Soo book out there because not a lot of books about Kung Fu San Soo and the lessons have been made. Everybody in school is asking me for the continuation of this book. Maybe some Ah Soo or Choy Li Ho and even Fut Ga lessons.

An excellent work from our main archivist.
While Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo (Lo Sifu Chin Siu Dek) was teaching in Southern California a variety of students recorded the lessons.Since Grandmaster Woo was the first to teach this martial art to anyone who wasn't Chinese, no one was sure about what was the best way to write out the techniques in English.So, those records vary greatly in the quality and clarity of what was written.Master Gatewood kept meticulous records, including many 8mm films and later video tapes.I have a number of copies of these lessons from varying sources and feel that Master Gatewood's book explains the lessons with particular clarity and stresses the priceless principals involved with each technique.

Some reviewers have complained about the book lacking enough photographs.That would be true if one were trying to learn Kung Fu San Soo from a book alone.You can't, there's too much to it.If you are an experienced martial artist, looking to gain a familiarity with Kung Fu San Soo, this book will be very informative about our basic techniques.(There are hundreds of Kung Fu San Soo techniques-- the Basic 45 are the foundation for the rest.)So, if you want to learn Kung Fu San Soo, you must learn it from a knowledgeable instructor.For anyone who is, this book is very well written and invaluable.

NEEDUM PICTURES!!!
Ah, fourty-five self defense moves.Shame that there are only thirteen pictures in it!OK, the book had some good concepts, and I'm sure that most of the self-defense lessons are servicable.However, the lack of photos is more than disappointing.I did like the fact that after every lesson, there was a "Concepts to Learn" portion.I'd like to see that in more books like this.In the beggining of the book, concepts, basic striking tools, and stances are covered, though not very well.Many of the terms used in the book are not explained well, or sometimes not at all, and this makes reading difficult.It's an OK book for a martial artist to use, mostly to incorporate into his self-defense studies, and also gives some insight into San Soo, but in that respect is by no means complete.It's a little useful, but may not be worth the price.

Bringing it all back
I have been out of the art for over 13 years for a variety of reasons and was lucky to find this book. Starting with lesson one, it all began to come back. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the art of Kung Fu San Soo.

Every Picture tells a story...
I agree without pictures it is very hard to visualize exactly how do to do the lessons that are presented. Someone should revise it an do it justice by adding pictures to it to make it more understandable. ... Read more

Product Description
Sifu Noah Knapp has created a complete beginner s guide to Kung Fu. In this comprehensive introduction you ll learn the fundamental stances, blocks, strikes, and kicks of Kung Fu as well as drills you can practice alone and with a partner to improve your skills and learn to channel your internal energy. Unlocking Kung Fu also introduces advanced concepts like generating power, clearing, freestyle practice and combination techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Duel Of The Iron Fist
Overall, I found the book to be rather simplistic in its portrayal that Kung Fu is an actual defense technique.First of all, no one should take Kung Fu seriously, anyone using that "fighting style" will have their teeth knocked out by street fighters.

I use Kung Fu solely as an aerobic exercise technique.It works out muscles that you normally don't use.Be warned, some of the moves, like the "Panda Death grip" can hurt you, I injured my [blank] muscle and couldn't walk for days or sit on a toilet properly.Also, log balancing is difficult, I fell down so many times that I just gave it up.

Unlocking Kung Fu: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners is just an intro so don't get it after watching a Shaolin Monk gongfu, Chinese martial arts, Mandarin Chinese wushu video expecting to be a pro.

Unlocking Kung Fu- A Comprehensive Guide For Beginners
Easy to understand and easy to follow. I am just beginning to study and this book lays everything out in a way that helps me immensely. The use of photos is invaluable for thorough comprehension.

A truly fantastic and well-rounded guide.
This book is perfect for any individual who wants to learn more about the art of Kung Fu.This author does not center himself on only one style as almost every other kung fu author does.Instead he takes the different styles of kung fu and explains them in a very easy to understand way, revealing their similarities and differences.The training techniques are universal and effective.You really feel like you get a solid and thorough education.
***the drills and exercises here are a great workout.

His first book was cool, this one is great
I really liked this book.It's not too long and is very detailed and easy to follow.The author dives into Kung Fu training and outlines every part of it.He explains everything so you really feel like you understand it when you're finished.Each chapter of the book covers a different part of Kung Fu and strips it down to the basics.After that he uses key boxes that reveal how experts perform the techniques.This is like the rosetta stone of Kung Fu.It's great for beginners or anyone.I really enjoy how the author looks a Kung Fu.I can't recommend it enough.

A deeply insightful and easy to read book.
This guy just gets how to write and teach martial arts. The book navigates you through the art of kung fu in an easy, yet thorough and enjoyable read.The book is broken down into several chapters, each one discussing different aspects of kung fu.The author's use of "key boxes" in these chapters summarizes the essential mechanics of the art into simple, but still detailed layman's terms.These boxes are a great device to understanding the inner workings of the art and include more than just how to practice properly.Each of the subjects or movements are broken down, revealing kung fu training and application in an easy manner.The pictures in the book are very good; straightforward and not hard to follow like many other martial arts books are.I just got this book and I already believe this is one of the better books on my shelf and in the market.It is not only useful, but very interesting to anyone with even a slight interest of the art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Simply Beautiful
I don't buy too many Art Books simply because so many of them are filled with too much writing.This one however, is a HAVE TO HAVE.Its 192 pages of "AWESOMENESS!!" Pages of character designs, a section dedicated to each character, with size relation charts, early character designs and sketches, background designs, full page layout concepts, screen shots, and rough animation.This is a unique book, it tells a story in its self of the journey this movie went on behind the scenes.It was a pleasant surprise.I still haven't read it yet, but I've looked through it dozens of times.You never really know just what to expect from an art book as they're all different.This one will be a treasure in my collection and one that will make for many inspirations for my own projects in the future.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

Stunning!
This book is both helpful and utterly gorgeous! I am hoping to go to college for animation/movie design so naturally this book interested me but this goes well beyond my general interest.I can't stop looking through it! The styles of the artists are so unique, its hard not to get a little jealous. There is more about character design than there is setting and places, but they do have the places (both used and not) in the book at the end. The book is good for reference for characters, lighting, poses, color, shapes and everything else.

Kung Fu Panda: Enter the fantastic art
I had been coveting after this book for a good year and a half before owning it.
I first saw it at the Barnes and Nobel, its glossy cover promising kickass art, the width suggesting it contained massive amounts of drawings, and the length making sure the art was big enough to really savor.
Upon opening the book, I found all of the above to be true.

The sketches, the finished pieces, the explanations for why the development of certain characters went the way it did- all wonderful!
But the price... It is well worth $45, don't get me wrong- but I'm a working student, and definitely don't have an extra $45 in my pocket.
So I waited.

I asked for it for my Birthday, and Christmas- no luck- it was already not in print in stores!
Then I checked on Amazon. $109!?!?!?!??!?
So I waited.
And waited.
And waited.

Then, one fateful day, the price was miraculously reasonable, and I swooped down and retrieved the book.
It is beautiful, and definitely one of my most treasured 'art of' books I own to date. I collect animation 'art of' books, and this one really outshines the others by a large margin.

Great...
not as great as i expected (because this book keep out of stock) but still a must have book

Bestest Artbook
For sure, the bestest artbook ever. The 1st place were Tarzan's Artbook from disney... now, it's "The Art of Kung Fu Panda" THE best one. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Amazing
I read this book in a day. This book makes kids want to read. It's funny, it has a good story, and lots of action.I'm looking forward to Ook and Gluk Jr coming out.

Kids love it, but I feel otherwise......
I bought this book for my second grade son today, at our school's book fair.He read the entire book in an hour!He loves it.I wanted to see what was so fantastic about this book, so I looked through it.Every page is full of 'purposely' misspelled words! Please tell me how this helps a 7 year old, who is actively learning how to spell words correctly?For example....the word 'neither' is misspelled as 'neether'.The word 'ancient' is misspelled as 'anchent".How does this make any sense to a young brain? Although my son really enjoyed the book, I will not be buying any more.

Not for every home
This book is fun for kids, but contains language that many parents would not use in front of their children and would not want to hear coming from their children's mouths.Deliberate misspellings may be a concern for kids who find spelling a challenge.

More fun than being eaten by a robosaur!
Ook and Gluk is a fun book that teaches many good lessons, such as the one in which Ook and Gluk won their...well...if you've read it, you'll understand.Since it's aimed at kids from 9-12, I'm a bit less apprehensive about the violence (cartoon level, mind you).As for the cavemonics?Me like Ook and Gluk book!

Absolutley NOT(thanks to deliberate misspellings!)
Thank goodness for the "Look Inside" feature! I almost bought this book. However, when I saw that this book is chock-full of deliberate misspellings, I quickly changed my mind. I don't want my child learning to spell incorrectly. It's too bad that a book that looks this fun, and which kids seem to truly enjoy, is the equivalent of feeding kids cookies for dinner. If the spelling was correct, I would havebought it. Shame on Dav Pilkey. ... Read more

Product Description
Wear your gear. Bring your blades. Back your family. Fight for your life.

MLK High School has collapsed into Kung Fu High School--where Jen B. and her brother, Cue, belong to one of two gangs still standing against the puppet principal and the drug kingpin who pulls his strings. Cousin Jimmy--a world-champion martial arts master of mythic stature--arrives in town after swearing to his mother that he'll never fight again. His rep precedes him and everyone's itching to see him "kicked in"--Kung Fu's brutal initiation ritual. But he won't break his vow and defend himself, so Cue steps in when things go too far. Soon, a surprise counterstrike sends Kung Fu spinning toward one final, raging battle. Teachers flee, students break out full weaponry, and Jimmy must make a decision that will brand him a coward--or a hero. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

'High School' teaches reading, writing, 'rithmatic and kung fu
Ryan Gattis' debut novel "Kung Fu High School," exploring the story of a high school split into gangs and controlled by a psychotic drug dealer, is as ambitious and fierce as any Jet Li film and even more of a ride. It's a work of fiction that feels almost real, with long paragraphs of tight details putting every drop of blood on the page.

Kung Fu High's relative piece is shattered when Jimmy Chang - cousin of two Wave gang members and a world champion fighter - comes to town after taking an oath never to fight again. This proves to be a mistake, as a brewing gang war leaves one of his relatives in the mud and opens up a power struggle on the scale of "Fight Club," complete with seven rules vital to staying alive.

What makes "Kung Fu" such a fascinating read is that shadow of reality that hangs over the book, as Gattis has sketched out a dark atmosphere that could actually exist in an inner city. A lot of points are clearly exaggeration for (successful) effect, such as the vice principal hauling bundled corpses through the halls during lunch and drug dealers paying extra so their little brother can have a new theater to stage Shakespeare.

However, the concept of a school where freshmen have ribs and jaws kicked in the first day and chess strategies are needed for safe seats in class feels too strange to not have a grain of truth. Gattis adds to this realism by providing diagrams that look like they were scrawled in the back of textbooks, outlining how to stitching layers of beer cans into sweatshirts for body armor and weld knives together for maximum lethality.

And this lethality is everywhere in "Kung Fu." From the first fight where Jimmy won't defend against spiked gauntlets to a literal firefight in the chemistry lab, bones are broken and arteries opened almost every chapter. Gattis walks through every step of the combat with a sensei's eye, picking up on every popped necks and misplaced fist that ends a fight.

Unfortunately, this emphasis on combat and strategies gives "Kung Fu High School" the same problem of countless action films: a lack of character development. Beyond one-word sentences and threats the book is relatively empty of dialogue, giving characters the feel of nameless henchmen and video game bosses. The narrator Jen never really feels right - such as when she cares more about blood on her civics essay than almost dying in a fight - and Jimmy is nothing more than a maelstrom of fists and legs.

"Kung Fu High School" is an interesting and compelling piece of work, a book that reads like the novelization of a martial arts film but comes closer to realism than most movies ever could. It's an impressive start for Gattis, with plenty of personality in the description to make up for what the characters lack and enough blood to fill a high school auditorium.

Awful
Awful doesn't really begin to describe it, but I don't care enough about this book to pull out my thesaurus and find a more accurate word, so "awful" will have to do.

Firstly, I went into this book with the mind frame that it was something of a piece of pulp fiction...something to be taken with a grain of salt. So I'd like to think that I did not have unrealistic expectations. That said, there is almost nothing about this book that wasn't a let down. Let me tick them off:

The premise - This story takes place inside a school which has come to be called "Kung Fu High School" in which on any given day students will beat each other half to death (or sometimes fully to death). And the reader is supposed to believe that students will just keep going to school for this. The principal is some kind of deranged military vet who doesn't mind letting the school become a killing ground that doubles as a drug runner's conduit as long as he gets his cut.

The villain - is a twenty-something who is an incredulous blending of other stereotypes: he combines the ruthless cunning (and lying) of the TV show "Lost"'s Benjamin Linus, the organizational prowess of your favorite corporate CEO, and the criminal aptitude of Tony Soprano. This motley collection makes him seem to be less of a human character and more like some kind of crudely combined chimera; almost as if the author started out with an idea of what he was supposed to be like and just added skills to him as the plot demanded.

The hero - is a half-Chinese 17 year old who just so happens to be 10 Bruce Lees all rolled into one. Oh, and he can apparently teleport. This kind of skill exaggeration and magical ability would have been fine except for the fact that this is whole story was written in a realistic light; so the hero just feels tremendously out of place in the story.

The prolific use of profanity - I am not sure whether this was just a symptom of the author's lack of skill or his attempt to portray the thoughts and word choice of a 15 year old that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. In my more generous moments I am willing to believe the latter but even this courtesy brings me to the next problem with the book.

The point of view - The author tries to write this story from the view of a 15 year old girl and fails MISERABLY. Not once in the story was I even remotely convinced that I was hearing a story read from the mouth of a female. I can give a token clap for trying something more difficult in story writing but I can't pretend he succeeded. The closest he comes to his goal was in the brief moments when the narrator merely sounded more gender neutral.

The ending - I wont ruin it for those of you who don't heed my warning and buy this piece of garbage anyway, but suffice it to say it sucks. It doesn't just suck because I didn't like the story's outcome, it is entirely unsatisfying.

Don't buy it.

Bonkers school story - will be a cult classic
This ultraviolent parody of a high-school novel takes place at an urban school riddled with gangs and ninjas.

Half martial arts thriller and half The Wire, Kung Fu High School tries to tell a serious story with a very silly premise. It fails when it tries to up the emotional stakes, but succeeds in describing the slightly-melodramatic, action-packed 'everyday' life at the school.

Although not as affecting as it wants to be, this is still a fun book with a wild premise and a punchy, cinematic ending.

Good stuff
A "My Classmate The Barbarian"-esque (If your a connoisseur of HK movies, or a Nicholas Tse fan you'll get that reference) like tale featuring a hard core girl with a bit of an incest problem.

Legendary
This book is severely a good work of literature, read this classic story of a humble fighter who never fights and is forced into a battle he doesn't want.Please go and buy this you wont be sorry. ... Read more

Product Description
A revolutionary reappraisal of Afro-Asian relationships that will change multiculturalism as we know it

In this landmark work, historian Vijay Prashad refuses to engage the typical racial discussion that matches people of color against each other while institutionalizing the primacy of the white majority. Instead, he examines more than five centuries of remarkable historical evidence of cultural and political interaction between Blacks and Asians around the world, in which they have exchanged cultural and religious symbols, appropriated personas and lifestyles, and worked together to achieve political change. From the Shivites of Jamaica who introduced Ganja and dreadlocks to the Afro-Jamaicans; to Ho Chi Minh the Garveyite; to Japanese-American Richard Aoki, a charter member of the Black Panthers, Prashad shows that African- and Asian-derived movements and culture, like all others, have been porous rather than discrete.

"Kung Fu is a treasury of hidden histories and startling solidarities. But Prashad is not simply celebratory: he also takes on the "primordialism"
of Afrocentrists and Asian nationalists in a book that is both unapologetically radical and alive to paradox."
—The Village Voice, "Our 25 Favorite Books of 2001"

"Prashad makes a bold statement in a field often mired in redundancy."
—Benjamin King, AsianWeek

"Prashad demolishes the conservative conceits of ethnic essentialism and so-called multiculturalism. In the usual dead zone of debate about identity politics, this little book is a refreshing oasis of original insight and unexpected affinity."
—Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz and Late Victorian Holocausts

Vijay Prashad is director and associate professor of international studies at Trinity College and the author of The Karma of Brown Folk. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

intellectually stimulating
A good detailed overview of poly-culturalism in today's world. A hard read but good information if you stick with it.

interesting but frustrating
This is not a straightforward book by any means.Vijay Prashad has written a book that is by turns, illuminating, fascinating and maddening.

In many ways, reading this book is like one of those lively and entertaining conversations you have in British pubs with the local sagacious man: Prashad describes some tantalizing connections between Black and Asian liberation struggles and just as you think, "Aha, here comes the good bit", he does the authorly equivalent of popping off to the lavatory. And when he comes back, he has another bright idea to tell you about, and there's no sign at all of the first one.

In all fairness to Prashad, the tidbits he has to recount are pretty interesting. For example he notes that W.D. Fard, the inspiration behind Elijah Mohammed's bizarre origin myth for the Nation of Islam was actually a New Zealander (half South Asian and half Maori) who came across the US border with Canada as an illegal immigrant in 1913.He also talks briefly about the truly inspiring AJA leftist Yuri Kochiyama, who worked with Malcolm and cradled his head as he lay dying at the Roseland ballroom.But there's no follow through.We wonder in vain as to what the implications or lessons of these vignettes are but Prashad never tells us.

The most useful part of the book is the first half where Prashad presents a very useful theoretical analysis of the way race has been conceptualized and can be conceptualized in the future as a path to more effective and ongoing coalitions and hence to more effective social justice work.

Prashad distinguishes 4 different modes for thinking about race:colorblindness, primordialism, multiculturalism and what he calls polyculturalism.

Color blindness is the approach currently favored by mainstream conservatives (including many white liberals and elites of color) which argues that race should be ignoredbecause the state and all our decisions as groups and individuals should be "above" race.As Prashad notes, colorblindness assumes the neutrality or benevolence of existing social and power relations. Prashad's discussion and analysis follows the standard radical critique of this way of thinking.

Primordialism for Prashad is a kind of essentialist thinking about racial identity, where biology determines cultural, moral and intellectual qualities.Proponents of primordialism include the extremist supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan but Prashad also discusses groups amongst communities of color who subscribe to similarly essentialist notions such as the Nation of Islam, Afrocentrists and Dalitcentric thinkers.For Prashad, race must be viewed within the context of capitalism and the effect of capital on different groups of people in different nation-states and different historical moments.Race alone is not an accurate descriptor of all the dimensions of privilege and oppression that exist within a society.

In multiculturalism different races and ethnicities are treated as essentially equal aspects of identity and where tolerance (rather than engagement) is the requirement of the day.Here Prashad does a excellent job ofdeconstructing the way in which multiculturalism is in many ways simply aimed at the incorporation of communities of color into a consumer capitalist economy as consumers or producers of goods and services. In multiculturalism, diversity becomes a matter of management rather than a site at which people genuinely learn about, respect and deal with conflicts with one another.

Prashad's response to these three conservative approaches is to propose a more radical "polyculturalism": In this view, cultures are not autonomous and isolated, but are interpenetrated and influence one another in a dynamic fashion. Prashad also encourages us to pay attention to issues of class and of orientation towards "success" in a culture that emphasizes competition and hierarchical ranking.

The final chapter, on kung fu and the uses made by US revolutionary movements like the Black Panther Party of Third World liberation struggles (particularly in Vietnam and the People's Republic of China) was, at least to my mind the least satisfying chapter.While no-one would doubt the popularity of Bruce Lee, nor his significance in the personal pantheons of young men and women of all races, one wonders what if anything this symbolic affinity does.Does liking Bruce Lee or respecting his abilities allow you to respect the abilities or empathize with the life stories of real Asian Americans or Asian immigrants or even people in Asia?Once we get past the recognition of incidents of common suffering at the hands of a common oppressor, what else is there?

I am verymuch conscious of the probability that, as with hip-hop among Asian Americans, modern African American interest in Asia and Asian cultures generally emerges from the context of entertainment and spectacle rather than cultural critique.Whilst Bakari Kitwana encourages us to see the creation of real trans-racial solidarity based on love of an artform, the people involved almost always concieve of themselves as atomized individuals, and their journeys towards participation in the liberation struggle are seen aspersonal journeys of discovery and respect rather than political acts of alliance.

Prashad in fact provides a few tantalizing examples of exactly the kind of response to this question.In one chapter he proposes (following Eric B. and Rakim) "It ain't where you from, it's where you at": that a common sense of place may be one avenue that enables people to unite across differences. Unfortunately he does not really develop the argument further.

In the end, I'd say that this book has a great deal of value, particularly as a place to start asking some hard questions: What commonalities existed between various different groups?How did people create and maintain solidarity?How are people able to expand their personal politics to embrace other groups and to see their interests as being interwoven with those of others? While the book gives a sense of a large number of different cases of black and asian interaction, in the end, I would have liked to see more discussion of the specific circumstances under which these kinds of alliances became more than symbolic.

Sloppy!
This book is conceived and written in a sloppy manner. Prashad sets up straw men and then proceeds to demolish them, which may be fine to score debating points but is unhelpful in understanding contemporary society.

Optimism of the intellect!
Strong, strong stuff--as thought-provoking and energizing as KARMA OF BROWN FOLK, and much more thoughtfully argued. But the guy needs to slow down and write a book as carefully and lovingly researched as his first (UNTOUCHABLE FREEDOM)!

a fabulous book
vijay prashad has written another stunner of a book - sweeping in its subject matter, fresh in its analysis, and fun to read. a must for anyone interested in the thorny questions of race in the 21st century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Mandarin textbook!
Kung Fu (I): An Elementary Chinese Text is a wonderful resource for Mandarin instruction and learning. Material is graded for intermediate level students, but will be appreciated by beginners as well. Lessons utilize English, Pinyin and both Simplified and Traditional characters. I highly recommend Kung Fu (I): An Elementary Chinese Text to any serious Mandarin student.

Very Good
Excellent book for anyone interested in learning Mandarin Chinese. Its texts are fresh, interesting and up-to-date. (Unlike the outdated/boring topics used in many other Chinese text books). Even though Kung Fu (I) is meant to be used for classes in universities, it is also very suitable for self-study.

Superficial book
I like Chinese kung-fu very much. But this book isn't the sort of stuff that will appeal to me, for it's very superifical, without touching on the deep and varied tradition of the martial arts. ... Read more