NOTE: Please be aware that we only have one or two copies of some
of these texts. Many aren't even in print any more. Even if it is
listed here it may already be out of stock (we'll try to keep
it updated but some go fast).
Wang FengTing was not only a practitioner of Kung Fu, but in his time he was a powerful wrestler, bringing the two together in his book on Shuai Jiao, plus these two new ones on Kung Fu practice. His background is not well-documented, but my eye tells me that not a few of his postures are pure Shaolin.
Below are three of his famous books.
New!TC170Practice Kung Fu Wang Fengting 王鳳亭
Traditional Characters, 210 pages, many photos$17.95
I've had this book in my Kung Fu library for over fifty years. As a matter of fact, it was one of the first books I bought when I began picking up classic kung fu texts in Chinatown. Its wonderful photos show a strong and clear technique.
Wang reverses the normal progression, first showing the application on his partner, followed by a pose in the form. All of his applications are forceful, clearly demonstrated, and show the strength of working with a partner.
Curiously, the movements are actually similar to Ba Duan Jin postures, with many stationary Qigong. Others bear an obvious attachment to Shuai Jiao.
This special book shows posture and pose side by side. The moves themselves include solid grappling: arm bars, throws, hard punching, escapes, and strong stances backing devastating strikes. No need for much text, the actions speak for themselves. This is the teacher in his undershirt, in the alley behind the restaurant: a life's practice at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Topics include:
How to practice kung fu boxing
The origin of kung fu boxing
Preparatory style
Qingong probing claws
Stepping to the side of the foot
Guarding the enemy style
Lifting a thousand pounds
Overlord lifting a tripod
Neck with a golden
Phoenix double wings
Close the door to restore
New!TC171 Practice Kung Fu Leg Standing
Wang Fengting 王鳳亭
Traditional Characters, 210 pages, many photos $15.95
This book, also written by Wang FengTing, continues his demonstration of keen technique with his foundation of strong posture. In this text, Wang Sifu continues to shine as a powerful practitioner with solid, clear moves and intent. Shaolin at his heart, Wang's posture and stances have been with me for over half a century.
This text concentrates on stances and leg checks, emphasizing opponent control. A wonderful book.
Some topics include:
Practice of the “power frame”
Songs for the power frame
The use of the power frame training method
The Ten Commandments of Shaolin Temple
Modern Shaolin martial artist
Types of leg braces
The practice and usage of the leg brace.
Shuai
Jiao Wrestling Practice - TC602 by
Wang Feng Ting
Traditional Chinese Characters; $10.95, 108 Pages, photographs and illustrations, softbound
This
book isn't just about Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling) it is by
a wrestler. Our only criticism of this little gem is that everything
is too small, the Chinese type setting and the wonderful pictures
demonstrating wrestling training methods and some techniques.
These are old photos set in montage style showing throws and
entrances. By the way, for those interested in history; this
is SONG style Shuai Jiao.
Taiwan Police-style Restraints A801
by Chen Liang Jun
Traditional Chinese Characters; softbound,
Pages 485, photographs, $27.95
The locks and twists covers a large series of joint controls and partner restraints, one of the largest collection of joint locks I have seen in one place. Many moves add even more to the intolerable pain through a lot of strong variations and reversals. Joint locking is not a simple skill easily acquired, but with the pictures in this book—large and clear—covering hundreds of pages and photos on the subject, along with a fortunate large format; all contribute to the “shelf reference” category. Many pictures, good sequencing.
Back in Stock!A204 Chin Na Kao Da by Zhang Bo Yi $14.95 Joint Locking Bump Strike. This book has been unavailable for a few years. I have to admit that when we first offered it I did not notice that it was a full two-man routine of Chin Na locks and counters. This "continuous fight" has dozens of techniques and counters. Many reflect ground fighting and some are a bit questionable but the photographs are mostly one large per page and very clear. A fun set, especially for energetic young people.
Basic Weapons Control Handbook - TC137
Subduing Criminals Self Defense
by Han JianZhong
Traditional Chinese Characters; $10.95, 221
pages, soft bound, photographs
This book has probably more variations on weapons disarms than you have ever seen. We wish the pictures were a little bigger but they are more than adequate. Mr. Han JianZhong has wide experience. His father studied martial arts and the son took it up specializing in the MeiHuaZhuang (Plu Blossom Poles) Boxing as well as Xing Yi and Qi Gong. He has trained in many security agencies especially around Beijing. He is also the head of the MeiHuaZhuang Research Association. He has written a number of books mostly focused on MeiHua style and Chin Na. He has also taught and been associated with numerous organizations. This no-nonsense edition covers, among others, the following situations:
Knife defenses/ Short Stick Defenses/ Large Knife attacks/ Staff Attacks
Ax Attacks/ Belt Attacks/ Bottle Attacks/ Chair Attacks/ Shovel Attacks/ Basic Movements
Form and Usage/ Technique Principles
Chinese Jiujitsu - C111
by You Feng Biao
Traditional Chinese Characters; $14.95, 140
pages, NO illustrations, softbound
This book is on Chinese JiuJitsu, no not Chin Na. It is a truly unusual test with NO ILLUSTRATIONS but still of great historical interest. This was pointed out by Russ Smith an expert on Malaysian martial arts and Japanese/Chinese martial intersections. This is considered the FIRST book in Chinese on Jiujitsu. It has numerous sections on grappling all, oddly enough, without any illustrations other than a few spot illo's of people riding horses and such. The mystery thickens as we note that the bulk of the book is a description of Five Ancestors booking, giving a lot of information about how each sub-style contributed to the whole of this art. There is even a section on the Five Ancestors Saber, all without illustrations. A historic landmark in a number of ways.
Chinese Wrestling, Shuai Jiao - TC225
by Huang Bin
Traditional Chinese Characters; $12.95, 155
pages, 115 illustrations, softbound
This is basically an easy reference guide for beginning Shuai Jiao. It starts with a historical perspective with some reproductions of old artwork. The warm up section has some standard stretches but also some specifically geared toward this art. Strength training comes next. Then the bulk of the book, over 60 pages, deals with basic throws and techniques. The illustrations are clear and simple though not inspired. All this is followed by a section on Shuai Jiao competition. Lastly comes short biographies of famous shuai jiao practitioners and matches.
72
Techniques of Chin Na - TC621
by
Li Ying Arng
Traditional Chinese Characters; $14.95, 117
pages, photographs and illustrations, softbound
This book has been around for a long time. We initially purchased
it at the beginning of our training years ago. Many martial
artists have at least seen it. This is Li Ying Arng's investigation
into the principles of Chin Nah. It is unusual in that it
contains rough anatomy charts, points located on skeletal
drawings, techniques photographed and explicated (one picture
each), swipes from Versailles, sections on Issuing Power and
more. Probably one of the first Kung Fu books coming to the
attention of many Western practitioners because, after all,
we could understand the pictures.
72
Hands of Chin Na - TC608
by Li
Ying Arng
Traditional Chinese Characters; $14.95, 146
pages, illustrations and photographs, softbound
This is a classic in the field. One of the best systems of Chin
Nah AS Chin Na is known as the 72 Hands or some times the Devil's
Hand. We worked an extraordinary teacher of this many years
ago and we can attest to it efficacy. Though the photographs
are muddy and old they show final positions on a number of joint
locking techniques. Some anatomical charts. Li himself performing
a rare single person Chin Na set. Worth having in your library
for historical if no other reasons.
36
Methods of CHIN NA - TC605
by Jin
Bing Wei et al.
Traditional Chinese Characters; $12.95, 142 Pages, Softbound. Clear line drawings
Actually this is a pretty good little book. It covers many
aspects of Chin Nah including acupuncture points, training
equipment, partner strengthening exercises, gripping practices
and 36 techniques well drawn and clearly shown. The applications
are strung together in a formal sequence which, considering
Chin Nah's tactile emphasis is not a bad idea. One of the
more useful applications of two-person choreographed training
is to habituate the student to the hold BEFORE it gets too
serious.
88
Chin Nah Techniques & Counters - TC603
by Han Jian Zhong
Traditional Chinese Characters; $14.50, 287 Pages, over 350 photographs, softbound
This is a text showing the "military" use of Chin
Na. The photos in this volume are pretty good showing not only
applications but an occasional close up for detail. "Fan"
Chin Na is also mixed in so, in some cases, not only the technique
but the counter actions are shown. A good, illustrated text
especially for the general actions of the art. The final section,
in text form, gives exercise methods real ting to Chin Na.
Lion Books of Taiwan
This includes Lion's wonderful Blue Cover Reprint series which offers rare and out-of-print books at excellent prices...
Classic
Lion Book Reprint: C042X
Rope Restraints
by ShangHai Police Training Institute
$11.95 Traditional Chinese Characters;
69 pages, illustrated.
BuShengShu. This is truly an unusual, though traditional, part of Chin
Nah skills. This is a training manual - publication date unknown - on
methods to prevent criminals from fleeing. This book is filled with methods
to bind a felon with ropes and control him. An unusual arrest method.
to say the least. But this was proposed as a skillful substitute for handcuffs.
Such forms of binding were used traditionally in China to take criminals
to the magistrate and this was an attempt to introduce these methods into
modern police work. A rare text reprint.
Classic
Lion Book Reprint: C008X
Chinese Wrestling Methods
by Tong Zhong Yi
$12.95 Traditional Chinese Characters;
202
pages
This
has everything from the cutting pattern for a shuai jiao top down to
the exercises methods for building technique. Many neat old pictures
of postures and applications for Chinese wrestling. Written in 1935
(republished 2002) the author lived from 1878 to 1963.Special training
with belts and short poles to master the throws. Warm up and Chi Kung
exercises. Power training methods and of course beautiful antique pictures
of throws applied and completed. An essential work for those interested
in the grappling arts.
See English translations of this text available through PLUM.
Classic
Reprint: C006
Chin Nah Methods
by Liu Jin Sheng & Zhao Jiang $10.95 Traditional Chinese Characters;
78 pages.
Chin
Nah, the art of locking and strangling, is a key element of every style
in Chinese Martial Arts. Here is a 2002 reprint of a famous 1936 text
by Liu Jin Sheng. Over 90 great photographs show very direct and authoritative
applications of the art of Chin Nah. Red-lettered notes clarify text,
including some specifics about pressure points. An early classic book
on joint-locking. This was said to be a secret family manual from Liu's
own grandmother which, even after years of learning other styles he found
to be very valuable.