Crane Boxing Styles
There are a number of boxing methods which are built on the actions of the crane. This beautiful and graceful bird has inspired Kung Fu styles from Fukien in the east to Tibet in the west. Distinctive and intriguing it has also inspired imitators and consolidators anxious to incorporate the special techniques they in Crane Boxing. Some of these are the famous Five Ancestors styles, the art of Karate itself and the Hung version of Tiger Crane boxing. In the core Crane style itself there are also subdivisions such Hungry Crane and Diving Crane forms. Unfortunately there are few books in English on this style but Plum does have representative studies in DVDs, VCDs and Chinese texts.
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#KA024 Authentic WHITE CRANE Kung Fu: Fujian Zhao 'An County, White Crane Kung Fu, Flying Crane Branch
by Grandmaster Lee Joo-Chian and Master Lorne Bernard
224 pages, Softbound, MANY excellent photos
In traditional Kung Fu, we often talk about the shape of an Art, although that shape cannot always be easily defined. It might include a short list of specific qualities, a couple of hard-won principles, certain approaches to its qigong, methods learned from its secret songs…It is elusive and typically closely-held. The experienced eye might detect it when it is present, but it is uncommon to know its many aspects.
Grandmaster Lee, along with Master Bernard, have managed to produce a text that defines authentic Fujian Flying White Crane Kung Fu. It is remarkable. This is the book that all practitioners, no matter the style, hope to uncover among their teacher’s treasured possessions.
Instead of producing a 1,000-page tome with each routine photographed step-by-step, they chose to present aspects that, normally, you would only get from your own teacher, touching hands in class, or sitting in the office after class, listening to the old stories.
To give justice to the depth of the subjects, we’ve reprinted the book’s Table of Contents (click image), but even then we want to mention a few outstanding sections:
- The Flying Crane approach to Staff Fighting Techniques
- Principles of Breathing in White Crane
- A fascinating article on how to determine if a style is traditional and authentic
- Formulas, Verses and Maxims of White Crane, previously secret
- Two-person sets, Push Hands, and the rare routine, “Two Dragons Come Out of the Sea”
Not only will the reader add to their knowledge of traditional White Crane Kung Fu, but after reading this book they will add to their knowledge of traditional Chinese martial arts.
10% Discount if ordered with Sifu Bernard's book (below) or his DVDs
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#KW010 Shaolin WHITE CRANE Kung Fu
by Lorne Bernard
See the DVD companions for this book.
"In
life there come few opportunities to train with a fantastic
martial artist, like in his home in Malaysia, and get in
depth understanding of his art and all of its subtleties.
For most of us, this is something far beyond our wildest
dreams. For Shifu Lorne Bernard, this was his experience.
Now he had taken it upon himself to share all he has gained
with you."
So
starts the blurb on the back of this new book. Mr. Bernard
indeed delivers on this because this book is a work of love.
Not only does he introduce us to White Crane but he makes
many comments from the standpoint of someone who actually
cares about his art and the misinterpretations that are
starting to eat away at the core of Kung Fu.
White
Crane is an interesting style particuarly for those who
are researching the origins of Karate. It is also a style
strongly represented in Taiwan. In addition there are some
very interesting parallels involved in the relationship
between White Crane and Wing Chun.
Items
in this book include:
An historical overview of Southern China's Fujian
province martial arts legacy
A detailed history of White Crane
Two person practice forms
Street situations and real fighting combinations
Traditional conditioning methods
An overview of weaponry assoicated with this Southern
Kung Fu system
One
of the foremost proponents of the system in North America
is Shifu Lorne Bernard, based in Montreal. In addition to
teaching at two schools in the Montreal region, Shifu Bernard
has arranged for White Crane to be taught at two major universities:
Concordia and Universite du Quebec: Montreal.
Mr.
Bernard is a dedicated instructor who expresses concerns
shared by many of his fellow teachers. He is frank but kind.
He does something few other martial writers do; he mentions
discussing his issues with friends and respected teachers
from other styles. A profitable book in many ways.
Learn
more about Fujian
White Crane Boxing
Order the DVD companions with this book, and get a great discount!
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#KS024 Shaolin WHITE CRANE Kung Fu
by Yang Jwing Ming
Probably
Yang Jwing Ming's best book. He studied with Chung Gin Tsao
in Taiwan in the early days so his White Crane is respectable.
If you are familiar with Yang's books you may have the same
general objections we do. As a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
he has developed his own take on the bio-electrical origin
of Ch'i. While there may be some validity to his view he
repeats it, and many other ideas in each and every book
he produces. So, in essence, if you have bought one book
- they tend to be a little expensive - you are paying over
and over for the same information. If you eliminate this
theoretical second then the martial content of the books
if often very little. He shows basic White Crane arm exercises
and then their applications. Over 400 photographs of good
quality clearly show the actions of his techniques. Other
sections include striking equipment, Fa Jin training, and
historical information. No
forms are included.
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