"HURT" Books

A booksellers term, "hurts" are books with minor defects. Sometimes they are not even "hurt" but were in a batch the bookseller didn't want to sort. Each hurt book might have—in addition to its minor imperfection—an unobtrusive felt mark on the bottom or top pages. This is an industry mark denoting "hurt". All pages are present and attached. Each of these books is complete and an excellent and inexpensive edition for those more interested in information than cosmetics. Most problems will be: slightly stained or blemished pages on cover; light creasing and a wrinkled page or two.  
Comments by customers on Hurt Books.

On the other hand not all these books are "hurts" some are simply discounted but they may still have a blemish or two. If condition is important on these discounted items e-mail ahead and we'll see what we can do.

5/15/18 from K.K....
"Everything arrived in great condition. Your hurt books are in better shape than most regular books. Also, great job packing the order, with the cardboard. I usually don't leave feedback or comments, but everything far exceeded my expectations."

KJ005H Jeet Kune Do Basics
by David Cheng
Regularly $16.95  PLUM Price $7.95,
192 pages, softbound, illustration and photographs,

The best thing about Jeet Kune Do Basics, is the down-home and calm voice Dave Chen gives to this book. Much of it sounds like it's coming direct from recorder to your ear.

“While trapping is fascinating and enjoyable to study, students of Jeet Kune Do must be careful not to get carried away with it. It needs to be placed in its proper context in the overall scheme of the art. Otherwise, rather than being a cure, it becomes a disease.”

Though written for a "basics" series this is a surprisingly thorough view of the whole art. It might be best to have some previous knowledge of basic kicks, and strikes (regardless of your system) as there are no breakdowns on how to execute basic moves,but there is a lot of insight into when, where and why. (If you want a book detailing excellent Wing Chun Kicking Methods, we highly recommend Osmond Lam's recent text, which is getting excellent reviews).

Jeet Kune Do Basics Sections include:

• Philosophy and guiding principles
• Getting Started
• Choosing the Right School or Teacher
• Footwork and Mobility
• Five Methods of Attack
• Grappling
• Distance, Timing and Rhythm

One of the bonuses here is that the author recognizes the problems that have arisen from the fragmentation of the “styless style.” I remember the announcement and photo after Bruce Lee's death. It shows a room full of members bowing respectfully to a picture of Bruce. I couldn’t hold back the thought, “Bruce would not have liked this.” I was probably wrong, but I realized that JKD had shifted in its evolution, even if none of us knew in which direction.

You'll notice that this new acquisition is in our "hurt book" section. We have about thirty of these so-called “hurt” books (a legal definition for returned or second sale books which, as in this case, look like they just came off the bookstore shelf). You can pick up this book from us for $7.95, instead of the regular price of $16.95.

While you’re at it, don't forget that we are now restocked in the great Randy Williams DVD series (now, at a lower price, and discounted for multiple copies).

KT048H T'ai Chi Classics
by Waysun Liao
paper, 210 pages, oversized, Photographs and illustrations
Normally $14.95 PLUM "hurt book" price only $8.95 (save over 40%)

This book was originally published in 1977. We liked it then and we still like it. Sifu Liao was one of the first to detail some important conceptions such as Chi and Jing in English. He does this through charming line drawings, translations of three major Tai Chi Classics (Chang San Feng, Wong Chung Yu and Wu Yu Hsiang) and his own commentary. His approach uses basic physics and general principles of mechanics in a way that makes reasonable many sections of the Tai Chi Classics. A good text for anyone's Tai Chi library.

NOTE: This is a "hurt" book. See other discounted hurts.

KB023H Bruce Lee: The Tao of Kung Fu
the Tao of Gung Fu
by Bruce Lee edited by John Little
200 pages, softbound, photos and illustrations
Original Price $19.95 PLUM price $8.95 (save almost 60%)

There have been many (some will say too many) books on Bruce and his contribution to martial arts. This special edition, approved by Linda Lee, offers a book Bruce wrote during his time attending the University of Washington. This is the first time published and it has the simplicity and directness and, most importantly, the grappling and realizations, that would later become the basis of Lee's philosophy. It is filled with thoughts on Wu Wei, No Mindedness, notes on famous instructors, some unusual pictures. This will be an easy, relaxed read and Lee's thoughts have become so ingrained in our minds that you might forget that this is the original process from the innovator who did not necessarilty invent the viewpoint and the ides but definitely brought them to the consciousness of millions.

KC052H Chinese Internal Boxing
by Robert Smith and Allen Pittman
175 pages, softbound, photos and illustrations
Original Price $19.95 PLUM price 7.95 (save almost 60%)

A classic guide to two soft-style martial arts written by one of first and aided by the clear example of Allen Pitman's postures. We think this might be a "cut up" combining information from two other books on the same subject. It includes five elements, 12 animals and Wang Shu Jin's eight changes palms. Plus there is the background information and semi-gossipy approach that made Robert Smith one of the best read authors in the field. Somewhat sparse compared to the tomes published today but a good, solid introduction.

KE014H Essay on Man and Culture
reg. $ 16.95 Plum price: $7.95

Very short essays by Cheng Man-Ching commenting on classic paragraphs of the Confucian Canon. Selections from Cheng's more philosophical writings. A traditionalist wrestling with modern change.

KK007H Kung Fu Basics
by Paul Eng
paper, 190 pages, oversized, Photographs and illustrations
Normally 15.95 PLUM "hurt book" price only 8.95 (save almost 50%)

 

This book actually lives up the its title. In this case basics means fundamentally understanding of what you martial goals and efforts should be. This is much more than a technical book of how to do a horse stance. Sifu Paul Eng of the Tai Mantis system is a lifetime practitioner of the art. The topics he handles are the ones that teachers wished their students understood: how to practice, how much time should you spend, what is the right relationship to the teacher, how do you know if a style is right for you, overcoming discouragement, etc. This is a fine introduction because it doesn’t try to sell, it attempts to illuminate.

KM014H Master Cheng's New Method of Tai Chi Chuan Self-Cultivation
by Cheng Man Ch'ing
128 pages, softbound, illustrations, photos
Regular price $13.95, PLUM discount save 50% pay $6.95,

From the Back Cover: "Master Cheng provides practitioners with a complete and concise guide to the Short Form, enabling them to make rapid progress. Expanding from the mechanical outline in T'ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthentics for Health and Self Defense, Cheng goes into great detail describing the postures, and more importantly, how to trransition smoothly from one stance to another. As in his previus work, Cheng Tau's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan, he continues his explanation of taichi's place in the history of Chinese philosphy, drawing parallel with the I Ching, and sampling from the Yellow Emperor's Classic. For martial  artists in pursuit of internal achievement, this will be an essential volume.

KT055H T'ai Chi
Cheng Man Ching and Robert Smith
115 pages, Softbound, photographs
$19.95 PLUM price   7.95 (save almost 60%)

You can tell how early this book appeared just by the title. It's like having the phone number #16. Once, in the late sixties, I tried to learn Tai Chi from this book and I can't tell you how many other people have had a similar experience. This is the book that began the wave...with this premier text Cheng Man Ching and Robert Smith introduced Tai Chi to much of the Western world. Things have gotten a good deal more sophisticated since Cheng was presented as "the best in the world" but here is the beginning right along with the famous "reversed photographs" that so infuriated Cheng himself.