Bow Sim Mark
Highly regarded thoughout the martial world, Sifu Bow Sim Mark has demonstrated the true meaning of the warrior spirit generating its own many mirrors and bright images.
Several times "Hong Kong Woman of the Year," her reputation has grown to include her family—clearly demonstrating the advantage of hard and continued practice. Sifu Mark also heads The Chinese Wushu Reasearch Institute, and the separate Bow Sim Mark Tai Chi Arts Association, both in Massachusetts.
Notably, Sifu Mark has contributed prolifically to the instructional literature of Chinese martial arts. When seeing her perform, one often wishes to be able to catch her martial spirit; her books and DVDs offer a way to do that.
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NEW! KW047 Wushu Basic Training
Bow Sim Mark, 1994, 158 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $20.00
English text with the names of the moves in Chinese charactersOf all the wushu texts released by Sifu Mark, we believe this is the crown. It is chockfull of training for conditioning, flexibility, high kicking (not mandatory), and circular movement. The Table of Contents illustrates its breadth: Basic Exercises including stancework, waistwork, legwork, and armwork; Basic Movements including Punching, Pushing, Kicking, Jumping, Balancing, Spinning Tumbling and Flipping. Tremendous stretches useful at any level of work.
This text, even today, offers a major instructional resource, while presenting additional inspirational and pictorial training. A classic honored10% discount for three or more of Sifu Mark's Products (discount shown in shopping cart)
NEW! KR002 Rooting Pine Exercises: Essence of Tai Chi Chi Kung
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for this item.Bow Sim Mark, 1994, 50 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with much en face Chinese (characters), including the names of the moves
These 6 simple actions are designed to focus your concentration on areas of intent and overall relaxation. This booklet's good for long term students, who have spent time perfecting their skill. This learnable routine may owe much to the most famous Ba Duan Jin.Nicely done: this practice essentially offers the "stillness" end of the spectrum, while the patterned physical exercises give you the "active side" of the spectrum. Sifu Mark’s approach also personalizes, to an extent, the practice: if certain movements are resistive, you may take a separate "root" to increase your skill.
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NEW! KT065 Taste of Tai Chi
Bow Sim Mark, 1998, 47 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with much en face Chinese (characters), including the names of the movesBefore you dismiss Sifu Mark’s simple 12 step Tai Chi form as being too small, understand that the movements that she chose are core or universal movements, and in learning these, you're putting yourself far ahead for studying Tai Chi. The consolidation introduces key concepts, even including some two-person push-hand exercises with an emphasis on flexibility and shape.
If you are already a Tai Chi practitioner, you can only benefit from having something simple that you can do in a hotel room, in a confined space, or maybe, for a few minutes, before you go to bed at night. And if you don't know Tai Chi, then hers is a great first step.
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KT066 Taste of Tai Chi: Two Person Form
Bow Sim Mark, 1998, 24 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with much en face Chinese (characters), including the names of the movesThis short, two-person routine uses both ‘mirrored’ poses—each partner duplicates their opponent’s moves, like ‘single whip’ vs. ‘single whip’—as well as attack/defense postures—one partner attacking lightly and the other countering with soft responding movements. Nothing here looks like one need be further along than intermediate level to learn and benefit. If partnered intelligently, the pair should enjoy this well-balanced "formal" routine.
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KT067 Tai Chi Beginning
Bow Sim Mark, 2001, 17 instructional pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with en face Chinese (characters), including the names of the moves
Includes about 25 pages of additional material on Sifu Bow Sim Mark, her books, DVDs, articles, magazine covers, etc.
When Sifu Mark was asked about her youthful appearance and obvious vitality she replied, "Tai Chi."With excellent insight, she has created a very special beginning text, breaking down and teaching the building blocks of Tai Chi. In 40 ‘steps,’ she discusses 7 ‘movements’: Preparation, Tai Chi Beginning, Wave Hands Like Clouds, Grasp the Bird’s Tail, Single Whip, Cross Hands, and Conclusion, with additional Technique Explanations related to Pivot.
The movements in this volume are fundamental: stepping, pivoting, simple arm movements and general placements. In addition, photos introduce relatively simple moves like Single Whip and Cloud Hands.
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KT068 Tai Chi Broadword
Bow Sim Mark, 1994, 45 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with en face Chinese (characters), including the movement instructionTo master the much acclaimed broadsword is to gain some of Kung Fu's key skills. Where the straight sword is, in ways, linear and cornered, the broadsword is dominated by a wide range of spinning, circling, and folding movements. It is a beautifully choreographed instrument, moving with extreme efficiency and blinding speed. Broadsword energizes the audience just by the spherical actions of the body and the constant changing of the supple spine.
The abbreviated instructional text in Sifu Mark’s booklet shows a considerably advanced and even dangerous—if not respected—routine. The first section is single person, followed by a saber-fights-saber fencing routine. Overall success lies in a lot of practice and a good understanding of the techniques for the Chinese Saber.With that in mind, this book makes for a kind of instructor's bible, a valuable addition.
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KT069 Tai Chi Dragon Fan
Bow Sim Mark, 1994, 66 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with much en face Chinese (characters), including the movement instructionsWhat makes the Fan—which many practitioners disdain—so formidable in the hands of a warrior, or so lovely when the entire body—engaged—takes on the graceful art of a Chinese ink brush?
Sifu Mark shows us that it is not one thing, but many: the hands, eyes, stances, opening, folding; the sliding, soft, light-footed movements which massage joints and muscles, gently emphasizing the transformation inherent in good health practice.
This form mimics the wave-like swimming of the Dragon, reaching sky-blue heights then plummeting to ocean depths, with coordinated actions that slide past one another as they should, in fan and body.
As Sifu Mark says, “Fan exercise is therefore good for training both the hard and soft forces. It also helps develop a cultured mind. The fan is simultaneously valuable as a sport and an art.” She is rightly renowned for her Tai Chi Dragon Fan.
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KC075 Combined Internal Chuan
Bow Sim Mark, 1998, 55 pages, prolific B & W Photos, $15.00
English text with the names of the moves in Chinese characters
This is a beautifully constructed form combining movements from Xing Yi Quan, Ba Gua Zhang, Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong.Made during the Year of the Tiger, Sifu Mark incorporated Tiger Claw hand/claw formation and alert eyes into the Xing Yi portion of the routine. This form is great fun to perform, and relatively easy to learn. One of the best combination sets we've seen.
10% discount for three or more of Sifu Mark's Products (discount shown in shopping cart)