Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals

Secret training manuals, magic swords, and flying kung fu masters—these are staples of Chinese martial arts movies and novels, but only secret manuals have a basis in reality. Chinese martial arts masters of the past did indeed write such works, along with manuals for the general public. This collection introduces Western readers to the rich and diverse tradition of these influential texts, rarely available to the English-speaking reader. Authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, who coauthor a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine, showcase illustrated manuals from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republican period. Aimed at fans, students, and practitioners, the book explains the principles, techniques, and forms of each system while also placing them in the wider cultural context of Chinese martial arts. Individual chapters cover the history of the manuals, Taiwanese martial arts, the lives and livelihoods of the masters, the Imperial military exams, the significance of the Shaolin Temple, and more. Featuring a wealth of rare photographs of great masters as well as original drawings depicting the intended forms of each discipline, this book offers a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture.

Secret training manuals, magic swords, and flying kung fu masters—these are staples of Chinese martial arts movies and novels, but only secret manuals have a basis in reality. Chinese martial arts masters of the past did indeed write such works, along with manuals for the general public. This collection introduces Western readers to the rich and diverse tradition of these influential texts, rarely available to the English-speaking reader. Authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, who coauthor a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine, showcase illustrated manuals from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republican period. Aimed at fans, students, and practitioners, the book explains the principles, techniques, and forms of each system while also placing them in the wider cultural context of Chinese martial arts. Individual chapters cover the history of the manuals, Taiwanese martial arts, the lives and livelihoods of the masters, the Imperial military exams, the significance of the Shaolin Temple, and more. Featuring a wealth of rare photographs of great masters as well as original drawings depicting the intended forms of each discipline, this book offers a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture.

The Complete Martial Arts Training Manual is a complete guide for anyone who has an interest in the martial arts. Having a broad knowledge of the various techniques of the martial arts gives a martial artist an expanded ability to counteract a variety of attacks and overwhelm an opponent's defenses. Author Ashley Martin shares with the reader his years of experience as a practitioner and teacher. He provides a catalog of the various martial arts being taught worldwide and their strengths and weaknesses. He then covers the basics of hand-to-hand techniques within each of those disciplines, from strikes to ground fighting. Finally, he offers information on the overall health and well being of the martial artist, including important nutritional information and stretching techniques. The Complete Martial Arts Training Manual is a solid foundation of martial arts for beginners and a key supplement for the veteran martial artist.

An advanced training course for developing a strong striking hand to deliver powerful blows using the Iron Palm martial arts technique A comprehensive guide for experienced practitioners of Chinese martial arts—including kung-fu, karate, and taekwondo—with over 200 instructive images Iron Palm is a set of martial art conditioning skills—dating back to the Shaolin Temple of 5th-century China—whose purpose is to strengthen the hand while empowering the fighter to strike with force and precision. Training is focused and incremental, requiring the guidance of an experienced master. Author, instructor, and 5-time US National Chinese martial arts Champion Phillip Starr provides the definitive guide to Iron Palm, meticulously outlining the 3 sequential steps of training: • hardening limbs • developing technique • engaging Qigong for coordinating breath and mind The end result is a more powerful and precise strike that can impact the target’s viscera with no trace on the outer body. Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 images, this book is ideal for experienced martial arts practitioners.

"Jixiao Xinshu" is a comprehensive military warfare manual, written by Ming Dynasty General Qi Jiguang in 1560. It consisted of chapters on Spear fighting, Archery, terrain, troops formation etc... One of the chapters is "Quanjing Jieyao", which contains 32 unarmed fighting stances for soldiers' training. There has been multiple attempts by various people to translate this ancient Chinese Fist manual. The ones which I've read are usually translating them literally. In order to make the translation & interpretation more meaningful, I've seeked to discover the core principles behind each of these 32 unarmed fighting stances. In this book, you'll see how these principles can be applied to any martial arts style, or any weapon. By training in these 32 martial principles, it will provide a complete & holistic training for a warrior, medieval or modern. I believe that my work in this book will help you in advancing your martial arts practice, no matter which fighting style you're from.

150 fast and effective joint locks and cavity strikes. Includes fundamental training.

In the months leading up to his death, Bruce Lee was working on this definitive study of the Chinese martial arts—collectively known as Kung Fu or Gung Fu. This book has now been edited and is published here for the first time in its entirety. Bruce Lee totally revolutionized the practice of martial arts and brought them into the modern world—by promoting the idea that students have the right to pick and choose those techniques and training regimens which suit their own personal needs and fighting styles. He developed a new style of his own called Jeet Kune Do—combining many elements from different masters and different traditions. This was considered heretical at the time within martial arts circles, where one was expected to study with only a single master—and Lee was the first martial artist to attempt this. Today he is revered as the "father" of martial arts practice around the world—including Mixed Martial Arts. In addition to presenting the fundamental techniques, mindset and training methods of traditional Chinese martial arts, this marial art treatise explores such esoteric topics as Taoism and Zen as applied to Gung Fu, Eastern and Western fitness regimens and self-defense techniques. Also included is a Gung Fu "scrapbook" of Bruce Lee's own personal anecdotes regarding the history and traditions of the martial arts of China. After Lee's death, his manuscript was completed and edited by martial arts expert John Little in cooperation with the Bruce Lee Estate. This book features an introduction by his wife, Linda Lee Cadwell and a foreword from his close friend and student, Taky Kimura. This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also features: Bruce Lee: Striking Thoughts Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon Bruce Lee: Artist of Life Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body Bruce Lee: Jeet Kune Do