Kung Fu Books

Jesse Glover has written books on Bruce Lee that stand as the only information available on how Mr. Lee was trained before coming to the United States, his training and thinking when he arrived here, and the foundation he began to evolve to arrive at his later skills. Mr. Lee did not teach his foundation, which occured during his Seattle years, after leaving Seattle. Jesse Glover is supremely qualified to discuss this foundation and time, as he was Bruce Lee's training partner, whom Mr. Lee used to work out changes, and eventually that foundation. This particular book also includes pictures and information on Wong Shun Leong, one of Bruce Lee's senior, and formative instructors, before Mr. Lee came to the U.S. In a society concerned primarily with image, perhaps it is fitting that Bruce Lee's formative years, and his foundation, remain anonymous. Mr. glover's books are the only substantive information on this subject.

This Bio on Bruce Lee by Felix Dennis and Don Atyeo is still the standard by which I measure the other biographies on this martial arts legend. This book takes the generally accepted chronilogical format in detailing Bruce's life and death. It provides enough information on his life and death without resorting to too many rumors. Although it sticks to the facts, it is not boring.

It tells the story of his martial learnings and romance with Linda Lee without becoming vouyeristic. It strikes the right amount of balance of what a "fan" should know. This may be due to the time it was written, so shortly after his death that many things were not yet known or for the simple fact that these writers had some integrity and avoided endless silly sketches on his life.

The book is also an easy read (I have had this book since 9). The photos are now old, but are mixed well in the book and a few I have not seen in other materials. This is a classic text, and a must for Bruce Lee fans.

Kung Fu has an art side known as "forms practice". One of the oldest representatives of this folk art comes from the 1500 year continuous heritage of the Shaolin Temple. Silly movies and carnival acrobatics aside, there really is a long tradition here and the "Canon Fist" is a well known form in this tradition. This book, both in English and Chinese, is a very clear instructional text on how to perform this powerful and famous form. The Shaolin style is not just famous in its own right but such diverse styles as Karate and Tai Chi probably derived from this single source.

I really loved the practical side to this book. The T'ai Chi forms are particularly beautiful and the supplementary exercises made my legs MUCH stronger. Incredible that something so simple could work as well as it did! It's only downside is a lack of explanation beyond the individual moves. If you are looking for an historical reference, this isn't it. If you want to learn T'ai Chi, this is the one. I recommend this for beginners as well as instructors.

This book was one of the first authentic, english language books on Kung Fu published. The style portrayed in this book is the Fut Gar Branch of the Sil lum (Southern Shaolin) martial arts. It contains many testimonial letters from martial artists who are now listed in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. The highlight of this book is that it accurately details the 1st and 2nd forms of the system- Lin Wan Keun, Meng Fu Har Sahn (Continuous Returning Fist, Fierce Tiger Descends Mountain). This book gives you a very clear window on Martials Arts in the 1960's. Leo Fong, who also published a book on this subject, learned it from T. Y. Wong.
When I originally wrote this review I described the Kung Fu style as Fut Gar. New information accurately identifies this syle as a synthesis of Hung and Toy (Choi) Gar syles developed by Leong Tin Chee and further modified by Prof. T. Y. Wong. For more information visit the "Kin Mon" Sil Lum web site. (SKM)

Chinese Kung-Fu Training methods is very straight forward. Its a book that gets straight to the point. The pictures are very colorful and precise. There are three books in all. The first one is on offensive and defensive fighting. The second book is on boxing for men and women, the last one is on weapons. I would encourage anyone who is interested on chinese kung-fu to go out and buy this book!

Product as promised with very quick shipping. Thank you, it was good doing business with you.

This is a difficult book to locate, and I managed to find a worn copy from the early 80s at a discount bookstore. The book covers basics, including of course, the history of CLF. There are 2 forms in the book, a Horse stance form, and a long range fighting form. It covers in detail different blocks, footwork and methods of attack, and application of the art. While by no means complete, it is a very detailed and written book covering alot of aspects of CLF. I reccommend this above the one written by Doc Fai Wong.

Volume 2 Close Range Combat Wing Chun is an excellent book very well explained and presnted, it covers a variety of areas, this book is for all kung fu followers. The only draw back i see with this book is its availability it is very difficult to find. If your having these problems contact the publisher ([...]) as i did and you can purchase all 3 to the set

This style was as radical for its time as Bruce Lee's effort later. Da Cheng Chuan (Great Achievement Boxing) is an earlier name for what is mostly called Yi Quan (Intent Boxing) now, a derivative of Xing Yi Kung Fu. This was a radical departure and an attempt at modernization during a rough time in Chinese history. Da Cheng abandons many classical Kung Fu practices such as forms. However it deepens the involvement in other traditional methods such as "standing practice" where the practitioner takes various postures to develop power. Fighting and healing skills are developed. A truly interesting system with detractors and proponents.