5 comments about Untraditional Hsing-I.

1. I am willing to let the lack of reference to the internal aspects slide since some people choose to focus on the forms and save the internal stuff for classes. So with that said, fine, I looking past this being a more "external" version of Xingyi (which is basiclly a contridiction to the art), or military Xingyi (Hsing-I).
   But the form, the technique being demonstrated here is horrific. The idea this is being taught to people is frightening. He is practically leaning over his front foot and just looks awkward and hardly smooth enough to actually be useful. Even from a Wushu/Kungfu perspective, the form is terrible and the body mechanics are just dangerously ineffective if ever used. If you want real books on Xingyi (Hsing-I) Liang Shou-Yu/Yang Jwing Ming, Robert Smith, Lin Jianhua, or find some VCD/DVD's of Xingyi. Do not get this book.



2. As a martial artist interested in the internal family of chinese boxing, I found this book very helpful in bridging a certain gap between the esoteric teachings and the basic fighting philosophy. It allowed me to BEGIN to discover Hsing-I. Most other works on the subject are either to short and simple (Smith/Pittman) or too complex (Jin or Sun) for the uninitiated. Not all books can be useful at every stage, especially for those who are already exponents of subject matter. Secondly, internal work is something that should boost your external form. There is nothing wrong with first discovering form. You can not simply go directly to point C. You have to go through A and B first! In short, a good book on basic body mechanics for the uninitiated.



3. The title says it all really!
   "Untraditional Hsing-i"! is exactly what this book describes.
   
   Not only is it un-traditional it is un-authentic, & incorrect in so many ways that it would be impossible to list them.
   
   This is exactly the problem with so many people in the west, where they do not understand the principles of an asian art, so they bastardise it and drop all the important and significant aspects that actually make the art what it is, resulting in a very and in this case I do mean Very poor shadow of the real thing.
   I'm truly frightened that this person Robb Whitewood has the nerve to claim 1. to be a master of anything, and 2. to be qualified to teach this art.
   An appalling book.
   Sorry but that is the truth. The only reason it gets 1 star is that there is not an option for zero.



4. This little gem does what few other books on the subject have managed to; namely, it's clarified proper posture for Hsing-i Chuan. It is not possible to manifest internal power, nor is it possible to gain the coveted health benifits associated with good chi flow if the body is not aligned correctly. If you are looking to learn to grasp the root of true internal power, and intend to use your art for FIGHTING, then this is THE reference to supplement your formal instruction.
   
   It is true that there is little mention of the usual esoteric jargon so often present in other volumes, but in my opinion this is a strength, not a weakness. If you've had trouble understanding how your teacher and seniors manage to be so much more efficent and powerful than you in class, this volume should shed some light on how to recognize and shore up your weaknesses in plain English.
   
   In the words of Tai Chi master T.T. Liang, "Learn from everyone, and read as much as you can. Even if you don't understand or agree with it all, you will be a better martial artist."



5. I really have to shake my head at some of the reveiews this book has received. People get too caught up in the whole "chi" paradigm and think that everything must use chi-based terminology to explain this art. There is PLENTY out there on the "internal" and chi aspects of these arts, but this is one of the VERY few that actually has some useful information from the point of view of physics and body mechanics.
   
   This book also includes a short, but valuable section on the use of Hsing-I combinations in actual combat, which is extremely important but NEVER seen in any book on the subject.
   
   The title is a little misleading though. This is simply straightforward traditional Hsing-I, the untraditional part is in how he explains the art. Even though Whitewood's Hsing-I differs from the method I have trained in, this is still a valuable text with much food for thought.

1 comments about Hsing-I.

1. This book is a great overview of Hsing-I Chuan in general, and the Shen Lung Hsing-I of the late master Hsu Hong Ji in particular.

No comments about Hsing-I Chuan.

1 comments about ASIAN MIND-BODY TECHNIQUES REVEALED: SECRETS FOR REDUCING STRESS AND IMPROVING HEALTH.

1. This is a welcome addition to exercise physiology and martial arts literature by an experienced researcher and teacher in both these fields. There is a merging of exercise science with Asian martial arts instruction which is often lacking scientific background. There is a wealth of information on diet, exercise, health risk factors, pain, flexibility along with evaluation of these factors in relation to martial arts.
   The first sections of the book are related to the health benefits of exercise. Ten causes of death are listed. The author defines metabolic syndrome and discusses research on risks of heart attack such as inflammation and stress and how exercise reduces them. The basics of exercise and measurement of power during exercise are described. There is a review of research on the benefits of exercise on health problems such as diabetes and aging. Different types of training such as aerobic and anaerobic and importance of a balanced program and methods of flexibility are described.
   He then goes on to describe Indian, Russian, Japanese and Chinese methods of exercise and the martial arts of some of these countries. A description and history of Yoga and Chinese internal martial arts of T'ai-Chi, Hsing-I Ch'uan, and Pa-Kua Chang and also Ch'i Kung and meditation are discussed and the health benefits of T'ai-Chi and Ch'i Kung are pointed out. Different styles of T'ai Chi are described. In some sections step by step instructions are given such as Soaring Crane Ch'i Kung and the first section of the short form of Yang style T'ai Chi. Numerous references are given in each chapter. The book is meant as a supplement to class study but has many pictures of some of the forms.

No comments about The Book of Soft Martial Arts: Finding Personal Harmony with Chi Kung, Hsing I, Pa Kua and T'ai Chi.

1 comments about Chinese Internal Boxing: Techniques of Hsing-I & Pa-Kua.

1. Has forms and they are good forms. Both of the authors are respectable master of their styles. I just wished that there would have been applications with the forms mentioned.

5 comments about Hsing-I: Chinese Internal Boxing (Chinese Martial Arts Library).

1. Allen Pittman and Rober Smith offer a simple, insightful introduction to the internal art of Hsing-I Chuan. A short history and some general guidelines are followed by a complete forms section including 5 Elements and 12 Animals sets. The book is not meant to be comprehensive, and it achieves its goal of giving the reader a real sense of what the art is about. The only down side is in comparison to Robert Smith's orignial Hsing-I book, this one comes out a bit the lesser. It is missing the pictures of the old masters, and their chapter of invaluable advice. It is also missing the two-man exercises and applications. Hsing-I players will want to have this book, however, as it gives a valuable reference in terms of forms comparison, and offers some valuable advice on the goals of practice. The final piece of which is :"Therefore, in order to best perfect your Hsing-I skills, always work hard and remain humble."



2. A straight-forward guide, it provides coverage of the five elements and the twelve animals of Hsing-I and should be useful to beginners. Heaven knows, my copy has been well-used. The illustrations and descriptions of the movements are fairly easy to follow. It's not an in-depth coverage and does not claim to be, but it does present the basics and touches a bit on the history and philosophy behind the art.



3. A straight-forward guide, it provides coverage of the five elements and the twelve animals of Hsing-I and should be useful to beginners. Heaven knows, my copy has been well-used. The illustrations and descriptions of the movements are fairly easy to follow. It's not an in-depth coverage and does not claim to be, but it does present the basics and touches a bit on the history and philosophy behind the art.



4. I enjoyed some of the writing vignettes, other than that, ya stretch, ya breathe, ya throw some punches. Nice.
   If your only gonna buy one martial arts type book, buy another one.



5. I believe the authors are among the first to introduce hsing-i chuan (pinyin: xingyiquan) to western audiences. In presenting a complete core hsing-i curriculum, together with fundamental concepts and training, the authors textualize the bio-mechanics and forms behind the 5 fists and 12 animals. Also included are sections on hsing-i lineage, martial wisdom and philosphy.
   
   This is mainly a reference material, as Books and DVDs do not make good primary instructional material for martial arts, so plan on attending a seminar or finding a good local school to get the most from this book.

5 comments about The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I.

1. This tome is of the Power within, recommended to those that follow Bushido and Chivalary.
   To Thine I say these words
   Be Strong, Be true
   Never in Malice, Never in Hate , Never in evil shall this blade be raised. But in righteousness and Justice forever shall it shine
   Be Victorious
   Our time will come



2. A wise man once said something akin to "Those who know, do not speak. Those who do not know, speak." Another wise man once said "A teacher is someone who started before you."
   
   Undoubtedly mr. Frantzis is an intelligent, talented, well-trained, eloquent person, fluent in so and so many languages. However, I find the amount of excessive pride either attributed to or claimed by the author himself (i do not know what is the case) somewhat troubling. I prefer my teachers humble and modest. Boasting creates unnecessary boundaries and thresholds that merely obscure the arts. Besides, how much time and energy is waisted because of protocol? I'm sure many people can relate to this (though protocol can be beneficial too sometimes).
   
   The internal arts mentioned in this book to me seem to be all the more interesting and profoundly inspiring because they are accessible to all. We are all beginners in a field that knows no point of arrival, no stage of absolute attainment of perfection. I guess every field needs its gospel and prophets. What a shame. I wonder whether this is really something mr. Frantzis really aspires.
   
   Nonetheless an awesome book, very inspiring and informative.



3. Sadly there are a lot of people who are misled but the subtitle that says: "Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I." And I see how it can be, I don't think this subtitle should have been used. Otherwise it's a very informative book.
   People who posted negative reviews on this book do have points. The book does have structure issues. The book seems a bit chaotic when you read it. Another thing people mention is author's "self-praise." While I do find that there could have been less of it, I don't find it horrible or obstructing your reading flow.
   This book is packed with information. Not much for practical knowledge, but there's a lot of info as far as theory goes. But what some don't understand I guess, is that it's an axiom. Even book on strictly technique can practically help you only so much. The book cannot develop your fast-twitch muscles, cannot give you sharp reflexes, techniques, or supply you with Chi (Ki, Hei). No matter how attractive the word "secrets" in title sounds, there's no secret or magical way to improve. What "secrets" means in this book is an explanation of energy work, the other way to view human body for martial applications and such. Also "secrets" in this book are the knowledge and wisdom of the great martial artists the author had privilege to train with. If you can see this knowledge and apply it to your training or not is up to you.
   This is not a book about techniques of internal martial arts, but rather it helps you understand what are you learning: all the energy, technical or mechanical works behind internal martial arts. Kind of like explaining you how the plane works rather than teaching you to pilot it.
   All in all it's a great book which is rather misunderstood (partly because of subtitle).



4. I think this is a book that would be most enjoyable to those who wish to add to their intellectual or theoretical knowledge of the internal martial arts. It may come as a disappointment to those looking for a "how-to" manual, and I doubt anything mentioned in the book really ranks as a true "combat secret." However, the book does contain a decent amount of information on a subject that normally does not see a lot of exposure (or at least not as much as many would like). While certainly not comprehensive (not all variations of bagua, xingyi, or tai chi are explored, which would no doubt be an exhaustive project spanning several volumes) it is useful as a comparative resource. I found the personal anecdotes charming and often inspiring, though perhaps lacking in credibility at times. Some things the author writes about may have to be taken with a grain of salt, but overall I enjoyed the text and found it useful. I would suggest, however, that those looking for actual techniques to practice look elsewhere.



5. This book offers interesting stories about Frantzis' encounters with legendary masters and others. Also, it provides some food for thought on the internal Chinese martial arts. On the other hand, it can be a bit verbose and most of what you read probably won't make much difference to your everyday practice. This is definitely not a "how-to" book on any of these arts.

5 comments about Hsing-I: Chinese Mind-Body Boxing.

1. This is one of the best books available on the subject of Martial Arts.
   The book is on a specific subject - Internal Martial Arts (of China) known as Hsing-I. The illustrations with pictures are lucid. The book covers basic principles, basic techniques, philosophies, all the 12 style forms, brief history and biographies of masters, masters' advices, applications to self defence and a lot more. It very clearly explains why Hsing-I is known as Mind-Body Boxing. The author has put his heart into writing about Hsing-I. The scientific approach of a western mind combined with the author's expertise in the oriental subject make the book complete, thorough and interesting. The book is complete in itself on the subject. It also explains importance of Chi (Energy or Pran) cultivation that is the basis of all the internal martial arts including Hsing-I.
   
   The book provides a complete and thorough knowledge on Hsing-I.
   It is a complete reference on the subject.
   
   Very rarely have I seen a martial arts book so interesting, lucid and complete.



2. This book was one of the earlier books on martial arts that I purchased. Not knowing a thing about martial arts at the time, I couldn't get my mind around much of what was presented. On the other hand, I loved the stories within and the "advice of the masters" segment right away. I remember staring intently at the pictures of Yuan Dao, Paul Guo and especially the little section featuring the five elements done by Wang Shu Jin. Taken in an unposed mid-action way, they really convey Wang's dynamic actions. Having since studied both Xingyiquan and Baguazhang for more than a decade, I have come to realize what a goldmine was presented here. This book still lays, beaten and tattered, littered with highlighting and notes, on my bookshelf. This is because the book presented Xingyi postures by highly skilled practitioners along with excellent guides to its meaning and practice. Newer books may show more material, or translate large tracts of key points, but this book still has the goods: first rate practitioners showing their art. Recently when giving a gift to a person I wanted to get interested in Xingyi, I still chose this book.



3. It's a nice book as a extra guidance if you already practice Xing Yi. If you are seeking a manual, this book is not for you. The book only goes to describe everything, but it never shows many pictures. And the 12 animals are barely touched upon. Once again nice introduction or extra guidance, but not a manual.



4. This book was instantly my favorite book on martial arts. It is moderately detailed, but the pictures of the masters, as well as the great stories and advice, make this book priceless. I myself am not experienced in this beautiful art of Hsing-I Chuan (i hope to be in the future though), but I can definitely tell this book is something good--great, actually. I also liked the applications, though many most likely will not work in a real life conflict. The fact that two full forms are listed, and a comparison is made against the orthdox method (in which the whole form is shown, making it 3 forms in a way). This book is superb



5. This is one of my favorite books in my martial arts library. It contains a wealth of information, most of which are forms, on the major internal style of Hising-I chuan (or else known as Xingyi quan). It also shows applications in combat, with step-by-step instructions for everything. Its real treasures, though, are the stories about the masters, and the advice the masters themselves give. Not to mention the really cool pictures of a few of them doing the techniques themselves! Awesome book.

5 comments about The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi: Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-I.

1. As a meditator and Urantia Book reader who has been interested since some time ago in the development of 12 senses as suggested in:
   
   "The average special physical-sense endowment of human beings is twelve, though the special senses of the three-brained mortals are extended slightly beyond those of the one- and two-brained types; they can see and hear considerably more than the Urantia races." The Urantia Book[49:4.3]
   
   It was a real surprise for me to find in this most profound book by Bruce Frantzis that:
   
   "In Eastern thought, humans have two different kinds of senses -external and internal...However, most people are unware of the more subtle capacities of their correspondent internal or psychic sense, those that enable them to access and use chi's most subtle qualities"pag319
   
   In fact before reading this excellent book I already had envisioned these 10 senses, I had called the Cosmic sense, and additionally I had already envisioned the "spiritual essence of the Who I Am", as a sense, the sense of the Being... and that sense that permitted Ancient Taoists envisioned unity in duality, represented in their yin-yang symbol, the dialogic sense, making them the 12 senses described in UB.
   
   Another thing that has liked me the most in this book is the use of synergy instead of entropy in manipulating the inner energy, something that explains why in the West there is a great need of a paradigm schift that include not only the outer senses, but also the inner senses to make a better approach to Eastern Inner science.
   
   I highly recommend this book!!!



2. This book is not quite what I expected. I agree there was very detailed information related to these three internal marital arts, but without diagram or pictures or other familiarity with the styles it was very hard to follow. The information of the masters and the various styles were interesting and allowed me more overall knowledge related to the martial arts and its history. I was not a big fan of Frantzis' style of writing. Most of the time he was more about trying to show off who he knew, studied with, and his own personal judgment of the various martial arts. I found him somewhat egotistical, which is supposed to be a trait a true martial artist strives not to be. I rated this two stars only for the general information and history of these internal arts and I have not read another book that contained this information to date. Most of his information on healing arts and spirituality of martial arts is (in my opinion) a blush of the subject and not depth and way too dramatic in his presentation of the material. If I find another book that has the history detail, I'd down grade this to only one star.



3. Dont waste your money, I did learn from my mistake. More a history book than anything else. Very boring.



4. This guy knows what he is talking about. Bruce Frantzis is the first author i have found that has truely experienced internal martial arts thouroghly and deeply enough to write this book. I found this book very inspiring and helpful in my training and i cant wait to check out his other books.



5. When one buys a martial art book, one would expect to learn some extra tricks (for experienced practitioner) or to use the book as a learning tool to jump start one's learning (for beginner). This book failed both. And it boggled my mind as how the author can claim his book as exposing the "combat and energy secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-I". No beef here, except his own publicity.
   
   The one picture does seem to be the sole tool to do the task: The fa-jing ("externalizing" internal power) demonstration in the cover. It is however not an uncommon fa-jing demonstration by some tai-chi practitioners, with the prerequisite being that the "opponent" needed to be compliant, and simple muscle relaxation will nullify the "dramatic" effect, i.e. it can't be (or is not meant to be) used in actual combat situations.
   
   If one is interested to know (and learn) the way how an internal martial artist trains himself for power (the same power as used by Bruce Lee or Muhammad Ali, as all physical powers obey the same physical law, it is ONLY the training method that differs. An efficient use of (internal) power can be trained by either the external or internal training method or a combination), one can refer to books, for example, by Master Lam Kam Chuen (I-style, main tool of training: fighting-style zhan zhuang - a modern and simple method) or Mantak Chia's tai-chi book (tai-chi, main tool of training being rooting, classical method). Without offering a training method, the picture only serves to mystify the power practice of internal martial art, which is not conducive to the healthy propagation of the art. Or perhaps, it is the objective of the author to mystify, after all, there are folks around who don't want to put in a lot of effort to train themselves, but would rather fantasize himself being able to throw someone out into the sky like some superman, some day in the future!