5 comments about Authentic Shaolin Heritage: Training Methods Of 72 Arts Of Shaolin.

1. The training methods described are out dated compared with todays standards. However, it's a nice book to have for historicle purpose. The secret to attaining any skill is Practice, Practice, Practice... You will notice this while reading the book.



2. This book teaches all the exercizes it promises. However, some of them could be made clearer by adding pictures or further explanation. Anyone that buys this book should be aware that the great majority of these exercizes should only be done under the supervision of a qualified teacher. Besides, all of them require patient and constant (daily) effort during at least 6 months to have some results, and from 2 to 10 years to master. I advice this book for anyone seriously engaged with studying any chinese martial art system.



3. Jin Jing Zhong's, "72 Arts of Shaolin," is an amazing compilation of training and conditioning techniques. It preserves much of the ancient Shaolin training knowledge that would otherwise have been lost after the Communist Revolution. I have added many of the techniques to my own training regimen, and I only wish that I had found this book when I was younger! Most of the practices are safe but highly taxing and require a 100% committment in order to achieve success. Others require special apparatus or setups, but none are insurmountable. I quickly discovered a few favorite exercises that I try to practice every day, and I am sure that any student reading this work will fall in love with some of them as well. A few of the exercises suggest training with "dead lead," and as far as I know, there is no way to train safely with lead. I would recommend using some of the other non-toxic heavy metal substitutes for those exercises that are readily available today. This book is truly wonderful, and contains much of the true spirit of Shaolin. I'll need to buy another one soon to replace my own dog-eared copy! Good luck-Erik.



4. This book explains alot of excercises and shows how to conditon parts that are thought to be unexcercisable. I have always admired shaolin skill, but i like thai boxing more so i bought this book on cross training my martial arts with shaolin training in order to better understand the fighting arts. Plus if your gonna do something try to be extraordianary instead of ordinary lol. This is a very good book to add to your repetoire of self improvement. Also, thank you reverand for being kick ass and shareing this incredible knowledge.



5. The book gets you back at the beginning of the 20th century, when kung-fu was for real martial purposes and when you didn't train for fun.
   
   There is a short introduction plus a highlight on the different exercices you should do every day (qi-gong), then there is 2 to 5 pages for each training method. They are mostly "hard" (and hardcore!) training, such as trying to pull nails from a plank or beating yourself with hammers, plus also training methods for speed and flexibility.
   
   There are a couple of exercices which are extremely difficult, if not impossible, such as running on walls or hitting yourself in the groin. Lots of good info though for those who want to push themselves in their kung fu training

5 comments about The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health, and Enlightenment (Tuttle Martial Arts).

1. This book is very good. It completely explains the history and philosophy of Shaolin Kung Fu. It hits the five main aspects of why a person would practice Kung Fu and follows those five main points through out the book. After reading the book, you can understand that martial arts is not just self defence, it's also a good practice to bring the mind, body, and spirit together.



2. As a beginner with my son, this book on Shaolin Kung Fu was very informative and the diagrams were very well done. The book starts with a description of what is kung fu to the many forms and techniques of the art. I would highly recommend the book to any parent trying to introduce their child to the method of self-defense.



3. I began practicing Eagle Claw Kung Fu only a couple of months ago. I bought this book during my first month. I found it very useful as a means to introduce myself into the art, and to learn about related practices such as Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Tne book also talks about Zen and the Spiritual aspects of Kung Fu.
   
   If you are interested in learning how to practice Kung Fu, definitely this is not your book. (Perhaps it is impossible to learn a martial art from a book.) This book, however, provides you with good tips to focus your training,and introduces you to the art, its philosophy, and other related and also very important practices.
   
   I strogly reccomend this book, as well as Kiew Kit's other books on Chi Kung. The author writes very clearly and his books are entertaining. He appears to master Kung Fu holistically and to be well developed in the external and internal aspects of it.



4. This book is a solid introduction in to they hows and whys of kung fu. However, reading the book and viewing the illustrations reminds you that Kung Fu is so much more... It makes you realise the need for a skilled and wise instructor. This is in itself an invaluable lesson.



5. Very comprehensive and well-written account of the Shaolin way of life. Might be a little esoteric but it is to be expected of a book intended for westerners who are eager to connect mind and body through a rigorous training and spiritual nurturing. Carefully illustrated but would be equally eloquent without the many drawings illustrating the various exercises.

5 comments about Ip Man - Portrait of a Kung Fu Master.

1. This is the first book I purchased off Amazon and read it in a day. While a thin book, it is an interesting read. The book talks about the life of the late, Great Grandmaster [Y]Ip Man, how he came to learn Ving Tsun Kung Fu, how he lived and what he was. While you could easily find a life story of him easily by a net search, this book shows more a philisophical response to his life and decisions he made, something that is not in other stories I've read on him.



2. This is the first book I purchased off Amazon and read it in a day. While a thin book, it is an interesting read. The book talks about the life of the late, Great Grandmaster [Y]Ip Man, how he came to learn Ving Tsun Kung Fu, how he lived and what he was. While you could easily find a life story of him easily by a net search, this book shows more a philisophical response to his life and decisions he made, something that is not in other stories I've read on him.



3. As somone who knows a little about Chineese traditions, it is amazing to me that such a book exists outside of the Cantonese language. This book could only have been authored by one who developed a close personal relationship with and is trusted Ip Ching with family stories and history. Thank-you for getting to know Master Ip Ching and for providing the insight all serious Kung Fu students desire; having a better knowledge of Ip Man and what motiviated him to learn and teach Kung Fu.



4. Although a fascinating read, filled with many photos of Ip Man that I had never seen before, it was not as much of a biography as I had thought.
   
   I was personally very interested in Ip Man's life in Foshan before HK and this book only touches upon it in the initial chapters, before following with chapters about his principles and examples of them in the forms of entertaining stories.
   
   The book provides a deep portrait of the master, however it is the size of a children's novel, very short in length (a paragraph or two per chapter) and many of the pages are filled with photos (not a bad thing).



5. I have decided to buy this book of our Grand Master-Teacher (Tai Shi in Cantonese) the Hon'ble Ip Man who was instrumental in bringing his style of effective empty-hand combat via Bruce Lee to the Western World. I am not looking for a book on how-to-do instructions as I am more interested in the story behind the story of the realm of Wing Chun Martial Arts which later form the basis of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Doh (The fighting art of Interception Fists & Legs). Recently, there appeared on Chinese movies the exploits of Ip Man Vol.1 and Ip Man Vol.2 produced in Hong Kong and based on the life and times of Tai Shi Ip Man.
   There will, I hope, another movie Vol. 3 on Ip Man's life and this time, I hope too, will concentrate on how he trained Bruce Lee and his students - first in Futshan (Canton) and then in Hong Kong, prior to Bruce Lee's emigration to the States. Of late, as well, there appeared a 50-episode TV series based on the life and times of Bruce Lee - i.e. from his troublesome days in school at Hong Kong, his entanglement with the dark Triads and his ultimate journey to America and became a grandmaster and superstar ultimately. Unfortunately, this very interesting story made by China Central Television Network (CCTV in 2008) was exclusively made for Mandarin-speaking viewers but subsequently duped in the Cantonese version for the Cantonese-speaking Chinese all over the world. Let's hope that CCTV would at least made an English subtitle version for the benefits of Bruce Lee's fans all over the world who neither speak or understand Chinese. May the superior fighting concepts of Ip Man and Bruce Lee continue to speak and spread all over the world in the spirit of global brotherhood. Cheers...!
   PS: In the Legend of Bruce Lee (50-episodes), he said, without exaggeration nor nationalistic, that the true source of Japanese Karate, Jujitsu, Kempo, and Korean Taewon Do were adapted originally from China's KUNGFU...and he was so damned right, pals...you may believe this or not, pals!

4 comments about The Wing Chun Compendium, Volume Two.

1. An excellent addition to the first volume, providing more insights and direction for students looking to study outside the class. I highly recommend both this and the first volume. They are some of the most comprehensive books on Ving Tsun I have read.



2. It takes dedication, enthusiasm, courage and experience to write such a comprehensive book about the last three forms of the Wing Chun system. I bought the book to look for some drills to supplement my practice, but got deeply impressed by the other part of the Compendium that deals with many non-technical issues and values of Wing Chun Kung Fu.
   
   Petar Petrov,
   Author of "Wing Chun: Unusual Discoveries Behind the Common Belief"



3. Very well researched , with simplified instruction ...
   The author has gone through extensive study and research to put this together. I recomend it to anyone who practices Wing Chun or is looking to expand their arsenal or techniques and knowledge....



4. If you already have the first volume and/or are even remotely interested in Wing Chun kung fu, you have GOT to have this book. The two together, cover all the forms of the art. It's a GIANT over-view of the system. Great explanations. Very clearly written text. You won't find yourself re-reading paragraphs for clarity on what the writer meant.

5 comments about Wing Chun Kung Fu: Traditional Chinese King Fu for Self-Defense and Health.

1. At first, I thought this book was kind of "basic". Having studied wing chun for a while under a competent sifu, I went back and the book has some really good stuff in it. First of all, it details the first form well. It also contains clear photos, and explanations from people who obviously have spent YEARS with this art (I can tell, because many of their insights can only be won after long study). I also liked the final section, which shows you the real "street fight" applications of the art, and of the techniques shown in the first form. I liked the discussion of Bruce Lee and his relationship with wing chun (to put it in a nutshell: Bruce never gave up on wing chun, and his Jeet Kune Do had wing chun as its core !). I liked the historical information on Yip Man in Hong Kong. This book really packs a lot into a short book. I really recommend it.



2. ...one might correct a few mistakes by following this book, notwithstanding the form being taught a little differently in every school. Good enough for a book, in my book. :-) The two photos on page 86 are in reverse order. Michael Tse brings a welcome combination of fluent English and unquestionable Wing Chun lineage. I also enjoyed the stories about the legendary Yip Man.



3. This is a good book for understanding what Wing Tsun (WT) is all about. This book explains where it originated why it was developed, who developed it, when it was deveoloped basically the history of WT. It also gives a little hindsight into how it has morphed into the WT the we have come to know through Bruce Lee and also how it has further developed into our day and age.



4. This was my Very First Kung Fu Book. It was what made me fall in love with Wing Chun. This is a great book for the beginner student. There are other books that go well beyond this one as it pertains to Wing Chun. But this book has a soft quality about it that gives the reader a pathway of Wing Chun that other books do not. If you are exploring Marital arts and want a "Taste" of Wing Chun, this is a very, very Good start.
   
   Suggested Books to read after this are:
   Mastering Kung Fu, by Garrett Gee and Benny Ming (DVD's of a MAJOR help also).
   
   Wing Chun Compendium by Wayne B.
   
   And any book on Wing Chun By Randy Williams.



5. I have read this book cover to cover. It has some good writing about Ip Man's life, and Wing Chun's principles, and the same story about the origin of Wing Chun that you can get from Wikipedia. Much of the book is a step-by-step description of Siu Lim Tao, the first form in Wing Chun. As a Wing Chun student I cannot imagine how someone could ever learn this form from a book alone. I find it interesting for the theory and history in the introductory chapters, and as a quick reference for the chinese terminology for each of the hand positions in the Siu Lim Tao form.

1 comments about Monkey - Journey to the West.

1. I really loved this book, it passed the time really fast and I liked the book so much I finished it in only 10 hours.

5 comments about The Wing Chun Compendium, Volume One.

1. I find this book insightful & also helpful. It's absolutely fantastic! I'm a novice practitioner on my way to earning a black belt/sash.



2. This is without a doubt one of the greatest works ever written on the Yip Man Ving Tsun system. The only other books I would recommend are those by Shaun Rawcliffe.



3. I can only parrot what others here have said so much better than I: This book is a must for anyone walking the path of Wing Chun, regardless of lineage. It is jam packed full of tips and photos and wisdom and was obviously written as a labor of love. I have my own Sifu and his word comes first; but many of us in my school have this book- and the second volume (out now, covers the Mook Jong and the Bot Jam Dao)- and believe them to be a "must have" addition to the library of any Wing Chun player. Thank you Sifu Belonoha!



4. There are very few books that I'd say are a classic. But The Wing Chun Compendium is definitely one! Sifu Belonoha has done an outstanding job of presenting Wing Chun in a very clear and concise manner. This book explains Wing Chun with very easy to follow pictures and explanations as well a supplemental information that truly explains the richness of the art of Wing Chun. I look forward to any other works that Mr. Wayne Belonoha has to offer!



5. This is a great item for people of all skill levels to have. There was much information about things not often discussed in classes such as the wing chun blocks, how to go about daily life etc. I will definitely get the second one.

5 comments about The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way.

1. I have recently purchased this wonderful book that I have been waiting for to arive, and in less than a week I got it! I was amazed how fast the book arrived even with standard shipping:D god bless all, this is an amazing seller 5stars!!!!!:)



2. When I received this book and opened it to read the first pages, I felt quite sure this book had much to offer. The pages are entertaining and inspiring, and Sifu knows his stuff. Doing the workout and stretches very lively and enjoyable. My flexibility has grown and I've only been training for about 13 days. This book encourages us to be good at life, and enjoy every moment. It helps us stand up straight and tall and face the world and be relaxed and confident.



3. Easy to follow steps, the pictures are definitley a plus. Basics are extremley important and this book teaches and reinforces the basics. It also provides a good amount of Kung-Fu philosophy that you can't find on [...] !



4. I took a whole day work shop with the Shifu. He's definitely a master at what he does. I was so inspired I bought the book... I live no where near any of his temples so I thought the book would be a good way to keep practicing kung fu... and it is... the program is designed in such a way that you get to add on and review what you practice every day. I cant give it a full 5 stars though... you've got to be extra dedicated to learn practicing from a book- nothing beats being in the presence of a master.
   Exceptional however for what it is- an introduction to the art of shaolin.



5. This book is amazing. It is the best BOOK without any other help necessary. I am on day 9 and feel so good. I am standing up taller and generally feel so much better. I am joining a kung fu class in Los Angeles now because of the confidence this book gave me.
   
   Sifu is a Shaolin Monk and no doubt a great one at that. He is the real deal and this book has me under his spell. The photos and language are so easy to follow. I have never done any martial arts in my life. I am a very heavy set Football Linemen so I'm sure some of you light weights will get more out of this book then I. I really recommend this book to anyone.
   
   What I Like:
   
   Easy to read and very interesting.
   Great Photos that are simple to follow.
   Everything is explained.
   It is cheap.
   Works
   
   What I Don't Like:
   He is in New York only.
   
   
   Good Luck and I hope you enjoy this one. There is no reason not to try it out for a month. Will change your life.

5 comments about Maid for Me.

1. This was a very cute story. At first I thought it was going to be cliche, but it turned out completely different from what I thought. There were many unexpected things in the last pages. The ending was cute, and different. I hope the author releases a sequel. I would love to read about these characters again.



2. Great Romantic Novel,Quick easy read! Well written with humor and suspense on every page.Great ending to a wonderful book. I will be looking forward to reading the sequel.Overall great read,I will be reading it again as it is saved in my Kindle.



3. I bought this book because it was priced cheaply. Unfortunately, it proved to be a case of you get what you pay for. I will say that the writing style is very polished and good, what I didn't like about it was how far fetched the story seemed. Granted, the majority of books and movies have things in them that aren't likely to happen in real life, but this book seemed to have more than it's fair share of those things.
   
   Usually I have a very wiling suspension of disbelief, but this book taxed it too far. While all of the wild things that happen in this story, seemed highly unlikely to me, the feeling was only intensified by the fact that the main characters in the book were only 16 and 18, making the plot even that much harder to believe. I also felt like the author tried to put to many angles and subplots into the story.
   
   In the end I'm glad that I only spent a dollar on this book, but I wouldn't pay it a second time.



4. I really liked the beautiful writing and the engaging story. Even in a busy week, I was looking forward to turning to the next page to see what would happen to the characters of the story; the book does so well at getting you to love them. I found myself wanting to read it more and more as the chapters went by.
   
   There's some bits the story could have done without and you can't read it very critically to enjoy it. However, for the (romantic) teen in us, this one's a treat.. and you really can't go wrong at this price.
   
   Few books catch my attention long enough to really finish reading them but this is one of those!



5. I,too, bought this for the price...not really expecting much
   but a little bit of reading at the beach. What a surprise
   was in store--excellent read, snappy characters and great dialogue.
   Along with a story and characters you just have to root for.
   Enjoy!

5 comments about The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future.

1. First, the author is NOT Dav Pilkey. The book was written by George Beard and Harold Hutchins. The only redeeming quality of the text (hence 2 stars) is a relatively comprehensible good vs. evil storyline. There are approximately 50 words per page, which is expected with a graphic novel. What was unexpected are the 7 - 10 intentionally misspelled words per page. Examples such as jerney,sinse, theries, evidense, forchenately, exampel, and importent are found on the first two pages alone, which relate a discussion with a "scientist". Placing this kind of "literature" in the hands of developing readers is truly a disservice to them. The caveman language, or cavemonics used in the book and presented in the activities packet for book promotion by Scholastic encourages children to "annoy grown-ups by: using the present tense, turning I into me, finding replacements for words with more than two syllables, and etc.. ("My grandmother doesn't think this book belongs in the library. = Grandma no fun. I'm going to the local amusement park today = Me go to barf ride place." As stated numerous times in the text: So long Suckas!



2. Dav Pilkey is known for getting reluctant readers to read and this book will definitely encourage reluctant writers to write. Dav Pilkey knows kids. He has an amazing ability to think like a kid. It's important to allow kids to write freely. Many parents and teachers worry too much about perfectionism and end up discouraging creativity in children. Kids have said many times that they think they can't write good stories because their spelling isn't good enough yet. This book will encourage kids to write their stories anyways. How can one correct spelling if nothing is written to begin with? An English teacher in Japan used Dav Pilkey's Super Diaper Baby book to teach his native Japanese students correct spelling and grammar. They loved the book and its humor so much it made learning English fun. The students wanted more books like Super Diaper Baby. Why not use OOK and GLUK as a learning tool and work with kids to improve spelling, grammar and have fun at the same time? Maybe if too many teachers and parents embrace OOK and GLUK, kids will not like the book anymore. Never mind - don't use it as a learning tool. The real reason to get this book does not lie in the words. If you appreciate the art of Chagall, Rousseau, and Matisse you will appreciate the art in OOK and GLUK.
   The expressions in the characters faces, the movement of the characters and the refined details in each panel showcase a true artist with the heart of an innocent child. If you look at Dav Pilkey's wide scope of artwork from The Paperboy, God Bless the Gargoyles, Dragon, Halloweiner, The Dumb Bunnies, and many others, it's obvious he is much more than a brilliant story teller for kids. His books are a collection of artworks. His books inspire kids to read, write, draw and laugh. What more can you ask for?



3. This is a review by the 10 year old who insisted on buying this book:
   
   The book is hilarious. It has all sorts of funny things. They have all sorts of adventures, it's just like the old Capt. Underpants books only it's even funnier.
   
   A dinosaur chased Ook & Gluk, and the dinosaur fell into quicksand, but Ook & Gluk found the dino was just scaring them because of it's baby. So they tried to get it out of the quicksand by having a gorilla chase them. They ran up a tree, the gorilla pushed the tree over into the quicksand and saved the dinosaur.
   
   The reason they say Kung Fu cavemen from the future, was because it takes place in cavemen time. There's time travel with evil guys from the future going back in time to take all of the trees, all of their energy, most of the oil, some of the delicious good water, and they're going back to the future in 2222 AD.
   
   You have to read this book. It has a bunch of flip o ramas - that's when you take 2 pages that look almost the same and you flip them back and forth to look like a little cartoon. I read the book in one day. I can not wait till the sequel 'The Adventure of Ook & Gluk Jr, Kung Fu Cavekids in Outer Space' comes out.
   
   Note by Mom: This is a book that encourages children to read and have fun with their imagination. It's a quality hard back book, and is suitable for a boy or girl.



4. I was expecting the latest novel by Dav Pilkey to arrive at my apartment, but it must have been delivered to the wrong person. The book looks cool just by the cover.



5. Dav Pilkey hasn't lost his touch with kids. The illustrations are sheer joy. There is even a moral to the story. Remember it's a book written by 2 elementary school boys, so there are misspellings. Dav Pilkey uses this method to encourage kids to write. It may seem appalling, but it does work. My son has been inspired by Pilkey to write and draw his own comics.
   
   Out of the ordinary methods or thoughts will always be reprimanded by fearful, ignorant people. Take a lesson in history. Mark Twain and George Orwell both revered authors, once had their books banned. I think after Pilkey has published over 45 books, which he has not only written but illustrated himself, he may be on to something. KEEP AN OPEN MIND. Check out Pilkey's other books: GOD BLESS THE GARGOYLES or THE PAPERBOY. Poetic and stunning art. I believe many adults and kids have lost the magic of pure imagination and also a sense of humor.