5 comments about Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu = [Shao Lin ChìAng Chì”Uan] (Unique Literary Books of the World).

1. This book is so incredibly detailed, and so amazingly well written that I would consider moving to Boston to train under this great man myself. The only book I have EVER found in my life that is so powerfully efficient. Don't skip this up, this is not the average marketing product. He has considered every aspect that the reader could possibly need to know to learn the first few forms in this art.



2. Yang Jwing Ming has been publishing high quality martial arts books and videos for more than twenty years now, and this early volume, definitely fits into that category as well.
   
   It gives a great overview of chang quan, long fist, and as usual with Yangs books, the explanations are clear, concise and satisfying. The pictures are all clear and easy to interpret.
   
   I don't think that one can learn martial arts from books, but they can be a good help. Especially when it comes to the understanding of philosophy, history and indeed technique.
   
   Highly recommended



3. The material depicted in this book is a great way to end up with a knee problem! Pictures depict the individuals in low stances pronating and hyper-extending their knees.
   
   The history of Kung Fu is inaccurate and regurgitated fictional myths. The fighting applications depicted will get someone hurt if tried in real life situations with non-compliant partners. The book depicts the attacker consistently using one arm to attack while the other arm lays dead. This allows the defender to do things like fight with one hand at his waist, reach for opponents groin while the opponents hand is in his face, or stand on one leg posing in front of opponent trying to pull off a hopeless application.
   
   I do not recommend this book.



4. This book and its corresponding DVD's (sold seperately) are not really for self-study. Mainly because Long Fist forms require ALOT of space, it's not something you can do in your living-room....you need at least an area of 7x7 meters or 23x23 feet...and then there's the jumping and such...if you have a big yard then it might be feasible.
   Also, learning traditional martial arts from a book is not ideal ( DVD's are better :-) ).
   [If you don't have much space at home but want to learn a martial art, I highly recommend Wing Chun kungfu.]
   
   I intended to us this book as a reference to classes in Long Fist, "unfortunately" my teacher taught a different style of Long Fist so I did not gain as much as I hoped from this book and DVD's, although it was interesting reading and good for comparison.
   
   What I really like about the book is that the techniques in the forms are broken down and their individual purpose explained: "this is a block and this is a strike to the head...".
   
   By the way, the DVD that belongs to this book is: Shaolin Longfist Kung Fu Basic Sequences.



5. This is an actual instruction manual, complete with training techniques, stretches, and exercises that were performed by Shaolin monks. I have become much more flexible and well-balanced after working with the basics of this kung fu manual. The book also contains historical commentary, the legends behind various stances, etc. I believe this work is as close to an actual kung fu temple training as most Americans can get.

5 comments about Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na: The Practical Defense of Chinese Seizing Arts for All Styles (Qin Na : the Practical Defense of Chinese Seizing Arts for All Martial Arts Styles).

1. Yang Jwing-Ming is definitely amongst the leading authors and indeed authorities on the subject of martial arts in the west. With this particular volume he has made one of the best guides to the subject of qin na. The pictures are all good and the explanations very clear. There is an abundance of techniques covered. Well enough to satisfy even the most demanding of students. The sheer scope of techniques makes this book a perfect reference guide for students and teachers alike.
   
   I agree with another reviewer who suggested that a background in grapling/locking arts will be beneficial in learning from this book.
   
   Together with "Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na" also by Yang Jwing Ming and "Practical Chin Na" by Zhao Da Yuan "Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na" is all you'll ever need in the form of books on qin na.
   
   Highly recommendable



2. If you have decided to look up this book you should be smart enough to realize that this is a different sort of book than for example Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 200 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques, this book by Jwing-Ming is the traditional stuff.
   
   If you are ambitious enough to use this book to learn from you need two things:
   1. a background in a martial art where grappling is a significant component; Chinese wrestling/Shuai Jiao, Aikido, Jujutsu, Hapkido...
   2. someone to practice with
   
   How you use this material is up to you:
   1. reference
   2. practice selected techniques
   3. teach yourself all techniques sequentially
   
   Like all of Dr.Yang's books, this book is filled with pictures that are easy to follow. But if you get the DVDs that goes with it you will get a better sense of the movements: Chin Na In Depth - Courses 1 - 4 (YMAA grappling), Chin Na In Depth - Courses 5 - 8, Chin Na In Depth - Courses 9 - 12.
   
   There are techniques in this book that would not be very practical in an actual modern self-defense situation.
   But what is practical or not depends on the user, some techniques will work very well for you, others you will struggle with. For example, to me the use of finger-locking-techniques would be very hard to apply in a realistic scenario, I have trained in them but find them very hard to apply under realistic scenarios.
   
   It is not my intent whatsoever to advise people to not train finger-locking techniques, I hope readers don't put too much value in my review since it is based only on my opinion and experiences.
   Martial arts students should try things out for themselves first and foremost. That is one of the fantastic things about all martial arts, learning from them leads to learning about yourself. One of my teachers said to me long ago that learning a martial art is not about learning how to fight, but about learning about yourself, that it is training of the mind.
   For me finger-locking techniques did not work very well, but that does not mean that it will not work well for others.
   
   My main use of this book has been to train in techniques that work very well for me - mainly the ones against knife attacks and strikes. I also like to just sit down with the book and study the different techniques, going through them in my head.
   
   I have a strong interest in the traditional aspects of martial arts, and this is an interesting and important book for those who share this interest, as it represents a culture and way of living.
   
   In short, anyone who has a strong interest in traditional martial arts and has a grappling background will find great value in this book, it really is one of a kind.



3. Nicely detailed techniques and applications. This book helps to dive further into the system of CHIN-NA. Most of the moves and techniques look very simple and most are simple to perform but these movements are very sophisticated techniques once you understand the principles behind this form of martial art.



4. I believe that medium of a book form has certain limitations when it comes to explaining moving actions such as chin na techniques. I bought this book prior to buying the dvd of YMAA production on chin na. i would say that it is better to get a dvd than a book if one is more keen to understand the techniques than the related informations.



5. Dr.Yang Jwing ming is the man
   most everything is applicable you just have to train it until its a reaction.
   muscle memory

5 comments about The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts.

1. Just wanted to add another five-star review, in agreement with what others have already written. "The Shaolin Monastery" is unexpectedly engaging and FUN to read for such an impressively scholarly work. Shahar's historical/anthropological examination of HOW mythologies (often assumed to be facts) develop is a unique contribution among many of this valuable book. Regretably, I don't have time to review the many good books I've read, purchased on Amazon, but this one really deserves highlighting.
   
   Readers should note that The Shaolin Grandmasters' Text: History, Philosophy, and Gung Fu of Shaolin Ch'an, which Amazon has tagged along with this book, is not at all in the same league. It has anonymous authorship (always a bad sign) and is self-published by the somewhat suspect "Order of Shaolin Ch'an" (another bad sign). While "Grandmasters" discusses some interesting topics and seems to be somewhat knowledgeable, offering descriptions of various forms and styles, it should be viewed as a completists' (i.e., for a thorough collection) and not the most advisable introduction. American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in theNew Chinais marvelously entertaining firsthand account of a young American training at today's Shaolin Temple. But for history, "Shaolin Monastery" if by far the best source.



2. The most authoratative and insightful book I've ever read on this topic. Extremely well-researched and documented, this book dispels many myths, answers many questions, and yet leaves room for further inquiry. Truly a gem!



3. Here are some of the more interesting points covered, including the slaying of commonly held martial arts myth:
   
   1) Although he is not sure when the monks began to learn how to wield weapons, Shahar states they were practicing the use of military weapons (sword, spear, bow, etc.) as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The monks chosen to learn these skills protected the monastery from mountain bandits that regularly laid siege to the complex. However, these monks were not apart of the religiously devout vegetarian body that lived within the monastery proper. They lived in small clusters located outside of the monastery and regularly broke the Buddhist precepts against eating meat, drinking alcohol, and killing. They were allowed to do this because of their distance from the monastery and the protection they provided. The allowances for killing were also connected to their religious beliefs.
   
   2) The martial monks worshiped a Buddhist guardian deity called "Vajrapani," one of the Buddha's body guards. Legends tell how he regularly killed demons and other evil creatures that threatened the Buddha or Buddhism in general. Hence, this was all the justification the military monks needed to kill. This deity was always portrayed in Indian art with a club, but the Chinese eventually changed it to a staff (contemporary stelae located on the Monastery grounds attests to this). Vajrapani figures in Shaolin legend as the progenitor of their legendary staff method. Hence, he was connected to Shaolin arts CENTURIES before Bodhidharma.
   
   3) Chinese fiction had a great influence on Shaolin legends. For instance, the Monkey King from the tale Journey to the West influenced the aforementioned staff legend. The legend takes place during the Red Turban Rebellion of the Yuan Dynasty. Bandits lay siege to the monastery, but it is saved by a lowly kitchen worker wielding a long fire poker as a makeshift staff. He leaps into the oven and emerges as a monstrous giant big enough to stand astride both Mount Song and the imperial fort atop Mount Shaoshi (which are five miles apart). The bandits flee when they behold this staff-wielding titan. The Shaolin monks later realize that the kitchen worker was none other than Vajrapani in disguise. Shahar compares the worker's transformation in the stove with Sun's time in Laozi's crucible, their use of the staff, and the fact that Sun and his weapon can both grow to gigantic proportions
   
   4) Empty-handed boxing did not develop at Shaolin until the late Ming Dynasty. Before then, they were only known for their staff and spear methods. Because the Ming Dynasty revered the "Three religions" (Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism) as one universal teaching, during this time, Shaolin also studied Taoist gymnastics (stretching and breathing exorcises). These exercises were eventually combined with fist arts (in and outside the monastery) to create a new form of cultivation consisting of gymnastics, religious rituals, and combative techniques.
   
   5) Bodhidharma was not connected with Shaolin fighting arts until the 17th century. Prior to this, he was only considered the progenitor of Chan Buddhism. The first published source that mentions Bodhidharma in connection with Shaolin arts is the Sinew Changing Classic, which was written by a Taoist in 1624. This is the source for all current legends that state he taught monks exercises to strengthen their bodies. However, as originally conceived, these exercises ultimately ended in immortality. Practitioners of the 17th century "internal school," which predates the creation of Taiji, and eventually died out, combined the Wu Dang priest Zhang Sanfeng with a Taoist God (The Dark Warrior) to create a Taoist equivalent of Bodhidharma. Hence, Bodhi became the legendary progenitor of the "External" or "Northern school" and Zhang the "internal" or "Southern school."
   
   6) Shaolin's fame from the Tang till today was derived solely from their expertise in choosing the correct side to fight for in struggles between warring factions. For instance, Shaolin fought for the New Tang emperor, guaranteeing their future for centuries. Had they fought for the other side, they would have been exterminated. During the Tang, Buddhism was targeted because of it's foreign origins. Monks were sent home to lay life (or killed) and their monasteries where destroyed. But Shaolin was allowed to stay open ONLY because of its help to the Tang founder. Shahar gives an example of the reverse (a bad political choice). The Shaolin Temple was burnt in 1928 because they chose a side and lost.



4. Unfortunately, quality academic work on subjects related to martial arts is in very short supply. With the appearance of Shahar's book, however, we have a first-rate addition to current scholarship. It is most welcome.
   
   Having earned his doctorate at Harvard, Shahar currently teaches at Tel Aviv University in Israel. The Shaolin Monastery is his third book related to the intersection of Chinese history and religion, following Crazy Ji: Chinese Religion and Popular Culture (1998) and his work as co-editor of Unruly Gods: Divinity and Society in China (1996). In this most recent work, Shahar traces the history of the famous Shaolin Temple from the 6th century to the present day. With a remarkable grasp of the historical materials, he presents the early development and mythology surrounding the monastery's military exploits during the Tang Dynasty, its evolution during the Ming, disintegration through the Qing, and recent revival in the last fifty years. Along the way, historical misperceptions and legends are dealt with critically. In doing so, however, Shahar avoids the tendency of too many historians to giddily deconstruct popular beliefs with an iconoclasm that betrays a snooty elitism on the part of the researcher. Shahar prefers to uncover, explain, and clarify, not gleefully tear down.
   
   This book should put an end to those arguing that Bodhidharma did indeed introduce physical exercise of any sort to Shaolin. As Shahar points out, the Shaolin monks did not even sell that story until the mid-Qing dynasty (c. 18th century). Likewise, he demonstrates that empty-handed fightings styles, both historical and contemporary, that claim to have originated at Shaolin are equally dubious. Anyone today claiming to practice martial arts with their roots in Shaolin - aside from modern wushu - will be hard pressed to do so after reading this book.
   
   Shahar's historical research is, as mentioned above, first rate. However, readers who are looking for information on the nuts and bolts of Chinese martial arts will be sorely disappointed. There is almost no discussion of technique or principles of combat, leaving the reader wondering at times if Shahar has ever spent time training in martial arts himself. When Shahar quotes Cao Huandou, who criticizes those who "strain their muscles and expose their bones, waste their energy and use force," Shahar concludes, "Evidently, some artists considered the martial aspect of their technique secondary to the spiritual one." (171) Here, Shahar seems to equate straining with an emphasis on martial practice, as distinct from a more relaxed spiritual pursuit. This glaring ignorance of Chinese martial arts demonstrates Shahar's lack of understanding of the practice of these arts.
   
   Additionally, while Shahar addresses issues that relate to the religious tension that exists when Buddhist monks train for and engage in violence, he provides no new insights or penetrating analysis. He has a clear grasp of the fundamentals of Buddhism and Taoism, but this is not the work of a scholar of religion. His surprise at a story of Buddhist monks being physically aggressive with each other was actually a surprise to me. He writes, "The violence and abuse [taking place between monks] recorded by Zhang Zhuo seem hardly fit for a Buddhist temple." (37) It would appear that Shahar has spent very little time reading of Chinese and Japanese Buddhists in the Ch'an/Zen tradition, for whom physical acts of striking, slapping, kicking, and other physical abuse is hardly out of the ordinary.
   
   The comments above, however, should not be read as criticism. Shahar is an historian writing a history of the Shaolin Temple. In that task he has done an exemplary job. A book cannot be all things to all people, so potential readers should know what a book is, and what it is not. In the task he set out to accomplish, Shahar should be commended.



5. If you are at all interested in Shaolin history, I cannot stress how much you will enjoy this book. It is by far the most relevant English language book ever published on the subject. Highly recommended.

5 comments about The Essence of Shaolin White Crane--Martial Power and Qigong.

1. Being a marital artist myself for over thirty years I say this book has been most fulfilling after becoming bogged down in the working society and not having time to work out, I was greatly discouraged at the rate my knee joints developed arthritis like pain. Before reading the book I forced myself to work leg work to see what would happen and in a few short months I was walking without a limp. After reading the book I can see that in a few short years continuing down this route would soon result in painful joints again. Not only has this book pointed to a more complete and sensible direction for my martial arts, but also a way that has already improved the quality of my life.



2. The White Crane is a southern chinese kung fu style, and Dr. Yang's reference sets the standard. The White Crane style is a parent art from which many southern styles developed (including Wing Chun, Japanese and Okinawan Karate) so it is worth studying.
   
   Included is the martial theory behind the system, featuring lengthy discusssions on Qi & Jin and their martial applicability. A martial artist of a style that is descended from the White Crane will find much to enhance his own understanding of his art.
   
   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.



3. This is another of Dr. Ming's excellent books on the Chinese martial arts. I have many of them, including his complete video tape series on chin na, and regard his books and videos as a source of quality information.
   
   There are a number of crane and white crane styles, such as southern white crane, northern black crane, eastern Tibetan white crane, and at least four styles of southern white crane are known. All have their own unique stylistic qualities but share with the others a common core of crane techniques and an emphasis on both hard and soft aspects. The feeding crane is a form rather than a style, and the "vibrating crane" is a fa-jing or explosive chi energy technique. (I don't propose to get into a discussion of chi principles here or their validity, I just mention this for factual purposes).
   
   I should mention right off that despite the title, most of this book is actually about white crane chi gung principles and practice. In fact, 178 pages of the book are devoted to it. There are separate chapters on stationary soft, moving soft, stationary hard, and moving hard chi gung, and a related chapter covers Jin, or energy and power production. Only the last 55 or so pages are actually devoted to the martial applications, so if you're primarily interested in those, perhaps this book isn't for you. However, the photos showing the martial applications are very clear and of value also.
   
   One interesting thing I noticed was how combat realistic the hard, moving chi gung was. Just from the photos, it wasn't easily distinguishable from a real white crane kung fu form. Oddly enough, one of the chi gung postures resembled one from Indonesian Panca Indra Suci Pentjak Silat, an interesting coincidence.
   
   White Crane kung is considered to be an especially refined style of kung fu. It has had an important influence on karate styles such as Okinawan goju-ryu and shorin-ryu, and also Yamaguchi's Japanese goju-ryu has at least one hakutsuru or white crane form. (In fact, I once saw a film of Yamaguchi's funeral and one of his top students performed a white crane form in his honor). Three of these occur in a number of variations in the Okinawan styles. (It's known that aged masters taught different versions to different students on the same day. Whether this was the result of age-related memory deficiencies, shall we say, or some other factor isn't known.) The white crane master, Go Ken Ki, is usually credited with introducing these forms into the Okinawan karate styles.
   
   In addition to its influence on karate, white crane is important in the history of the Chinese arts not only for its own stylistic innovations, but also for its influence on tiger-crane styles such as Hung Gar and other five animals type styles, which incorporate the crane as one of the five animals (the others being dragon, snake, leopard, and tiger). There is also the older Ha Se Fu or "5 Lower Tigers" style, which contains a white crane form. Unlike Hung gar with its extremely long forms (the first form in Hung Gar is over 200 moves long), their forms are shorter and have only one for each animal, which is kept separate from the rest, rather than integrated, as in Hung Gar.
   
   In addition to the above, there is also a chapter on principles and concepts common to all kung fu styles (such as hard, soft, jin energy training, chi, and so on), and there is also a nice history of white crane and kung fu, including some interesting stories about legendary masters and their exploits (which are basically de rigeur in any kung fu book).
   
   Overall, this is another fine book from master Ming emphasizing mostly the more advanced, internal chi gung training of white crane, which should be of interest mostly to intermediate and advanced students who already have some idea of the martial applications and perhaps want to know more about the internal aspects and mental training as well.



4. ...as usual, Dr. Yang does it again with this exceptional work. Buy his books...honestly, buy them all! You can read this many times over and still keep learning new things and getting new ideas. Pretty much like all of his books. Thank you yet again, Dr. Yang. You make me feel humble knowing there are still true masters living in this world.



5. This book is awesome , is perfect people this book word your money and time .

5 comments about Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition: Instructors Manual for All Martial Styles.

1. I have been an instructor of kung fu for many years and this is one of the most valuable books I think any martial artist can own. It claims that it is an instructors guide, but it is sooo much more than that. All of my students are exposed to this book on a regular basis. The descriptions are flawless.



2. I am a teacher of Yoshinkan Aikido with 30 years of training in various martial arts, including Taichi and now Chin Na. I have been familiar with Dr Yang's works but never owned any of his books until last year. I finally had an opportunity to attend one of his seminars and now study with some of his students. I am also trying to collect as much of his works as I can.
   
   I found this book to be an excellent resource in my Chin Na studies and to help learn the techniques I am learning from the students of Chin Na and on the YMAA DVDs that I own.
   But, as the title suggests, this is for ALL styles.
   
   I am always looking at how martial arts are inter-related and share common techniques and principles. I also look for variations on techniques in my style and try to work them into my training and teaching.
   
   This book is not only helping me to learn Chin Na but has brought more depth to my Aikido.



3. The "Analysis of Shoalin Chin Na" is a great book. The author takes you throguh the beginning, starting with stretching and exercises to make the most of your chin na training. He goes through a complete chin na regime, beginning with the fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulder joints. The information taught in this volume, if studied intimately, can give the thoughtful martial artist enough insight and information to take what he learns about joints, to enable him to apply that knowledge in almost any situation. This is a fine instructional manual, written and explained in a very credible manner. I highly recommend it for any serious martial artist.



4. I believe that medium of a book form has certain limitations when it comes to explaining moving actions such as chin na techniques. I bought this book prior to buying the dvd of YMAA production on chin na. i would say that it is better to get a dvd than a book if one is more keen to understand the techniques than the related informations.



5. This was the first martial arts book I ever bought, I still learn from it. When you think you have a fair understanding of what is going on, and the book is mere basics, you find some true gold through practice and dedication, this is one of those must have books like that will be right there for you throughout your life as a martial artists. Here is wonderful instruction for beginners and advanced martial artists alike, I recommend a training partner to get the most you can out of this fine peace of work.

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

1. I bought this book when i was browsing around for different exercises to supliment with my martial arts training and out of all the books i bought this is one thats not hidden away in my book box
   
   Weather you are looking for exercises or want to know more about the history and the way monks trained, this book is worth its weight in gold. Since i dont mind the history I'll just talk about the exercises
   
   Basicaly the book is full of mostly isometric, body conditioning and yoga/tai chi/chi gung type exercises, but also has many weight and plyometric exercises, each one focused but not limited to the martial arts. If you are a martial artist it would be very hard for you to not get at least one exercise that you will fall in love with :)
   
   Although you need to build stuff for some like someone sayed, only a few exercises you probably wont be able to do because of its complexity of aparatus, and a few like the groin conditioning exercise are purely for entertainment purposes but there are some gold nugets in this book that are more than worth it
   
   Buy this book! :):):)



2. I loved this book! The exercises are (generally) things that you can actually do at home, and though I've only had it for a bit I've gotten some real benefit out of them.
   Don't get this book if you're looking for a manual on self-defense and technique. This one's all about conditioning, so it's best if you already have a background in a martial art and use this to make you better at it!



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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.

2 comments about Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity.

1. Well written and interesting. Good for anyone wanting to gain health and longevity. Shifu Yan Lei tells of his own training in temple and now shares with you the reader his years of experience. The exercises can be performed by any adult regardless of what shape you are in. If you like the book I would suggest getting his video "Shaolin Warrior Qigong workout 1". The two together will make it much easier to understand what's going on and watching Shifu on his videos is really an inspiration. Great book Shifu it was worth waiting for.



2. one of the finest books on Qigong (and I have them all, plus 3 decades of practice)
   inspiring pictures, easy to follow - profound, honest, modern AND clear: a gem!

5 comments about American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in theNew China.

1. As a storyteller, Polly is fabulous, and I learned many interesting differences between the Chinese and American cultures. I'm not that much into kung-fu fighting, but learning about the evolution of kung-fu alongside the development of China during the past few centuries was worth the read. As a warning, the book is long, and I found it a bit difficult to get through 350 pages of someone talking about himself. Females might find this book difficult to get into, for the culture is mostly male, and women are little more than objects of sexual desire. Another downfall is that the time Polly was in China was 15 years ago, and so much has changed. Nonetheless, I'd recommend it as a entertaining way to learn something about China's past, but don't feel bad if you skim.



2. I had high hopes for this book, because I took it to read while traveling in China. The book is poorly written (and more importantly, poorly edited). The author is fairly indulgent of himself, trying to paint himself as this clever, witty guy. That fell flat for me because I did not like the guy from reading his book (some of his "witty" comments to women were insulting but most were just not that witty, insightful, or funny) and I do not believe that so long after the events he has such a clear recollection of conversations (just like a million little pieces). The biggest problem is that the book is boring. It's not funny, insightful, or interesting. It provides little insight into the training the author endured or how it might have helped him grow physically or personally. You won't know more about China or martial arts after reading this book. You won't be interested in learning more about China or martial arts after reading this book. I forced myself to finish this book, but suggest you just look for a better book.



3. If alarm bells ring at a book title beginning `American' rest assured, this is an unexpected gem. Matthew Polly writes with wonderfully self-depreciating humour that makes for a very enjoyable read. Better still, he delivers real insight into modern training at the Shaolin temple.
   
   There is a sense of genuine warmth for the people he meets and every word rings true. Polly is not afraid to expose the less spiritual side of Shaolin, with its tourist traps, political intrigues and the unhappy relationship between business, politics and religion.
   
   He describes his training in both traditional kungfu and modern kickboxing at Shaolin, together with the monks he befriends, the challenge matches, the girls (or lack of them) and the other strange `foreigners' who turned up at Shaolin during his 2 year stay. If you liked Iron and Silk and Angry White Pyjamas, American Shaolin is, in some ways, better than either. Highly recommended.
   Goran Powell, Author
   Waking Dragons: A Martial Artist Faces His Ultimate Test



4. On a steady diet of a few books a month, when I find a promising book in the bargin bin, I'll usually read it and then get the added benefit of diluting the subjects I normally tend to read. Low expectations can make for a more enjoyable read plus this book is well written, has a nice clear concise tone and is personal, yet curiously interesting. For example, the Author doesn't seem to take his journey to China that seriously, sub-consciously deciding to use what is basically left of his youthful immortality on this idiosyncratic quest (But he could "eat bitter"), In conclusion, this book is fun, fresh, fast and light and sometimes that's my definition of a day of sunshine, one minor exception due to our ever faster changing world, the book can feel ambiguously dated at certain points.



5. I'm a 65 year old woman and still loved this book because I LEARNED some things about a subject that originally didn't even interest me. Great insights into a geographical neighbor and economic competitor we all need to inform ourselves about. This book does it in an entertaining way, and is cool enough to send to young relatives and have them think you are awesome.

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

1. Good book with a helpful grasp of the history of kung fu. Also has some very useful information for proper foundations and stances. I feel that you should already have a grasp of some style of kung fu to properly appreciate and understand this book



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



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

1. One of my heroes has written a book - AND IT ROCKS! I have never read a more helpful martial arts book. Beautiful!



2. This is a very glossy, slick book, as is typical of Rodale publications. As such, it is a pleasant -- if over-priced -- overview for the casual reader of basic Shaolin exercise routines. However, as a martial arts practioner for several decades and an instructor with years of experience, I have a serious concern. Some of the stretching exercises in this book are potentially dangerous for the uninitiated, especially older readers who may lack the flexibility to do them safely. If taken seriously as a training manual, this book should almost come with a warning label.



3. I got this book at a library a year or two ago, and have been doing these exercises since then. They're great. As the author warns you, these are conditioning exercises, not actual strikes, and they don't prepare you for combat. Although I'm not sure I agree with the author's assertion that kung fu "isn't about beating people up", these exercises are an excellent addition to a martial artist's (or anyone's) repertoire, working on many levels simultaneously--cardio, speed, balance, flexibility, coordination, etc. This book won't make you kung-fu master of course; no book will. Anyone with unrealistic expectations might be disappointed with this book, but if you want an excellent kung-fu-style workout, this book will teach you one.



4. I really enjoyed this book. I just completed the 28 day workout. If you have been living a completely sedentary lifestyle, you owe it to yourself to get this book - and do what it says. The photography is excellent and if you just follow along, you will be surprised at the changes you can make in just 28 days. I am not saying that you will be a black belt or anything close to it, but you will be on your way to a new lifestyle. This book SLOWLY lifts you up from the couch and enables you to create new habits for yourself in just 28 days. The initial "workouts" take just a couple of minutes and they build every day by adding a new exercise or stretch. Every seven days is a review of everything you have learned to date. By the end of the month (28 days) you are feeling better about yourself and just feeling better in general.



5. This is a very challenging but realistic set of exercises, is says 28 days to transforming your body and thats no bull. Me and the wife and kids do this every evening together, very fun and will give you mobility and flexibility quickly. I am not stiff anymore because of these movements every day, very easy to understand, but it will take me years to master the movements(I am not gifted). My wife is surpasing the family quickly with mastering all this, I may never catch up! Only love for this book, I wish there was a video so I could see actual forms.