Chinese Combatives An Anthology
Download Chinese Combatives An Anthology full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online free Chinese Combatives An Anthology ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!
| Author | : Michael DeMarco |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 242 |
| Release | : 2020-09-15 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : |
According to traditional Chinese martial arts custom, instruction in the lethal arts were transmitted under strict secrecy. At the turn of the twentieth century, the martial arts had started to be taught publically with a focus on health. However, many fighting techniques were not shown or taught. As a result, today some systems are more well-known than others. This anthology brings together some of the lesser-known arts in one volume and some aspects of their theory, application, and place historical place in society. The first two chapters by Shannon Phelps give a wonderful presentation of the Fu family Wudang arts—including the unique sixiangquan, a blending of liangyiquan, baguazhang, xingyiquan, and taijiquan under the genius of Fu Zhensong (1872–1953) and family. Dr. Daniel Amos authored the next two chapters reflecting his studies of Southern Praying Mantis. His first-hand experience and scholarly background offered him a special view as an insider into the social aspects involving the practitioners. These include association with criminal associations, spirit possession for fighting application and protection, and the changing relationships within the “gongfu family.” Chapters 5, 6 and 7 cover important concepts and practices of baijiquan an piguzhang as transmitted by Li Suwen (1864–1934) and brought to Taiwan by Liu Yunqiao (1909–1990). The authors stress the importance of fundamental training methods, starting from the static horse stance, to dynamic changing stances while incorporating various techniques performed with explosive issuing energy (fajing). Of particular interest for many will be the sections dealing with big spear (daqiang) training. The final chapter provides a comprehensive overview of tongbei boxing history, styles, and principles, including special highlights of the White Ape system. The authors emphasize the traditional mindset, inner feelings, and overall fighting spirit needed to train the real high-level skills. Training methods and sample applications bring life to tongbei theory. By providing great detail on the styles presented—along with associations with other noted styles and masters—this special anthology is an important reference for any interested in Chinese martial arts. I personally thank the authors for sharing their exceptional work.
| Author | : Michael DeMarco |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 202 |
| Release | : 2023-10-10 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : 1893765520 |
A needle may draw a thread through printed pages to bind a book. In this little memoir, I feel like a needle that drew a common thread though a segment of martial art history. This book details three interrelated activities: (1) martial art studies, (2) involvement as founder of Via Media Publishing, producing a quarterly journal and books, and (3) teaching martial arts. Publishers, writers, researchers and serious martial art practitioners will benefit with the detailed overview of Via Media and its publications. Via Media produced the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, known for its high academic and aesthetic standards. Its contents reflect the history of two decades and provides rich information for practitioners and scholars, making The Best Fighta valuable reference work. In addition to reading, the primary way to learn a martial art is through instruction. In reading about my studies and teaching experience, readers can relate to their own involvement in martial arts. What is important here is the portrayal of my instructors, their teaching methods, and reasons for being involved in martial arts. Their accounts should offer insights and inspiration for others who study and practice any martial art.
| Author | : Stanley Henning |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 145 |
| Release | : 2018-03-09 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : 1986369242 |
What we think are Asian martial arts is usually derived by Hollywood images, fanciful novels, and a superficial idea of what role combatives played in the long histories of Far Eastern countries. There are only a few people in the world who can truly be called scholars in this field. A leading figure in the USA for the study of Chinese martial traditions is Stanley Henning. This special anthology is a collection of Henning’s superb articles that were previously published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, including one he co-wrote with Marnix Wells—a leading British scholar on Chinese martial traditions. Henning has little patience for those who miss the original essence of practical martial arts, and who fell under the enticement of “flowery boxing.” True combative arts are not play, although they influenced other practices. In the fifteen chapters included here, you’ll find a strong historic base for what the martial arts meant in old China and how they changed over the centuries. In order to understand martial arts as they were evolving over dynastic periods, it is necessary to look at the political and social settings, technology, and even geography and linguistics. When it comes to research, Henning presents clear facts and accurate conclusions. At the same time, he wisely states what is open to debate and requires further research. Why is the chapter on Korean martial arts included in this anthology?—Because the Chinese had tremendous influence on their neighbors, including Japan and Korea. Thanks to a few scholars like Henning and Wells, we are getting a clearer picture of just how much Chinese martial arts have influenced the fighting arts in other countries. Leading scholars are having an impact on how Asian martial traditions are perceived, understood, and practiced. Henning introduces the “new wave” of Chinese scholars who have presented their findings in various articles and books, opening new vistas for all interested in this growing field of study—at least for those who ready Chinese. Fortunately Henning’s work is in English! This anthology is not an easy read for those unfamiliar with Chinese history, the various dynasties, the terminology and variety of martial systems. However, it will no doubt benefit the serious scholar of Chinese martial arts, and hopefully others will likewise benefit by patiently reading each chapter to broaden their understanding of the rich martial culture of China.
| Author | : Michael A. DeMarco, MA |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 145 |
| Release | : 2021-10-02 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : 1893765989 |
The themes in this book—drawn from Chinese history, culture, and martial arts experience—are entwined in a fictional narrative to animate events envisaged to have occurred during the mid-eighteenth century. From the outset, a thin veil separates fact from fiction. Our story starts with a discovery. While conducting research at the Vatican Library on the Jesuit missions in China, two scholars find a folder of papers written in Chinese among documents belonging to Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766), a painter at the royal court in Beijing. The papers turn out to be written by a fellow court painter, Yang Mingbin (c. 1664–1765). Yang’s handwritten essays provide revelations vital for understanding the ingenuity of Chinese martial arts. Yang’s text is organized under sixty-four subheadings. The author elucidates theory and practice methods in a fashion unlike any other writings on this subject. This is a rare early text written during a transitional period for martial arts. It is the time when the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912) was at its peak of cultural splendor and expanding its borders by military expeditions. Cannons and smaller firearms show the Western influence, but traditional martial arts were ubiquitous in the village, province, and national levels. Master Yang offers fascinating reading on all aspects of the Chinese fighting traditions. He places great emphasis on the importance of the “martial arts family” and the role of secrecy in lethal arts. The arts are also adapted for health and entertainment. All reflect an infusion of philosophy and practices from Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. How one thinks affects how one practices martial arts. Yang describes the qualities associated with different skill levels, from beginner to most advanced. As he does this, we learn secrets that set forth key ways for improving defensive and offensive applications. These topics include body alignment, coordination, spontaneity, naturalness, balance, distancing, relaxation, and power. The same principles apply to bare-hand and weapons practice, as well as martial arts for health. Yang’s learning methodology for studying martial arts can be useful in other areas, as in his work as a master painter at court.
| Author | : Michael DeMarco, MA., et al. |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 157 |
| Release | : 2017-02-13 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : 189376544X |
There has been a lack of reliable academic studies regarding Filipino martial arts (FMA) that have uniquely developed in the Philippine archipelago. This anthology assembles pioneering scholarly materials valuable for any interested in the Filipino combatives, as well as chapters specifically on the practice. Mark Wiley stands out as a leading scholar/practitioner of the Filipino arts. This book contains three chapters by him. In the first, he conducted linguistic and historical research to present the developmental background of the ancient Filipino kali and European fencing systems, thus illuminating the evolution of classical eskrima. In chapter two, Wiley attempts to classify Filipino martial arts and explore the ethos of Filipino martial culture by deriving information directly from the contemporary grandmasters who have maintained an oral transmission of information concerning the evolution and development of their respective martial systems. Part of Wiley’s research also led him to seek out special repositories of artifacts. Museums collections rarely include much on Southeast Asian weapons. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has nearly 1,000 martial artifacts in storerooms from the Philippines, including swords, knives, spears, shields, helmets, and armor discussed in Wiley’s third chapter. On a practical side, Steven Dowd presents the art of Carlita Lañada who studied martial arts as passed down within his own family in the Philippines. He calls his rendition Kuntaw Lima-Lima, an art whose techniques are reminiscent of Okinawan karate styles, with hints of Chinese gongfu. Presented are the underlying principles, and a sayawan (form) with applications. Majia Soderholm’s chapter is about Visayan Corto Kadena Eskrima and some of its concepts and training methods with regard to free-sparring with swords. It is a Filipino martial system encompassing empty-hand and non-bladed and bladed weapons. Peter Hobart presents a wonderful tribute to Remy Presas, the founder of Modern Arnis. This retrospective is comprised of the stories and memories of many of those who knew him. Topics include Presas’ theory and practice of arnis, such as importance of flow, and memories of his last seminar. The chapter by Ruel Macaraeg dives into the topic of piracy in the Philippines. His study reconstructs the pirates’ martial practices through comparative historical analysis of their weapons, costume, and organization in order to draw conclusions about their relationship to martial cultures in the Philippines and across the region. In the final chapter, Ken Smith discusses a few of his favorite techniques from Modern Arnis. His insights—as well as the information found in the previous chapters—contribute to the academic understanding of Filipino martial traditions as well as the actual practice of kali, escrima, and arnis. We hope you’ll enjoy the reading.
| Author | : Jack Chen |
| Publisher | : Jack Chen |
| Total Pages | : 292 |
| Release | : 2020-04-20 |
| Genre | : |
| ISBN | : 9789811458224 |
"Jixiao Xinshu" is a comprehensive military warfare manual, written by Ming Dynasty General Qi Jiguang in 1560. It consisted of chapters on Spear fighting, Archery, terrain, troops formation etc... One of the chapters is "Quanjing Jieyao", which contains 32 unarmed fighting stances for soldiers' training. There has been multiple attempts by various people to translate this ancient Chinese Fist manual. The ones which I've read are usually translating them literally. In order to make the translation & interpretation more meaningful, I've seeked to discover the core principles behind each of these 32 unarmed fighting stances. In this book, you'll see how these principles can be applied to any martial arts style, or any weapon. By training in these 32 martial principles, it will provide a complete & holistic training for a warrior, medieval or modern. I believe that my work in this book will help you in advancing your martial arts practice, no matter which fighting style you're from.
| Author | : Michael DeMarco |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 145 |
| Release | : 2017-02-24 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : 1893765458 |
What martial arts are associated with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar (Burma)? What makes them unique when compared with other Asian martial systems? This anthology is a convienent collection that focuses on the martial arts of these areas, such as the familiar art of Muay Thai, and lesser-known arts of Than Quyen of Vietnam, Burmese bando, and Cambodian leth wei. In chapter one, the David Allan brings readers inside the Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok to witness the fighters’ kickboxing skills and etiquette through text and photographs. He also records how musicians play and the locals participate in each event, with emotional exuberance of cheering, and betting. Jeremy Skaggs wanted to go to Thailand to train with some of the top Muay Thai fighters. His chapter allows readers to relive his experience through text and superb photography. He reports on his travel to Thailand, daily training routines, daily life there, and a night at the Lumphini Stadium. Chapter three by Jason Tran presents the origin and functions of That Son Than Quyen’s “spirit forms” as inspired by real and mythic animals. This is accomplished by contrasting Than Quyen with Chinese imitation styles, tracing the development of Vietnam religion and superstitions, and exploring the impact of geographic and cultural elements. In the next chapter Scott Mallon recounts excursions he made into Myanmar and Cambodia to learn about their indigenous martial arts firsthand. He reports on the Muay Thai-like systems and their similarities and difference, along with the special cultural atmospheres where these arts are found. Excellent photo coverage highlight the martial artists. Loh Han Loong’s chapter goes beyond the common views of Thai boxing by critically examining the way Muay Thai is portrayed in nonacademic sources, such as articles and websites. The manner in which Muay Thai is framed in popular culture is not simply the result of historical facts, but is a way of creating the Thai nation myth and the uniqueness of Thai culture. The lengthy final chapter by Dr. Winborne focuses on the bando system. His chapter explores ancient Burmese fighting traditions and their evolution to modern-day martial arts practices. Bando is a seamless amalgam of striking methods, grappling techniques, weapons approaches, and healing strategies from the Southeast Asian country currently known as Myanmar. This comprehensive self-defense system is reviewed and analyzed based on documented viewpoints of prominent masters and practitioners. The philosophy and principles that undergird the bando system are discussed as well. This anthology offers a concise overview of the history, cultures, and combative systems associated with the geographic areas of Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietman, and Thailand. Familiar or not with these martial traditions, readers will be find the chapters informative and photography delightful.
| Author | : Patrick McCarthy |
| Publisher | : PeriplusEdition |
| Total Pages | : 130 |
| Release | : 1999-06 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : |
Featuring original writings by the founders of some of the world's most popular karate styles, this volume includes untranslated texts by Miyagi Chojun, Mabina Kenwa, Motobu Choki - each of them founders of their own schools of karate."
| Author | : D. S. Farrer |
| Publisher | : State University of New York Press |
| Total Pages | : 265 |
| Release | : 2011-12-01 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : 1438439687 |
This landmark work provides a wide-ranging scholarly consideration of the traditional Asian martial arts. Most of the contributors to the volume are practitioners of the martial arts, and all are keenly aware that these traditions now exist in a transnational context. The book's cutting-edge research includes ethnography and approaches from film, literature, performance, and theater studies. Three central aspects emerge from this book: martial arts as embodied fantasy, as a culturally embedded form of self-cultivation, and as a continuous process of identity formation. Contributors explore several popular and highbrow cultural considerations, including the career of Bruce Lee, Chinese wuxia films, and Don DeLillo's novel Running Dog. Ethnographies explored describe how the social body trains in martial arts and how martial arts are constructed in transnational training. Ultimately, this academic study of martial arts offers a focal point for new understandings of cultural and social beliefs and of practice and agency.
| Author | : Michael DeMarco |
| Publisher | : Via Media Publishing |
| Total Pages | : 223 |
| Release | : 2020-11-02 |
| Genre | : Sports & Recreation |
| ISBN | : |
“Pioneer” — as a noun is defined as “a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.” As a verb, it means “develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of knowledge, or activity).” This anthology gives the reader the experience of the explorers who went to foreign lands to discover and learn about a specific field of knowledge and skills:the Asian martial arts.The eight chapters included here share a common root in the pioneers' desire to travel far and wide in search for practical martial arts useful in the street as well as for commando units. The pioneers discussed in this anthology experienced lives submerged in foreign cultures, lives compounded by the difficulties of communicating in foreign languages, changing diets, and often being in hostile living conditions. Their lives are far from the associations we usually associate with martial arts now steeped in pure exercise for health, or tournament competitions. Becoming familiar with of some of the Western pioneers of Asian martial arts bring us back to understand many of the original reasons for learning these combatives. Their lives and experience show us how and why the more serious side of Asian fighting arts remain illusive for most who, in practice, need not confront the lethal aspects of these traditions.
