Enter the Dragon!

Title : The Tao of Gung Fu, A Study in the Way of Chinese Martial Art Author : Bruce Lee Editor : John Little Lightning review For philosophically-inclined martial arts students (especially those learning  kung fu )   this book will be inspirational, while instructors will appreciate how Lee explains abstract concepts like yin-yang , wu-wei , and what it means to "be like water", making them accessible, attractive, and applicable. Bruce who? Although the actor and martial artist Bruce Lee died in 1973 at the age of only 32, his accomplishments nevertheless paved the way for kung fu to cross over into mainstream Western culture. His film performances were thrilling, his fights spectacular yet largely believable, his manner charismatic and highly engaging. Something of Lee's philosophical approach to life and martial arts came through in these performances and even more so in interviews, and the fact that he died so soon after achieving stardom and in somewhat mysterious c...

One question I often get asked when I catch up with old friends is "Are you still doing jiu-jitsu?". It's fair to ask, since I've been studying it (at time of writing) for almost 25 years – essentially all of my adult life – which bespeaks a certain dedication, or at least dogged persistence. What I don't get asked – but I'll tell you in a moment! – is why I keep going. I started martial arts because I was inspired by martial arts movies to learn some self-defence and improve my health and fitness. After trying out a few martial arts I stuck with jiu-jitsu because there was clearly lots to learn and I found the instruction method highly effective, despite my lack of conspicuous talent. But the reasons one starts a martial art inevitably shift as you move from expectations and introductory experiences  to sustained engagement and appreciation. In the remainder of this post I will try to give the reader a sense of why I've kept going for more than two deca...

Anthony Cheung has been compiling wonderful illustrated notes on the principles of Chen style taijiquan, and more broadly too! Great stuff: check it out:  http://brisbanechentaichi.weebly.com/skill-knowledge.html