Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant! A must-read for the serious kung-fu practioner!
Review: Along with Bok Nam Park's books, Mr. Hsu has written the one of the best source guide on Chinese martial arts that I have ever read. A collection of columns written for a magazine, Mr. Hsu writes with clarity, precision, history, and passion. Mr. Adam Hsu is a world-renowned teacher of Chinese martial arts systems. He is best known for publicly disseminating the Bajiquan and Piguazhang systems to the public, as well as his high level of attainment in the Yin-Fu lineage of Baguazhang. In this slender volume, Mr. Hsu (since I am not his student, I may not refer to him as "Sifu") brings forth the philosophies and theory surrounding the most popular but least-understood family of martial arts in the West. There are no forms in this text; rather, it is a well-thought-out compilation of articles that will benefit all levels of Chinese martial artists. In fact, it has a thing or two to teach non-Chinese martial arts practitioners, as well. For anyone who cares to put a little thought into things, this is the book.
Rating:
Summary: Are you REALLY studying KUNG FU??
Review: An excellent collection of articles from start to finish. After reading this book, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach that I might just be "playing around". I've been to different schools and practiced on my own, never thinking quite as deeply as I needed to about Kung Fu. Mind you, I thought pretty deeply about it, but after reading Polishing the Sword, I think maybe I need to spend MORE time training and less time "playing" Kung Fu. His articles are dead-on, he politely skewers myths, delusions, phoney Kung Fu and detrimental Kung Fu practices. Not many books on Kung Fu take the time to analyze what the Kung Fu student must BECOME in order to achieve Kung Fu. Not many books focus on finding the right school, choosing the right style and developing the proper attitude and respect for the art. This should be required reading for any Kung Fu student. It teaches no forms, tells no fairy tales, it is for the modern, Western Kung Fu student to study and re-study in his/her quest for authentic Kung Fu. Also, it approaches the MUCH needed subject of Martial Arts vs. Fighting Ability. That alone was worth the price of the book. Are you Wu Shu or are you a Poseur? Graydon Webster Northern Shaolin Student
Rating:
Summary: Are you REALLY studying KUNG FU??
Review: An excellent collection of articles from start to finish. After reading this book, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach that I might just be "playing around". I've been to different schools and practiced on my own, never thinking quite as deeply as I needed to about Kung Fu. Mind you, I thought pretty deeply about it, but after reading Polishing the Sword, I think maybe I need to spend MORE time training and less time "playing" Kung Fu. His articles are dead-on, he politely skewers myths, delusions, phoney Kung Fu and detrimental Kung Fu practices. Not many books on Kung Fu take the time to analyze what the Kung Fu student must BECOME in order to achieve Kung Fu. Not many books focus on finding the right school, choosing the right style and developing the proper attitude and respect for the art. This should be required reading for any Kung Fu student. It teaches no forms, tells no fairy tales, it is for the modern, Western Kung Fu student to study and re-study in his/her quest for authentic Kung Fu. Also, it approaches the MUCH needed subject of Martial Arts vs. Fighting Ability. That alone was worth the price of the book. Are you Wu Shu or are you a Poseur? Graydon Webster Northern Shaolin Student
Rating:
Summary: Are you REALLY studying KUNG FU??
Review: An excellent collection of articles from start to finish. After reading this book, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach that I might just be "playing around". I've been to different schools and practiced on my own, never thinking quite as deeply as I needed to about Kung Fu. Mind you, I thought pretty deeply about it, but after reading Polishing the Sword, I think maybe I need to spend MORE time training and less time "playing" Kung Fu. His articles are dead-on, he politely skewers myths, delusions, phoney Kung Fu and detrimental Kung Fu practices. Not many books on Kung Fu take the time to analyze what the Kung Fu student must BECOME in order to achieve Kung Fu. Not many books focus on finding the right school, choosing the right style and developing the proper attitude and respect for the art. This should be required reading for any Kung Fu student. It teaches no forms, tells no fairy tales, it is for the modern, Western Kung Fu student to study and re-study in his/her quest for authentic Kung Fu. Also, it approaches the MUCH needed subject of Martial Arts vs. Fighting Ability. That alone was worth the price of the book. Are you Wu Shu or are you a Poseur? Graydon Webster Northern Shaolin Student
Rating: 
Summary: well written and easy to understand,esp. for kung-fu.
Review: except for the lack of an index,I could find little to fault in this book. some may find Mr. Hsu's attitude toward martial art students and instructors a little negative at times,but he's been at it much longer than I have, and is prob. correct. This was the book that began my search for an internal style, that ultimately led to my current study of Chen tai-chi.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book
Review: GREAT overview of Kung Fu principles. The best MARTIAL ARTS books I've bought. You won't find new techniques or demonstrations of forms, but you will find overall principles used in Martial arts (e.g finding a good Kung Fu school, proper breathing, differences in traditional Wushu vs Contemporary Wushu, usage, training). And no I'm not affiliated with the publishing company or Sifu Hsu's school(Kenpo, Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do for 14years). Just my humble opinion of a overrall great read.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book
Review: GREAT overview of Kung Fu principles. The best MARTIAL ARTS books I've bought. You won't find new techniques or demonstrations of forms, but you will find overall principles used in Martial arts (e.g finding a good Kung Fu school, proper breathing, differences in traditional Wushu vs Contemporary Wushu, usage, training). And no I'm not affiliated with the publishing company or Sifu Hsu's school(Kenpo, Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do for 14years). Just my humble opinion of a overrall great read.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Historical & Philosophical Overview
Review: Hsu's book dispells many myths, including the story of the Shaolin Temple being the ancient home of Chinese martial arts. He discusses many topics including teacher student relationships, the difference between "Northern" and "Southern" style kung fu, forms, two man fighting sets, and more... This is NOT a how-to book, there are no sequences of techniques or instructions on forms. It is however, an invaluable aid to those seeking helpful factual information on Chinese martial arts, written in a straightforward and non-self-promoting way. I have bought copies of this to send to friends who are studying kung-fu in remote areas, away from the constant supervision of a teacher. It serves as a good textbook for beginning and advanced alike, doing away with superstitious information and offering a well thought, gracious and full view of the depth of Chinese martial arts.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Historical & Philosophical Overview
Review: Hsu's book dispells many myths, including the story of the Shaolin Temple being the ancient home of Chinese martial arts. He discusses many topics including teacher student relationships, the difference between "Northern" and "Southern" style kung fu, forms, two man fighting sets, and more... This is NOT a how-to book, there are no sequences of techniques or instructions on forms. It is however, an invaluable aid to those seeking helpful factual information on Chinese martial arts, written in a straightforward and non-self-promoting way. I have bought copies of this to send to friends who are studying kung-fu in remote areas, away from the constant supervision of a teacher. It serves as a good textbook for beginning and advanced alike, doing away with superstitious information and offering a well thought, gracious and full view of the depth of Chinese martial arts.
Rating:
Summary: empty mind
Review: I enjoyed reading this collection of short essays on various aspects of kung-fu teaching, practice and history. I think students of any level would also find it interesting and worthwhile. However, I often had the feeling that after all the pretty images presented, I was left empty. Usually the author spends the entire essay talking about what is NOT true and NOT real kung-fu, but then fails to even mention what IS true and real.
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