Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense Health and Enlightenment

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful overview on Shaolin--essential but not sufficient
Review: Great book on Shaolin Kung Fu, period. If you are interested in a discipline of martial arts bent on personal growth, inner calm, heinous & effective self defense techniques, or even stress management and general health this may be just the ticket for you.
I started studying under Shaolin Master Chen about eight months ago, and quested out this book for more information about how what I was learning and practicing fit into the overall patchwork of Shaolin.
The book can be separated into three specific sections, Background & History, Applications & Forms, Chi Kung & Zen Training.
The history can be a little daunting for those unfamiliar with terms, but is pretty comprehensive and not hard to follow. I was pleasantly satisfied by this sections thoroughness. I feel like I understand much more about the history and lineage of this ancient art/way of life.
The applications & forms section would be very useful once an exponent has had some training in Shaolin arts, but I do not think that Kung Fu can at all be learned by a book. This material can be added to a solid study under a master, but is not in any way sufficient to learning on it's own [not that the author ever indtended this]. Many simple diagrams are used to indicate clearly what the various techniques accomplish. Very well done, this section will be a resource of new techniques for years to come.
The thrid section on Zen & Chi Kung training is wonderful, and crucial to Shaolin training. I have noticed an immense difference in every aspect of life since I began Iron Stomach Chi Kung training five months ago.

The focus of this book is certainly Shaolin training, Chi Kung and Zen are introduced but more as explainations of their natural extension and ability to deepen one's Shaolin Training. This I can certainly attest to. Wong Kiew Kit has many published books on Zen, Chi Kung, and Tai Chi, I am certain that later in my training I'll get into these as well. Great resources.

It may be of interest that you can arrange to have classes with Grandmaster Kit, as he travels across the world doing classes, go to his website www.wongkiewkit.com for more information.

So if you are currently in some shaolin training, I would certainly recommend this book to further understanding. If one is interested in Shaolin but has no training I would first seek out a Master locally, and then branch to readings on the subject.

One can read as much as you like about what a calzone tastes like but the only real understanding comes from experience and actually tasting a calzone. So go out and experience this amazing Martial Art. It will help you make yourself increase your energy, decrease your feelings of vulnerability, increase abilities in self defense, help you sleep better, face situations with more inner calm, make you happier, stronger & healthier...

Which are some pretty good things you know.


Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Introduction to Shaolin Kung Fu
Review: The book guides you through the theory and some initial practices of Kung Fu.

At the beginning is the overview of historical development of kung fu and different kung-fu styles, then some suggestions and tips for getting more out of your practice in the shorter time.

Then begins the practical part of the book with the foundation of Shaolin Kung Fu. Here you learn about different hand forms, stances and basic patterns.

The sequence of different practice sets is accompanied by appropriate illustrations (hand-drawn, not pictures).

There is a small section dealing with internal martial arts as well as suggested practices for qin-na and Tiger Claw.

One section deals with classical kung fu weapons, and then you're guided through some additional chi-kung exercises and meditation practices.

All in all, a wonderful introductory book on Shaolin Kung Fu.

Rating:
Summary: Number one review
Review: This book is a great book for you to really find out about kung fu. New or experienced readers can appreciate what the author had written . Also tells about some of the basic forms, and also about iron palm techniques for the more advansed users. This book will show you what to look for in a kung fu school and tell you if what you have been practicing hasn't been in vain. Again this book really helps to make you understand the martial art known as kung fu.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent overall book
Review: This book is an excellent introduction to the whole kung fu world.
The main focus is, as the title states, on the "Shaolin kung fu" style but also people interested in all the other styles will find this book a goldmine of valuable information.

The material presented in the book spans the history of martial arts in china, the differences and similarities among the various styles, carefully describes the basic stances and patterns of Shaolin Kung Fu (enough to get started on your own, althogh having an instructor is always a wise choice!) and also simple yet very effective chi kung exercises for developing and "feeling" internal energy.

In summary, if you are curious about the exciting world of kung fu and are looking for an excellent introduction, you can't go wrong with this book!
Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent overall book
Review: This book is an excellent introduction to the whole kung fu world.
The main focus is, as the title states, on the "Shaolin kung fu" style but also people interested in all the other styles will find this book a goldmine of valuable information.

The material presented in the book spans the history of martial arts in china, the differences and similarities among the various styles, carefully describes the basic stances and patterns of Shaolin Kung Fu (enough to get started on your own, althogh having an instructor is always a wise choice!) and also simple yet very effective chi kung exercises for developing and "feeling" internal energy.

In summary, if you are curious about the exciting world of kung fu and are looking for an excellent introduction, you can't go wrong with this book!
Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book on Kung Fu
Review: This book is probably the best book ever on the subject of kung fu. It explains everything from the history to using internal energy (Chi Kung). As a martial artist and a martial arts book collector. I have study Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo and Ninjuitsu. I always wanted to learn Kung fu, but there was no qualified instructors in my area. Now I don't say to use this book to replace a real instructor, but it is a good start if you are learning by yourself. I have several books on the art of kung fu, but they never give you the real dirt. They give you some of the forms and tell you the rest was lost, or they talk about something but doesn't explain the techniques. The author has done a great job presenting the material.

Rating:
Summary: Well written intro to this martial art
Review: This book provides the reader with detailed and very interesting information about how kung-fu came to be. Talks about how many styles of martial arts from different regions in China evolved into an organized body which the shaolin monks, by methodically studying it, perfected into sets of movements with attacks and counter-attacks. It explains several basic moves, and stances, and then it goes into the spiritual part of kung-fu, talking about meditation, internal energy or chi, and even explains how to perform a few exercises. If you thought that kung-fu is just about the external punching and kicking, you'll be surprised how the most important part of it isn't,as explained in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent intro to kung fu
Review: This is probably the best introduction to kung fu I've seen. Most of the books out there are usually devoted to a particular style, presenting their techniques and maybe a form or two, but this is a more educational and scholarly book intended to give you a better overall understanding of the art. The author discusses the history, concepts, styles, training methods, different styles (both internal and external) and philosophies of many of the different kung fu styles, both well known and not so well known (such as the fairly secretive and obscure southern praying mantis, which is much less known that it's northern counterpart. In addition to the well written text, there are illustration sequences showing a Shaolin hand set and a 5 animals form.

The author is assiduous in using the full terminology, so you get exposed to all the Chinese names for the different techniques, in both English and Chinese (which was useful to me, because I still haven't memorized all the name yet). In fact, many of the names are slightly longer or more description than the previous ones I knew, so I suspect the other kung fu books I've read often use more convenient, shorter terminology.

I was especially interested in the history of the some of the more famous styles, such as Lohan (five ancestor), praying mantis, northern long fist, choy li fut, and the Wudang or internal styles such as ba gua and tai chi. The histories seemed very thorough and I learned a lot, especially considering I already knew the history of some of the styles already to some extent. There are actually three history related chapters, one discussing the earliest history, going back perhaps 2000 years, the period from early Shaolin to the development of tai chi, and later developments.

One caution, you might have to get used to the author using slightly different names for the styles. I study hung gar, for example, and in the book it's refered to as hongjiaquan, which just means hong or hung style fist. I'm used to the main five southern family styles being refered to as hung, choy, liu, mok, and fu, follow by the word "gar," but since he says he's discussing the southern family styles you can figure that out on your own.

There's also a brief but nice discussion of the internal arts and their concepts. Their history is discussed in one of their history sections. I've studied yang and wu style tai chi but didn't know the history of each style as well as I should (although I do know my own lineage pretty well, of course), and this book was helpful there too.

The author discusses beginning and advanced training techniques, the development of sparring skills, how to deal with less skilled vs. more skilled opponents, the difference between superior skill and superior power and energy, skill vs. true mastery in the development of technique (the highest level being in a sense "no technique."

In addition, the author also has many pieces of advice on how to train and the sequence of training, the difference between power and speed and how best to develop them, how to practice the individual techniques and forms, and many other useful tidbits of information about kung fu.

Another final thing I liked about the history is the stories about some of the most famous historical figures, such as General Yue Fei (who is credited with inventing both hsing i and eagle claw), Sun Lu Tang (an important figure in all three of the internal arts), and Wong Fe Hong, a famous hero of the Chinese people and a great practitoner of hung gar.

Whether you're a relative beginner or even more advanced practitioner of kung fu, you'll probably find this book useful for learning more about the subject.



Rating:
Summary: A perfect appetizer into the wonderful realms of Kung Fu
Review: Wong Kiew Kat provides the reader with a complete and full background into the depths of this wonderful art, clearly illustrating the fundamental differences between Kung Fu and other martial arts.

Those who are interested in learning a self-defence that does not concentrate purely on the physical and `external' attributes but also on the mind, then Kung Fu along with this very book is the one for you. Kiew Kat elaborates the importance of attaining spiritual development from Chi techniques emphasising `Internal Force' stressing that this is more important than knowing the sequence of moves.

For the student, Kiew Kat demonstrates how to continual improve self-development in Kung Fu and how to achieve skills quickly and effectively through objectives and aims also underlying the difference between the two. The book guides you through the many forms of Shaolin `hand' shapes and stances that provide the foundations of Kung Fu. Combat sequences and combination sets along with vital illustrations create a more overall comprehensive guide into the physical self-defence and attack form. There is also a small section at the end on the various type of weapons used throughout the history of Kung Fu.

NEGATIVES.
The content of the book has much more value than the cost, but to be an excellent book it lacks grammatically. The author spends far too much time using Chinese references that I could not help thinking were irrelevant to the content and made difficult reading.

POSITIVES.
The book is full of abundant wisdom that would be useful even for the non Kung-Fu practitioner. The exercises to develop strength externally are vigorously hard, yet effective; and the internal `meditation' exercises will make you feel and be very powerful and strong-minded.

This book would mainly suit the beginner and those who have been practising the art for many years but feel that something acute is missing. The book also provides insight into why people who have studied Kung Fu for many years have never been good enough to become a master.

Rating:
Summary: A perfect appetizer into the wonderful realms of Kung Fu
Review: Wong Kiew Kat provides the reader with a complete and full background into the depths of this wonderful art, clearly illustrating the fundamental differences between Kung Fu and other martial arts.

Those who are interested in learning a self-defence that does not concentrate purely on the physical and 'external' attributes but also on the mind, then Kung Fu along with this very book is the one for you. Kiew Kat elaborates the importance of attaining spiritual development from Chi techniques emphasising 'Internal Force' stressing that this is more important than knowing the sequence of moves.

For the student, Kiew Kat demonstrates how to continual improve self-development in Kung Fu and how to achieve skills quickly and effectively through objectives and aims also underlying the difference between the two. The book guides you through the many forms of Shaolin 'hand' shapes and stances that provide the foundations of Kung Fu. Combat sequences and combination sets along with vital illustrations create a more overall comprehensive guide into the physical self-defence and attack form. There is also a small section at the end on the various type of weapons used throughout the history of Kung Fu.

NEGATIVES.
The content of the book has much more value than the cost, but to be an excellent book it lacks grammatically. The author spends far too much time using Chinese references that I could not help thinking were irrelevant to the content and made difficult reading.

POSITIVES.
The book is full of abundant wisdom that would be useful even for the non Kung-Fu practitioner. The exercises to develop strength externally are vigorously hard, yet effective; and the internal 'meditation' exercises will make you feel and be very powerful and strong-minded.

This book would mainly suit the beginner and those who have been practising the art for many years but feel that something acute is missing. The book also provides insight into why people who have studied Kung Fu for many years have never been good enough to become a master.