Rating: Summary: Informative snapshot of history, techniques, and philosophy Review: This is one of the best books put out on Wing Chun. It will not teach you wing chun but it will give an interested practioner a good round about view of what wing chun is and where it came from. It is a rare treat to get to see so many forms of wing chun and compare them side by side. Most complaints come from not enough information about each style, but I assure you that this is a publisher, not an author, problem. One could write complete volumns on each branch of Wing Chun.I belong to Eddie Chong's Line of Pan Nam Wing Chun and I was able to learn several things I didn't know before reading this book. There is something for every one. Can't wait for a follow up. It is a must have in any Martial Arts collection.
Rating: Summary: A work that encourages learning, understanding, Great. Review: Today we see to many people looking for a teacher that will tech them that one unbeatable technique or show them the way to be the badest martial artist that ever lived. This is nothing but silly hero worship. Martial arts is a journey of self discovery. The authors show many lineage's and many good examples of what gung fu is all about. Overall it is informative, well written and insightful. It has also lead me to reach further and train harder in my own art. Cheers to the authors for their honesty and openness.
Rating: Summary: Inadequate research & biased favor for Yip Man & Yuen KaySan Review: Without adequate research and candid comparisons, the authors are too hasty to claim that all Wing Chun schools are the same (p116 -- the three main boxing forms are fairly consistent in organization throughout the various styles; p117 -- All have, and none have.) Their statement appears to be made out of respect for the various schools. However, by ignorng the obvious differences in curricula and by generalizing the similarities of the three main forms, they are now ready to extol their practiced styles toward the end of their text -- the Yip Man and Yuen Kay-Shan styles (p118-120.) These two styles have been subtly positioned to be the standard of reference for comparative studies. Hence the differences found in other Wing Chun styles are ascribed to influences from non Wing Chun kung fu.
Rating: Summary: Complete Wing Chun? No, not really. Review: Yip Man's lineage is most dominant today. I expected more in this branch. Most intriguing is who the authors chose to exclude even a mention from the book - including (among others) Moy Yat.
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