Any books by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming are excellent. I really enjoyed Xing Yi Chuan Theory and Application , Shaolin Chin Na , Long Fist Kung Fu , and a few others I have read by him.
For Kung Fu practitioners I believe Kung Fu: History, Philosophy , Techniques by Chow and Spangler ( unique publications)is a must read.
Sun Tzu’s Art of War is a very good book to read as well. thomas Cleary has a good translation written. As well as Essential Confucius by Thomas Cleary.
I have a wide library and I could go on and on but I dont want to bore you.
Take care.
"also thinking of ordering a book, “The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity” by Daniel Reid. "
yeah, i’ve got this one.don’t agree with everything he says but it’s a worthwhile read.
i also like tha asiapac comic series.heaps of books that provide a simple “easy to mentally digest” intro to many areas of chinese culture/medicine/philosophy/martial arts.(though i’ve got to say i thought the “shaolin temple” one was a big disappointment)
___________________________________________________________________________ “I never drive faster than i can see…other than that…it’s all in the reflexes” Jack Burton
Thanks Fish, I ended up ordering Daniel Reid’s book. Just finished Adam Hsu’s book…I enjoyed it, very “readable”…didn’t agree with everything he said, but it was good to get his perspective.
I’ve started on The Science of Martial Arts Training by Staley now. I have to say that, so far, I’m not enjoying it. Seems to have lots of charts and suggestions to “peak” in your training when you need to hit your maximum. Reads a lot like a textbook…but I’m only about 50 pages in. Anyone else read this one? Am I wasting my time?
-Radhnoti
Mostly through with the Staley book now…it has turned out ok. Had some info I’d never read about stretching and strength training.
I’m reading Daniel Reid’s book now. It “reads well”, not boring at all. He presents the “Eastern” ideas of Taoism in a “Western” format, by giving scientific examples of Qi…why fasting is good for you…etc. Seems to be a great book for anyone interested in Taoist philosophy and practical applications of Taoism.
-Radhnoti
BK Frantzis’s “Power of the Internal Martial Arts” is more useful to me via the anecdotes about his teachers as opposed to the remainder of the book.
My traditional sifu feels that Adam Hsu’s stances in the “Sword Polisher’s” book do not allow his qi to circulate properly from head to toe. I personally do not sink my horses that low for the same reason.
I’ve talked to my sifu about Yang Jwing Ming, and his belief is that Yang’s “Taijiquan” is more like Fukien White Crane.
I may go visit Yang one of these days.
Jimbo.
I concur. I love that book. He’s pretty straight ahead in his analysis. next month’s Inside Kung Fu will have an interveiw with Mr. Smith.
How many books has he written?
My favourite martial arts book is Scholar Warrior by Deng Ming-Dao