Search

Kung Fu Tea

Martial Arts History, Wing Chun and Chinese Martial Studies.

Open Search
Category

Biography

Imagining the Chinese Martial Arts without Bruce Lee: Sophia Delza, an American Taiji Quan Pioneer.

Introduction: Different Visions of the Chinese Martial Arts Assume that we find ourselves in a very specific, recognizable alternate universe.  It is almost exactly like ours, but in this world Bruce Lee never came to America.  Maybe he got along... Continue Reading →

26

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (6): Ng Chung So – Looking Beyond the “Three Heroes of Wing Chun”

Note: this article originally appeared as a guest post at "Wing Chun Geeks." Ng Chung So: Looking Beyond the “Three Heroes of Wing Chun” The origins of Wing Chun are shrouded in mystery.  We seem to like it that way. ... Continue Reading →

38

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (5): Lau Bun—A Kung Fu Pioneer in America.

Introduction: Choy Li Fut’s place in southern Chinese martial culture. Let me ask you a question.  What was the largest and most socially important martial art in Guangdong during the late 19th and early 20th century?  What was the first... Continue Reading →

19

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (4): Sun Lutang’s Unified Theory of the Chinese Martial Arts: Daoist Spirituality, Health and Boxing (Part III).

Sun Lutang and the Field of Chinese Martial Studies This post is the third and final installment of our three part review of the life and contributions of Sun Lutang.  Sun was a master of Xingyi, Bagua and Taiji boxing... Continue Reading →

26

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (4): Sun Lutang–Secrecy, Reform and the Creation of the Modern Martial Arts School (Part II).

  Introduction: Sun Lutang at the Crossroads of Modernity In the first section of our special series on Sun Lutang we presented an outline of the life and career of a key figure in Chinese martial studies.  Sun has made... Continue Reading →

10

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (4): Sun Lutang and the Invention of the “Traditional” Chinese Martial Arts (Part I).

This is Part One of a three part biographical sketch of Sun Lutang.  Also see Part Two and Part Three. Introduction: Why Sun Lutang? One of the persistent problems that I see in amateur discussions of “Chinese martial studies” is... Continue Reading →

18

Ip Man and the Roots of Wing Chun’s “Multiple Attacker” Principle, Part 1.

Law Enforcement and the Martial Arts in Republican China The intersection between law enforcement and the development of the modern Chinese martial arts is a fascinating topic that deserves a lot more attention than it normally gets.  In many ways... Continue Reading →

21

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (3): Chan Wah Shun and the Creation of Wing Chun.

Chan Wah Shun and his Place in the Modern Wing Chun Community. One of the biggest problems in researching the history of the martial arts is the martial artists themselves.  They love their styles (or the businesses that they support)... Continue Reading →

32

Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (2): Cheung Lai Chuen (pt. II)

  Introduction This is the second part of our biographical sketch of Cheung Lai Chuen.  The purpose of the "Lives of the Chinese Martial Artists" series is to better understand the diversity of life pathways and variety of personal experiences... Continue Reading →

6

Up ↑