Lately I have been thinking about the role of religion in the Chinese martial arts and the different (though related) question of its place in Chinese martial studies. I blame Stanley Henning. I should preface this post by saying... Continue Reading →
Our image for this week (two of them actually) come from J. A. Hammerton's encyclopedic People of All Nations (volume 5, circa 1920). I don't normally condone cutting up of old books. I had actually attempted to buy just the... Continue Reading →
This post provides the conclusion to our biographical sketch of Qiu Jin, an important southern Chinese revolutionary, poet, writer, martial artist and terrorist. I think the best way to read these posts is to print them out and read... Continue Reading →
Anachronism and Misunderstanding in the Chinese Martial Arts This is the first post in a new occasional series here at “Kung Fu Tea.” These entries will provide brief biographies, and pose some thoughtful questions, about the lives of China’s... Continue Reading →
Stanley Henning: Yongchun, Baihe and Wing Chun Boxing In issue #38 (Vol. 2 No. 15) of Classical Fighting Arts Stanley Henning published a wide-ranging paper entitled “Thoughts on the Origins and Transmission to Okinawa of Yongchun Boxing.” (pp. 42-47). Henning... Continue Reading →
Defining Neijia Not knowing any better, one might think that there is a social hierarchy in the Chinese martial arts. In the world of popular (or folk) styles there are a variety of schools and approaches. Some of the most... Continue Reading →
Many of the debates in the Wing Chun world today focus on the question of lineage. People want to know which expression of Wing Chun best captures its essential essence? Which is truly “authentic”? Often it is assumed that authenticity... Continue Reading →
I have a long standing interest in the biographies of martial artists and am constantly amazed to see the different ways in which these practices are manifest in an individual’s life. It is also the case that their stories are... Continue Reading →
One of my projects for the next couple of weeks is to revise a conference paper I wrote a few years ago and submit it to a journal. I have been meaning to get to this one for a while... Continue Reading →
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