Introduction At the end of the last class at the “Central Martial Arts Academy” (the location where I am conducing my current research on lightsaber combat and the “hyper-real martial arts”) we all gathered for an... Continue Reading →
Another Look at a “Young Boxer” – Martial Arts and National Humiliation in Early 20th Century China By Benjamin Judkins and Doug Wile Introduction Earlier this year I published an image of a “Young Boxer”... Continue Reading →
Meeting the Boxer I recently had the good fortune to meet one of my favorite Chinese Boxers. I had been stalking him for years. This early 20th century postcard was probably purchased in Beijing and then... Continue Reading →
The Yin and the Yang of the Hudiedao Earlier this year I had the opportunity to participate in a day-long seminar on the Wing Chun swords taught by Sifu John Crescione. This was a great experience that provided... Continue Reading →
Introduction Some of the most popular posts at Kung Fu Tea have examined vintage images of traditional martial artists. These are also among my favorites to research. Yet it seems that I have neglected this subject with all of... Continue Reading →
Introduction In a recent post discussing the portrayal of the Asian martial arts in early 20th century Western newsreels, I called for a “media archeology” of the early imagery surrounding these fighting systems. The following post... Continue Reading →
Introduction Welcome to the sixth entry in our series of guest posts titled “Doing Research.” If you missed the first essay by D. S. Farrer (which provides a global overview of the subject), the second by Daniel Mroz... Continue Reading →
“In the west, Asian martial arts are everywhere. They are part of the texture of popular consciousness. Nonetheless I want to argue that they remain marginal. That is to say, although Westerners may see them often, and all... Continue Reading →
Introduction Ephemera, such as postcards, tourist snapshots and newspaper accounts are an important (if often overlooked) source of information regarding the traditional Chinese martial arts. While a number of printed manuals and detailed philosophical discussions do exist from the... Continue Reading →
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