Introduction I was recently exchanging emails with a martial arts instructor and reader who suggested that I address the historical facts behind the “Bodhidharma myth.” This is a critical topic for anyone interested in either the historical or cultural... Continue Reading →
by Esther Berg Introduction: More on Theory and Martial Arts Studies Here comes yet another reader response to the debate on ‘theory’ in Martial Arts Studies. To shortly summarize the state of discussion: In 2011, D. J. Farrer and John... Continue Reading →
Introduction Anyone who has done much reading on the history of the traditional Chinese martial arts will be very familiar with the idea of “lineage politics.” Even the average practitioner, on either side of the Pacific, usually has more than... Continue Reading →
Introduction: Becoming Invulnerable in Southern Mantis Kung Fu The traditional Chinese martial arts are rich in animal symbolism. Tigers, dragons, cranes, snakes and monkeys are common fixtures in the legends and folklore of these systems. Some styles are imitative in... Continue Reading →
Introduction This is the third entry in my short series on the local opera traditions of southern China, particularly as they relate to the development of modern martial culture. The first essay addressed the persistent (but poorly understood) relationship between... Continue Reading →
Qigong Fever. by David Palmer. Columbia University Press, 2007. ****I would like to thank to all of the individuals who participated in the 2013 Kung Fu Tea Web Symposium on Chinese Martial Studies. A special thanks is also in order... Continue Reading →
Introduction Once again I find myself staying up late to write my Monday morning post. I had originally planned on doing a news update, but given the hour I thought a ghost story might actually be more appropriate. The following... Continue Reading →
Introduction Welcome! "Chinese Martial Arts in the News" is a regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea. Every three to four weeks we discuss the major news stories impacting the Chinese martial arts. Special attention is payed to the ways... Continue Reading →
Kung Fu and Religion: The Emergence of the Modern Debate. For most of the 20th century western academics paid little attention to the Chinese martial arts. Popular culture did not elicit much interest from scholars who were more engaged with... Continue Reading →
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