Introduction It is dangerous to make sweeping statements about the development of the traditional Chinese martial arts during the early 20th century. This was an important period for the hand combat community. Between 1900 and 1949 the complex of behaviors... Continue Reading →
Introduction: One Post, Two Research Programs. The current post hopes to make a contribution to two ongoing projects here at Kung Fu Tea. The first of these research programs has already led to a number of posts, while the second... Continue Reading →
Introduction "Chinese Martial Arts in the News" is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea. Every three or four weeks I try to conduct a roundup of the major stories affecting the Chinese martial arts. Special attention is payed... Continue Reading →
Introduction: Critiquing the Conceptual Coherence of the Martial Arts. In this installment of the “Lives of the Chinese Martial Artists” series we will be looking at the life and career of Li Pei Xian. While a regionally important individual... Continue Reading →
A Guest Appearance for Kung Fu Tea I recently had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Craig Kiessling and Dave Jones. These two gentlemen are the hosts of the "Hiyaa Martial Arts Podcast." They graciously invited me to... Continue Reading →
Introduction: If Kung Fu is so popular, why can’t Wushu get into the Olympics? I am first and foremost a political scientist. When I look at the “traditional Chinese martial arts” what I see is emerging trends in civil... Continue Reading →
This is the second half of our two part discussion of Adam D. Frank’s ethnographic study of identity and the traditional Chinese martial arts. The first part of this review can be found here. The “Book Club” is a semi-regular... Continue Reading →
***Update*** (I recently found another old photograph that goes very well with this post. It shows an official riding a horse as part of procession in pre-1911 Shanghai. I have added it below with some additional comment.) Introduction: Romanticizing and... Continue Reading →
Introduction Much of our modern writing on the Chinese martial arts is premised on the examination of difference. Nor is this an abstract categorization of dry facts. Our discussions always seem to run along a similar track. Of all of... Continue Reading →
Kung Fu Tea 
Recent Comments