Download or read book Martial Art Essays from Beijing 1760 written by Michael A. DeMarco, MA and published by Via Media Publishing. This book was released on 2021-10-02 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The themes in this book—drawn from Chinese history, culture, and martial arts experience—are entwined in a fictional narrative to animate events envisaged to have occurred during the mid-eighteenth century. From the outset, a thin veil separates fact from fiction. Our story starts with a discovery. While conducting research at the Vatican Library on the Jesuit missions in China, two scholars find a folder of papers written in Chinese among documents belonging to Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766), a painter at the royal court in Beijing. The papers turn out to be written by a fellow court painter, Yang Mingbin (c. 1664–1765). Yang’s handwritten essays provide revelations vital for understanding the ingenuity of Chinese martial arts. Yang’s text is organized under sixty-four subheadings. The author elucidates theory and practice methods in a fashion unlike any other writings on this subject. This is a rare early text written during a transitional period for martial arts. It is the time when the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912) was at its peak of cultural splendor and expanding its borders by military expeditions. Cannons and smaller firearms show the Western influence, but traditional martial arts were ubiquitous in the village, province, and national levels. Master Yang offers fascinating reading on all aspects of the Chinese fighting traditions. He places great emphasis on the importance of the “martial arts family” and the role of secrecy in lethal arts. The arts are also adapted for health and entertainment. All reflect an infusion of philosophy and practices from Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. How one thinks affects how one practices martial arts. Yang describes the qualities associated with different skill levels, from beginner to most advanced. As he does this, we learn secrets that set forth key ways for improving defensive and offensive applications. These topics include body alignment, coordination, spontaneity, naturalness, balance, distancing, relaxation, and power. The same principles apply to bare-hand and weapons practice, as well as martial arts for health. Yang’s learning methodology for studying martial arts can be useful in other areas, as in his work as a master painter at court.

Download or read book 1760 written by Michael A. DeMarco and published by Via Media Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-24 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 本书的主题取材于中国历史、文化和武术经验，他们交织在一个虚构的叙事中，动画般地设想发生在 18 世纪中叶的事件。从一开始，就有一层薄薄的面纱将事实与虚构分开。我们的故事始于一个发现。 两位学者在梵蒂冈图书馆研究耶稣会在中国的使命时，在北京的宫廷画家朱塞佩·卡斯蒂廖内（Giuseppe Castiglione，1688-1766）的档案中发现了一些中文文章，这些文章由一位同为宫廷画家的杨明瑸（约1664-1765）所写。杨明瑸的手抄本为理解中国武术的智慧提供了至关重要的启示。 他的这些文字被编成六十四个副标题。作者用不同于其他任何关于武术的著作的方式阐明了理论和实践的方法。这是在武术成形时期写成的少见的早期文字。当时清朝（1644-1912）正值文化鼎盛时期，以武力扩张其疆域。大炮和小型火器显示出西方的影响，但传统武术在村、省和国家层面无所不在。 杨大师引人入胜地解读了中国格斗传统的方方面面。他非常强调“武术世家”的重要性，以及秘传在致命艺术中的作用。这种艺术也适用于健康和娱乐。这些都反映了佛教、道教和儒教的哲学与实践的融合。一个人的认识将影响他练习武术的方式。 杨明瑸描述了与不同技能水平有关的素质，从初学者到最高级。他的这些文章让我们学到了一些秘诀，这些秘诀阐明了改善防御和完成进攻的关键方法。这些话题包括身体调动、协调、自发性、自然性、平衡、距离、放松和力量。同样的原则适用于徒手练习和器械练习，以及用于保健目的的武术。杨明瑸关于学习研究武术的方法在其他领域也很有用，比如他作为大画家在宫廷中的工作。

Download or read book The Best Fight A Memoir of a Martial Art Practitioner Publisher and Author written by Michael DeMarco and published by Via Media Publishing. This book was released on 2023-10-10 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A needle may draw a thread through printed pages to bind a book. In this little memoir, I feel like a needle that drew a common thread though a segment of martial art history. This book details three interrelated activities: (1) martial art studies, (2) involvement as founder of Via Media Publishing, producing a quarterly journal and books, and (3) teaching martial arts. Publishers, writers, researchers and serious martial art practitioners will benefit with the detailed overview of Via Media and its publications. Via Media produced the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, known for its high academic and aesthetic standards. Its contents reflect the history of two decades and provides rich information for practitioners and scholars, making The Best Fighta valuable reference work. In addition to reading, the primary way to learn a martial art is through instruction. In reading about my studies and teaching experience, readers can relate to their own involvement in martial arts. What is important here is the portrayal of my instructors, their teaching methods, and reasons for being involved in martial arts. Their accounts should offer insights and inspiration for others who study and practice any martial art.

Download or read book My 2024 Kungfu Journal written by Robert W. Smith and published by . This book was released on 2023-10 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Keeping This Journal Will Benefit You!If your goal is to become better skilled in kungfu and physically and mentally healthier, then keeping a journal will give you a reference for your practice sessions and inspire you to be consistent, motivated, and inspired: make the best of your practice time. This Kungfu Journal was designed to help you note the essentials of your practice. Each page lists your starting and ending time, primary goal, secondary goal, practices, and observations. These will determine what practices you will want to include in your sessions. Keeping the journal will help give you an honest view of your practice and progress. The record will keep you on track, inspiring your practice, improving the quality of your skills, while keeping you physically fit.

Download or read book Wuxia America The Timely Emergence of a Chinese American Hero written by Michael DeMarco and published by Via Media Publishing. This book was released on 2023-02-17 with total page 133 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dr. Jason Lou represents a medical tradition transmitted over centuries through his family lineage. In 1857, his ancestor brought the art to San Francisco from China to serve the growing Chinese population who arrived during the gold rush and railroad building period. The Sacramento Bee publishes an in depth feature about Dr. Lou. Afterwords, a series of break ins occur. A few discover that Dr. Lou is a master of another art practiced in strict privacy: a martial arts system transmitted in tandem with the medical tradition. Was there something in the feature article that induced the criminal activities? Investigators soon learn that they are dealing with an international crime ring. An interdepartmental governmental team is formed and formulates theories regarding those responsible for the crime. Dr. Lou proves vital to the investigation. Ten years later, Dr. Lou and others realize the profound significance of what they’ve learned from their fateful brush with organized crime. This book should be of particular interest to Chinese Americans who can take pride in their history and be inspired by the main character as a role model — a hero in the broadest sense.

Download or read book My 2024 Karate Journal written by JOHN DONOHUE; MARVIN LABBATE; ROBERT TOTH; GILES H. and published by . This book was released on 2023-10 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Keeping This Journal Will Benefit You!If your goal is to become better skilled in kungfu and physically and mentally healthier, then keeping a journal will give you a reference for your practice sessions and inspire you to be consistent, motivated, and inspired: make the best of your practice time. This Karate Journal was designed to help you note the essentials of your practice. Each page lists your starting and ending time, primary goal, secondary goal, practices, and observations. These will determine what practices you will want to include in your sessions. Keeping the journal will help give you an honest view of your practice and progress. The record will keep you on track, inspiring your practice, improving the quality of your skills, while keeping you physically fit.

Download or read book My 2024 Budo Journal written by Michael DeMarco and published by . This book was released on 2023-10 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Daily journal for 2024 for martial arts.

Download or read book Mundunur A Mountain Village Under the Spell of South Italy written by Michele Antonio DiMarco M. a. and published by Via Media Publishing Company. This book was released on 2020-04-28 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Montenero Val Cocchiara is usually referred to simply as Montenero, or Mundunur in the local dialect. It is a typical mountain village on the border of Italy's Abruzzo and Molise regions, but Montenero is more than that. Certainly the village and its people retain unique traditions and character traits because of its relative seclusion. At the same time-as fully revealed in this book-its history was tinted by contacts with numerous powerful groups over many centuries. Since Naples was the political and cultural heartbeat of south Italy, it sewed threads that tie Montenero to a heritage common to all living in the sunny south. Anyone with roots in south Italy will certainly benefit from reading this book. However, the author's greater aspiration is that others will equally enjoy the story of Montenero as a metaphor for their own ancestral village or town, regardless of country-or even see the village as a microcosm of the world, where the forces of history and culture forge the character of people.

Download or read book Chinese Combatives An Anthology written by Michael DeMarco and published by Via Media Publishing. This book was released on 2020-09-15 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to traditional Chinese martial arts custom, instruction in the lethal arts were transmitted under strict secrecy. At the turn of the twentieth century, the martial arts had started to be taught publically with a focus on health. However, many fighting techniques were not shown or taught. As a result, today some systems are more well-known than others. This anthology brings together some of the lesser-known arts in one volume and some aspects of their theory, application, and place historical place in society. The first two chapters by Shannon Phelps give a wonderful presentation of the Fu family Wudang arts—including the unique sixiangquan, a blending of liangyiquan, baguazhang, xingyiquan, and taijiquan under the genius of Fu Zhensong (1872–1953) and family. Dr. Daniel Amos authored the next two chapters reflecting his studies of Southern Praying Mantis. His first-hand experience and scholarly background offered him a special view as an insider into the social aspects involving the practitioners. These include association with criminal associations, spirit possession for fighting application and protection, and the changing relationships within the “gongfu family.” Chapters 5, 6 and 7 cover important concepts and practices of baijiquan an piguzhang as transmitted by Li Suwen (1864–1934) and brought to Taiwan by Liu Yunqiao (1909–1990). The authors stress the importance of fundamental training methods, starting from the static horse stance, to dynamic changing stances while incorporating various techniques performed with explosive issuing energy (fajing). Of particular interest for many will be the sections dealing with big spear (daqiang) training. The final chapter provides a comprehensive overview of tongbei boxing history, styles, and principles, including special highlights of the White Ape system. The authors emphasize the traditional mindset, inner feelings, and overall fighting spirit needed to train the real high-level skills. Training methods and sample applications bring life to tongbei theory. By providing great detail on the styles presented—along with associations with other noted styles and masters—this special anthology is an important reference for any interested in Chinese martial arts. I personally thank the authors for sharing their exceptional work.

Download or read book A Century in Crisis written by Julia F. Andrews and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Edited by Julia F. Andrews and Kuiyi Shen. Essays by Jonathan Spence, Xue Yongnian and Mayching Kao.

Download or read book Inscribing Jingju Peking Opera written by David Rolston and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-08-09 with total page 817 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What was the most influential mass medium in China before the internet reaching both literate and illiterate audiences? The answer may surprise you...it’s Jingju (Peking opera). This book traces the tradition’s increasing textualization and the changes in authorship, copyright, performance rights, and textual fixation that accompanied those changes.

Download or read book Authentic Shaolin Heritage written by Jin Jing Zhong and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2006-09-01 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Devoted to the most enigmatic and little-known aspect of training of Shaolin monks. Training methods allow supernatural abilites to develop, far beyond abilities of an ordinary man. The book was writen with the blessing and direct participation of the Head of the Shaolin Monastery Reverend Miao Xing, nicknamed "The Golden Arhat," one of the best Shaolin fighters of all times. These secret practices traditionally called "72 arts of Shaolin" or the essence of the Shaolin Combat Training.

Download or read book Lian Gong Mi Jue Secret Methods of Acquiring External and Internal Mastery written by Andrew Timofeevich and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2007-04 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today as in the ancient time special exercises aimed at acquiring "Internal Mastery"(GONG FU) are one of the most important elements of Shaolin monks training. Those exercises is the core of the Shaolin martial training, they are the key to the true summit of mastery. An old proverb says: "If you exercise only the technique (style) but ignore special training you will be a nobody till your old days." "Special training" implies particular exercises for developing both WAI ZHUANG - "the External Power" and NEI ZHUANG - "the Internal Power." Those exercises (training procedures) are collected under a common title - LIAN GONG, literally "Exercising to Acquire Mastery."

Download or read book Kung Fu Basics written by Paul Eng and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2018-06-19 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get your training off to a great start--from basic kicks to practice and tournaments--this book is a perfect introduction to kung fu for beginners. It's everything you need to get started in kung fu! Whether you are considering taking up this martial art, or you've already started, Kung Fu Basics offers an easy, yet comprehensive introduction to everything you need to know to feel confident and be successful. You'll learn about: The origins of kung fu--philosophy, history and different styles What happens in a kung fu class--invaluable tips on choosing the right school, getting ready for your first class, and basic training methods The essential elements of the style--stances, footwork, kicks, and hand techniques, with tips on common mistakes and how to get the most power out of each move Drill and conditioning exercises--exercises to compliment your training Practical ways to improve your kung fu technique--traditional teaching advice of Chinese masters Resources--help further develop your knowledge and understanding of kung fu

Download or read book The Culture of War in China written by Joanna Waley-Cohen and published by I.B. Tauris. This book was released on 2014-02-27 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Was the primary focus of the Qing dynasty really civil rather than military matters? In this ground-breaking book, Joanna Waley-Cohen overturns conventional wisdom to put warfare at the heart of seventeenth and eighteenth century China. She argues that the civil and the military were understood as mutually complementary forces. Emperors underpinned military expansion with a wide-ranging cultural campaign intended to bring military success, and the martial values associated with it, into the mainstream of cultural life. The Culture of War in China is a striking revisionist history that brings new insight into the roots of Chinese nationalism and the modern militarized state.

Download or read book Forging Romantic China written by Peter J. Kitson and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-11-21 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first major cultural study to focus exclusively on this decisive period in modern British-Chinese relations. Based on extensive archival investigations, Peter J. Kitson shows how British knowledge of China was constructed from the writings and translations of a diverse range of missionaries, diplomats, travellers, traders, and literary men and women during the Romantic period. The new perceptions of China that it gave rise to were mediated via a dynamic print culture to a diverse range of poets, novelists, essayists, dramatists and reviewers, including Jane Austen, Thomas Percy, William Jones, S. T. Coleridge, George Colman, Robert Southey, Charles Lamb, William and Dorothy Wordsworth and others, informing new British understandings and imaginings of China on the eve of the Opium War of 1839–42. Kitson aims to restore China to its true global presence in our understandings of the culture and literature of Britain in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Download or read book Intimate Communities written by Nicole Elizabeth Barnes and published by University of California Press. This book was released on 2018-10-23 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more. When China’s War of Resistance against Japan began in July 1937, it sparked an immediate health crisis throughout China. In the end, China not only survived the war but emerged from the trauma with a more cohesive population. Intimate Communities argues that women who worked as military and civilian nurses, doctors, and midwives during this turbulent period built the national community, one relationship at a time. In a country with a majority illiterate, agricultural population that could not relate to urban elites’ conceptualization of nationalism, these women used their work of healing to create emotional bonds with soldiers and civilians from across the country. These bonds transcended the divides of social class, region, gender, and language.