Sword Polisher's Record. Adam Hsu

      

      The Sword

       Polisher’s Record

      The Way of Kung-fu

      The Sword

       Polisher’s Record

      The Way of Kung-fu

      Adam Hsu

      TUTTLE Publishing

       Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore

      Disclaimer

      Please note that the publisher and author(s) of this instructional book are NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following the instructions given within. Martial arts training can be dangerous—both to you and to others—if not practiced safely. If you are in doubt as to how to proceed or whether your practice is safe, consult with a trained martial arts teacher before beginning. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some readers, it is essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.

      Published in the United States by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

      www.tuttlepublishing.com

      Copyright © 1997 by Adam Hsu

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

      Library of Congress Cataloging No. 97045549

      The sword polisher’s record : the way of kung-fu / Adam Hsu.—

      1st ed.

      204 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.

      ISBN 978-0-8048-3138-3 (pbk.)

       ISBN 978-1-4629-1755-6 (ebook)

      1. Kung-fu. 2. Kung-fu—Health aspects. I. Title.

      GVIII4.7.H78 1998

796.815’9—dc21	97.455—49
	CIP

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      First edition

      14 13 12 11 12 11 10 9 8 1104TP

      Printed in Singapore

      TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

      Acknowledgments

      This book could not have been published without the help of several of my students including Dan Farber, Richard Miller, Hal Malmud, and Marie Anthony. They contributed to the writing and editing of this book. I also want to thank Marie Anthony for many for the photographs included in this book. In addition, Meilin Wong assisted in preparing the manuscript for publication, and Ken Watanabe contributed illustrations.

      Table Of Contents

       Preface

       Part 1: Knocking on the Kung-fu Door

       The Contemporary Purpose of Kung-fu

       Traditional Kung-fu: The Complete Exercise

       The Simple Fact of Yin and Yang

       Part 2: The Foundation of Kung-fu

       Mapping Kung-fu’s DNA

       Drafting a Kung-fu Constitution

       Stance Training

       Kung-fu’s Way to Power

       How Much Flexibility is Enough for Kung-fu?

       Part 3: Myth and Reality of Kung-fu Styles

       The Real Difference Between Internal and External Kung-fu

       The Myth of Shaolin Kung-fu

       The Internal Dilemma

       The Dividing Line Between Northern and Southern Styles

       Should the Many Be One?

       A Lifelong Commitment to One Style

       Piecing Together the Kung-fu Puzzle

       Counterfeit Kung-fu

       Part 4: The Role of Forms in Kung-fu

       Is It Necessary to Learn Forms?

       Form Without Content

       Analyze Your Beauty

       Forms and Function

       Two-Person Forms: Martial or Performing Art?

       Part 5: Mind and Body Training

       Starting with a Clean Slate

       “Don’t Tickle My Stomach”

       Learning to See

       Find Your Balance

       Internal Training: Is It Necessary?

       Kung-fu Mind, Multi-dimensional Mind

       The Risk of Special Training

       Adapting Western Methods to Kung-fu

       Part 6: Usage: The Soul of Kung-fu

       The Kung-fu Art of Fighting

       Real Kung-fu: Use It or Lose It!

       Use Your Head, Not Your Opponent’s

       The Continuous Fist

       The Nine Doors of Kung-fu

       Part 7: Masters and Students

       How to Choose a Kung-fu Teacher

       Only a Kung-fu Teacher

       The Proper Kung-fu Attitude

       Kung-fu’s Age of Reason