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Ben Judkins and Jon Nielson talk with Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine about THE...
The Creation of Wing Chun by Judkins and Nielson. Introduction I try to stick to a Monday/Friday posting schedule, but every once in a while something comes up and I have to break from routine. This...
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Through a Lens Darkly (34): The Chinese and Japanese Martial Arts in WWII-era...
Kendo and Judo as part of life in the Japanese Navy. Source: Vintage Postcard. Author’s personal collection. Introduction The martial arts can speak to a number of important questions, but perhaps to...
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Internal Elixir Cultivation: Robert Coons on the Nature of Daoist Meditation
Knowing others is wisdom;Knowing the self is enlightenment.Mastering others requires force;Mastering the self needs strength.He who knows he has enough is rich.Perseverance is a sign of willpower.He...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: November 2, 2015: Sanda, Taijiquan and the...
Taijiquan practitioners attempting to set a new record. Source: dailymail.co.uk Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News.” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in...
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Preparing for the First Issue of Martial Arts Studies: Three Critical Questions
Volkerkunde by F.Ratzel.Printed in Germany,1890. This 19th century illustration shows a number of interesting Japanese and Chinese arms including hudiedao. Three Critical Questions The inaugural...
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The Autumn 2015 Issue of Martial Arts Studies is Here!
Paul Bowman and I are happy to announce that the first issue of the new interdisciplinary journal Martial Arts Studies has arrived. It is free to download, read or share by anyone with an internet...
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Ben Judkins and Jon Nielson talk with Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine about THE...
Traditional style Hudiedao. Source: traditionalfilipinoweapons.com Introduction Earlier in the summer my co-author, Jon Nielson, and I had the pleasure of discussing our recent book and the current...
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China’s One Child Policy and Martial Arts Studies
Three unidentified children practice Kung Fu near the Shaolin Temple. This press photo was taken in 1982 and it captures the first moments of the “Golden Age” of Kung Fu in mainland China. Source:...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: November 23, 2015: Trouble in the Badlands,...
Still shot of Bruce Lee in the opening scene of “Enter the Dragon.” Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News.” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we review...
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Bruce Lee: Memory, Philosophy and the Tao of Gung Fu
Bruce Lee with his favorite onscreen weapon. Introduction: Bruce Lee at 75 Yesterday I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. As is customary on this day of remembrance I took a few moments to think...
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Cyber Monday: Read Chapter 1 of The Creation of Wing Chun – A Social History...
The Creation of Wing Chun: A Social History of the Southern Chinese Martial Arts by Benjamin Judkins and Jon Nielson. State University of New York Press, 2015. Given that today is “Cyber Monday,” one...
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Conference Report: Religion, Violence, and Existence of the Southern Shaolin...
A detailed view of one of the 19th century murals at the Shaolin Temple in Henan. Original published source unknown. Religion, Violence and the Asian Martial Arts Tel Aviv University – Department of...
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History, Mythology, Technique and Philosophy: Finding the “True” Origins of...
Painting of a man yielding two long iron whips on pith paper. Canton, mid 19th century. Source: Digital Collections of the New York Public Library. Introduction History is difficult. It goes beyond...
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Research Notes: Spirit Possession in the Southern Chinese Martial Arts
“Monkey Boxers” performing in a public market in Shanghai circa 1930. Source: Taiping Institute. Introduction Spirit possession is a fascinating but rarely discussed aspect of the traditional...
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Doing Research (1): Fieldwork Methods in Martial Arts Studies by D. S. Farrer
Chin Woo crouching tiger quarterstaff stance, Singapore, 2007 Introduction It is my distinct pleasure to introduce the first entry in a new series of guest posts titled “Doing Research.” Compared to...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: December 28th 2015: Wing Chun, Taiji and...
Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News.” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we review media stories that mention or affect the traditional fighting...
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A Year in the Chinese Martial Arts: The Stories and Events that Shaped 2015
Happy New Year! New Years is a good time to sit back and reflect on recent accomplishments and events. 2015 has been a huge year for the field of martial arts studies. Things had been picking up...
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Letting ‘Real’ Kung Fu Die: Paradoxes of the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts...
Cityscape by Jay Musler (1981). Blown, cut, Sandblasted and painted glass. Corning Museum of Class. Picture by Benjamin Judkins. …When I asked why he was not more active teaching himself, he answered...
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Research Notes: Foreign Attitudes towards Kung Fu in Colonial Hong Kong
A Vintage Postcard showing a Shanghai Sword Juggler. Source: Author’s Personal Collection. The TCMA as a Perpetual Revival Movement Kung Fu has an odd relationship with the past. It seems that for...
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A Quick Announcement and the Unexpected Role of Secrecy in the Success of the...
A pair of Japanese Komuso or “Monks of Emptiness.” Original Source: Unknown. Introduction I am currently in the middle of writing a short introduction that I was asked to contribute to a forthcoming...
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