Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods [Paperback]

Robert W. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 1993

Distilling the martial art known in the West as kung fu, Robert Smith presents Chinese boxing (ch’uan shu) as an art “that combines the hardness of a wall and the softness of a butterfly’s wings.” His lively, pragmatic account conveys the discipline and insights acquired in ten years of study and travel in Asia. Smith describes his work with t’ai chi master Cheng Man-ch’ing, and connects ch’uan shu with the softer aspects and inner power of that popular practice. Fifty black and white photos illustrate this informative and personal account of the Chinese boxing tradition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert W. Smith is one of America's great pioneers in the Asian martial arts and has written numerous books and articles on theses ancient fighting traditions. Smith is the author of Pa-Kua: Chinese Boxing for Fitness & Self-Defense, also available from North Atlantic Books. He lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 2 Sub edition (January 26, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155643085X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556430855
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best, October 1, 2002

By 

Mr. P. Lynch (Katoomba, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods (Paperback)

There are many manuals of Chinese boxing. This is not one of them.

The author, then a US government employee, arrived in Taiwan when that nation's government was extremely grateful to the US. He was given introductions to many of the leading Chinese martial artists of the time, and took up every one -- adding what they had to teach him to what he had learned earlier in the US and during a posting in Japan.

Virtually all of the masters he describes in the book are dead and no longer available for interview. His accounts of what he saw, heard and experienced can never be matched, and Asian principles of loyalty to a single master mean that nobody other than he was able to study as widely from the leading teachers of the day.

The more you learn personally about Chinese boxing, the better this book shows itself to be. For those on the first steps of this study, the book's a profound inspiration.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I Enjoyed This Book..., October 1, 2001

By 

C. J. Hardman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods (Paperback)

This was the first English language book by someone who had actually studied Chinese martial arts in Asia (Taiwan, as China was 'cleansing' all their old school martial arists at the time--before their potential as $-making tourist attractions became evident). Some of Smith's observations seem exaggerated, but he is a believer in chi gung, so this deosn't surprise me, and shouldn't annoy skeptics who can read around the personal beliefs/handicaps of martial arts writers. Smith is a VERY knowledgeable martial artist (even if you don't buy into all of the chi stories), and his experiences are worth reading about. He discusses many teachers whi have made a huge impact on the Chinese-martial arts world without trying too hard to sell himself. Other good books in this vein (Chinese martial arts books which are semi-autobiographical works describing the training and experiences of the authors) include Mark Salzman's two books, "Iron & Silk" and pre-quil "Lost In Place", and a book by Howard Thomas called "Tai Chi Training in China". Smith's latest book, "Martial Musings" is worth a read too.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable personal memoir, December 23, 1998

By 

magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods (Paperback)

I read this book some years ago when it first came out, and thought it was excellent. The book is basically a chronicle of Smith's trip to the Orient and his encounters with a number of different masters, with descriptions of their methods and ideas. It's an absorbing personal account, and Smith includes many interesting anecdotes and stories. It's not intended to be an instructional book for the beginner, since most of the book is text, and as I said, has more to do with Smith's exploits and encounters with various masters, both famous and obscure. But if you're already an experienced martial artist in at least one art, especially in one of the Chinese arts, you'll find much to think about and mull over in Smith's book, since he often compares and contrasts the personalities and methods of the different masters. Overall, Smith's personal memoir of his fascinating trip makes for enjoyable and informative reading.