Customer Reviews

Hsing-I: Chinese Mind-Body Boxing

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This text is a true classic!! ...A must read for Hsing-I Ch'uan (Xingyi Quan) stylists and internal martial arts enthusiasts everywhere. The author, Robert W. Smith, was the first person to really convey the depth and tradition of internal kung fu in this country. Many of his experiences studying in Taiwan in the sixties and early seventies have been written about in his books. He personally met many famous masters that many only read about. Amoung them are: Sun, Lu-Tang; Wang, Shu-Chin; Hung, I-Hsiang; Ch'ang, Shih-Jung; Cheng,Man-Ch'ing and many more!

It's truely a shame that this fine book is out of print. I read it several times in high school (a copy of the book was owned by my sifu) but always wanted to have a copy of it for myself. I've tried and tried to find a copy to buy but haven't had any luck with it. :( There is also a problem with people misassociated this book with the recently published Hsing- I book written by Robert W. Smith and Allen Pittman. For all Smith fans out there; this is NOT the same book! No offense to his more recent work though.

This book offers much more in the way of sharing the personal experiences of highly developed masters of the art. Of particular interest to me was the experiences of Sun, Lu-Tang's alchemical transmutations while practicing the more refined and esoteric aspects of Hsing-I. The stories about the lives of these masters were also fascinating. It is inspiring to read about the authentic experiences of individuals who reached extremely high levels of attainment in their Kung Fu. Another point in the books favor are the many decent black and white photographs of true masters practicing their art! They are holding various postures and displaying the proper bodily alignment for many of the movements in Hsing -I. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book!

This book was,obviously, very influential to me. It would be a joy to read again and I sincerely hope that it gets republished or that I may find a copy of it somewhere.

For one not familiar with the direct simplicity of hsing-i (pinyin: xingyiquan) as a martial art, it is paradoxically simple yet complex. The five fists, a set of forms linked with the chinese concepts of the five elements, provide a base template of techniques that the hsing-i practitioner turns into an effective combat meditation. Through mindful repetitiveness, one *becomes*, attaining a state of unforced being through which martial techniques flow.

I like this book. Early in my martial career, personages, lineages and other such nonsense were antithetical. I thought: "why should those things be in a book about kicking butt?" I'm older now and greatly value what my teachers and my teachers teachers pass on to me. This book is steeped in that same sense of reverence. The author provides a thoughtful balance of basic techniques with quotes from famous hsing-i masters and a look at his own hsing-i lineage, which are very interesting and well done.

This is mainly a reference material, as Books and DVDs do not make good primary instructional material for martial arts, so plan on attending a seminar or finding a good local school to get the most from this book.

This book was one of the earlier books on martial arts that I purchased. Not knowing a thing about martial arts at the time, I couldn't get my mind around much of what was presented. On the other hand, I loved the stories within and the "advice of the masters" segment right away. I remember staring intently at the pictures of Yuan Dao, Paul Guo and especially the little section featuring the five elements done by Wang Shu Jin. Taken in an unposed mid-action way, they really convey Wang's dynamic actions. Having since studied both Xingyiquan and Baguazhang for more than a decade, I have come to realize what a goldmine was presented here. This book still lays, beaten and tattered, littered with highlighting and notes, on my bookshelf. This is because the book presented Xingyi postures by highly skilled practitioners along with excellent guides to its meaning and practice. Newer books may show more material, or translate large tracts of key points, but this book still has the goods: first rate practitioners showing their art. Recently when giving a gift to a person I wanted to get interested in Xingyi, I still chose this book.

It's a nice book as a extra guidance if you already practice Xing Yi. If you are seeking a manual, this book is not for you. The book only goes to describe everything, but it never shows many pictures. And the 12 animals are barely touched upon. Once again nice introduction or extra guidance, but not a manual.

This is one of my favorite books in my martial arts library. It contains a wealth of information, most of which are forms, on the major internal style of Hising-I chuan (or else known as Xingyi quan). It also shows applications in combat, with step-by-step instructions for everything. Its real treasures, though, are the stories about the masters, and the advice the masters themselves give. Not to mention the really cool pictures of a few of them doing the techniques themselves! Awesome book.

I totally agree with Carlos this is a true classic and its highly unfortunate its out of print. The other book by Robert W Smith & Alan Pittman does not bear comparision unfortunatley this one always seems available while the true classic is out of print. A whackey world or what ???? .I would love to get may hands on a copy

This is one of the best books available on the subject of Martial Arts.
The book is on a specific subject - Internal Martial Arts (of China) known as Hsing-I. The illustrations with pictures are lucid. The book covers basic principles, basic techniques, philosophies, all the 12 style forms, brief history and biographies of masters, masters' advices, applications to self defence and a lot more. It very clearly explains why Hsing-I is known as Mind-Body Boxing. The author has put his heart into writing about Hsing-I. The scientific approach of a western mind combined with the author's expertise in the oriental subject make the book complete, thorough and interesting. The book is complete in itself on the subject. It also explains importance of Chi (Energy or Pran) cultivation that is the basis of all the internal martial arts including Hsing-I.

The book provides a complete and thorough knowledge on Hsing-I.
It is a complete reference on the subject.

Very rarely have I seen a martial arts book so interesting, lucid and complete.

What it lacks in detailed illustrations, it makes up for in character and detailed instruction. I agree that this one is far and away better than the version which Mr. Smith and Mr. Pittman co-authored.
It's an excellent book for anyone who's really curious about this wonderful art as well as for Xingyi neophytes.

This book was instantly my favorite book on martial arts. It is moderately detailed, but the pictures of the masters, as well as the great stories and advice, make this book priceless. I myself am not experienced in this beautiful art of Hsing-I Chuan (i hope to be in the future though), but I can definitely tell this book is something good--great, actually. I also liked the applications, though many most likely will not work in a real life conflict. The fact that two full forms are listed, and a comparison is made against the orthdox method (in which the whole form is shown, making it 3 forms in a way). This book is superb

As the title says... for me, it's far from bad but not the greatest. not that the author attempts to make this definitive in any way...in true xing yi style it makes no apologies for what it is, and for that i respect it...not like the 'i'm so awesome and mystical and stuff' books so common for the internal MA scene, it does not claim to be the be all and end all and i think that's a good thing.

i picked this book up at the local MA shop years ago and i bought it for one part alone - the advice section at the end of the book. the rest of the book, in my humble opinion (and feel free to correct me) is crap. I'm really not a fan of it. But the advice section is pure gold i think.

Buy it? It's up to you....