The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I [Paperback]

Bruce Frantzis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 1998

This book's primary focus is on the detailed descriptions of the three main internal boxing methods (Hsing I, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi), as well as many substyles. In-depth comparisons and analyses of the different arts in regard to their methods of movement, principles and philosophies, use of force and energy, body mechanics, and some practical applications, are also described. Frantzis also includes "Personal Odyssey" sections where he recounts many of his interesting encounters with famous martial arts masters. This feature recalls Robert W. Smith's Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods, from a previous generation of martial arts books. To make this book as accessible to beginners as possible, there are five appendices covering the different styles of tai chi (such as Yang, Chen, Wu, Tung, Hou, and Sun), a history of Ba Gua, energy anatomy of the human body, a summary of Mr. Frantzis's training and lineage, a chapter on Chinese terminology and transliteration, and an extensive glossary.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"B.K. Frantzis has a depth and breadth of knowledge of the nei jia (internal arts) that few Westerners possess."
- Don Ethan Miller

"This work by B.K. Frantzis on the practical structures and essence of the internal systems is definitive. It will become a classic, and will serve as a catalyst for kindred spirits. A must for all serious students of the martial arts."
- Stan Israel

"B.K. Frantzis is one of the few Westerners to comprehend the Taoist internal martial art system. For those seeking to understand energy principles in their own art, Frantzis has now opened The Way."
- Robert Nadeau

About the Author

B.K. Frantzis began martial arts in 1961. After advanced blackbelt training in judo, karate, and aikido in Japan, he went deeper into martial arts and healing techniques full-time for ten years in China. He teaches in North American and Europe.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (January 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556432534
• ISBN-13: 978-1556432538
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book but not for the beginner, November 29, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I (Paperback)

It's interesting to note all the negative reviews here of this book, most of them anonymous or by "A reader," who probably wrote all of them since they all have the same style and tone. I also note that there's almost always someone from Taiwan or China or Japan who posts a negative review of any American martial arts book, I guess because they don't want to admit that there are good masters over here too who are perfectly qualified to write such a book.

Mr. Frantzis is also fluent in both Japanese and Chinese, and that opened doors for him and allowed him to communicate with various masters who didn't speak English (as many of the older instructors didn't).

If you're looking for specific techniques or applications, this book isn't for you, since the book isn't so much about specific combat techniques (despite the subtitle), as it is more of a high-level conceptual survey. If you're a knowledgeable martial artist with some previous background in the internal arts and/or kung fu and enjoy exploring the similarities and differences between the different internal styles and kung fu, and even the external styles, I think you'll enjoy this book. The descriptions of obscure arts such as the 8 Drunken Immortals was very interesting and reminded me of a similar drunken style that one of my kung fu teachers knew and that I studied briefly. But that's only one of a dozen or so different styles that Frantzis compares. The comparisons between the various internal and kung fu styles I found very accurate (based on my own 42 years of experience in various external and internal styles) and enjoyable to read.

There is so much material and detail here that it's hard to summarize, but the following will give you a pretty good idea of the book's contents:

1. Detailed descriptions of the three main internal boxing methods (Hsing I, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi), as well as many substyles.

2. In-depth comparisons and analyses of the different arts in regard to their methods of movement, principles and philosophies, use of force and energy, body mechanics, and some practical applications.

3. "Personal Odyssey" sections where Mr. Frantzis recounts many of his interesting encounters with famous martial arts masters. This feature recalls Robert W. Smith's Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods, from a previous generation of martial arts books.

4. Several sections or chapters discussing special topics such as the use of speed and power in the different arts.

5. There are five appendices covering the different styles of tai chi (such as Yang, Chen, Wu, Tung, Hou, and Sun), a history of Ba Gua, energy anatomy of the human body, a summary of Mr. Frantzis's training and lineage, a chapter on Chinese terminology and transliteration, and an extensive glossary.

I also appreciated Frantzis's honesty and frankness. He admits that although a Tai Chi technique like rollback will enable a smaller, weaker person to overcome a larger, stronger opponent, that simply studying Tai Chi does not guarantee that capability, and that if one does develop such abilities, it will probably take 10 or more years to do that since that requires considerable skill.

Overall a very well written, enjoyable and detailed book analyzing and discussing the similarities and differences between dozens of internal and external arts.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful overview and hopefully convincing for the curious.., October 24, 2000

By 

Yuri Kuzyk (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I (Paperback)

Having been practicing Qigong for a while as well as having seen a video demo of Frantzis at a Qigong conference I don't find his claims to be too far "out there". Certainly, the video I saw had some rather amazing examples of Frantzis' power for energy transmission.

This book, as many have pointed out, is not a "how-to" book. But then again, anyone looking for a mechanics book of Qigong is either really naive or has missed the point entirely. Qigong (or whatever you want to call the internal arts) is about doing and you can't learn that without a master. This is not silly logic or math lessons but something that goes much deeper. Just as sitting and meditating like the Zen master you read about will likely give you a bad back and no "answers" to any koans if you don't do it with proper instruction, expecting to read Frantzis' book and start hitting people with some extra super-power is only going to lead to failure.

Frantzis has attempted, in my opinion, to do what many other masters have done: leave enough hints and enough stories of the potential others have realized to encourage interested readers to seek out their own master. You can't put this stuff into a book and he didn't try, but the stories sure are interesting. Frantzis had the amazing luck to meet and study with people like Morihei Ueshiba (founder of Akido)and the tales are worth the price of the book.

I enjoyed reading through this and have now loaned it to several friends who study martial arts; a couple have gone on to investigate internal arts. I think this is a good place for someone to start their own journey.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misunderstood, but great!, November 11, 2006

By 

Inuzuka Kagekiyo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I (Paperback)

Sadly there are a lot of people who are misled but the subtitle that says: "Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I." And I see how it can be, I don't think this subtitle should have been used. Otherwise it's a very informative book.
People who posted negative reviews on this book do have points. The book does have structure issues. The book seems a bit chaotic when you read it. Another thing people mention is author's "self-praise." While I do find that there could have been less of it, I don't find it horrible or obstructing your reading flow.
This book is packed with information. Not much for practical knowledge, but there's a lot of info as far as theory goes. But what some don't understand I guess, is that it's an axiom. Even book on strictly technique can practically help you only so much. The book cannot develop your fast-twitch muscles, cannot give you sharp reflexes, techniques, or supply you with Chi (Ki, Hei). No matter how attractive the word "secrets" in title sounds, there's no secret or magical way to improve. What "secrets" means in this book is an explanation of energy work, the other way to view human body for martial applications and such. Also "secrets" in this book are the knowledge and wisdom of the great martial artists the author had privilege to train with. If you can see this knowledge and apply it to your training or not is up to you.
This is not a book about techniques of internal martial arts, but rather it helps you understand what are you learning: all the energy, technical or mechanical works behind internal martial arts. Kind of like explaining you how the plane works rather than teaching you to pilot it.
All in all it's a great book which is rather misunderstood (partly because of subtitle).