Customer Reviews

The Tao of Gung Fu: A Study in the Way of Chinese Martial Art (Bruce Lee Library)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What can you say about a book written by Bruce Lee. This one is great. It was the basis for the 'Tao of JKD'. Here he is talking about what he really knows, the way of Chinese martial Arts.

This book covers the technical gung fu as well as the philosophy as seen through Mr. Lee's eyes. One of the all time greatest Martial Artist. The diagrams are in his own hand, with his own thoughts. So read his words himself, and get the info direct!

You will not want to put this book down. And will read it, over and over again.

Bruce Lee was an amazing person, able to blend the physical beauty of the body with the philosophical beauty of the mind and create the true essence of martial art. In the Tao of Gung Fu, Bruce Lee devotes individual attention to philosophical and physical aspects of his form. His main attention is on Wing Chung, the style of Gung Fu that he himself studied under a Chinese master. Bruce devotes most of the first part of the book to basics and philosophical principles of Gung Fu, including the redirecting of the opponents energy to use it against him.
I would recommend this book to most practitioners, and those that are considering getting into martial arts. The second half of the book covers some basic techniques, stances, stretches, exercises, and practices, while the last twenty or thirty pages include personal quotes, answered questions, and biographies of some of the old masters.
This book is good for beginners because it gives them an insight into the art and some of the things it will take to be successful. It also allows them to understand some of the basic philosophies of the martial arts.
Those with practice will enjoy this book because it goes into some of the more interesting aspects of the art and is written eloquently by one of the greatest martial artists in history.
This should be added to most martial art libraries. I've practiced multiple styles for nearly ten years and find that this book is an invaluable resource to study and train with.

Bruce Lee's philosophy shines in this book. Mr. Little has done the world of philosophy a big favor by compiling Bruce Lee's thoughts in this volume. A great martial artist makes philosophy key to every movement in his or her art, and Bruce Lee is able to clearly lay the foundation for understanding kung-fu principles. This is a must for any martial arts library!

If you are looking for a "how-to" book, go elsewhere. Bruce was never a big fan of those martial arts books that proposed you could learn the style just by reading. Bruce meant this as a guide to help all martial artists (not just wing chun practitioners) on their journey to self-enlightenment, and to that end it serves its purpose well. This man was a genius and an inspiration not only as a fighter, but as a human being as well.

This book from the martial arts' legend himself gives a broad view of martial arts basic principles as well as some insights on the oriental philosophy. Bruce Lee exposes his knowledge and experience accumulated throughout several years of practice and learning. A must if you are interested in martial arts.

If anyone is just getting into any martial art, I reccomend this book mainly based on the fact that mentally you must know what your responsiblity is as a serious martial artist. You will save yourself a lot of time by reading this book and getting an understanding of your martial art and the proper training, mentally and physically, that is provided in this wonderful resource.

This book described his study of Kung Fu before it melted down into JKD. From a historical perspective, this is a very valuable book, because one can trace the root and development of JKD from traditional Kung Fu. I am especially surprised to see the section on set/form practice, which he abandoned completely later on. Bruce had a deep understanding of Kung Fu at a young age and he was way ahead of his time. I am glad that all of this information was preserved and made available to the public.

This is a great book to read for many reasons. This book helped me learn to punch faster and more accurate. This book has great philosophies that will help any martial artist. I recommend this book to anyone even slightly interested in Bruce Lee or martial arts. HOO-YAH!!!! Thank a war veteran.

This is a good book in that a reader can get a clearer idea of who Bruce Lee was. One reviewer was quite rude and unfair to Bruce Lee, took offense to the man as though he had written the book. Bruce Lee's writings were made into a book, Bruce Lee did not write nor construct the book. So appreciating that fact, it's fair to say that a reader gets a pretty good idea as to what type of prerson Bruce Lee was. Bruce Lee did study philosphy and he shared a lot of what he learned from others as well as his own personal views and opinions. Any true Bruce Lee fan knows Bruce never presented himself as "the one who knew everything" he tried to inspire and/or guide people to be themselves, find the true meaning of themselves an not be fixed, labeled, a copy, tied to any set thing or boxed into something with no way for self expression. And not just to be applied to the Martial Arts but in life as well. I think the insulting reader was confused by the deeper meaning of Bruce's writings and what he preceived to be "Bruce the great philosopher". The reader didn't get the real message, that if there is value in any book, as there is with this book (better insight and inspiration)then it should be recommended. Bruce Lee's writings should be appreciated for the content of what was originally from Bruce, his writings in this book should be looked upon to help people gain a better understanding of the thoughts and principles that guided him-Bruce Lee. If some people are inspired to follow his principles or those of whom he learned from, I think that's the point. If a reader has already made up in his or her mind that Bruce Lee's writings are not "real philosophy" or at least based on "real philosophy" then don't buy the book. In my opinion, this book would still be a good book no matter whose writings they were.

One might ask why would a person want to take advice on any subject from someone as young as Bruce Lee was when he wrote this book. The answer is, chances are most people in their twenties can't teach us too much. They've not had enough experience to teach. They're still learning.

While it's true that Lee was still learning when he wrote this book, it's also true that he had a wisdom far beyond his years. I don't necessarily believe everything he said and some of it no longer applies. But what he wrote in this book is pure gold.

The book is not just for martial artists. In fact, the book is mostly philosophical. If you have read the Tao, you'll love this book because Lee's philosophy was very much based on the teachings of Lao Tzu.

Lee believed in Yin Yang. He believed that instead of being like the hard oak that is firm, you should be like bamboo that is pliable and will flex with the wind. The oak will fall with the ax but the bamboo will stay healthy and strong because it can bend --- it is soft --- it is yin.

He also believed that we should be like water. Water is weak --- or so the saying goes. "Weak as water." But punch it and you won't hurt it. You can do nothing to it that will hurt it. However, water can defeat the strongest things. Water can destroy entire cities in one sweep and there's no defense against it. Be like water.

What I was looking for in this book was not how to use Gung Fu. I was looking for applications of the Tao and that's what I got.

Certainly if you're a martial artist, you'll garner much from this book. He does show you how to use your tools.

Since this is the only book Bruce Lee wrote and that's been published, it's somewhat of a collector's item I think. It certainly is priceless as far as the philosophy that Lee shares.

John Little has been true to Lee in editing the book. You can hear Lee's voice in the book. You can hear his Chinese-accented English. In some places Lee is given credit for the writing of passages from the Tao. This is an error of editing. In other places, he uses language similar to the Tao. He studied the Tao so much that he assimilated it and took it as his own --- as it should be.

I very much like The Tao of Gung Fu. I found it a lovely book with profound philosophical depth that can, if you let it, guide you to become superior at whatever you do.

-- Susanna K. Hutcheson