The Secrets of Eagle Claw Kung-fu: Ying Jow Pai (Secrets of Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jeanne Chin (Author) "There are hundreds of kung fu systems..." (more)
Key Phrases: clawed wrist, right high punch, right palm block, Hong Kong, Lau Fat Mon, Ngok Fei (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

One of the few modern Chinese martial arts derived from actual military combat experience, Eagle Claw kung fu is a powerful system featuring advanced locking-hand moves perfected over centuries of civil conflict in China. Kung fu and tai chi master Leung Shum brings this timeless art to today's practitioners, going beneath the veneer of gymnastic athleticism for which the style is known, and revealing many of its essential secrets and insider tips. Shum explains the fundamentals of Eagle Claw kung fu, including the crucial first thirty locking-hand techniques, the punches, kicks, and the all-important signature claws of Ying Jow Pai. Hundreds of striking photographs augment Shum's masterful text, creating the ultimate guide to Eagle Claw kung fu.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1 edition (November 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804832153
• ISBN-13: 978-0804832151
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #296,649 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Superb Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, February 8, 2002

By A Customer

Previous reviewers who criticize this work based on their perception of impracticality have essentially missed the author's point. Martial arts literature does not have to present itself as a 'cookbook' in order to be useful.

Anyone who has had more than a casual introduction to martial arts understands that Leung Shum is one of the most knowledgeable masters of traditional Chinese kungfu in North America. The system he has studied for most of his life--Northern Eagle Claw (Faan Tzi Ying Jow Pai) kungfu--is legendary for it's devastating effectiveness, and is respected as one of the most comprehensive fighting systems ever devised. Anyone claiming this system as ineffectual has simply misunderstood the methods and aims of traditional training.

As pointed out by other reviewers, this work is not intended to serve as a technique-by-technique how-to, or as a catalog of "quick n' easy" self defense scenarios. Instead, it provides a solid, encyclopedic reference to some of the core principles ("secrets" if you like) of the Eagle Claw system. Also, the book does not serve well as an entry-level text. The reader should have at least some background in, or strong desire to understand traditional Chinese martial arts.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Secrets of Eagle Claw Kung Fu, December 13, 2004

By	David Wong Wan Tho (Singapore) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Eagle claw kung fu has always been known for its grabbing techniques and this book is revealing to some extent. It would be even be better to share the remaing grabbing techniques in another book. Leung Shum Sifu might want to think about sharing his expertise on this style of kung fu through a series of books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference vs Learning, January 24, 2002

By	David Wilson "wujiart" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a student of Sifu Shum for 10 years, I can verify that the contents of this book are verbatim for the lessons learned studying at Ying Jow Pai in New York City. Having said that, it should be obvious to any serious student that you will not learn a martial art by reading a book. You need to have a good teacher, and you need to practice constantly and diligently. Books such as these are for reference, to make clear and correct what you would learn from a legitimate teacher. The opponents' distance is for clarity of technique, not to demonstrate an actual attack. Comments from some other reviewers indicate they don't know the difference between learning a technique and actually using one. Eagle Claw locks are devastatingly effective, but are also difficult to learn to use effectively. In my years of training in NY, I have both used and seen used the techniques described in this book, and they certainly work. Sifu Shum is very careful about what he releases with the Ying Jow Pai name attached to it, and this book is a perfect example of the quality he demands from his students and the care he takes in disseminating the system.