Kung Fu Elements: Wushu Training and Martial Arts Application Manual

Useful for any practitioner of traditional or modern kung fu.

I've done martial arts for a few years now (Hapkido, Shaolin Kung Fu), and I can honestly say that this book is worth every penny. It's packed full from beginning to end with training techniques and applications -- everything from warming up and stretching every joint to stance training and putting power and better root into all of your moves. While the applications are pretty much all Sanshou (which is a little like long fist, and a lot like kickboxing), they're still very practical applications to learn. The more advanced qigung training techniques are enough to keep one striving for many years to come, and the appendices have a wealth of general information about weapons, forms, styles, and training. All in all, a wonderful book for the price.

I think this is one of the most complete book on Wushu that I've came across.It contains information on warmups, techniques, sanshou, chin na, and chi kung.The appendix at the end of the book was very informative. It provides information about many of the Wushu figures and styles.The only thing I was unclear on is how to actually apply the wushu techniques from forms in free sparring or fight. It seems that there is a disconnect between the techniques used in the forms and the techniques used in Sanshou. The technique used in Sanshou looked more like a combination of Kickboxing and throws or even jeet kune do.Maybe for many people, it questions the usefulness of learning technique used in forms other than for training movements and calesnetics.

Very detailed book, exellent reference material, as well as gives some insites into different styles.I am very happy with it and it has helped me already. Highly recomended to anyone intrested in the martial arts of this type.

My Sifu recommended this book. Very comprehensive. It will take me some time to absorb all of the information. Great text to compliment group and private lessons.

very good

A must have book, invaluable to anyone who needs a tool for learning the basic of wushu.

The book has interesting parts, but it doesn't speak to many people since it contains many things you just can't learn out of a book...not to mention, a portion of it is in Chinese (useless for non-Chinese speakers), and a portion is a bunch of references noone will be interested in. You can't learn any real Kung Fu from this book, nor can you learn many real combat applications that work in a serious situation. However, you can learn some conceptual kung fu and kung fu background. My rating is so-so...

has a lot of information but no particular forms?

Excellent product, great service . A pleasure to do busines with. Will buy more in the future . And , so should all Martial Arts fans.

Fairly good .

Sehr viele gute Übungen für Kraft und Flexibilität,wobei es auch noch viele andere Übungen gibt.Keine Bodentechniken.Schöne Partnerübungen,wenn der Partner stillhält.Keine Aufwärmübungen.Leider nur in Englisch.Schwarzweiße Bilder-oft etwas klein-teils schlechte Qualität-dunkle Kleidung vor dunklem Hintergrund-helle vor Hellem-zu einigen Übungen nicht ein Bild-bei komplexen Abfolgen oft zu wenig Bilder.Man hätte die Trefferpunkte am menschlichen Körper bildlich darstellen können.

Egal welche chinesisische Kampfkunst man betreibt, externe, interne, für alle bietet dieses Buch fundiert, klar und verständlich, mit vielen erklärenden Fotos Informationen zu Kampftechniken, Atemübungen (Daoistische wie Buddhistische Atemtechnik), Training der Qi-Energie, Krafttraining, Gymnastik, Beschreibungen von Tritttechniken, Partnerübungen, Selbstverteidigungstechniken, ...Es ist das beste Buch das ich über Kampfkunst kenne. Auch die Philosophie und Wertvorstellungen der Kampfkünste werden erklärt. Es wird erfreulicherweise auf überflüssige Ausschmückungen verzichtet. Viele Bücher kann man auf wenigen Seiten zusammenfassen, dieses nicht, jede Seite enthält wertvolle Informationen.