Traditional training methods from this well-known Chinese martial art.

Harmoniously merging the mind and the body, Hsing-I Ch'uan is simultaneously one of the most simple and most complex of the Chinese martial arts. The five forms, based on the Chinese concept of the five elements, provide a toolbox of techniques that the skillful Hsing-I practitioner uses to box with himself, channeling ch'i into spirit and spirit into mindful stillness. From this synthesis of external and internal forces springs new energy and true ability. Engagingly written and amply illustrated with black and white photographs, Robert W. Smith's primer includes the history and meaning of Hsing-I, detailed instruction in the five forms and twelve animal styles, and cogent advice from the masters. First published almost 30 years ago, Hsing-I: Chinese Mind-Body Boxing was among the first books on Hsing-I and remains one of the best.

The ancient Taoists developed extraordinary abilities through the practice and perfection of methods that cultivated chi. They could nourish their existence and cultivate a healthy, energetic life-span, with some living to be 150 years of age. The internal aspects of martial arts is a subject discussed by everyone who practices kung-fu, but is known and actually employed by only a few.

A modern classic, Shang Yun-Xiang Style Xingyiquan is essential for Xingyiquan practitioners and a useful guide for any practitioner of the Chinese martial arts. While focusing on Shang-style Xingyiquan (derived from author Li Wen-Bin's training under Grandmaster Shang Yun-Xiang), this book clearly breaks down the fundamentals of those movements and forms found in all of Xingyiquan (and other internal martial arts). Rather than simply presenting the traditional, often-cryptic poetry or "songs" to impart martial concepts, Li goes into great detail to explain to readers of all levels the finer points of Xingyi training. Featuring hundreds of original photographs and step-by-step explanation of movements, Shang Yun Xiang Style Xingyiquan is an excellent companion to Xingyiquan training of any style or school. Table of Contents Chapter 1 In Search of the Missing Points in the Origin of Xing Yi Quan Techniques Chapter 2 Features of Shang Yun-Xiang Style Xing Yi Quan Chapter 3 The Foundation for Xing Yi Gong Fu Chapter 4 Wu Xing Quan 五行拳（Five Element Fist） Chapter 5 Jin Tui Lian Huan Quan 进退连环拳 ( Advance & Retreat Linking Fist) Chapter 6 Traditional Xing Yi Weapons

The name Sun Lu Tang rings familiar to almost anyone who has studied one or more of the major "internal" styles of Chinese martial arts. Because Sun was highly skilled in Xing Yi Quan, Ba Gua Zhang, and Tai Ji Quan, he wrote five different books on these subjects and synthesized the three arts to invent Sun Style Tai Ji Quan. His name has become well known wherever Chinese martial arts are practiced. Sun Lu Tang's treatise on Xing Yi Quan, published in 1915, was his first work and it was the first book published publically in China which integrated the thories of martial arts with Chinese philosophy and Daoist Qi cultivation theories. In addition to the original text of Sun's Xing Yi Quan book, this English translation also includes a detailed biography of Sun Lu Tang and an interview with his daughter, Sun Jian Yun. Book jacket.

Pa Kua is a vigorous martial arts discipline that hones reflexes and cultivates the understanding of one’s body. One of the three orthodox “internal” styles of Chinese martial arts, Pa Kua makes use of the eight trigrams found in the I Ching. This text offers a history of Pa Kua, profiles of its great practitioners, and exercises that illustrate the practice. 50 black-and-white photos are included.