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“What’s your style?”– Bringing the Training Hall to the Lecture Hall
Sumatran Tiger. By Nichollas Harrison – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Introduction: “What’s your style?” A couple of months ago a conversion emerged between a few of my colleagues...
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Conference Report: Kung Fury – Contemporary Debates in Martial Arts Cinema
Introduction A few months ago I decided to make a more concerted effort to report on academic conferences and seminars happening within the field of martial arts studies. My hope is to promote...
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Thinking About Failure in the Martial Arts
The Meaning of a Bruised Elbow I have been working on a couple of projects that have taken me away from blogging in recent days. These are the sorts of commitments that should bear fruit for the...
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It is a bad idea to fall in love in a Kung Fu story. Honestly.
A classic postcard, circa 1920s. Kung Fu and the Marriage Market Love and Kung Fu simply do not mix. At least that is the strongly implied message to be found on the pages (and silver screens) of...
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Research Notes: The Chinese and Japanese Martial Arts as Seen on Western...
“Chinese Reoccupy Great Wall Area.” 1933. Still taken from Vintage Newsreel. “In the west, Asian martial arts are everywhere. They are part of the texture of popular consciousness. Nonetheless I...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: April 25th, 2016: Tourism, Weapons Based...
Source: http://tribune.com.pk Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News.” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we review media stories that mention or affect the...
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Martial Arts History, Without Chronology
An astronomical clock in Prague. Photo by Andrew Shiva. Source: wikimedia. Your mission, should choose to accept it… Recently I have been invited to contribute chapters to a number of upcoming...
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The Creation of Wing Chun – Now in Paperback!
The Creation of Wing Chun by Judkins and Nielson. I recently received a letter from SUNY Press letting me know that The Creation of Wing Chun: A Social History of the Southern Chinese Martial Arts,...
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Doing Research (6): Working the Beat – One Journalist’s Efforts at Perfecting...
A young TY Wong, right, at the 1928 Central Goushu Institute’s national martial arts demonstration in Nanjing, China. Source: From the Collection of Charles Russo. Introduction Welcome to the sixth...
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The Professor and His Students: Taijiquan’s Complicated Journey to the West
Zheng Manqing, with sword, possibly on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West. First Run Films. 2016. Directed by Barry Strugatz. 72 minutes....
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Who “Owns” Kung Fu? Intangible Cultural Heritage, Globalization and the...
The Pagoda Forest at the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province. Source: cnn.com “Inoue said the Japanese style of judo traditionally focused more on quantity rather than quality, trying to instill a...
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: May 17th, 2016: Kung Fu Art, Brawling and...
25-year-old master Zhong Siyuan practices martial art at the Yuhuang Temple in Luzhou city, southwest China’s Sichuan province. Source: china.com.cn Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the...
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Striking Distance: Charles Russo Recounts the Rise of the Chinese Martial...
Charles Russo. 2016. Striking Distance: Bruce Lee & the Dawn of Martial Arts in America. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. 264 pages. $24.95 USD (Hardcover) Anyone can tell you that it is...
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Research Notes: Kung Fu Public Diplomacy and a Visit with General Ma Liang
“Russo/Chinese War Scenes.” Chinese soldiers drill with Pudao. Vintage Newsreel. 1929. Secrecy vs. Advertising in the Chinese Martial Arts I recently reviewed Charles Russo’s excellent work,...
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Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (17): Chu Minyi – Physician, Politician and...
Chu Minyyi, “Taiji Boxing Photographed.” Source: Brennan Translation Blog. Introduction: The Architects of Kung Fu Diplomacy I recently had the opportunity to examine a very interesting series...
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Through a Lens Darkly (38): A Tale of Two Swordsmen
Chinese Sword Dance. Vintage postcard Circa 1950. Source: Author’s personal collection. Introduction In a recent post discussing the portrayal of the Asian martial arts in early 20th century...
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The Chinese Repeating Crossbow, Double Swords and the “Oriental Obscene”
A studio image of two Chinese soldiers (local braves) produced probably in Hong Kong during the 1850s. Note the hudiedao (butterfly swords) carried by both individuals. Unknown Photographer....
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Chinese Martial Arts in the News: June 6th, 2016: Taijiquan, Wing Chun and...
Ken Chun Talks Wing Chun. Source: http://www.examiner.com Introduction Welcome to “Chinese Martial Arts in the News.” This is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we review media...
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From the Archives: Ming Tales of Female Warriors – Searching for the Origins...
A painting of Hua Mulan. ***We are currently in the final push to prepare and release the second issue of the interdisciplinary journal Martial Arts Studies. This will be a themed issue examining...
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Now Available: Spring 2016 Issue of Martial Arts Studies – The Invention of...
Martial Arts Studies, Issue 2: The Invention of Martial Arts We are happy to announce that the Spring 2016 Issue Martial Arts Studies is now available, free of charge, to any reader or...
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