Kung Fu Elements: Wushu Training and Martial Arts Application Manual

If you're looking for drills and ideas to strengthen your foundation in Chinese Martial Arts, this is a great all-around book. I've been studying CMA for over 10 years and I still found this book to be refreshing. It's all about the basics and ways to strengthen the basics. It's those types of drills that, if you practice them diligently, will give you that edge in competition. At the higher levels, it's the little things that matter

I have studied only Japanese styles in a formal setting so far (karate and aikido) and wanted to have some additional practice and influence to help blend my style. I believe the book is intended for a refresher and additional practice for veterans of the style but it works nicely if you already have had some martial arts experience. It gives aspects of style, good stretching exercises, kung fu attainment training techniques and of course free fighting applications. Though you cant substitute reading the "applications" section for formal, hands on experience. I would recomend this book as a resourse for any martial artist wishing to expand their base of knowlege and help blend their style. Peace

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.

After reading through this book I was completely impressed on how much there was to learn. The authors take two approaches, the external and internal. It goes over methods for training Iron Palm, and others, but to do the internal training outlined here the reader needs the book titled "Qigong Empowerment" by the same authors. There is so much to learn, get it and start practicing as soon as possible.

As a student of Wushu for the last six months this book seems to be a much needed textbook. Foundation building and stronger kicks are covered here along with Free form fighting and joint locks. Also some more "exotic" things are covered like Iron Arm and Leg Training and Dim Mak are covered. A well written book that covers both Internal and External components of Wushu