This is the ultimate guide to kung fu, from theory to practical application. This unique book, by a celebrated Grandmaster, is a complete and comprehensive introduction to kung fu and all other aspects of ancient Shaolin wisdom. It will prove invaluable to everyone interested in martial arts, chi kung, and meditation, showing how kung fu and other Shaolin arts can bring you health, vitality, mental focus, and spiritual joy. It includes:: A comparative history of the various forms of kung fu; An in-depth stud of all the important aspects of Shaolin, Kung fu, including the construction of kung fu patterns and sets, the training of internal force, traditional kund fu weapons, and strategies for victory; Practical exercises and meditation techniques: Wong Kiew Kit has practiced and taught Shaolin arts for more than 30 years and has over 2,000 students. He is the fourth generation successor of monk Jiang Nan of the Shaolin Monastery and Grandmaster of Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu Institute. He is the author of several books on Eastern wisdom including The Art of Chi Kung, The Complete Book of Zen, The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan, and Chi Kung for Health and Vitality.

Contents: List of illustrations; Preface; 1 What is kung fu?; Four aspects of kung fu; The visible aspect of form; the importance of force training; Application for combat and daily living; Kung fu philosophy for deeper understanding; The benefits of kung fu; Mind expansion and spiritual development; 2 The historical development of Chinese martial arts; Kung fu in prehistoric and ancient times; The glorious han and tang; The Song, the Yuan and the Ming; The modern period; 3 From Shaolin to Taijiquan; Kung fu and Quanshu; Shaolin kung fu; Changquan or long fists; Yan Qing, deceptive movements and the monkey style; The various styles of taijiquan; Soft and hard, internal and external; 4 A comparative study of kung fu; Contrasting Shaolin and Wudang kung fu; Internal palm of Bagua kung fu; Xingyi kung fu and Taoist concepts; The philosophies of wudang kung fu; Wuzuquan or kung fu of five ancestors; Tanglangquan or praying mantis kung fu; The spread of southern Shaolin kung fu; Major southern Shaolin styles; 5 Defining aims and objectives; The importance of theoretical knowledge; The three requirements for attainment; Direction and purpose; Setting aims for kung fu training; Personal objectives; Course objectives; 6 The foundation of Shaolin kung fu; Inheritance from past masters; the significance form and formlesssness; Various Shaolin hand forms; Horseriding and other stances; Basic Shaolin patterns; 7 From form to combat application; The four directions of attack; An imaginary opponents in skill training; The principles of effective combat; Specific techniques against kicks; Felling and holding techniques; 8 Combat sequences and set practice; Linking patterns to form sequences; Various sequences for practice; Relieving injuries sustained in sparring; Linking sequences to form sets; Composing your own kung fu sets; 9 Shaolin five animals; Understanding characteristics and essence; Some preliminary information; the five-animal set; The names of the five-animal patterns; 10 Five-animal combination set; How to improve combat efficiency; The fascination of kung fu application; Spacing and timing in combat; Advanced technique to clinch victory; 11 The internal force of Shaolin kung fu; The relationship between technique and force; The art of one-finger shooting zen; Developing forceful punches; The compassionate art of qin-na; the internal force of tiger claw; 12 Tactics and strategies; Techniques, tactics and strategies; The legacy of past masters; Using continuous attack effectively; A tactic to distract your opponent; Selecting strategies to suit particular situations; 13 Classical kung fu weapons; Why are classical weapons still being used?; Staffs; Whips, knives and other weapons; The spear family; Light and heavy weapons; Common implements as weapons; 14 Understanding and developing chi; From combat efficiency to spiritual development; The various genres of chi kung; The three elements of chi kung; Lifting the sky; Lohan embracing Buddha; Abdominal breathing; 15 Shaolin kung fu and zen; Cultivating heart, nourishing nature; Discipline and wisdom; What is ultimate reality?; Bodhidharma and taoism in zen; 16 The Shaolin way to enlightenment; Attaining a focused mind; Meditation to train awareness; Investigating cosmic reality?; The zen of bodhidharma and hui neng; Shaolin kung fu for spiritual development; Different attainments for different needs; Notes; Further reading (bibliography); Useful addresses; Index