Description
Paperback.
Traditional Chinese Martial Arts as Taught by Master W.C. Chen
"When the first start to learn martial arts, the ma (basic stance) is the most important thing," Chen said. "If you don't develop a strong ma you will never have strong techniques. Your power comes up from the bottoms of your feet. If your balance is bad or if your legs are weak the power cannot come up to your hands. It is said that the first seven years are spent building a strong ma. After that, you are ready to learn." - From the book
The only American heir to W. C. Chen, Phillip Starr continues the master's teachings in this useful guide that also profiles the exciting early years when martial arts were still new in America. Through this entertaining collection of personal anecdotes involving Master Chen, the author, and his classmates, readers learn a particular aspect of the traditional martial arts. Included are explanations of the importance and meaning of courtesy and the custom of bowing, the significance of training with weapons and how it impacts bare-handed skills, and the value of traditional forms and how they relate to actual combat.
PHILLIP STARR has been practicing martial arts for nearly fifty years. He is the founder of Yilichuan kung-fu, a style that merges China's internal systems, and he holds a third-grade black belt in Kyokushin karate. Starr lives and teaches in Council Bluffs, Iowa.