Clik here to view.
Remembering Ip Ching (1936-2020)
Many of Kung Fu Tea’s readers are Wing Chun students and I am sure that most of you have already heard about Ip Ching’s passing on the 25th of January. Ip Man’s second son was well known in Wing...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 2 – Violence
Introduction Welcome to the second week of History of East Asian Martial Arts (HIST 2960). This is a course taught by Prof. T. J. Hinrichs here at Cornell University that I am auditing in my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Democratization and the Asian Martial Arts
A class photo from Syracuse Kung Fu. A great place to visit and see some authentic Hung Ga. What does it mean to be political? I suspect that very few people in North America experience their weekly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 3 – Rise of the Bushi
Mount Tobisu Dawn Moon, from the 100 Aspects of the Moon by Yoshitoshi (1839 – 1892). Introduction Welcome to the third week of our virtual Martial Arts Studies class, “History of East Asian Martial...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Research Notes: An Ancient Form of Physical Culture (1955)
Introduction I have been reviewing every issue of China Reconstructs as part of my ongoing research on how successive governments attempted to use martial arts (and traditional culture more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 4 – Rebels and the Chinese Martial Arts
Vintage postcard showing a “Young Boxer” with sword. Early 20th century. Source: Authors personal collection. Introduction Welcome to week four of “History of East Asian Martial Arts.” This series...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chinese Martial Arts in the News: Feb 16, 2020 – Kung Fu in a time of...
It has been way too long since our last news update so now is the perfect time to get caught up on recent events! For new readers, this is a semi-regular feature here at Kung Fu Tea in which we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 5 – Peacetime Bushi and Urban Gangsters
Zhang Shun, the White Streak in the Waves (Rôrihakuchô Chôjun), from the series One Hundred and Eight Heroes. 19th century Japanese Woodblock print. Introduction Welcome to week five of “History of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
LK Chen and the Rebirth of the Han Jian
The Flying Phoenix. Source: https://lkchensword.com/flying-phoenix Introduction Over the last year many Chinese martial arts students in the West have become aware of the replica Han dynasty...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 6 – China and the Qing Era Martial...
Introduction Welcome to week six of “History of East Asian Martial Arts.” This series follows the readings being used in Prof. TJ Hinrichs’ undergraduate course of the same name at Cornell...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Evaluating Swords: A Lost Martial Text from the Han Dynasty
Evaluating Swords. Source: http://lanshanxiaoxi.lofter.com/post/35bf32_12ee2cb Introduction No modern civilization enjoys a longer and richer history than China. Yet accessing it can be a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 7 – Buddhism and Martial Arts
An iconic image of a Japanese “Warrior Monk.” Notice the nagamaki he holds in his left hand, the trademark weapon of the Sohei in much the same way that the long pole became the signature weapon of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Field Notes: Sticks, Blades and Movement Along the Pacific Rim
Introduction Michael J. Ryan has has been kind enough to share with us some of his field notes from a recent hoplology project which he had the good fortune to participate in. The focus of these...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Martial Arts Studies – Issue 9 Release
Introduction At a time when practically everything has been “paused,” Paul Bowman and I are thrilled to announce that the ninth issue of Martial Arts Studies has just been published on the Cardiff...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 8 – Lineage, Transmission and...
Ip Ching. Ip Man’s younger son who passed away over the 2020 New Year holiday. A Quick COVID-19 Note First off, apologies are in order. My blogging has been irregular and we have gotten behind with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guest Post: Covid-19 Confessions and Martial Arts Studies
COVID 19 Meme Introduction What follows is the first in a series of guest posts wrestling with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its impact on martial arts, martial artists and Martial Arts Studies....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Giving Boredom a Chance: A View from New York
Introduction This is the second essay in our short series examining the ways that the current health crisis has impacted those of us who sit at the intersection of martial arts practice,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nationalism, Immigration and Identity: The Gracies and the Making of...
***With the ongoing discussion of the very serious COVID-19 situation, it is easy to forget that we just released the ninth issue of Martial Arts Studies. This open issue is packed with an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
History of East Asian Martial Arts: Week 9 – Bushido as Japanese Spirit
A vintage Japanese postcard showing kendo practice on a battleship. Source: Author’s personal collection. Introduction Welcome to week nine of “History of East Asian Martial Arts.” This series...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Capoeira in the Age of COVID: An Art of Resilience
Introduction This is the third essay in our short series examining the ways that the current health crisis has impacted those of us who sit at the intersection of martial arts practice, communities...
View Article