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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.8155
EAN num: 9781556434556
ISBN number: 1556434553
Label: North Atlantic Books
Manufacturer: North Atlantic Books
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 112
Printing Date: 2003-04
Publishing house: North Atlantic Books
Release Date: May 01, 2003
Sale Popularity Level: 628347
Studio: North Atlantic Books
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Harmoniously merging the mind and the body, Hsing-I Ch'uan is simultaneously one of the most simple and most complex of the Chinese martial arts. The five forms, based on the Chinese concept of the five elements, provide a toolbox of techniques that the skillful Hsing-I practitioner uses to box with himself, channeling ch'i into spirit and spirit into mindful stillness. From this synthesis of external and internal forces springs new energy and true ability.
Engagingly written and amply illustrated with grey and white photographs, Robert W. Smith's primer includes the history and meaning of Hsing-I, detailed instruction in the five forms and twelve animal styles, and cogent advice from the masters. First published almost 30 years ago, Hsing-I: Chinese Mind-Body Boxing was among the very first books on Hsing-I and remains one of the best.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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It's a nice book as a extra guidance if you already practice Xing Yi. If you are seeking a manual, this book is not for you. The book only goes to describe everything, but it never shows many pictures. And the 12 animals are barely touched upon. Once again nice introduction or extra guidance, but not a manual.
Rated by buyers 
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This book was one of the earlier books on martial arts that I purchased. Not knowing a thing about martial arts at the time, I couldn't get my mind around much of what was presented. On the other hand, I loved the stories within and the "advice of the masters" segment right away. I remember staring intently at the pictures of Yuan Dao, Paul Guo and especially the little section featuring the five elements done by Wang Shu Jin. Taken in an unposed mid-action way, they really convey Wang's dynamic actions. Having since studied both Xingyiquan and Baguazhang for more than a decade, I have come to realize what a goldmine was presented here. This book still lays, beaten and tattered, littered with highlighting and notes, on my bookshelf. This is because the book presented Xingyi postures by highly skilled practitioners along with excellent guides to its meaning and practice. Newer books may show more material, or translate large tracts of key points, but this book still has the goods: very first rate practitioners showing their art. Recently when giving a gift to a person I wanted to get interested in Xingyi, I still chose this book.
Rated by buyers -
This is one of the best books available on the subject of Martial Arts.
The book is on a specific subject - Internal Martial Arts (of China) known as Hsing-I. The illustrations with pictures are lucid. The book covers basic principles, basic techniques, philosophies, all the 12 style forms, brief history and biographies of masters, masters' advices, applications to self defence and a lot more. It very clearly explains why Hsing-I is known as Mind-Body Boxing. The author has put his heart into writing about Hsing-I. The scientific approach of a western mind combined with the author's expertise in the oriental subject make the book complete, thorough and interesting. The book is complete in itself on the subject. It also explains importance of Chi (Energy or Pran) cultivation that is the basis of all the internal martial arts including Hsing-I.
The book provides a complete and thorough knowledge on Hsing-I.
It is a complete reference on the subject.
Very rarely have I seen a martial arts book so interesting, lucid and complete.
Rated by buyers 
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What it lacks in detailed illustrations, it makes up for in character and detailed instruction. I agree that this one is far and away better than the version which Mr. Smith and Mr. Pittman co-authored.
It's an excellent book for anyone who's really curious about this wonderful art as well as for Xingyi neophytes.
Rated by buyers -
For one not familiar with the direct simplicity of hsing-i (pinyin: xingyiquan) as a martial art, it is paradoxically simple yet complex. The five fists, a set of forms linked with the chinese concepts of the five elements, provide a base template of techniques that the hsing-i practitioner turns into an effective combat meditation. Through mindful repetitiveness, one *becomes*, attaining a state of unforced being through which martial techniques flow.
I like this book. Early in my martial career, personages, lineages and other such nonsense were antithetical. I thought: "why should those things be in a book about kicking butt?" I'm older now and greatly value what my teachers and my teachers teachers pass on to me. This book is steeped in that same sense of reverence. The author provides a thoughtful balance of basic techniques with quotes from famous hsing-i masters and a look at his own hsing-i lineage, which are very interesting and well done.
This is mainly a reference material, as Books and DVDs do not make good primary instructional material for martial arts, so plan on attending a seminar or finding a good local school to get the most from this book.
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