The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health, and Enlightenment

Wong Kiew Kat provides the reader with a complete and full background into the depths of this wonderful art, clearly illustrating the fundamental differences between Kung Fu and other martial arts.

Those who are interested in learning a self-defence that does not concentrate purely on the physical and `external' attributes but also on the mind, then Kung Fu along with this very book is the one for you. Kiew Kat elaborates the importance of attaining spiritual development from Chi techniques emphasising `Internal Force' stressing that this is more important than knowing the sequence of moves.

For the student, Kiew Kat demonstrates how to continual improve self-development in Kung Fu and how to achieve skills quickly and effectively through objectives and aims also underlying the difference between the two. The book guides you through the many forms of Shaolin `hand' shapes and stances that provide the foundations of Kung Fu. Combat sequences and combination sets along with vital illustrations create a more overall comprehensive guide into the physical self-defence and attack form. There is also a small section at the end on the various type of weapons used throughout the history of Kung Fu.

NEGATIVES.
The content of the book has much more value than the cost, but to be an excellent book it lacks grammatically. The author spends far too much time using Chinese references that I could not help thinking were irrelevant to the content and made difficult reading.

POSITIVES.
The book is full of abundant wisdom that would be useful even for the non Kung-Fu practitioner. The exercises to develop strength externally are vigorously hard, yet effective; and the internal `meditation' exercises will make you feel and be very powerful and strong-minded.

This book would mainly suit the beginner and those who have been practising the art for many years but feel that something acute is missing. The book also provides insight into why people who have studied Kung Fu for many years have never been good enough to become a master.