Sword Polisher's Record: The Way of Kung-Fu

By Adam Hsu

Book Overview

The Sword Polisher's Record , originally a monthly column that appeared for more than a decade in three magazines, including Kungfu magazine and Black Belt magazine, brought a sense of authenticity to the kung fu, which had long been overly-commercialized and filled with misconceptions. Highlighted with over 60 illustrations, The Sword Polisher's Record: The Way of Kung-Fu , is an anthology of the monthly column, is organized into eight inter-connected sections, each examining a different aspect of kung-fu including its foundations, theories, important concepts and principles related to kung-fu styles and forms, usage, and training, and discussions on the future of kung-fu and it's place in our lives.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804831386
• ISBN13: 9780804831383
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Are you REALLY studying KUNG FU??

An excellent collection of articles from start to finish. After reading this book, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach that I might just be "playing around". I've been to different schools and practiced on my own, never thinking quite as deeply as I needed to about Kung Fu. Mind you, I thought pretty deeply about it, but after reading Polishing the Sword, I think maybe I need to spend MORE time training and less time "playing" Kung Fu.His articles are dead-on, he politely skewers myths, delusions, phoney Kung Fu and detrimental Kung Fu practices. Not many books on Kung Fu take the time to analyze what the Kung Fu student must BECOME in order to achieve Kung Fu.Not many books focus on finding the right school, choosing the right style and developing the proper attitude and respect for the art.This should be required reading for any Kung Fu student. It teaches no forms, tells no fairy tales, it is for the modern, Western Kung Fu student to study and re-study in his/her quest for authentic Kung Fu.Also, it approaches the MUCH needed subject of Martial Arts vs. Fighting Ability. That alone was worth the price of the book.Are you Wu Shu or are you a Poseur?Graydon Webster Northern Shaolin Student

Buy this book

GREAT overview of Kung Fu principles. The best MARTIAL ARTS books I've bought. You won't find new techniques or demonstrations of forms, but you will find overall principles used in Martial arts (e.g finding a good Kung Fu school, proper breathing, differences in traditional Wushu vs Contemporary Wushu, usage, training). And no I'm not affiliated with the publishing company or Sifu Hsu's school(Kenpo, Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do for 14years). Just my humble opinion of a overrall great read.

An Excellent Historical & Philosophical Overview

Hsu's book dispells many myths, including the story of the Shaolin Temple being the ancient home of Chinese martial arts. He discusses many topics including teacher student relationships, the difference between "Northern" and "Southern" style kung fu, forms, two man fighting sets, and more. The great pity is that there are not more serious books of this caliber on Chinese (or other!) martial arts. This is NOT a how-to book, there are no sequences of techniques or instructions on forms. It is however, an invaluable aid to those seeking helpful factual information on Chinese martial arts, written in a straightforward and non-self-promoting way. I have bought copies of this to send to friends who are studying kung-fu in remote areas, away from the constant supervision of a teacher. It serves as a good textbook for beginning and advanced alike, doing away with superstitious information and offering a well thought, gracious and full view of the depth of Chinese martial arts. I hope Adam Hsu offers his other Chinese-language books up for translation in the near future, he is truely someone worth listening to.

precise and focused

Master Adam Hsu has proven himself to be a master not only of the Chinese martial arts but of clearly projecting their essence through his writings. Sifu Hsu's unique prospective of these high-level arts is long over due. He seems to get right to the heart of the matter, to the very core /foundation of these high-level disciplines. But his prospective reflects his command of his subject. My meaning is " just because the art is complexed doesn't mean it has to be presented in a mystical fashion". If understanding is key to truth, education, and awareness, then sifu Hsu has made a contribution that we will only appreciate, fully in years to come.

Brilliant! A must-read for the serious kung-fu practioner!

Along with Bok Nam Park's books, Mr. Hsu has written the one of the best source guide on Chinese martial arts that I have ever read. A collection of columns written for a magazine, Mr. Hsu writes with clarity, precision, history, and passion. Mr. Adam Hsu is a world-renowned teacher of Chinese martial arts systems. He is best known for publicly disseminating the Bajiquan and Piguazhang systems to the public, as well as his high level of attainment in the Yin-Fu lineage of Baguazhang. In this slender volume, Mr. Hsu (since I am not his student, I may not refer to him as "Sifu") brings forth the philosophies and theory surrounding the most popular but least-understood family of martial arts in the West. There are no forms in this text; rather, it is a well-thought-out compilation of articles that will benefit all levels of Chinese martial artists. In fact, it has a thing or two to teach non-Chinese martial arts practitioners, as well. For anyone who cares to put a little thought into things, this is the book.