MA history book

[superman859]

I was wonderinf if anyone had any recommendations for a book that covered a lot of kung fu and martial arts history in China, using the knowledge that is pretty much believed by all to be true. I know there is a lot of debates about certain issues in it, but I am sure that some stuff is pretty solid and believed by most everyone, and I am wanting to learn more about my art and everything and where it came from. Anything involving that that someone could recommend would be greatly appreciated.

[stimulant]

a lot of common 'knowledge' is speculation and BS, especially in CMA. good luck!

[MasterKiller]

What style are you trying to research?

[GeneChing]

I like Kung Fu Elements (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/bw005.html) for it's general overview and history.

[ngokfei]

spring autumn by kang gewu is good

along with that book by Wu Bin. The one KFM used as a resource for its 100,0 styles publication issue.

[superman859]

Any thing having to do with shaolin kung fu is what im most interested in. Anything about the temples, monks, etc.

[pazman]

russbo.com (yes, yet again) has some downloadable ebooks on the subject, and features some good, and old, pictures. the author, whose name i can't recall, does a pretty good job, making sure to make the distinction between folklore, commonly regarded ideas, and what little factual history there is.

nearly everything else i have ever read is mythical bull****.

[canglong]

One of the latest books on Shaolin kung fu as researched by the Ving Tsun Museum with insights from Grandmaster Garrett Gee.
Shaolin Kung Fu (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0736045686/qid=1074182565/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-9172265-0524632?v=glance&s=books)