Inside Kung-Fu Magazine

[readytorockbabe]

Does anyone hear know of Inside Kung Fu's website? Is Kung Fu Magazine the new version of Inside Kung Fu or are they separate magazines. Also, how long has Inside Kung Fu been around for?

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Inside Kung Fu is evil, and we do not speak of them here.

http://www.martialartsmart.net/

Thank You, come again. :D

[readytorockbabe]

Inside Kung Fu is evil, and we do not speak of them here.

http://www.martialartsmart.net/

Thank You, come again. :D

Do you know how long they've been active for?

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Nope, we only talk about Kung Fu Qi Gong magazine here...especially since this forum belongs to them.

Be sure to visit

http://www.martialartsmart.net/

[David Jamieson]

google is your friend.

[Oso]

Well done, RD. I'll give you 5 points of street cred just for that. :D


RTRB: wtf are you up to?

[readytorockbabe]

Well done, RD. I'll give you 5 points of street cred just for that. :D


RTRB: wtf are you up to?

Well, my main question was just how long have they been in existence, because one of the kung fu schools I'm looking at claims their master was in it in '81/82.

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Well done, RD. I'll give you 5 points of street cred just for that.

Reply]
Whoo Hooo!!! :D :p

[Oso]

Well, my main question was just how long have they been in existence, because one of the kung fu schools I'm looking at claims their master was in it in '81/82.

could be, they'll publish almost anything.
they've been around since the 70's I think.

http://www.insidekung-fu.com/

[Vajramusti]

They were around in the 70s-before the proliferation of other publications. They helped people become more familiar with kung fu.

Many mags can have good and bad articles and also depend on advertising. They have changed ownership and it is related to a little different marketing strategy. Gene has published there and so have some other good folks.

Light a candle- send good articles to mags.

joy chaudhuri

[ittokaos]

It' s an excellent magazine. one of the best out there.

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

It' s an excellent magazine. one of the best out there.


Reply]

No Fu for You!!! :mad:

[The Xia]

Well, my main question was just how long have they been in existence, because one of the kung fu schools I'm looking at claims their master was in it in '81/82.
I've looked at your other threads. In my opinion, from what I see in your posts, you aren't going about this "legitimacy" thing the right way. Being in a magazine doesn't guarantee that someone is good. When it comes down to it, the skill of the teacher speaks for itself.

[readytorockbabe]

I've looked at your other threads. In my opinion, from what I see in your posts, you aren't going about this "legitimacy" thing the right way. Being in a magazine doesn't guarantee that someone is good. When it comes down to it, the skill of the teacher speaks for itself.

I know that just by being in a publication doesn't mean that a person is "legit" or good. But the fact is, it doesn't hurt. Especially if it is a well-known magazine like Kung Fu Magazine, Black Belt, etc.

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

I have seen total, and well known frauds in all of those magazines.

[lkfmdc]

there is no magazine but kungfu/wushu and Gene is their spokesman

nuff said

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

http://www.martialartsmart.net/

[David Jamieson]

there is no magazine but kungfu/wushu and Gene is their spokesman

nuff said

au contrare, not wanting to cause schism, but...

There is only one magazine that is the true magazine and that is Kungfu Magazine, be it Shaolin Kungfu Magazine, or Kungfu Qigong Magazine or Kungfu Tai Chi Magazine and it's Associate publisher is Gene Ching. It is by the power of Oh that qi is got.

Can I get an Amen?

no?

anyway :D

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

So Gigi Oh is the God?

That makes Gene like Jesus right?

If that is so, when can we expect the walk on water DVD to be at martialartsmart.com?

[David Jamieson]

Don't start chasing the Tao with your Cartesian dualism dude.

Just for bringing it up you lose 6 street cred.

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Ahhh dammmmmm!!! I jsut got +5, now I'm -6.....that means I am still too deep in negative numbers to count! :(

[gwa sow]

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and if being in a magazine means anything than that yahoo from black eyed peas is a master :cool:

[冠木侍]

and if being in a magazine means anything than that yahoo from black eyed peas is a master :cool:

I saw that a while ago. Isn't his name Taboo? The dude with the long hair.

[GeneChing]

...BEP is really all about Will.I.Am and Fergie obviously.

[冠木侍]

...BEP is really all about Will.I.Am and Fergie obviously.

Regarding the group, I'm sure that is true. But in reference to his name, I figured that it couldn't hurt to make an addendum. :D

It had to have been at least a year ago. If i remember correctly, he was holding a sword in one pose and he was quoted as saying that he wanted to learn Ninjutsu. Memory is a little fuzzy.

But I have no problems with IKF.

[GeneChing]

With this intense rise in paper prices and distribution (mostly from gas and postage increases) I'm not surprised at all to see IKF step down to a saddle stitch binding. It's cheaper. We've been pondering it ourselves. I'm just glad they went there before we did.

[冠木侍]

My subscription ran out some time ago and I hadn't renewed yet.

Do you think that it was a good idea (in regards to the stitch)?

[GeneChing]

Saddle-stitch is perceived as lower quality in the magazine world. It's definitely a step downwards. However some believe that saddle-stitch give the appearance of a fuller magazine. This is good when you reduce your page count and paper weight. Page count and paper weight also have dramatic price-reducing effects, not just on the raw materials (lighter paper is cheaper to buy and less pages are cheaper to print) but also shipping. Increasing gas prices and postage have been hammering all magazine distribution to newsstands and to subscribers. In short, it's a horrid economy for print magazines now and I don't fault IKF for going saddle-stitch. We've discussed it too, but we're going to stay perfect-bound as long as we can. We've been perfect bound since 2000 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/mlist.php?magyr=2000), just after my watch here began. I can't promise you we can stay that way, but we're certainly committed to delivering the highest quality magazine possible.

Thank you all for your support on the newsstands and with your subscriptions (http://www.martialartsmart.net/19341.html)!

[Oso]

We've been perfect bound since 2000

sounds like a sig to me...or an ad for a fetish site :p


*he say's with his 6996th post*

[GeneChing]

I just heard some startling news about IKF. Before I start an unconfirmed rumor, anyone else hear anything?

[YouKnowWho]

The reason that I no longer subscribe that magazine because there are too much:

- Wushu stuff.

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1954/kungfu1.jpg

- movie stars.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9489/kungfu2.jpg

- beautiful girls.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5485/kungfu3.jpg

[mooyingmantis]

Well, my main question was just how long have they been in existence, because one of the kung fu schools I'm looking at claims their master was in it in '81/82.

I believe I purchased their first issue in 1977.

[GeneChing]

We have

- Wushu stuff.

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/images/mzine/2000-7cover.jpg

- movie stars.

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/images/mzine/Cov2010_04.jpg

- beautiful girls.

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/images/mzine/kf601.jpg

oh wait...what am I saying?

Never mind.

[GeneChing]

...looking for more. Still nothing official.

This could be a game-changer.

[SPJ]

the inside kung fu magazine last issue feb 1, 2011

after 38 years

---

:(

[David Jamieson]

the inside kung fu magazine last issue feb 1, 2011

after 38 years

---

:(

? what are you talking about?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Inside-Kung-Fu/115818808470987?v=wall&viewas=0

[GeneChing]

The last issue is to be on sale on Feb 1st. It will be their March 2011/Vol. 39, No. 3 issue.

[Northwind]

I love Kung Fu Magazine. But still, IKF going down? That does rather suck.

[PalmStriker]

A sign of the times. Should help KFM stay afloat, this is happening across the board in the business sector. Tough times.:(

[mickey]

Greetings,

Dave Cater was my reason for my exodus from IKF. He destroyed it with controversy.

I began missing the early years of IKF a long time ago. I remember walking over 2 miles to find an IKF magazine in 1983. That was how much I loved it.

I do not miss what it has become.

The only decent thing they can do now is put it all on cd-rom.

Good Riddance,


mickey

[YouKnowWho]

Dave Cater was my reason for my exodus from IKF. He destroyed it with controversy.

Agree with you 100% there. I can't remember how many times that I tried to hide away from him in CMA tournaments. He always asked me, "Are you going to response to that article?"

[Lebaufist]

The reason that I no longer subscribe that magazine because there are too much:

- Wushu stuff.

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1954/kungfu1.jpg



Thats a young Donnie Yen. He counts as movie star of the future.

[ironclaw1981]

My sifu just posted that his friend dave cater said beckett publications dropped them as of yesterday!!

[goju]

The reason that I no longer subscribe that magazine because there are too much:

- Wushu stuff.

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1954/kungfu1.jpg

- movie stars.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9489/kungfu2.jpg

- beautiful girls.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5485/kungfu3.jpg


i agree

what i like about kfm is they are consistent ( and im not sucking up to try to get a free subscription lol )

ikf and black belt changed themselves around too much for my liking

[cerebus]

I still love the old '70s and and early to mid 80s issues of IKF. I have a large collection of them and they have some truly excellent articles...

[lkfmdc]

As someone who has been in both magazines, and also who knew Cater in a relative sense (I golfed with him once at a Jeff Bolt event) - it is sort of sad if it is going under....

[ironclaw1981]

Which dave cater is the editor in chief!!! By the way I left that out, I guess its leggit it really is done!!

[Paul T England]

another sad day for kung fu people...

its has not stuck to its roots and other mags have overtaken its position.

[ironclaw1981]

It still offered some good articles, and more focus on kung fu than blck belt,!!!!! But hands down KUNG FU MAGAZINE is the best and most leggit!!

[mooyingmantis]

I remember that the first two issues featured Ed Parker (cover), Bucksam Kong and Lam Kwong Wing.

[Chief_Suicide]

I've subscribed to KungFu Magazine for almost 2 years now. Ready to renew.

I just bought a subscription to Inside Kung Fu because I couldn't find them at the local store anymore.

How much you want to bet I just lost that money?

[David Jamieson]

I've subscribed to KungFu Magazine for almost 2 years now. Ready to renew.

I just bought a subscription to Inside Kung Fu because I couldn't find them at the local store anymore.

How much you want to bet I just lost that money?

I'll bet you the cost of a subscription to IKF magazine that you have lost that money. :D

That's why I found it odd. This announcement is made but if you look at the site you can still purchase subs.

thoughtless and can be perceived as not only negligent, but sleazy.

But then, we are talking about Cater's rag here which was utter shyte compared to how it used to be and thankfully these good folks here picked it up and ran with the tcma magazine that IKF hadn't been providing for years. [/rant]

[Chief_Suicide]

The link still goes to Beckett. So I assume Beckett still gets the money, not IKF magazine.

So who is sleazier, Beckett, or the people who run IKF magazine?

Yeah, since I lost my subscription money... 'bet' was probably not the best word to use.

Oh well, I should have just been satisfied with my bi-monthly Kung Fu Magazine. That'll teach me.

[MasterKiller]

IKF is f@cking horrible.

How many times did they put that fool Taboo from Black Eyed Peas on the cover?

Good riddance.

[sean_stonehart]

The magazine is a rag. It's had good info previously but in the past number of years... I got more quality info from UK tabloids.

[lkfmdc]

Have mixed feelings, I've been in both magazines, and I knew Cater a bit (played golf with him and Tai Chi teacher Henry Lok) - but the magazine appealed to the lowest and catered to BS and controversy

Like youknowwho said, Cater would try to drag you into bs, I know he published articles and letters just to annoy established teachers, who he wanted to get a reaction out of

[Jimbo]

I had stopped buying IKF some time ago. I remember when it was a really good publication (1970s to mid-1980s). If I remember correctly, IKF began around 1974 and ran until '77 or '78, suspended publication for a year or so, then returned in 1979.

I also have mixed feelings about this. If it was like the "old days," I would be sad about it. But as it is, maybe it's better off put to sleep.

About ten years ago, I wrote and sent in an article for IKF's news section when my Mantis teacher in Taiwan passed away, along with a photo of him. Dave Cater called me and confirmed they'd be publishing it. I had included a self-addressed stamped envelope with the article and asked him to send the photo back when he was done with it. He said he would. They published the article w/the photo, but I never got that photo back.

[Jimbo]

Greetings,

Dave Cater was my reason for my exodus from IKF. He destroyed it with controversy.

I began missing the early years of IKF a long time ago. I remember walking over 2 miles to find an IKF magazine in 1983. That was how much I loved it.

I do not miss what it has become.

The only decent thing they can do now is put it all on cd-rom.

Good Riddance,


mickey

I also remember back in the day walking about 2 miles (each way) in the late '70s/early-mid '80 to buy IKF each month. I used to look forward to it. In recent years, I've been hard-pressed to even pick it up to browse it whenever I see it on the newsstand/bookstore. I still buy Kung Fu Magazine, though.

[mickey]

Jimbo,

You should still try to get that photo back.


mickey

[SPJ]

good articles

from good writers to good readers

--

I hope that they compile all issues and published in a dvd format or PDF files

searchable

we have come a long way from paper printing to digital file on a disk

---

or set up an online library

membership to search articles on line etc

--

[ironclaw1981]

I've subscribed to KungFu Magazine for almost 2 years now. Ready to renew.

I just bought a subscription to Inside Kung Fu because I couldn't find them at the local store anymore.

How much you want to bet I just lost that money?
Yeah I hear you dude I just got my first issue from my subscibtion two dsys ago, idk if we list our money but I will definatey check into it!!!

[Chief_Suicide]

24.95 On the 22nd of December. Bad timing!

[SIFU RON]

Sad to hear this.

The recession is hurting everyone. Will 2011 be better ? Let's hope K/F magazine and BB continue on, they both have a better chance with everyone's support.

[ironclaw1981]

24.95 On the 22nd of December. Bad timing!

Yeah no joke, I should have just doubled up on my kfm subscription!!! Something else that kinda eeved me a bit was how long it took to get my ikf first issue ( bout 8 weeks) and my t- shirt and first issue with kfm in a matter of about a week!!! Better magazine and customer service hands down goes to kfm"!!"

[LoneTiger108]

I'm quite shocked but can understand how they're losing the 'roots' battle out there in the big wide world. I have bought most magazines since I was a kid and saw IKF become 'confused'. When you see rope tug of war and arm bars in the first 5 pages you know something just aint right.

Does this mean that the final edition is 'Jay Chou becomes Kato' coz that's just strange. Wasn't Bruce on the cover of the first issue?

[GeneChing]

I appreciate all the support you all have given for Kung Fu Tai Chi (and hope you're all subscribed (http://www.martialartsmart.com/19341.html) ;) ).

I'm actually just dropping in now because I had jury duty this morning. I've been busy trying to make this deadline and haven't really had the opportunity to process this fully yet. I am saddened to see a pioneering institution like IKF conclude. I wrote for IKF back when I was freelance, even did a cover story for them. And as a publisher myself, it's another magazine for the Print publishing death watch (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52868). At the same time, I'm very curious to see the impact on our magazine, as obviously, it's my job here. So my feelings are very mixed. I'm sure I'll have some deeper reflections upon this topic later, but right now, I'm headed out to a screener of Green Hornet (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47340) now.

[YouKnowWho]

Many years ago, I subscribed a CMA magazine 新武俠(Xin Wu Xia) from Hong Kong. In that magazine, there was a section called "三招了(San Zhao Liao) - 3 moves combo". In each issue, there would be 4 different styles to demonstrate their 3 moves combo. excellent information but I can't see that kind of material in any other magazines.

IMO, the reason that people subscribe a magazine is to obtain useful combat information, and not just want to know how great a certain CMA master was, or what movie a certain star is going to make.

[Syn7]

IKF is f@cking horrible.

How many times did they put that fool Taboo from Black Eyed Peas on the cover?

Good riddance.

really? why? can he fight?

[SIFU RON]

I appreciate all the support you all have given for Kung Fu Tai Chi (and hope you're all subscribed (http://www.martialartsmart.com/19341.html) ;) ).

I'm actually just dropping in now because I had jury duty this morning. I've been busy trying to make this deadline and haven't really had the opportunity to process this fully yet. I am saddened to see a pioneering institution like IKF conclude. I wrote for IKF back when I was freelance, even did a cover story for them. And as a publisher myself, it's another magazine for the Print publishing death watch (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52868). At the same time, I'm very curious to see the impact on our magazine, as obviously, it's my job here. So my feelings are very mixed. I'm sure I'll have some deeper reflections upon this topic later, but right now, I'm headed out to a screener of Green Hornet (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47340) now.

Good words Gene,

When ISKF quit the letter section , readers could not give their opinions of the content they were reading, that's not good.

They did some great work, and, it is sad in many ways to see anyone in their position go out of business.

Lets all support Tiger/Claw and their fine work.

Best to U

Ron

[cerebus]

Wasn't Bruce on the cover of the first issue?

If I recall correctly, the first issue had David Carradine on the front cover. Afterall it was the heyday of the "Kung Fu" series.

Youknowwho said:
"Many years ago, I subscribed a CMA magazine 新武俠(Xin Wu Xia) from Hong Kong. In that magazine, there was a section called "三招了(San Zhao Liao) - 3 moves combo". In each issue, there would be 4 different styles to demonstrate their 3 moves combo. excellent information but I can't see that kind of material in any other magazines."

John, Inside Kung Fu in the 80s used to have a section where various syles demonstrated how they would defend against a certain type of attack. It was very interesting and helped a person to understand the differences between the different systems of Kung Fu.

[Paul T England]

Kung fu is now becoming the karate of the 70's and 80's...

MMA mags are all over the place and the quality is high....

How many people subscribe to Kung Fu mag. More mags will follow IKF unless people wake up..

Focus on Chinese Martial arts with high quality, good depth of knowledge and professional writing is the only way to go.

Paul

[lkfmdc]

It isn't that the magazine was about Chinese martial arts, it was that the content had become dog crap

Clearly fake people doing clearly fake stuff, too much hollywood/actors/wannabe actors, articles about absurd stuff no one cared about, lame attempts at cheese cake (ok, she's cute, yeah, she did karate one semester at the YMCA in highschool so let's put her in a martial arts mag)

The MMA mags are not much better actually

[David Jamieson]

mma rags are mostly garbage.

aimed at 16 year old armchair fans for the most part spending a lot of time on mma personalities and very little time on training and fighting techniques which should be the bulk of any martial arts publication.

I would definitely like to see less about the legend of someone who lived in chinatown in the 70's and more about style centric information.

I don't care much about old men and what they did. lol That's too contextual for me.

Methods! Lot's of em! That's good ma reading!

Less story telling, more information spreading. :)

[YouKnowWho]

more information spreading.

Agree! If I can't learn anything from a MA magazine, it will be waste of money and time for me. I would like to see the following subjects in any MA magazine:

How to:

- enter safely.
- finish effectively.
- develop combat strategies.
- counter a certain attack.
- counter those counters.
- train combos.
- train solo at home.
- develop, maintain, and enhance a certain skill.
- ...

[sanjuro_ronin]

John, Inside Kung Fu in the 80s used to have a section where various syles demonstrated how they would defend against a certain type of attack. It was very interesting and helped a person to understand the differences between the different systems of Kung Fu.

I remember those and they used to have top level guys too, guys like Randy Williams, Tak Kubota, all of the name guys from that era.

[ironclaw1981]

see I like some stories, maybe one an issue!!! I like to see....
diet ideas
qigong techniques
self-defence
weapons info and history
traditional chinese medicine
solo training ideas........
I could give a crap less about stars and which stunt person taught them two moves of wing chun for an upvoming flick!!!!!!!!

[mooyingmantis]

Agree! If I can't learn anything from a MA magazine, it will be waste of money and time for me. I would like to see the following subjects in any MA magazine:

How to:

- enter safely.
- finish effectively.
- develop combat strategies.
- counter a certain attack.
- counter those counters.
- train combos.
- train solo at home.
- develop, maintain, and enhance a certain skill.
- ...

Very interesting ideas!


I could give a crap less about stars and which stunt person taught them two moves of wing chun for an upcoming flick!!!!!!!!

Agreed! Wasted space to me.

More stuff, less fluff!

Fluff may appeal to novices and pimply-faced teens, but substance would make me require all my students to subscribe to a magazine.

I wonder what the demographics is for KFM?

[David Jamieson]

I wonder what the demographics is for KFM?

Bitter men over 35 who gather on the forum of said magazine and complain about how it isn't the past and what an asshat so and so was or is.

:D

[mooyingmantis]

Bitter men over 35 who gather on the forum of said magazine and complain about how it isn't the past and what an asshat so and so was or is.

:D

LOL!
I have no complaints. But I am curious regarding the demographics/target audience of KFM. Apparently IKF developed into a magazine that's readership grew out of it and they were not able to inform/inspire another generation.

[Northwind]

Bitter men over 35 who gather on the forum of said magazine and complain about how it isn't the past and what an asshat so and so was or is.
:D

lol pure poetry of truth :)
That's all me :)

The 'less fluff & more stuff' issue is a good one, and the enterprising money-backed folks should simply note the two distinct differences and capitalize on it, IMO. "Okay, we'll let these guys do the history, technique and whatnot, and we will do the myths, hot chicks in wushu-silks, the karate guys who throw wushu-like-crap into their forms and call it kung fu, and a healthy dose of new age"...

Believe it or not - I think that would actually work :P

[Syn7]

...BEP is really all about Will.I.Am and Fergie obviously.

when i first heard BEP i loved it... back in like 96 when they dropped joints and jam... and as a BBoy i loved that video too... but that BEP and todays BEP arent even on the same planet... alot of us oldskoolers have been watching that whole scene with silent horror... and then fergie came along... now im not trying to hate on her, i like a few songs from early on... but now i see any BEP song and im left standing there scratching my head like "WTF happened and WTF are these people smokin"...

[David Jamieson]

when i first heard BEP i loved it... back in like 96 when they dropped joints and jam... and as a BBoy i loved that video too... but that BEP and todays BEP arent even on the same planet... alot of us oldskoolers have been watching that whole scene with silent horror... and then fergie came along... now im not trying to hate on her, i like a few songs from early on... but now i see any BEP song and im left standing there scratching my head like "WTF happened and WTF are these people smokin"...

the fugees. wyclef and lauryn are superior in everyway to the sell out peas. :p

[Syn7]

the fugees. wyclef and lauryn are superior in everyway to the sell out peas. :p

agreed... well, up until the score... then its commercial bull****... in some ways its even more shiney and flashy than the peas... today, they aint sh!t... wyclef is the only one doing anything and he sold his soul, so, yeah... but i loved them in like 94...

and pras pretty much sunk himself with that ghetto superstar junk...

[SPJ]

I always thought that IKF is People mag for Kung Fu circles including cinema, wushu, old school Kung Fu etc.

So people mag for hollywood and TV land

Why not people mag for Kung Fu circle?

[SPJ]

Now that we have face book and tweeter to follow people and event around.

Anoucement etc

Then people mag for Kung Fu land is out of action unless picked up by big sponsors or ad dollars.

[Northwind]

...and tweeter...
I have no idea why, but that word sent me rolling on the floor.

[YMAA_com]

Inside Kung Fu magazine last issue is coming Feb 2011. Out of business forever.

Focusing on their Mixed Martial Arts audience instead.

DS

[GeneChing]

Despite all of your criticism, I have a lot of respect for Dave Cater. I worked for him when I was freelance and never encountered any of the problems so many other writers claimed. My only complaint was that one of my articles was published in a compilation book and I wasn't notified, but truth be told, I don't remember what I signed on for with the contract for that article, so it may have been within the publisher's right. Or not. It's all water under the bridge now.

However, my respect for Dave increased exponentially after I took the position here. We only crossed paths once after that and had a good talk about the biz. No one - and I mean NONE OF YOU - have any idea what it takes to run a newsstand martial arts mag. I thought I knew the biz from nearly a decade of freelance work. I wrote for all the major mags before taking on this position, as well as did a direct mail periodical/catalog for WLE. The newsstand biz, especially over the last decade (ironically my watch here) has been extremely challenging. People are talking about the death of print publishing (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52868). It's an insane biz to be in right now.

When SPJ says "IKF is People mag for Kung Fu circles", you have to realize that celeb mags are one of the only genres that were thriving on the newsstands. In my heart of hearts, I agree with YouKnowWho in saying "If I can't learn anything from a MA magazine, it will be waste of money and time for me". But frankly, fluff sells on the newsstands. We have to cater (no pun intended) to all types to get someone to pick up on the newsstands. Whenever we could get a pop star on the cover, we'd grab the chance. A recognizable face sells. That's why you still see so many Bruce Lee covers, now nearly four decades after his death.

I often wonder if we would have put Taboo on the cover, if I had the chance. We put Lou Reed on our cover (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=318). That issue did well for us. We still get an occasional fan requesting the back issue.

I would have put Fergie on the cover in a heartbeat. I still would. Fergie, call me.

[mickey]

Greetings,

It is true that I do not know how to run a newstand martial arts magazine. But I most definitely do know how to run Inside Kung Fu (into the ground): CONTROVERSY!!!


mickey

[Northwind]

...snip...
I would have put Fergie on the cover in a heartbeat.

Fergie could be on my cover any day. :P

[TenTigers]

I heard that Lady GaGa is studying Mi Tsung......

[Syn7]

Inside Kung Fu magazine last issue is coming Feb 2011. Out of business forever.

Focusing on their Mixed Martial Arts audience instead.

DS

they own ultimate grappling mag which is now ultimate mma, yeah???

i like that mag...

[Syn7]

I often wonder if we would have put Taboo on the cover, if I had the chance. We put Lou Reed on our cover (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=318). That issue did well for us. We still get an occasional fan requesting the back issue.

I would have put Fergie on the cover in a heartbeat. I still would. Fergie, call me.

what does taboo do??? i havent seen any info on his MA skills... whuttup???

[David Jamieson]

I heard that Lady GaGa is studying Mi Tsung......

no, no, that was "my tongue".
It's an easy mistake to make though. :p

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Agree! If I can't learn anything from a MA magazine, it will be waste of money and time for me. I would like to see the following subjects in any MA magazine:

How to:

- enter safely.
- finish effectively.
- develop combat strategies.
- counter a certain attack.
- counter those counters.
- train combos.
- train solo at home.
- develop, maintain, and enhance a certain skill.
- ...

Why don't you do an article on just that subject?

[GeneChing]

But anyone who wants to write for us is welcome to step up to the plate. Here's our submission guidelines (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/about/guidelines.php). On a related note, I've already been contacted by a few former IKF writers. Still no word from Taboo or Fergie...or Lady Gaga for that matter.

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Gene,
I for one wold like to see much more San Shou and Kuo Shou coverage in KFM, especially those who cross over into MMA.

Just looked at the E-zine titles, and had to go back 3 pages till I found one Cung Lee article.

If the MMA magz are selling like hotcakes, you could easily compete with them, and draw in some of thier readers with focus corners on Ross's gym, and others who are heavy into Kuo shou. This is especially if you can highlight Kung Fu fighters who have MMA wins.

It could be a big thing for you.


With IKF gone, you personally are the Icon now. There is no one else.

[YouKnowWho]

Why don't you do an article on just that subject?

That's my personal interest and I would like to hear others opinions.

[GeneChing]

Don't you people learn anything from this forum? :p

Seriously though, the MMA arena isn't really our demographic. We'll cover it now and again, but there's no way Kung Fu Tai Chi can really enter that market unless there's a significant amount of kung fu champions to emerge in the ring. It's different advertisers, different readers, different reporters - a different demographic entirely.

I'm going to an MMA fight next weekend (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1074000). When I go to these, I hang with the rest of the press, which is predominantly MMA bloggers and reporters. So I know many in that industry and it's just a different ball game entirely. For us, it would be a total mistake to go too deeply into MMA. We'd forsake our readership, our freelancers, and our mission, and be up against some serious competition on the newsstands. It'd be like a taiji master jumping in the cage - total suicide. Imagine that. :o

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Don't you people learn anything from this forum? :p

Seriously though, the MMA arena isn't really our demographic. We'll cover it now and again, but there's no way Kung Fu Tai Chi can really enter that market unless there's a significant amount of kung fu champions to emerge in the ring. It's different advertisers, different readers, different reporters - a different demographic entirely.

I'm going to an MMA fight next weekend (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1074000). When I go to these, I hang with the rest of the press, which is predominantly MMA bloggers and reporters. So I know many in that industry and it's just a different ball game entirely. For us, it would be a total mistake to go too deeply into MMA. We'd forsake our readership, our freelancers, and our mission, and be up against some serious competition on the newsstands. It'd be like a taiji master jumping in the cage - total suicide. Imagine that. :o

The point is to cover more traditional fighters in Kuo Shou and Sanda/San Shao as well as traditional fighters who enter MMA.

Don't cover MMA per say, cover Chinese martial artist and thier fights in MMA as well as our regular venues. It can even be a low level amature fighter winning in a recent local competition. Heck, just cover any results.

[GeneChing]

To be frank, there isn't that much to cover. The sanshou guys don't send us reports (and when they do, it's often pretty weak reporting). I cover what I can personally. There's an article on Cung in our upcoming issue. We've covered Wulin Feng and Sandawang in China, but sadly, sanshou is on the decline.

[RD'S Alias - 1A]

Tell Ross he'd better start making with the reporting or ur gonna bann his ass!

[Lucas]

throw a blurb in there if uki beats that guy who just opened a mma gym down the road from him. :D

[cerebus]

I heard that Lady GaGa is studying Mi Tsung......

Um, yeah, sorry but that was a misprint. She's a student of mine, studying Mai Hung Dong. And yeah, she studies HARD. REAL hard! :D

[SPJ]

the spirits of passing on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5aRFiFJBjQ&feature=related

liang zhu violin notes in this clip

it was first performed in 1957. the young girl learned and passed on.

kung fu still lives and passes on

---

:)

[GeneChing]

So a few more freelance authors have contacted me. What's interesting is that several have made a point to mention in their queries that their proposed article is controversial. Now, I'm never one to shy away from controversy - remember my main field of research is Shaolin ;) - but it has been striking me as funny for a pitch as controversy is not really as marketable as people seem to think. Maybe that's just us, just our readership, but when things get controversial as in flame war feuds, we tend to lose more readers than gain them. It's one more reason why we have this forum - it channels all that energy into something more viral. And it's all about viral popularity.

Also, I thank everyone who has suggested strategies for the continuation of Kung Fu Tai Chi. I've received several PMs and emails from concerned individuals, and that's rather touching. Most have been good, although my favorite was the suggestion that we launch a MMORPG to stimulate readership (if we had the capability to launch a good MMORPG, we'd just do that and abandon the magazine - there's more money in MMORPGs).

Several have also commended me for not 'crowing' about IKF's end. In truth, it's not like that at all. I don't consider this any sort of victory. Being a publisher for over a decade, I face the same challenges IKF did, and even though we were competitors, their folding had little to do with us. It's like we were both running a race across the African veldt, and one of us got eaten by a lion. That's not really a victory in the classic sense. And who knows? Tomorrow that lion might eat us.

[Lucas]

Maybe this will help with the lions....;)
http://yardlover.indigofiles.com/images/ecom/product_images/medium/mountainlion.jpg

[GeneChing]

Who's job is it to collect that? Suddenly my job doesn't look so bad.

[Lucas]

wait, are you trashing my job man?!?!?

i work hard to get that lion urine!

[Syn7]

wait, are you trashing my job man?!?!?

i work hard to get that lion urine!

so how do you get the lion to p1ss in the bottle??? must be the kung fu skills huh...

[Northwind]

OMG lol where the heck did you get that image??? Too funny.

[GeneChing]

Lucas, you've opened up a whole new world for us.

Predator Urine (http://www.predatorpee.com/)

Plus details on how it's collected (http://www.predatorpee.com/predatorpee-collection.htm).

No disrespect to IKF here, mind you. It's just you got to bow down to a good threadjack. It shows great forum fu.

[Syn7]

Who's job is it to collect that? Suddenly my job doesn't look so bad.

so do you think you'll get more independant submissions now??? have many contacted you over employement??? is there any way to make their negative into a positive for kfm???

[Syn7]

Lucas, you've opened up a whole new world for us.

Predator Urine (http://www.predatorpee.com/)

Plus details on how it's collected (http://www.predatorpee.com/predatorpee-collection.htm).

No disrespect to IKF here, mind you. It's just you got to bow down to a good threadjack. It shows great forum fu.

thread jacking is a tradition we hold close to our hearts...

[David Jamieson]

Ima let teh cat outta the bag.

that Urine is mine.

But it got the femme lion's so *****, they now purchase my golden dew and market it!

thank you very much!

and now, back to the death of print publishing brought to you by Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine.

[Lucas]

lol too funny. sorry for the threadjack Gene heh....ok we all know im lying..:eek:

those links you provided are freaking aweeeesooommmee

back to the regularly scheduled print death watch.

P.S. thanks for the dedication to the cause DJ

[lkfmdc]

Honestly Gene, and this may sound like sucking up, but your magazine is what IKF started off being and/or was supposed to be... and you were putting Chinese characters in the type when Cater was giving us dirty looks for even asking about them. I really hope your magazine continues and I guess I should do some articles again for you...

[GeneChing]

@ Syn7
We're already getting more submissions. We've always had a decent number of submissions. It's getting those good submissions. No one has contacted us about employment and I don't expect that to happen. Besides, we're not hiring at the moment. And certainly we're trying to capitalize on their demise, without appearing too vulture-like, of course. It's a difficult market so any advantage must be capitalized upon.

@ lkfmdc
Chinese characters accepted here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/about/guidelines.php). ;)

[lkfmdc]

wait until you see my monkey kung fu article ;)

[GeneChing]

I just got this horrid mental image of lkfmdc shouting "Touch my monkey! TOUCH IT!!"

[Lucas]

you too huh?

[SPJ]

yes predator's urine or feces

that is what preys are alert to.

:cool:

[lkfmdc]

I just got this horrid mental image of lkfmdc shouting "Touch my monkey! TOUCH IT!!"

http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/24/128720334179767399.jpg

[GeneChing]

PM me the password. Oh what am I saying - I could just override the password. Just post it and we can all take turns being lkfmdc.

Back OT, another interesting fallout from the end of IKF is that I've been getting more Wing Chun submissions. There was a period a few years back when we were getting so many Wing Chun submissions that we did some Wing Chun Specials. We did one in 2001 September/October (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=140)and another in 2005 March/April (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=578). Wing Chun submissions tapered off in recent years so we haven't run any Wing Chun articles in a while. Maybe this is related to the controversy issue that I mentioned earlier. Or maybe it's fallout from Ip Man film franchise; Ip Man 2 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1075186)opens theatrically in America today. Anyway, expect some Wing Chun articles in the near future. I've never been opposed to Wing Chun articles - it's just how much can you write about Sil Lum Tao (http://www.martialartsmart.com/dvd-bm00a.html)? And if you feel you must answer that, answer on our Wing Chun forum (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9).

[ngokfei]

So Gene you going back to monthly?!!

Oh and while IKF is no longer publishing, heard through the grapevine that the Magazine is actually for Sale.

Don't know how that works..

[GeneChing]

We've been bimonthly or quarterly all the rest of the time. And no, we probably won't go back to being monthly. Honestly, one of the factors that has helped us survive on today's newsstands is the fact that we are monthly. That longer shelf life makes a big difference.

Interesting rumor about IKF being up for sale. If anyone wants to buy a magazine nowadays, I also have some dinosaur saddles I'm looking to sell. :rolleyes:

[ngokfei]

man if thats the case you are going to have article submissions gathering dust trying to find an issue to put them in. (LOL)

but you still have the e-magazine..

yeah I don't see anybody buying it anytime soon.

Curious what is going to happen with their publishing/video department. Perhaps it will go the way of "Panther Video" - can't tell you how many I purchased for $5 each!!

Not to mention all the refunds for paid advertising and subscriptions - wee!!

One thing that would be cool is if they were to digitize all their past issues and put on a cd/dvd series just like the old "Bagua Journal" did.

eric

[cerebus]

One thing that would be cool is if they were to digitize all their past issues and put on a cd/dvd series just like the old "Bagua Journal" did.

+100! That WOULD be great!

[David Jamieson]

We've been bimonthly or quarterly all the rest of the time. And no, we probably won't go back to being monthly. Honestly, one of the factors that has helped us survive on today's newsstands is the fact that we are monthly. That longer shelf life makes a big difference.

Interesting rumor about IKF being up for sale. If anyone wants to buy a magazine nowadays, I also have some dinosaur saddles I'm looking to sell. :rolleyes:

These dinosaur saddles you claim to have, do you have one that would fit on an ostrich? :p

[GeneChing]

I'll be curious to see what becomes of their publishing department. We just threw out a shopping cart full of old VHS. We've converted our better selling titles to DVD, but there's a cost to that and given the DVD market, which is also in decline, it's not always a good investment to covert nowadays. I'm also curious what will happen to their book publishing and website.

These are interesting days, for sure.

[Syn7]

These dinosaur saddles you claim to have, do you have one that would fit on an ostrich? :p

that would be so fun.... its going on the bucket list...

[ngokfei]

gene

VHS I love them. Hey you can always send them to me;)

Between the Martial Arts Movies, Demos and instructionals I'm pretty sure close to 1000 (give or take 10).

yeah and oh the big mistake of recording on ep insteal of sp.

[SPJ]

there is a revolution or evolution in the publishing world.

apps publishing for ipad, ipod

publishing for e readers, amazon, borders, barnes & noble--

imagine browsing "bookshelf" in an e reader and download instantly for small amount of money

and paperless or green technology, no ink no cutting trees---

podcast, webcast, internet tv--


24/7 no line to wait

--

amazon is a bookstore without a bookstore

---

:)

[GeneChing]

You could dumpster dive in our garbage bin and do quite well. Sometimes I'm amazed what we toss out.

As for the digital revolution, obviously that's had its impact. However, print magazines don't translate that well to digital platforms, at least not yet. There have been many attempts - it's the ol' monetize the web issue and then some - but it still hasn't settled. We're watching the progression, of course. To give you some idea, I've got a quote for iPad conversion of our magazine that's $1000 per issue. Honestly, I don't think we'll recoup that in iPad subscribers. I'm sure there's cheaper ways; this is just an example. Then there's the question of which platform. Kindle? Nook? iPad digital periodical sales started strong, but then plummeted. We couldn't absorb that kind of loss at this time.

This gets back to that issue I brought up earlier. No one sits in Dave Cater's chair, or my chair or the chair of any of the other publishers who run newsstand magazines that promote traditional arts. No one knows what happens on the front lines except those in the trenches.

[PhallicWarlord]

You could dumpster dive in our garbage bin and do quite well. Sometimes I'm amazed what we toss out.

Dude, I'm in Fremont. Should I worry about cops being called on me? :D

[GeneChing]

Should I invite someone who goes by PhallicWarlord to the office to dig through our trash? Prudence says 'no'. :rolleyes:

[PhallicWarlord]

Should I invite someone who goes by PhallicWarlord to the office to dig through our trash? Prudence says 'no'. :rolleyes:

dagnabbit, I can't even argue that. I admit, this username comes from an inside joke that I don't have with anyone here (when people ask, I tell them I'm good with a bo staff). Maybe I should re-register with a name that won't raise as many eyebrows.

But you know me (it's Chris...I'm poppin up everywhere), so you shouldn't expect much better ;)

[David Jamieson]

*snip*

This gets back to that issue I brought up earlier. No one sits in Dave Cater's chair, or my chair or the chair of any of the other publishers who run newsstand magazines that promote traditional arts. No one knows what happens on the front lines except those in the trenches.

Tales of Nasrudin anyone? :)

[Syn7]

the print word is tough no matter what...

i have a friend who is big into fashion... he's like the one straight fashion designer i know thats actually done well... anyways he started a magazine and it took off so fast, he had two offices on either side of the country and then after about a year or so, after insane good sales it all just trickled away...

i have a few published author friends and what they go thru to sell a book is craaaaaazy....

[GeneChing]

Print is tough. Online subscriptions is tough too. Why would any of you pay for something you could get free? If we made this forum a pay-to-play, you'd all migrate to another forum. Same goes for e-zine publication. What redeems us is that you all support all the free articles we put out on the web by purchasing from MartialArtsMart.com. That gives us an advantage over the other martial arts magazines that are trying to move to the web. The others run on paid advertisements. But if you're an advertiser, where is your online advertising dollar going to go, a print magazine website or Google ads, Yahoo ads, etc?

But back to print. The one nice thing about print is that it still seems to hold more consumer trust than the web when it comes to advertising. Surveys still show that readers will support a print ad more than a web ad. I think this is because there's so much spam on the web, again a function of how inexpensive it is as a medium.

[SIFU RON]

When I travel by air plane or train, I always take magazines to read. I do the same while waiting for example at my Doctors office.

A good friend moved here ( California ) from Mexico, I bought her a book on how to learn English , she doesn't have a PC, will print disappear ? Not in my lifetime I hope.

[Jimbo]

Another good thing about print is that if something ever happens where all electronic media goes down, you can still have printed material to read.

I remember hearing something about since records of the effects of deforestation in the Amazon (or some-such thing) was transferred onto electronic media in the 1970s, a vast amount of the information has been lost due to deterioration. Since none of it was saved as hard copy, whatever was lost is now gone forever.

[SPJ]

text files we may always copy manually.

however, audio, images, video files

digital copy is a way better method to store the information.

I remember I visited National Palace Museum on the first day it opened in Taiwan.

there are many exhibits. at the time, it was a huge effort to photograph all the artifacts.

in today technology, it is only a click away, no chemicals to develop the films,

photo albums in a flash drive etc

I did not have a camera. I had to draw things I like on a note pad.

I especially like the Jade, espcially the one that looked like a cabbage.

procelain I like blue flower ones---

I also drew some part of the upriver map at qing ming. part of the scroll was left behind on mainland china.

--

:)

[KC Elbows]

As a buyer, I have only very rarely bought kung fu related magazines in the last five years, because, frankly, as much as we may make fun of the shenanigans of a forum, more useful info about many styles can be found here than in so-called scholalrly articles in the kung fu magazines.

99% of which amount to six pictures of some random technique, a whole lot of naming the style, naming its forms, and naming the people who did it, very broad statements about the style or subject of the article that require little to no expertise. Either stingy with info, or not expert.

The format, which pushes the dramatic well, fails to push anything else well, imo.

If your kung fu is a secret treasure to you, be logically self consistent by not publishing articles about it that provide nothing but the appearance of dealing with its fight techniques.

If you are writing a historical survey, do that, don't waste time trying to do a mediocre history(with questionable citations) and then lack space to deal with anything else.

If you're writing an article, one would assume you or the person providing the info has some expertise. People with expertise know you can't do a class on "The deadly mobility of Southern Mantis," it tends to take some classes, so dig in for several articles, in depth ones, and dig in to really think about what you're presenting, do not delude yourself with your own expertise, allow yourself to trouble shoot the material and your knowledge, because you likely won't have any other form of editorial on your ideas.

IF your article draws people by the amazing, and you fail to provide the many completely mundane things that make up the amazing, you're not providing background to your system, you're providing a fable, and people are going to think you don't know the real thing, even if you do, and it will be your fault and no one else's.

Kung fu teachers and writers need to support and join with others who have no concern with style over substance. The mainstream bookstores not only have far fewer kung fu magazines, but far fewer kung fu books that I can recall seeing in the past. Books with a form and maybe ten applications from that form are about ten applications away from being books of contemporary wushu to an extent. Claims that all was kept secret in the past are problematic, since books defining knowledge beyond form seem to have been more common in the times that we draw tradition from, yet now, kung fu books are filled with form, not usage, while custom has made it that articles too often depict finishing moves without the framework of moves that gain one such an advantage.

This is not a case of me saying I'm better than others, but a case of someone who lifelong has bought these magazines and books, and now not only does not, but would not have students waste their time with most of them either. A good article on history is fine, but as for real scholarly articles on specific fighting methods, the scholars disappoint with juvenile fare, and are losing the interest of students who have an honest interest in fighting methods, and gaining the interest of students whose only interest is knowing something cool, but have no real interest in fighting methods.

Showing me your form doesn't mean you understand it, nor does showing me one move you like. Other martial arts books and articles, eastern and western, are organized compendiums of techniques, bad kung fu books and articles are either mostly text, or mostly form, or random moves with no clear plan of presentation, no "these article will show the main strikes, next the main throws, next the main locks," instead its often just a random article out of the void on a random move or two that, the merits of those moves aside, could be done with the pictures alone.

Again, the old texts we see seem to also be compendiums of techniques, but now, technique has been relegated to use as flashy "applications" to impress in some teaching and in published works.

Point being, if I currently own a kung fu book or article, barring historical survey stuff, it is based in technique and usage in the majority of its text, just like all other books on fighting methods seem to for other eastern and western styles. Attacks, counters, throws, all in there somewhere, and, for articles, a focus allowing for useful technical info to be gleened.

Otherwise, the texts tend to be treating the style they discuss as an exotic curiosity, and exoticising something you want to learn is a good way to learn it poorly.

/rant

[SPJ]

good articles from good writers to good readers

few and afar

also, it is very hard to write some technical stuff

video is better, but moves go by so fast without explanations to detail

images in a book or a magazine are not sufficient to cover everything

--

a lot of times, you have to know the moves in its entirety first before appreciating the contents of an article.

--

:(

[Dale Dugas]

I just got a new issue in the mail.

I thought IKF was dead in the water?

More issues?

[GeneChing]

The last issue is to be on sale on Feb 1st. It will be their March 2011/Vol. 39, No. 3 issue. I'm assuming from your reaction there was no comment about a cessation of subscription then.

[Dale Dugas]

The new issue has Sam Kuoha's daughter on the cover. Volume 39 no. 4

Weird.

[Chief_Suicide]

I got that one too. I guess I'm going to get a whopping one issue for my subscription troubles. lol, go figure.

[GeneChing]

That may have been my miscalculation - they might be two months ahead. We'll see how this all plays out.

Thanks for the update, guys.

I've attached the letter that was sent out to all their advertisers. It's the only 'official' announcement that I've seen so far, but it seems pretty official.

[MasterKiller]

As a buyer, I have only very rarely bought kung fu related magazines in the last five years, because, frankly, as much as we may make fun of the shenanigans of a forum, more useful info about many styles can be found here than in so-called scholalrly articles in the kung fu magazines.

99% of which amount to six pictures of some random technique, a whole lot of naming the style, naming its forms, and naming the people who did it, very broad statements about the style or subject of the article that require little to no expertise. Either stingy with info, or not expert.

The format, which pushes the dramatic well, fails to push anything else well, imo.

If your kung fu is a secret treasure to you, be logically self consistent by not publishing articles about it that provide nothing but the appearance of dealing with its fight techniques.

If you are writing a historical survey, do that, don't waste time trying to do a mediocre history(with questionable citations) and then lack space to deal with anything else.

If you're writing an article, one would assume you or the person providing the info has some expertise. People with expertise know you can't do a class on "The deadly mobility of Southern Mantis," it tends to take some classes, so dig in for several articles, in depth ones, and dig in to really think about what you're presenting, do not delude yourself with your own expertise, allow yourself to trouble shoot the material and your knowledge, because you likely won't have any other form of editorial on your ideas.

IF your article draws people by the amazing, and you fail to provide the many completely mundane things that make up the amazing, you're not providing background to your system, you're providing a fable, and people are going to think you don't know the real thing, even if you do, and it will be your fault and no one else's.

Kung fu teachers and writers need to support and join with others who have no concern with style over substance. The mainstream bookstores not only have far fewer kung fu magazines, but far fewer kung fu books that I can recall seeing in the past. Books with a form and maybe ten applications from that form are about ten applications away from being books of contemporary wushu to an extent. Claims that all was kept secret in the past are problematic, since books defining knowledge beyond form seem to have been more common in the times that we draw tradition from, yet now, kung fu books are filled with form, not usage, while custom has made it that articles too often depict finishing moves without the framework of moves that gain one such an advantage.

This is not a case of me saying I'm better than others, but a case of someone who lifelong has bought these magazines and books, and now not only does not, but would not have students waste their time with most of them either. A good article on history is fine, but as for real scholarly articles on specific fighting methods, the scholars disappoint with juvenile fare, and are losing the interest of students who have an honest interest in fighting methods, and gaining the interest of students whose only interest is knowing something cool, but have no real interest in fighting methods.

Showing me your form doesn't mean you understand it, nor does showing me one move you like. Other martial arts books and articles, eastern and western, are organized compendiums of techniques, bad kung fu books and articles are either mostly text, or mostly form, or random moves with no clear plan of presentation, no "these article will show the main strikes, next the main throws, next the main locks," instead its often just a random article out of the void on a random move or two that, the merits of those moves aside, could be done with the pictures alone.

Again, the old texts we see seem to also be compendiums of techniques, but now, technique has been relegated to use as flashy "applications" to impress in some teaching and in published works.

Point being, if I currently own a kung fu book or article, barring historical survey stuff, it is based in technique and usage in the majority of its text, just like all other books on fighting methods seem to for other eastern and western styles. Attacks, counters, throws, all in there somewhere, and, for articles, a focus allowing for useful technical info to be gleened.

Otherwise, the texts tend to be treating the style they discuss as an exotic curiosity, and exoticising something you want to learn is a good way to learn it poorly.

/rant

Be the change you want to see, bro.

[GeneChing]

...but what you can do for CMA. ;)

As I've said already, I've been getting a lot of submissions this go round due to this. Nevertheless, here are our submission guidelines (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/about/guidelines.php). When you're ready to try to step up to print, just give me a holla.

[KC Elbows]

I think you overestimate the magazine buying power of the taixuquan community.

[mooyingmantis]

KC Elbows,
Excellent post!
I think Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine is a better version of what IKF was at the beginning. IKF started out great but spiraled downward, in my opinion. I was once a subscriber to IKF, but that was two decades ago. Personalities and the latest martial arts fads just don't interest me.

[KC Elbows]

...but what you can do for CMA. ;)

As I've said already, I've been getting a lot of submissions this go round due to this. Nevertheless, here are our submission guidelines (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/about/guidelines.php). When you're ready to try to step up to print, just give me a holla.

**** Svengali, you always somehow manage to get that leading carrot in;

don't want to buy magazines?

<<spinny Gene Ching Svengali Eyes>>

but don't you think you could write a good article. I see you don't have a ninja costume, are you aware there's a yearly prize, here, I'll send you the page on www.martialartsmart.com where you can find your costume, yes, yes, you need a ninja costume, but first, you must bring me Lucy Liu!

No Master, not Miss Lucy!

I'll email about what ideas I have for topics.

[GeneChing]

John Derek and Hugh Hefner, now those are Svengalis. Just imagine the nacho ninjettes if I had that kind of Svengali skillz.

Me, I'm just trying to make a living slinging magazines and martial arts gear. In today's world, that means spamming our forum regularly. Wait, is it spam when we own it? It's like our own private spam diner.


Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam; spam bacon sausage and spam; spam egg spam spam bacon and spam; spam sausage spam spam bacon spam tomato and spam;
...spam spam spam egg and spam; spam spam spam spam spam spam baked beans spam spam spam...
...or Lobster Thermidor au Crevette with a Mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and spam.

Shoot me an email, KC - Gene@KungFuMagazine.com

[Shaolindynasty]

Just peeked through IKF magazines latest issue on the newstand I have to say it was terrible. On the other hand the latest issue of Kungfu Taichi has a good article about hung kuen and modern nanquan which I picked up.

IKF's content is horrible

[GeneChing]

I've been looking for the latest IKF but it hasn't appeared on our local newsstands (and our subscription just ran out). From what I've heard (and this is just rumor) it was shut down rather suddenly, so there was no opportunity for Dave Cater to do any sort of sign off. That's too bad.

We're discussing our latest issue here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1078185). I'd love to hear your feedback on the Nanquan/Hung Kuen story.

[SPJ]

I usually just brief thru the pictures and not really read anything.

but I do collect them in a pile of a year.

when I have time, i would read thru the articles that interest me in a pile of one year at a time.


i just read 2010 year pile.

in nov I like interview with sammo hung.

in dec i like "bruce lives" cover story.

I also like new product column, there is an interesting pu dao---

---

sad to have only a few monthly periodical and not complete for 2011---

:(

[SPJ]

in dec 2010

i also like ikf interview with Cheng pei pei

---

many and many articles I like

too sad the monthly is gone for ever.

:(

[Jimbo]

At a newsstand I thumbed through the latest (last?) issue, the one with Kaimi Kuoha on the cover. The end must have come very quickly, because it listed some of the articles for the 'next' issue. I was originally planning to buy it, since it's the last issue ever, but after browsing the contents I decided not to.

[SPJ]

I still have subscription since I paid

---

:(

[Zhang Yong Chun]

It took a little doing, but I managed to find what may just be the last issue of IKF.

Thirty years ago, this was the most important magazine in the world to me, closely followed by Black Belt, and all the other rags at the time.

This issue falls far from where Kung Fu Magazine is today.

I don't want to go into an extended review. Suffice to say that there is not much here other than large ads for the Beckett Media line, a few Bruce Lee items, an article on martial arts games, and several offers to "subscribe".

It's a shame that Inside Kung Fu is gone, but some would argue that it died a long time ago.

A toast to icons past and present, to Jane Hallander, Dave Cater, and all the rest of the contributors who informed, educated, and entertained me...

[Syn7]

I still have subscription since I paid

---

:(

so they arent giving refunds??? fukc it they are going down so why bother maintain any dignity??? im confused by that... have you tried to get money back? or are you just waiting for them to offer??? you should write them and send a self addressed stamped envelope for the cheque they will mail you back...

[Vajramusti]

Wow. Even Dave Cater the editor seems to have disappeared. Sad. The selling of the mag by Wong was an early sign of changes... now it is purely a corporate ad rag.

To add to this yesterday in the mail instead of IKF they sent me a MMA mag. Good grief.Will I subscribe to a
MMA mag? No way Jose.!!

Joy Chaudhuri

[SPJ]

so they arent giving refunds??? fukc it they are going down so why bother maintain any dignity??? im confused by that... have you tried to get money back? or are you just waiting for them to offer??? you should write them and send a self addressed stamped envelope for the cheque they will mail you back...

I dun want my money back.

I want to read some IKF interviews on more issues.

my subscription is good till oct 2011.

:D

[Dale Dugas]

I too, also received their MMA mag with a letter saying that IKF is no longer and they are going to be sending me their MMA rag.

I recycled it without even reading it.

No offense, but I paid for a product and they sent me something else.

Blatant false advertising.

[GeneChing]

They're back.

Inside Kung-Fu (https://www.insidekungfu.live)

[PalmStriker]

:) Wow! Talk about the unexpected. I remember when they closed up shop and KFM was left holding the torch. No telling what the future holds. Not a bad thing for either publication.

[YinOrYan]

They're back.

Inside Kung-Fu (https://www.insidekungfu.live)

Hmm, now I really wonder if they sold the brand. There's no clues who's behind it now. Does not look ad based. Anyway, it is interesting that the "great Joe Lewis" seems to no longer need Wing Chun for anything...

[GeneChing]

Cater reacquired the brand.

He'll need some sponsorship soon, I imagine. They have a massive archive but it isn't clear that he has access to that yet. He sent out an emailblast requesting permission to reprint as well as a call for submissions. It doesn't look like he's compensating authors yet.