January/February 2012

[GeneChing]

Our table of contents (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1016) is now online.

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/images/mzine/cover2012_01.jpg

Unfortunately, we has already gone to press when we heard of Grandmaster Ming Lum's passing (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1009). Consequently, the news story, Grandmaster Ming Lum's 85th Birthday By Zhao Xiaohu, will seem dated. We'll have an obituary, for both GM Ming Lum and GM Al Novak (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1015) in print for our next issue.

[GeneChing]

This issue includes a special bonus video of The Little Details of Wushu By Greg Lynch Jr. exclusively for Zinio readers (http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/index.jsp?productId=500626248&categoryId=cat1970036)!

[Taijiren]

This issue includes a special bonus video of The Little Details of Wushu By Greg Lynch Jr. exclusively for Zinio readers (http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/index.jsp?productId=500626248&categoryId=cat1970036)!

Is there supposed to be a link from the article? The only video link I saw was on page two in the Kelly Kim ad....

Thanks for continually trying to improve the zinio experience though. It makes it worthwhile having to wait longer than the print subscribers. ;)

[Hebrew Hammer]

I bought my subscription a few weeks ago and am still awaiting my first issue...hint hint.

[Fa Xing]

Any chance you are going to get KFM on the Nook Color?

That would be cool!

[GeneChing]

Tjr: Go to page 80 for the vid.

HH: You should have made this delivery, but double check with Sales@MartialArtsMart.com. Unfortunately, we're all being affected by the strain on the USPS, so subscription deliveries are getting even more sluggish across the board. Sorry about that.

FX: We're exploring Kindle now. Nook is next on our list. We're contractually committed to Zinio for several more issues - and they've been doing quite well by us. As for the other tablets, well, it's a bit of a game, isn't it? Which technology is going to be the most fruitful? Of course, if Zinio starts working for the other platforms, the problem is solved. But it's a big scuffle in the publishing world right now. We'll see.

Thanks for your feedback everyone!

[@PLUGO]

Is there supposed to be a link from the article? The only video link I saw was on page two in the Kelly Kim ad....

Thanks for continually trying to improve the zinio experience though. It makes it worthwhile having to wait longer than the print subscribers. ;)

Comments on the YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/KungfuMagazinedotcom/featured) channels are also welcome.

Same goes for our heh Vimeo channel.

[Taijiren]

Tjr: Go to page 80 for the vid.


When I go to page 80, all I see is the big pic of Li Jing staring back at me with a sword in hand (well, and all the text). The only link on the page is to kungfumagazine.com's main page. There's no little box with a video link like there is on page C2 for the Tiger Claw Kelly Kim ad.

[GeneChing]

It works for us. There should be a hypertext link that presents the screen. It's different than the Kelly Kim link as that's just an embedded hypertext to a YouTube vid (it's a snap code in the print magazine) and this is an actual embedded video.

What are you viewing it on?

[Taijiren]

It works for us. There should be a hypertext link that presents the screen. It's different than the Kelly Kim link as that's just an embedded hypertext to a YouTube vid (it's a snap code in the print magazine) and this is an actual embedded video.

What are you viewing it on?

I'm using a 64GB iPad 2 (wifi only).

Where in the article is the hyperlink? I tried deleting the issue and downloading it again, but I still only see a hyperlink to kungfumagazine.com on that page.

[Taijiren]

I just tried downloading the issue to my iPhone 4 and get the same result - no video on page 80.

[GeneChing]

Working on it. Thanks Tjr!

[Fa Xing]

FX: We're exploring Kindle now. Nook is next on our list. We're contractually committed to Zinio for several more issues - and they've been doing quite well by us. As for the other tablets, well, it's a bit of a game, isn't it? Which technology is going to be the most fruitful? Of course, if Zinio starts working for the other platforms, the problem is solved. But it's a big scuffle in the publishing world right now. We'll see.

Why kindle? The Nook is awesome!

Anyways, it would make a difference because e-subs are usually cheaper and I have more electronic space than physical living in an apartment. Hope you guys can work something out though, it would be great.

[GeneChing]

There's an investment of both time and money with each tablet platform. For starters, we need the hardware, just to see what we're doing. We have some iPads here, and a Kindle Fire is on the way. We don't have a Nook yet. All good things in all good time.

[JamesC]

Btw, really enjoyed the article on Chan Koon Tai.

[TaichiMantis]

Didn't get mine yet but saw it in the store :(

Do you let someone know before their subscription runs out?

[GeneChing]

Subscribers get a little notification flyer when their subscriptions are about to expire.

We always ship our subscribers' issues several weeks before they are scheduled to appear on the newsstands, however the USPS has been slowing down more and more of late, so sometimes issues are a little late. Sorry about that. Given the state of the USPS, I fear this will only get worse in days to come.

If you're worried that your subscription might have expired, contact sales@martialartsmart.com.

[GeneChing]

To view the video you will need to delete and restore the issue in your tablet library:

To do this:
1) Tap edit on the top right hand corner
2) Press the issue to delete it
3) Press ‘Restore’
4) Press the issue
5) Press Done

Sorry for the snafu. Our digital version is a learning process. We're getting it step by step. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

[Taijiren]

And it's a 7+ min long video! I was expecting some thing minimal. All the more reason to buy the zinio version now. Great job!

[GeneChing]

Kung Fu Gallant (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1020)

[GeneChing]

This is very nice. :)

Chan Koon Tai (Chen Kuan Tai) is featured in KUNG FU TAI CHI Jan/Feb issue (http://firefox.org/news/articles/3655/1/Chan-Koon-Tai-Chen-Kuan-Tai-is-featured-in-KUNG-FU-TAI-CHI-JanFeb-issue/Page1.html)
By David Knight
Published Today

Includes three exclusive photos from RZA’s Man with the Iron Fist

The current issue of Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine contains not one, but three articles likely to be of interest to fans of martial arts films. All three articles are by Gene Ching. The cover featured article is about Chan Koon Tai (Challenge Of The Masters, Executioners From Shaolin, Iron Monkey, Crippled Avengers, Killer Constable), another is about ‘old school’ kung fu in an era of MMA and features Chow Keung, and his third article is about Jackie Chan’s ‘one hundredth’ film, 1911.

Any fan of Chan Koon Tai would do well to read Ching’s feature on him. The occasion of the article is Chan Koon Tai’s recent appearance in the film Gallants. We are given a brief background on the veteran of Shaw Brothers and Chang Cheh films, as a firefighter, full-contact champion, and eventual film star.

In addition to his thoughts on Gallants, we also learn about his working with The RZA on his feature film, The Man With The Iron Fist. Three pictures from the production are included, with one showing The RZA giving direction to Chan Koon Tai.

Ching’s article on ‘old school’ kung fu begins by discussing the relevance of traditional martial arts in this current climate of world wide MMA popularity then talks about the Chinese Traditional Kung Fu Association and the leading forces behind the organization, Chan Koon Tai, Anthony Wong, and Chow Keung. Chow Keung is the lesser known of the three. His article goes a long way to making a case for Chow Keung deserving more acknowledgment.

It is suggested that there is a ‘traditional’ precedent for Mixed Martial Arts, and that Chow Keung was part of such as a natural course of his life and learning. He practiced karate, judo, and Monkey style. He only briefly touches on a 1976 win against a Muay Thai fighter which could have made for a standalone article itself.

What was especially interesting about Chow Keung from a film fan’s perspective is that he was a billboard artist for film releases in Hong Kong.
There are pictures included of the finished product, and of some in progress, even a Jackie Chan one. We also see his billboard paintings for Lethal Weapon and Masters Of The Universe. This is one of those things that may often be overlooked when it comes to film promotion back then.

Ching uses the most recent film from Jackie Chan "1911" and John Woo’s Red Cliff to discuss the challenges of and differences faced by Chinese cinema when some films have simultaneous release dates, while others experience some delays before opening in other markets, while some often await distribution deals after their native theatrical run. He also discusses the cultural gap which may occur when foreign audiences are faced with a sort of cultural short-hand a native audience would have the background to pick up on.

The rest of the magazine is given over to the regular features, and to articles dealing with martial arts in practice. In the article Jeet Kune Do’s Battle Of The Attacks, David Cheng looks at and compares the strengths of JKD’s Progressive Indirect Attack versus JKD’s Hand Immobilization Attack in the system developed by Bruce Lee.

The Little Details Of Wushu by Greg Lynch Jr. examines very closely the difference between first place and second in routines. From a spectator’s standpoint there are judgments which look subjective that really aren’t. This article is full of detailed photos so is highly informative and explains how judges may arrive at their decisions.

Equally detailed visually with many representative photos (by Amada Alcantara) is Robert Dreeben’s article, Shuai Chiao’s Hand Controlling. He gives a run down on the style’s history, traditions and practice. It is easy to see why some would make the claim the art may have been an origin point for what would be called jujitsu and sumo.

With these articles and the rest there is enough in this issue that may warrant a purchase even from one who is just a fan of the films. An understanding of these things can better inform one’s viewing of martial arts on screen and broaden one’s appreciation.

[enoajnin]

They mentioned my name in the article, too. Time to swell my head a little.

[kristcaldwell]

really enjoyed the chow keung article.

keep em coming!

[GeneChing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4XQNKTWRo

Master Jing Li, head of the Wushu Action Star Academy shows some staff techniques, exclusive to Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine. This video was originally an exclusive extra for subscribers of Kung Fu Tai Chi's digital edition on ZINIO in conjunction with the article The Little Details of Wushu by Greg Lynch Jr. in our January+February 2012 issue.