Cover Story:
Ch'an Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts
Shaolin Monk Shi Guolin Unveils Shaolin's True Essence

Features:
Chinese Whips
Strking the Balance between Hard and Soft

Mei Jung Chuan
Any avid martial arts practitioner knows that when searching for a style, finding a qualified teacher is of paramount importance. A student must look for lineage, heritage and the teaching of "pure blood" systems. These components have kept the martial arts-and specifically Chinese kung fu-alive for 2000 years. To comprehend its vast concepts and philosophies requires the lifelong dedication of both monk and master

Though Tai Chi
The popular concept of the Chinese art tai chi (also spelled "taiji") is that it is a relaxing form of mild exercise designed to promote health. This impression is nurtured by photos from China of masses of people going through slow, soft, graceful movements in the early morning hours. Consequently, tai chi is particularly appealing to older people or those who are frightened by the seemingly violent nature of many forms of Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean martial arts

Does Everyone Need a Teacher?
There is no government regulation of the martial arts. Anyone has the legal right to create a martial arts style and award himself any rank. Those concerned with the arts' integrity and reputation chide this idea, of course; yet creating a style is not only possible, but could be a benefit in many respects

Special Section: Women in Wushu
The Matriarchy of Wushu
Wushu: a word that can be literally translated as "war arts." However, despite this testosterone-laced definition, many skilled women have made permanent marks for themselves in the world of "war arts." Four of those women form something of a "matriarchy of wushu," and were gracious enough to speak about their personal trials and tribulations, beginnings and achievements, and plans for their futures, both personally and in wushu

Less Sugar; More Spice
Quick: What first comes to mind when you think of a baby girl? If you're like most Americans, it's probably something fluffy and cute, like a white teddy bear sporting a candy-pink bow, or a pale pink tutu with matching satin slippers. But as the technology age marches on, girls are breaking out of the pink shell, playing alongside the boys on coed sports teams, and generally putting old-fashioned notions to rest. Ballet still ranks as a popular activity for young girls (though it tends to get discarded along with Barbies in the pre-teen years), but some girls are trading in the leotards for kung fu uniforms

Seven Rising Stars-Wushu's Ones to Watch!
At this year's WKF Team Trials in Atlanta July 12, the wushu community saw the maturing talent of some of its new stars, and the solidification of an all-new female team bound for Rome's World Wushu Championships this November. Between the relative obscurity of wushu in the '80s, and the popularity bound to follow should wushu fulfill its dream of becoming an Olympic sport, here are a few of the new stars to watch for

Qigong:
Qigong in China:
An interview with Li Jie, China's highest-ranking government official of qigong and martial arts

Medical Qigong:
Voices of the Healed and Healing

White Tiger Tonic for Blood and Chi

The Tao of Health
For many people, pressure from life's daily demands produces anxiety, frustration, and a generally unhappy disposition. Kungfu magazine has looked through the plethora of ancient and modern qigong exercises, and selected some simple and efficient types of qigong and methods of self-massage to help you overcome tension, lethargy, and other common problems

Tiger's Tale
Tiger's Tale Talk

Click here for Feature Articles from this issue and others published in 1997 .

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Written by for KUNGFUMAGAZINE.COM

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