Recommended Readings

The Art Of War- Sun Tzu.

“All of life is conflict. In order to lead, you must fully analyse & understand this.”
This is the seminal text for martial artists, also used by businessmen to prepare their campaigns. What is true for two armies of ten thousand is true for two single combatants. This is ancient Chinese martial strategy at your fingertips.

A Book Of Five Rings- Myamoto Musashi.

“In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting & in every day life you should be determined yet calm.”
Martial strategies from a Japanese point of view. This is another must read text. Written by possibly the best swordsman that ever lived. Musashi had over sixty duels. He never lost, despite fighting most of them with a wooden, rather than a real sword. This man really knew his stuff.

The Bubishi- Translated By Patrick McCarthy.

“Fang Qiniang said the principles of White Crane are based on: correct breathing; correct moral precepts & continual inner-discovery.”
They call this book the bible of Karate. It is an ancient text of martial technique that shows White Crane is the mother style to Karate & therefore, many of the modern styles prevalent today.
This book is vital for the practitioner to understand the historical importance of our style.

Tao Te Ching- Lao Tzu.

“The Tao that can be expressed, is not the true Tao.”
Taoism is one Chinese philosophy that has had a profound effect on the Chinese Martial Arts. White Crane is the Scholars art. Add depth to your art by understanding the deeper mysteries of Chinese philosophical thought.

There Are No Secrets- Wolfe Lowenthal

“For years I puzzled over this “pushless push.”… I tried to push with my arms soft & loose- but how do you push with limp spaghetti?”You’re supposed to push me,” my partner would complain, while I would stand there with my two strands of limp spaghetti, my forehead bathed in sweat, hoping that through some divine intervention the internal energy would emerge from my hands like laser beams.”
An anecdotal account of the famous Tai Chi master Cheng-Man Ch’ing.
Some very interesting stories, particularly the sections dealing with the authors’ inability to understand pushing/sticking hands. A frustration shared by us all!

The Power Of The Internal Arts- B.K. Fratzis.

“When I started studying (the soft arts) several students, from fifteen to seventy years of age, beat the stuffing out of me. For a proud nineteen year old Karate champion to have a hard time in a fight with an old woman was a bitter pill to swallow…I remember distinctly thinking, what are they going to do next? Bring out a small child to beat me up?
Many people do not believe the soft styles make effective combat arts.
Read this large & comprehensive book & you will believe.

Chinese Boxing-Masters & Methods- Robert W. Smith.

“To advance three steps symbolized the intention to overthrow the Manchus. To retreat three steps connoted revenge.”
Intriguing accounts of many genuine Chinese masters, including White Crane masters.