Kung Fu has evolved from a traditional means of defence to become a system of attacking and defending oneself, with or without weapons, exercising the body and maintaining good physical and mental health. As such, these practices have found an international following. Yet what has remained a largely unexplored area is the scientific principles behind these martial arts. This book not only covers the brief history of Chinese martial arts, but also brings together the wisdom of a Kung Fu grand master with a scientist and teacher to explain the scientific reasons why Kung Fu is the powerful practice that it is. Using the principles of physics, biomechanics and biology, with a number of drawings showing some basic postures of Kung Fu, the authors present a deep understanding of how the styles, the specific movements and methods of attack and defence operate.

This book elucidates how sports science theories can be applied to Wing Chun Kung Fu and other combat sports in general. It helps martial art practitioners to understand how their performance can be optimized if they are cognizant about the principles of sports science. For example, sports conditioning, injury management, nutrition, cardiopulmonary physiology, psychology, and sports rehab methods are all crucial in performance optimization. This book is not intended to teach martial arts and self-defense. However, it encourages practitioners to appreciate how science can be incorporated into their training.

Martial Arts and Well-Being explores how martial arts as a source of learning can contribute in important ways to health and well-being, as well as provide other broader social benefits. Using psychological and sociological theory related to behaviour, ritual, perception and reality construction, the book seeks to illustrate, with empirical data, how individuals make sense of and perceive the value of martial arts in their lives. This book draws on data from over 500 people, across all age ranges, and powerfully demonstrates that participating in martial arts can have a profound influence on the construction of behaviour patterns that are directly linked to lifestyle and health. Making individual connections regarding the benefits of practice, improvements to health and well-being – regardless of whether these improvements are ‘true’ in a medical sense – this book offers an important and original window into the importance of beliefs to health and well-being as well as the value of thinking about education as a process of life-long learning. This book will be of great interest to a range of audiences, including researchers, academics and postgraduate students interested in sports and exercise psychology, martial art studies and health and well-being. It should also be of interest to sociologists, social workers and martial arts practitioners. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/doi/view/10.4324/9781315448084, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

As a former high school science teacher, martial artist, and business owner, I became enthralled with taking my program âThe Physics of the Martial Artsâ into the public school system. My goal was simple; build my martial arts business while teaching my love of the sciences. This book not only chronicles that journey, but it was written as a âhow toâ book for those interested in the art of breaking boards, and concrete blocks. This book is for you, if you are a science teacher who wants to spice up the classroom by using breaking demonstrations to explain Newtonâs 3 laws of Motion, a school owner wanting to improve business, and revenue, or a martial artist, regardless of rank or experience level, who wants to improve his punching and kicking abilities.Anyone who may want to learn more about the incredible power associated with the martial arts.

It all started about 1500 years ago and then it stopped around the turn of the 20th century. So much knowledge was lost but it has been recovered. Some masters know the secrets and don't want to share, others share it willingly. But even then, some things need more explanation. This book reaches into science and gives the answers to what was mysticism. Science is being used to explain martial arts, meditation and even how eastern medicine works. It isn't the strange and exotic eastern medicine it once was, it's more mainstream now than ever. If you?re looking for answers, here is a great place to start!

It has been said that a successful martial artist doesn't need size or strength, because "it's all in the technique." It has also been said that the power of a martial artist seems to increase quickly with weight, and the best lightweight fighter in the world will be defeated every time by an unranked heavyweight in a bar brawl. So is it size and physical strength that matters, or is it experience and dedication to correct technique? This book explores the science behind power in the martial arts. Once we understand the principles of physics that apply to balance, body mass in motion, inertia, direction, rotational speed, friction, torque, impulse, and kinetic energy, the need to memorize hundreds of martial arts techniques vanishes. The principles of physics apply to all people at all times regardless of which martial art we study; regardless of whether we are standing, sitting, kneeling, prone, or supine; whether we are big or small, strong or weak. Physics gives us options. Making physics our ally allows us to maximize our power, speed, and endurance and take advantage of whatever position we happen to find ourselves in. This book is supplemented by hundreds of photos, detailed glossaries, summary and review sections, and even quizzes to test yourself on what you've learned and help you gain an edge on an adversary.

Through the lenses of Shotokan Karate and biomedicine, sensei and biomedical scientist Alex W. Tong shows readers how body, mind, and spirit can be developed through martial arts practice. Through the practice of martial arts, a person can realize their full potential--not only in body, but in mind and spirit. The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts shows readers how. Author, sensei, and biomedical scientist Alex W. Tong delves into the physical, mental, and spiritual components of martial arts and integrates contemporary sports psychology, kinesiology, and neuroscience into a nuanced and illuminating understanding of what martial arts practice can be. Structured into three sections, Tong discusses: The Mind: The dao of martial arts, mental tranquility, contemporary neuroscience, and warming up the brain The Body: Posture and stance, breathing in martial arts, and the physics of mastery and effort The Spirit: Soul, spirit, and moving zen; nature and manifestations of the spirit Each section includes observations on martial arts origins, physiology, and tangible results on martial arts training. Blending traditional and contemporary approaches, knowledge, and research, The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts builds a vision of practice that elevates physical performance, awareness, decisiveness, and strength of spirit.