Sifu Adam Hsu on Learning Kung Fu
Adam Hsu on learning Kung Fu: “I am glad my instructors taught me in the traditional way.
Continue reading →Category Archives: Training
Longfist Kung Fu, and the Academy: Talking with Ted Mancuso and Nick Hancock
Sifu Ted and Sifu Nick sat down a little while back to discuss the nature of Longfist Kung Fu, and how we teach and approach this treasure at the Academy. Click the image below to watch the discussion.
Continue reading →Longfist Kung Fu at the Academy: Talking with Ted Mancuso and Nick Hancock
Here is a nice sit-down between Sifu Ted Mancuso, director of the Academy, and Sifu Nick Hancock, one of our senior instructors. There is also lots of information for people considering studying at the Academy about how we approach teaching. Enjoy! (If you want to see the individual chapter breakdown, watch on our youtube channel)
Continue reading →Deep Practices
Learning Kung Fu can be a unique experience or, if you are not paying attention, it can be just another subject with the same tired educational template thrown over it. By a “unique experience” I do not mean the kind advertised on vacation posters. I mean an experience that shoots through your veins and hovers over your skin. I mean unique, not in the sense of “really good,” but “one of a kind.” I mean deep. Kung Fu is not the only tree that bears this luscious fruit. But I believe that to satisfy the idea of ‘deep,’ a practice, … Continue reading →
Short Form Tai Chi for Beginning Students Starts August 10, 2026
New Series Begins August 10, 2026 New to Tai Chi? Get started, deepen your skills, or join and try it out! This 3-month series introduces the beautiful art of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan). We will begin with the proper structure and biomechanics that give this ancient martial art its well-deserved reputation as a health and longevity practice. We will teach you a Yang-style short set that Sifu Ted Mancuso specifically designed to follow authentic and traditional principles. It is also learnable within three months. The class is oriented to beginners, but more experienced students who want to refresh their skills … Continue reading →
Bridging: Engagement in Traditional Kung Fu
Comes a moment in every martial student’s practice when their focus shifts from attaining perfect posture to one effecting meaningful transitions. Or, better to say: There SHOULD be a moment in each martial student’s practice when their intent moves from picture-perfect postures to efficiently applied transitions. Don’t get me wrong: the pre-structure of postures — from the correct weighting of the stance to the lowering of those shoulders around the ears to the intentional bend of the elbow and wrist — are all important. But I have seen teachers who put way too much emphasis on attaining these perfect mannequins … Continue reading →
Qigong: 10 Points for Body Control
A very long while back, we published a 30 minute video on 10 points for controlling the body in Qigong. Over the years, this was one of our most popular DVDs — it is simple, accessible, and provides solid information for any martial artist wanting to understand basic Qigong structure. The information is ageless, but videographic technology is not so compliant —thankfully, our skills and equipment have improved over time — so when it came time to reproduce a new batch of DVDs, we decided instead to offer this vintage video for free. Yeah, there is a blue tint to … Continue reading →
A Very Short Lesson on Bagua Zhang’s Reeling Silk
Kung Fu Has No Corners
Bagua and the Pandemic Pivot
The unprecedented changes triggered by the pandemic are ongoing. Like every school all around the world, the Academy of Martial and Internal Arts is adjusting to the changes. We struggle onward despite these challenges, but there are surely more ahead. Many cling to a hope for the ‘return to normal’ but that’s backwards thinking in so many ways. Change is normal and we’re undergoing global change right now. Others talk about ‘the pivot’. Here at the Academy, it has me thinking about the Bagua. Perhaps it’s because Sifu Ted has been working on a Bagua book, one that I’m sure … Continue reading →
Longfist Kung Fu Fundamentals: 12 Wk Class Starts Sept 28
Wow, it has been a loooong time since we have been able to add a class to our schedule and welcome new students to our school. So, we are excited to introduce our newest 12 week series, Longfist Kung Fu Fundamentals, taught by Nick Hancock. Nick is a professionally trained teacher in both Chinese medicine and traditional martial arts, bringing his particular expertise and talents to training movement as well as principles and theory. The fundamentals of Longfist Kung Fu establish the basics of Northern Chinese martial arts. This series of classes will not only introduce you to moves, health … Continue reading →
Tai Chi Training Secrets: How Do You Practice Martially, When You Are By Yourself?
A recent letter from one of our favorite correspondents, Gary Shapiro, put the question: “We spoke about how practicing taiji with the martial aspects in mind enhances it’s health effects. So— how does that work? Can one practice “martially” solo? (and how?).” In our newest video, Sifu Ted answers this and offers some training tips for integrating martial aspects into Tai Chi practice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmfSN6ywSqU?rel=0
Continue reading →Chang Gong
Whether you are the ancient hermit of the Dark Forest or a week-in week-out practitioner, martial training always rewards perseverance with increased skills you have gathered and accumulated like rain. Skills like these come mostly from just hanging in there and that’s the reason they stay in the shadows, unnoticed. The results of CHANG GONG, or “Long Practice,” signify skills that comes as messages through time. Its ceaseless evolution allows practitioners to keep track of their progress, even if just stockpiling. But maybe there is a better way to say this: Chang Gong is NOT a method you seek, but … Continue reading →
Stretching For the Art
You’ve finished your workout and the idea comes to you: why not stretch a little? It can only help, right? But immediately your brain floods with questions: How important is it to stretch? If I have just worked out, is stretching necessary? Which is the best for me and, even more importantly, which should I avoid? And, as a martial artist, which stretches best fit my style? Any stretching related to Chinese martial practice could be associated with more than 300 different martial branches, consequently presenting a tremendous range of stretching and pliability options, along with related foundational interpretations. Add … Continue reading →
Adam Hsu on Chen Style Taijiquan
It is no secret that we at Plum greatly admire Adam Hsu (Hsu Ji) and his teachings. We have published some of his books and DVDs, excerpted and reprinted articles, and referenced his many principles and theories. He is also our teacher. Although many have read his works and seen his videos, it’s not exactly the same as being able to take a class with Master Hsu. So it is with happiness that we are able to share this (free) excellent video of him giving a short lesson at his regular location in Taiwan, on Chen Tai Chi Chuan applications … Continue reading →