Tens of thousands of years ago, the eastern part of the northern hemisphere was a wide expanse of land which was populated by a group of people. They learnt to gather wood and make fires. They started to hunt, fish and farm.They invented written text. They created culture. They established a nation.

This book unravels the mystery behind Chinese martial arts, or wushu, an exotic branch of traditional Chinese culture. It traces how the rough and ready brawls of Chinese cavemen matured into the polished gongfu of Shaolin and Wudang warriors.But the art ofgongfu is more than just martial abilities - it is also about a philosophy and chivalry code. This volume sheds light on the legend of Bruce Lee, the Yue Maiden Sword and tells you more:

Do the Acupoint Tapping, Light Skins (qinggong), and "straying down demonic paths" that we see in period drama really exist?

What are the various boxing and weapon arts, and the various schools and styles?

Are E'mei Sect, Huashan Sect, Kunlun Sect, Kongtong Sect and Natural Sect documented in Chinese history?

This is an easy and entertaining read, and a must-buy for budding martial-art fans.Be dazzled by the power and grace of Chinese martial arts, which stands tall in a class of its own!

Origins of Chinese Martial Arts

Schools of Martial Arts

The Boxing Arts

The Weapon Arts

The Ethics of Chinese Martial Arts

Appendices: Basic Exercises