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The Power of Shaolin Kung Fu: Harness the Speed and Devastating Force of Southern Shaolin Jow Ga Kung Fu [DVD Included]
The Power of Shaolin Kung Fu offers readers a comprehensive course in the fundamental movements that have been practiced and perfected by warrior monks for centuries.
It includes instruction in the powerful striking techniques that so often lead to decisive victory in today's mixed martial arts bouts. The book includes 300 color photographs along with detailed textual instructions and training tips. The included DVD clearly demonstrates all of the movements covered in the book.
Shaolin Kung Fu is an indispensable part of every martial artist's repertoire—a vital means to improve your movement, motion, and balance skills and the best way for a mixed martial arts fighter to improve and perfect striking skills.
This informative kung fu book also shares the moral and ethical philosophies that underlie the Jow Ga system. Shaolin Jow Ga Kung Fu is a combination of southern and northern Shaolin techniques—making it by far the most effective in terms of combining blinding speed with devastatingly powerful strikes.
It includes instruction in the powerful striking techniques that so often lead to decisive victory in today's mixed martial arts bouts. The book includes 300 color photographs along with detailed textual instructions and training tips. The included DVD clearly demonstrates all of the movements covered in the book.
Shaolin Kung Fu is an indispensable part of every martial artist's repertoire—a vital means to improve your movement, motion, and balance skills and the best way for a mixed martial arts fighter to improve and perfect striking skills.
This informative kung fu book also shares the moral and ethical philosophies that underlie the Jow Ga system. Shaolin Jow Ga Kung Fu is a combination of southern and northern Shaolin techniques—making it by far the most effective in terms of combining blinding speed with devastatingly powerful strikes.
- GenresMartial Arts
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 21, 2025
As a former student under Sifu Hoy K. Lee in Hampton Roads Virginia, I thought this book was very detailed and is a great start for anyone interested in the Jow Ga family system. The author Sifu Ronald Wheeler presents a traditional and authentic approach to educating learners on Jow Ga Kung Fu and learning a traditional form called "Small Tiger.'
1. The book is written in the typical martial-arts format: history, exercise & war,-up, hand techniques, etc.
2. The book clearly breaks down hand strikes/blocks and footwork for this style.
3. The form "Small Controlling Tiger Fist" is broken down step-by-step.
4. After the form applications from the form is demonstrated.
5. Additional information includes a brief explanation on external/internal principles of martial arts and a chapter that shows the weapons used in Jow Ga Kung Fu.
6. Every chapter has large and clear pictures that are accompanied with a text to help explain further the technique.
I studied Jow Ga Kung Fu from 2000-2003. I was fortunate to learn a lot and I continue to have an appreciation for Chinese kung fu. The form you learn from this book is the second standard form you would learn in class. Traditionally the student learns the first form is Sei Ping Kuen and then Siu Fook Fu Kuen, or in English 'Controlling Small Tiger.' My school called it 'Small Subduing Tiger' but the students simply called it 'Small Tiger.' The final chapter the author gives brief yet resonating words about morals & ethics, sharing wisdom, and unity & togetherness.
In my lifetime I have studied Korean Tae Kwon Do, Yang Style Tai Chi, Jow Ga Kung Fu, Hung Gar Kung Fu, and Shaolin Kung Fu. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese kung fu. Thanks!
1. The book is written in the typical martial-arts format: history, exercise & war,-up, hand techniques, etc.
2. The book clearly breaks down hand strikes/blocks and footwork for this style.
3. The form "Small Controlling Tiger Fist" is broken down step-by-step.
4. After the form applications from the form is demonstrated.
5. Additional information includes a brief explanation on external/internal principles of martial arts and a chapter that shows the weapons used in Jow Ga Kung Fu.
6. Every chapter has large and clear pictures that are accompanied with a text to help explain further the technique.
I studied Jow Ga Kung Fu from 2000-2003. I was fortunate to learn a lot and I continue to have an appreciation for Chinese kung fu. The form you learn from this book is the second standard form you would learn in class. Traditionally the student learns the first form is Sei Ping Kuen and then Siu Fook Fu Kuen, or in English 'Controlling Small Tiger.' My school called it 'Small Subduing Tiger' but the students simply called it 'Small Tiger.' The final chapter the author gives brief yet resonating words about morals & ethics, sharing wisdom, and unity & togetherness.
In my lifetime I have studied Korean Tae Kwon Do, Yang Style Tai Chi, Jow Ga Kung Fu, Hung Gar Kung Fu, and Shaolin Kung Fu. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese kung fu. Thanks!
October 9, 2012
Excellent book on the Martial Arts. Mr. Wheeler knows what he is talking about. This is from someone who is a Martial Artist himself as opposed to someone who isn't a martial artist. I do plan on reading this book again soon.
March 8, 2025
Hardly academic, but I liked this book as sort of a memoir of Sifu Ronald, the kung fu master I've never heard of. I liked his overview of his school's history and his clear passion and respect for Chinese martial arts. However, most of this work is just the author demonstrating his practical knowledge of his particular school and not much else. I was hoping this would get a lot more into the history and development of shaolin kung fu overall and talk more in depth about its spiritual ties. That said, Master Ronald knows his stuff. If he opened a school, I'd gladly become a student.
August 12, 2019
This wasn't a very academic text. It was nevertheless nice to see the capacity to which Wheeler's style of the art maintained ideas from shaolin. It is not uncommon for a westerner to watch the martial arts with bewilderment
in response to seeing the somewhat spiritualist and traditional elements that are poorly explained within their historical or cultural context. What makes his practice interesting is that within his school he actually needs to learn the meaning of the Chinese words, concept and ideas . He understands what he is doing and where it exists within Chinese history. To me that is quite interesting as so many systems have translated to the west without a clear cut explanation as to the meaning for and origin of many of the behaviors. This, at times, makes the practitioner look like a witch. :=
I expect Wheeler is a very good practitioner.
There is a lot to learn from this short book even if I do thing it could be a bit more substantial
Recommended for :
Practitioners and historians.
Curious people
in response to seeing the somewhat spiritualist and traditional elements that are poorly explained within their historical or cultural context. What makes his practice interesting is that within his school he actually needs to learn the meaning of the Chinese words, concept and ideas . He understands what he is doing and where it exists within Chinese history. To me that is quite interesting as so many systems have translated to the west without a clear cut explanation as to the meaning for and origin of many of the behaviors. This, at times, makes the practitioner look like a witch. :=
I expect Wheeler is a very good practitioner.
There is a lot to learn from this short book even if I do thing it could be a bit more substantial
Recommended for :
Practitioners and historians.
Curious people
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews