The Best Books for learning Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the oldest forms of martial arts on the planet and dates back to ancient China, where monks would practice martial arts alongside their religion. Since then, it has grown into being one of the most mainstream martial arts with a large following due to its mystical portrayal in movies in the west.

Sadly, there has been a lot of confusion surrounding Shaolin Kung Fu over the years and what it actually means. The good news is that these books are all legitimate and will teach you exactly what Shaolin Kung Fu is, as well as how to train and practice it. In other words, if you want to learn more about this discipline, whether that’s the culture or genuine, physical techniques – then these books are a great place to begin. They have been picked on the following criteria:

• Cost (affordability)
• Detail
• Diagrams (photos and visual aids)
• Length

The Dynamic Power of Southern Shaolin Kung Fu by Ronald Wheeler

Simply put, this is a really good book and is especially useful for beginners. Ronald Wheeler actually won a few Championships in Kung Fu, so you know he’s going to be legit and knowledgeable when it comes to the art as well. What’s nice about this book is that it’s also supplemented with over 800 photographs.

These show you how to pull off moves that Wheeler used to win his medals. Not only this but these diagrams are also accompanied by step-by-step breakdowns on how to perform each move. As said, this is great for beginners who are looking to understand what Shaolin Kung Fu is really about.

The Complete Book of Shaolin by Wong Kiew Kit

This is a comprehensive guide and as the title suggests, it really is a complete book on Shaolin Kung Fu. Here, Wong Kiew Kit begins by breaking down the historical origins of Shaolin Kung Fu, before going on to list various, fundamental techniques. He then goes into Shaolin’s weapons, myths, and legends and ends the book with a section on the spiritual side of the martial art.

If you want a book that covers everything regarding Shaolin that is based on the culture and the techniques and moves, then this is a very good place to start.

Authentic Shaolin Heritage by Jin Jing Zhong

Originally written in 1934, this book was used to describe the 72 martial arts under the Shaolin banner. In other words, this book has a lot going on and is interesting in its depiction of all 72 martial arts. As you may have guessed, this book was also translated from Chinese, but don’t worry the translation work has been done very well. The good news about this is that it’s also close to the original source which is ideal for Shaolin purists.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this book is how certain disciplines also advertise how they can teach people supernatural abilities through martial arts. Although widely dismissed these days, it’s still pretty cool to read about and the lore is undeniably fascinating from a spectator’s perspective.

The Shaolin Workout by Shi Yan Ming

If you know a little about Shaolin culture, then you may have heard about its grueling workouts. Basically, if you partake in Shaolin workouts then you will quickly transform your body and become both mentally and physically stronger. This is what this book sets out to do and it does it well.

It’s also accountable for its actions too, promising to see results within 28 days of starting which is promising. You’ve been warned though, these workouts are not for the week and should be taken seriously. Unlike most western workouts too, they’re also very hard on practically all body parts and muscles, including ones you didn’t even know existed!

The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu by Wong Kiew Kit

Author Wong Kiew Kit returns and this book is actually pretty similar to his other book, The Complete Book of Shaolin. Having said this, it is a bit shorter in length, which is also reflected in the price. Like his other book, this has a variety of takes on Kung Fu, including moves and techniques, fighting strategies, various forms of Kung Fu, enlightenment, and Kung Fu animal combinations. As ever, Wong Kiew Kit provides a nice overview of what is involved in Kung Fu which is great if you’re looking to learn more about the art.

Shaolin Kung Fu by Donn Draeger

If you’re after a Kung Fu techniques book, then this is your best bet and wastes no time in getting down to business. A good thing about this book is that it’s also big on the fundamentals. Whilst it’s nice and fun to think about the mystical Kung Fu moves which may sound flashy, the reality is that the basics are always your best bet when getting into a fight. This is where Donn Draeger excels and it’s really ideal for those that want to focus on skill acquisition and getting better. Simply put, if you want to learn Shaolin without any gimmicks, then this is a sound piece of literature.

The Power of Shaolin Kung Fu by Ronald Wheeler

What’s great about this book is that it’s also accompanied by a DVD which also shows the moves done on video. Specifically, author Wheeler focuses on the Jow Ga system which is a subset of Shaolin Kung Fu. Therefore, this book is actually quite specific and is mostly tailored towards Jow Ga rather than any other form of Kung Fu. This is great though if you’d prefer to specialize in one form of Kung Fu, but is obviously not as good if you’d like to focus on more broad Kung Fu skills.

Shaolin Lohan Kung-Fu by P’ng Chye Khim

Written back in 1991, this is a book that has withstood the test of time. Here, Chye Khim looks at the history of Shaolin martial arts before focusing more specifically on technique. Combined with over 400 photos (in black and white), as well as clear and precise language, it’s a good book for all that want to both learn more about Kung Fu from a cultural perspective, as well as learn Kung Fu on a physical level too.

It’s also great that this book has a section devoted to training solo and with others. Because of this, it’s an ideal book if you’re looking to learn Kung Fu alone or at home which makes it very convinient.

A History of Shaolin by Lu Zhouxiang

It should be noted that this book is based on the history of Shaolin Kung Fu and its relationship with Buddhism, rather than learning much about the actual techniques. Of course, there is some overspill into the actual techniques that are used. However, this book is better suited for someone that wants to learn about the culture and origins of the art rather than learning specific techniques.

Interestingly, this book also traces the link of Shaolin Kung Fu to the national identity of the Chinese nation. If you want to understand one of the oldest martial arts on earth and its relationship with society, then this is a very good resource.

The Shaolin Butterfly by Al Case

This book begins by looking at Fut Ga Kung Fu – which many consider as the original, and purist form of Kung Fu. Basically, the role of the author Al Case is to simplify learning and put things in specific order, or as he puts it ‘Matrixing’ which is designed to make things easier to understand.

The result is that it’s pretty easy to follow and you can learn techniques with your mind at ease that it’s not clogged with too many explanations or unusual terminology. With this in mind, The Shaolin Butterfly is a great book for beginners as it won’t put you off with too much jargon and is broken down into easily understandable techniques.