The Power of Shaolin Kung Fu: Harness the Speed and Devastating Force of Southern Shaolin Jow Ga Kung Fu [DVD Included] Paperback – January 10, 2012

Ron Wheeler has crafted a fantastic primer on the theory and practice of Jow Ga Kung Fu. I also have seen Ron at work first-hand, including his hard sparring, boxing, and forms at a now-defunct gym.First, the quality of the book stands out: It is beautifully printed, well-edited, and expertly photographed in full color on quality paper. Its immediate visual appear and instructional DVD set it apart. My book collection contains dozens of martial arts, wrestling, boxing and like works. Many suffer from poorly lit, black-and-white photographs that lack proper perspective and lighting. For those who venture into Anywhere Chinatown bookstores to examine the kung fu wares, there are none of the last-minute-added-photos with different people in different outfits. What Ron does in each frame is clearly captured. As someone who had studied Jow Ga style, I was able to correct long-time mistakes.The content provides the baseline movements, strikes, and fighting-theory-in-a-form (Small Tiger). Keep in mind that Jow Ga is a relatively new art by kung fu standards (~100 years), with a traceable lineage that doesn't descend (too much) into mythology. It continued to evolve under Dean Chin, who brought the art from Hong Kong to the United States.In short, Jow Ga also runs by the moniker Hung Tao Choy Mei -- "head of Hung, tail of Choy." It mixes the fast hand work, kicks and footwork of Choy Li Fut with the powerful strikes of Hung Gar. It integrates select Northern Chinese kung fu high and spin kicks, typically set up and always followed by hand strikes. Jow Ga/HTCM features some nasty close-in grabs, strikes, breaks, and elbow strikes culled from Pak Mei (White Eyebrow) kung fu. In sum, Wheeler's book illuminates the nuances of long and short strikes, level changing, powerful kicks, and "exotic" movements set up by feints and direction changes. In my view, the art is neither linear nor circular, and the forms belie an asynchronous nature. That is, movement prevents you from being caught in a pattern. It benefits from emphasis on ambidextrous striking, for those special times when you won't have the opportunity to square off.The author also has credibility as a tournament-winning practitioner and longtime instructor. His credentials are tested. Wheeler has a competition background, which includes hard-contact sparring tournaments. This is a clear discriminator. Of late, many kung fu styles have lapsed into lineage disputes, internal civil wars over who teaches "True Style(TM)," all increasing acrimony among different kung fu organizations (YOU can't come to MY tournament). The result: Internal feuds, and a trapped-in-time approach to teaching that too often emphasizes forms along contributes to a glib perspective on kung fu's relevance. On one side, the competitive fighting sports environment favors Muay Thai, BJJ, and wrestling. On another: Reality-Based Self-Defense (RBSD) schools that frequently cite kung fu styles as examples of "dance arts that will get you killed in a street fight." Wheeler alludes to some of these dysfunctions. Ultimately, his book posits the most important litmus test for techniques: Do they work? Wheeler emphasizes the impact of movement as martial exercise, not as a dance class severed from fighting roots. He encourages hard sparring, and cross-training.In one of the book's interesting asides, Wheeler recommends boxing training for kung fu practitioners, which he learned from a father who fought in Golden Gloves tournaments. I couldn't agree more. Boxing is the "sweet science' because it abides a learning curve and testing regimen of full-contact application. Likewise, Jow Ga schools typically encourage sparring. Like boxing, it encourages the individual participant to learn everything, but adapt what works to size, build and skill. I boxed and participated in Jow Ga simultaneously, and noticed gains from the cross-over.In conclusion, you get an easy-to-follow book, a DVD, and expert instruction from a master in the field who isn't afraid to voice his opinion. More Sifus like Ron could help to revise and adapt Kung Fu and restore its standing within the broader martial arts community.

As a former Hoy K. Lee student in Hampton Roads, Virginia, this book is detailed and is a great start in the family system Jow Ga Kung Fu.1.The book is written well and has your typical layout of a martial arts book: history, exercise & warm-up, hand techniques, etc.2.The book breaks down hand strikes/blocks and footwork for this system.3.The form "Small Controlling Tiger Fist" is broken down step-by-step.4.Additional information includes a brief explanation on external/internal principles of martial arts and a chapter that shows what weapons are in Jow Ga.5.Every chapter has large and clear pictures that are accompanied with a text to help explain further the technique.**The DVD demonstrates the form Small Controlling Tiger Fist (or Subduing Small Tiger) at normal speed and then slowed down to offer closer detail. The book breaks down the sections to the form and the DVD helps putting it all together. **I only studied Jow Ga Kung-Fu for 2.5 years but everything I learned is in this book plus more! Mr. Wheeler explains that there exist variations of the "Heart of Jow Ga" for Small Controlling Small Tiger Fist. The version I learned has about 3-4 minor differences but is the same series of sequences. This form is applicable and great for building strength and flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. The book is a good starting point in learning Chinese martial arts and if have the opportunity to study Jow Ga Kung-Fu in the US. The footwork, hand striking and application can be used to broaden any practitioners' skills in the martial arts.Mr. Wheeler gives an important message at the concluding chapters of his book. He provides a humble and modest message that reflects what martial arts truly represents. Mr. Wheeler has provided the martial arts community/library with a valuable piece of knowledge to a not well-known kung-fu system. Jow Ga is not a widely known kung-fu system but is highly effective in its entirety. Hands down a great book!

This book is very detailed in history and techniques in the key beginner form of Jow ga, Siu Fook Fu. Though it is different than the version I learned, it still has a lot of key concepts. Sifu Ron Wheeler also has made dvds based on Jow ga forms, I personally wish he would have made a few more of them. The dvd included is not as detailed as his old dvd but still grabs the key elements of the original. All in all, I recommend this book for any person wishing to pursue Jow Ga or active practitioner.