If you want to practise martial art which is simple, not complicated, involves chi training and safe, than Hsing i is a good
choice. Hsing i Chuan is one of the chinese internal boxing beside T''ai Chi Chuan and Pa Kua Chang. Unlike most martial arts, Hsing i doesn''t depend on only muscular strength, but secret behind its power lies in the cultivation and practical energy -- chi. It''s techniques are not very hard to understand. Hsing i chuan includes five fist techniques and twelve animal
styles. They can generated various derivative techniques that can be used in every situation. Hsing i
attack like arrow, because whole body move to attack the target, not only hand and upper body. It gives bigger momentum for the attack, and enemy will loose his chance to do a long range attack such as kicking. This book describes the basic techniques, five fists and twelve animal styles from the orthodox style of the late Chinese Hsing-i master Chen P''an Ling in great detail and fully illustrated. Despite of that, if we want to understand the movement, (in my opinion) we still have to watch the real movement from Hsing-i student or from the videos. If we do that than we can understand well instructions from this book. I have read the book and practising it five fist. The movements are good for my hip and doesn''t take much time to do it. So I think this book is good.