The Hidden History of the Chinese Internal Martial Arts: Exploring the Mysterious Connections Between Long Fist Boxing and the Origins and Roots of Bagua

Publisher Marketing: Today, the martial arts of Bagua Zhang, Taiji Quan, and Xing/Xin Yi Quan are the best known of the Neijia arts and are often practiced together. The origins of these so-called "Big Three Internal Martial Arts" are both mysterious and controversial. These convoluted origins are often interconnected and interrelated and span through many other Chinese martial arts. Often times some aspects of one style's boxing routines served as a root to the development of another style, though their relationship may have become long forgotten today. During the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912), many famous Chinese martial artists arose who practiced not only all three arts of Bagua, Taiji, and Xingyi, but also some form of Long Fist Boxing as well, such as Shaolin Quan and Tongbei Quan. It is important to understand the roots of one's style, so that one can see how the movements developed over time and perhaps learn why there are done the way they are now done. It is an interesting, long winding road exploring who taught what to whom, when and why. This book was developed from over 30 years of research and it is a book about what my opinion is that the research reveals. Hopefully it will lead others to do more research and many new books will arise tracing the historical and stylistic and often mysterious evolution of the Chinese Martial Arts. It is very surprising to find out how the different styles are connected to each other in many different ways. Contributor Bio:  Canzonieri, Sal Sal Canzonieri is better known as the founder and guitarist in the High Energy Punk Rock and Roll band, Electric Frankenstein. He is the author of "Electric Frankenstein: High Energy Rock Art," being the first band to have an art book devoted to all their record covers and concert posters (first published by Dark Horse Books), featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ! Sal is the curator of the famed "A Fistful of Rock & Roll" compilations vinyl and CD series of 13 volumes of the best new punk rock n roll bands in the world. Sal also curates art gallery shows in NYC and NJ. Salvatore (Sal) Canzonieri has a BA degree in Behavioral Science, with a Concentration on 'Subcultures and Societal Change' from Drew University in Madison, NJ. Mr. Canzonieri has been practicing traditional Chinese martial arts since 1975 in such styles as Shuai Jiao, Tong Bei, Shaolin, Taizu Chang Quan, Yue Jia Quan, Xing Yi, Tai Ji Quan, Ba Gua Zhang, and others. He began learning and practicing Qigong / Neigong since 1980. He has been a certified instructor since 1998 by the International Congress of Oriental Medicine and Martial Arts to represent the state of New Jersey in Chinese Qigong and Internal Martial Arts. From the mid 1980s, he studied Kabbalism, both Jewish and Christian, for many years at various schools in the New York / New Jersey area. He also studied Christian Mysticism and related philosophies for many years as well. He has been conducting research in the history of traditional Chinese martial arts styles for over 20 years and is most known for his history based articles in various martial arts magazines, such as "Kung Fu Qi Gung" magazine, "Han Wei" magazine, and other publications all over the world (translated in Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Chinese languages). He also taught for over 20 years Qigong / Neigong and Martial Art classes for the Diversity Program and the Employee Health Program, at Bell Laboratories - Lucent Technologies, on Taoist and Shaolin methods of Qi Gong, Self Defense, and empty hand sets. Mr. Canzonieri won a Theodore Vail Award (for saving person's life using his Neigong knowledge). Currently, Mr. Canzonieri is the chief instructor of The Whippany Kung Fu Club and the Natural Chinese Martial Arts & Qigong School of NJ (over 20 years), and resides in New Jersey, USA. Mr. Canzonieri taught Shaolin Neigong and Self Defense seminars in Valencia Spain in 2008 and 2009; and many private classes and seminars in Canada, and in the USA.