Written by the author: This guide is written by Sifu Kendra Mahon (Kung Fu Kendra), who wrote this book. It describes what the book covers and who it suits. It is not an independent review.
At a glance
- Series: The Way of Wing Chun, Book 6
- Length: About 48 pages
- Formats: Kindle and paperback
- Best for: Students approaching the third form, practitioners of any lineage, and readers working through a setback
- Not for: Anyone hoping to learn Biu Jee techniques from a book
What the book covers
Nineteen chapters in five parts. The first part places Biu Jee as the last empty-hand form, explains the name (usually translated as thrusting or darting fingers) and looks at the traditional saying that the form does not go out the door. The second covers losing the center, recovery, panic, fear and courage, and close-range work. The third deals with dangerous knowledge: proportion, restraint and the form as a last resort. The fourth explains why Biu Jee seems to bend the rules of the first two forms, and why it asks the practitioner to let go of perfection in a crisis. The last part carries recovery into daily life and closes the empty-hand system. A glossary is included.
Who it suits
- Students approaching Biu Jee who want to understand what the form is for before they learn it.
- Experienced practitioners of any lineage looking for words for the ethics of dangerous technique.
- Martial artists of other styles interested in how one system trains for things going wrong.
- Readers who have never trained and are dealing with a crisis, a loss or a long recovery.
How to read it alongside training
The book does not teach the form, and its author says plainly that Biu Jee should be learned in person from a qualified teacher. Use it for context instead. Read the chapters on recovery and panic before chi sau sessions in which a partner pushes you off the line, and notice whether your first instinct is to restore your structure or to strike back. The chapter on calm pairs well with slow Siu Lim Tao practice. The chapters on power and restraint are worth rereading whenever training intensity goes up. Take any questions about technique to your teacher.
A short excerpt
“Being knocked down is part of life, for everyone. What matters is what we do next.”
Where to get it
The Philosophy of Biu Jee: Crisis, Recovery, and the Weight of Dangerous Knowledge is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback: Kindle and paperback. Find it on Goodreads under Kung Fu Kendra and Kendra Mahon, or read what students say on the Kung Fu Kendra reviews page. For other Wing Chun books, see our guide to Wing Chun books.
About the author
Sifu Kendra Mahon, known as Kung Fu Kendra, has trained since 2005 and holds Master level (purple sash). She teaches Traditional Wing Chun as it was passed down to her by Master Brian Lewadny, who learned it from Grandmaster William Cheung. She is the author of 13 books and counting, including the ten-book The Way of Wing Chun series.
Frequently asked questions
Will The Philosophy of Biu Jee teach me the Biu Jee form?
No. It explains the philosophy of the form: crisis, recovery, restraint and the responsibility that comes with dangerous knowledge. Biu Jee contains genuinely dangerous techniques and should be learned in person from a qualified teacher.
Do I need to know Biu Jee to read it?
No. It is written for Wing Chun students at any stage, martial artists of other styles and readers who have never trained.
Who wrote The Philosophy of Biu Jee?
Sifu Kendra Mahon, known as Kung Fu Kendra. She has trained since 2005, holds Master level (purple sash), and teaches Traditional Wing Chun as it was passed down to her by Master Brian Lewadny, who learned it from Grandmaster William Cheung.
Where can I buy The Philosophy of Biu Jee?
On Amazon in Kindle and paperback. It is Book 6 of The Way of Wing Chun, and the books can be read in any order.