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 8
- Length: About 46 pages
- Formats: Kindle and paperback
- Best for: Pole students of any lineage, senior students, and readers thinking about reach and foundations
- Not for: Anyone looking for pole drills or a step-by-step form guide
What the book covers
Twenty chapters in five parts. The first asks why a close-range art includes a long weapon, recounts the Red Boat Opera origin story (and what can and cannot be known about it), explains the name, and explains why the pole comes late in the curriculum. The second covers extension: the pole as part of the body, the chain of force from root to tip, and the weight of the weapon. The third covers rootedness: low stances, stillness at the base and speed at the tip, wrist control, and grip. The fourth looks at the points, pole-against-pole training, the half point and economy of motion. The last part carries the pole’s lessons into life, including distance and boundaries, and Ip Man’s unfinished 1972 recording. A glossary is included.
Who it suits
- Students learning the pole who want the principles behind its stances, grip and short actions.
- Practitioners not yet at the pole curious about how the empty-hand principles carry over to a long weapon.
- Teachers and senior students interested in leverage, transmission and correcting at the base.
- Readers who have never trained and are thinking about ambition, foundations and unfinished work.
How to read it alongside training
If you already train the pole, read the chapters on the low stance and the grip before a session and pay attention to where your power leaks between root and tip; the grip chapter connects directly to the relax, release, relax pattern of the empty-hand forms. If you have not reached the pole yet, Parts Two and Three still apply to your stance and structure. The book does not teach the form, and it is clear that pole work should be learned in person, building up gradually. Follow your teacher’s account of the points.
A short excerpt
“Choose a few things that matter. Learn them deeply. Let that depth be your strength.”
Where to get it
The Philosophy of the Luk Dim Boon Kwan: Extension, Rootedness, and the Unfinished Half Point 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
Is the Luk Dim Boon Kwan the same as the Dragon Pole?
In the Traditional Wing Chun system Sifu Kendra teaches, the long pole is often referred to as the Dragon Pole. The book uses the more widely known Cantonese name, Luk Dim Boon Kwan, the six-and-a-half point pole.
Does The Philosophy of the Luk Dim Boon Kwan teach the pole form?
No. It describes the pole in general terms and explores what it teaches about extension, rootedness and the half point. The form should be learned from a qualified teacher, as careless training with a heavy pole can cause injury.
Who wrote The Philosophy of the Luk Dim Boon Kwan?
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 the Luk Dim Boon Kwan?
On Amazon in Kindle and paperback. It is Book 8 of The Way of Wing Chun, and the books can be read in any order.