Send an email to Allen @ allenpittman@yahoo.com.
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Hatha Yoga
These are primary positions of Hatha Yoga I have found extremely helpful to recover from training in martial arts. I taught these positions for about ten years at Athletic clubs as a Yoga foundation. There is also my conditioning version of the Sun Salutation demonstrated which would be of good use to those training for wrestling competition or training. If you buy other DVDs and the disc has enough space I'll include this on it as a bonus if you wish-just let me know.
Running time is 10 minutes.
Price is $10.00 plus $5.95 shipping to the US.
($12.95 shipping outside of the 48 US States).
Hsing-I Staff
In this DVD I go over the use of the six foot staff with the Five Fists of Hsing-I according to Hung I-mien. The sliding grip is the chief feature and the footwork matches the Five Fists empty hand forms. The genius of the application is in using a feint before each strike with the addition of the sliding thrust which is very difficult to "read" in battle and also gives you some basic techniques with a spear. As this is a small amount of footage but informative just let me know if you wanted added to any other DVD.
Running time is 10 minutes.
Price is $10.00 plus $5.95 shipping to the US.
($12.95 shipping outside of the 48 US States).
The Ba-Sho (and Five Fists)
The "Ba-sho" or "Eight Hands" is an ancillary set of movements taught often after the Five Fists or "Elements" of Hsing-I--have been mastered. These are the Ba-sho of Chang Chuen-feng and they are attributed to General Yueh Fei as are the Five Fists and also The Eagle Claw System. One could say the Ba-sho are the link between Hsing-I and Eagle Claw. The DVD shows application drills for the Five Fists and the Ba-sho. If you are interested in Hsing-I as a complete system or curriculum the Five Fists and Ba-sho are the foundation. Then the linking sets and animals are learned. I intend on releasing the whole system of Chang Chuen-feng's Hsing-I on DVD so that the knowledge will be available to those interested.
Running time is 25 minutes.
Price is $25.00 plus $5.95 shipping to the US.
($12.95 shipping outside of the 48 US States).
The Shepherds Way
This is an overview of the three ancient weapons which were transferred from Shepherd to Infantryman; The Mace, The Staff and The Cloak. As a study of the basic angles of attack and the use of a weapon in each hand this dvd should not only be interesting but should provide plenty of ideas on applications for drills as well as "can-opening" katas and related martial forms. Demonstrated are derived applications from Hsing-I and Ba-gua and of course necessity. War and Gladitorial re-enactors should find this dvd very helpful too. My idea was to look at the most common and ancient tools that became weapons and these appear to be them and as such they demonstrate certain core ideas on attacking and defending angles, feinting, distraction and of course hitting.
Running time is about 20 minutes.
Price is $20.00 plus $5.95 shipping to the US.
($12.95 shipping outside of the 48 US States).
Wisdom of the Body I
Being the full developmental sequence of exercise Allen and Victoire Slakey devised together for anyone of any age to rediscover their own body. The sequence can be done as a warm up or more intensely as a conditioning protocol for any athletic protocol. Allen says, "This is what I wished I had known BEFORE I studied martial arts."
Running time is about a half hour
Price is $30.00 plus $5.95 shipping to the US.
($12.95 shipping outside of the 48 US States).
Tai Chi Chuan-Applications of the Short Yang Form
Applications for practically all the movements of the short yang form save one or two (depending on your points of reference). These applications are a result of conversation and
many years of work- outs with Hal Mosher. Hal and I go through many of the applications which you will find are effective and give concrete substance to the forms which much of the time
has been made so subtle as to lose rather than gain in essence....
Running time is approximately 30 minutes.
Price is 32.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
Celtic Wrestling
Reviews the techniques of Sleeper, Facelock in variations, double bar arm, arm crank, scissor and toe hold with some others...these being some of the techniques taught by
Tim Geoghegan one of the "old-timers" of wrestling and "the strong man of Leitrim"...Tim was not only a professional strong man in a circus he wrestled-touring the world including
considerable time at the Riley gym in Wigan, England.
Running time is approximately 1 hour 11 minutes.
Price is 64.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
Hsing-I Basics and Tactical Drills
This dvd covers the basic type of movement-from the legs up- which characterizes the Five main movements of Hsing I and includes exercises to do with a partner and drills which
enhance your ability to read an opponent. The emphasis is on how to use the first movement of Hsing-I -"Splittng" to create an opening on an opponent. The footage was edited from
the Atlanta workshop of 2008. This dvd is an excellent place to start if you are beginning Hsing-I training.
Running time is approximately 25 minutes.
Price is 24.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
The Hoplite-Shield and Spear
I was finally able to make time during my last visit to the US to meet up with my old
Hoplite student John Moulton and we were able to record these sequences showing
basic movement of spear and shield independently and then, how to use them both
together. The detail on how the shields were locked in the old days is- to my knowledge-
a first time discovery. I know of no historian who has shown how the "shield lock" mentioned by the Greeks was actually done! This dvd is a perfect complement to the
article I did on Hoplite Warfare for Barry Molloy's book/anthology "The Cutting Edge".
Price is 35.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
Advanced Hsing I - The Swallow and the Monkey
This dvd covers these two animals from the twelve animal section of Hsing-I. The animals
are considered to be the advanced form work of Hsing-I. This dvd covers the movements/form and the primary applications which you can work on with a training partner. The Swallow includes both empty hand applications and some usage of the Battle Hammer or mace. The historic evidence as far as I can see indicates the Swallow form
probably came from India originally and was brought into Hsing-I. The same could be the case for the Monkey though I cannot find physical evidence for it. The Monkey part of the dvd pays particular attention to the layout of the movements from a distance so the student/trainee can see the layout of the angles of the form. Applications are clearly shown and done slow enough for a student to see clearly how to do them. These forms add challenges to the serious student of Hsing-I in that they include low squats and Monkey works on fast body rotation and the front lunge. (Advanced Hsing -I includes jumping, squatting and lunging-none of which are done with the five "mother" fists or core movements).
Running time is about 40 minutes.
Price is 35.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
Hsing-I; Various Teachers Various Steps
This is nearly every variation of the "Five Fists" of Five Elements I have learned over the last 30 plus years from several teachers. My emphasis these days is on application so
I have sample applications for nearly every variation and some application drills demonstrated as well. There are also examples of the varied steps of Hsing-I and how stamping is used
(now popularly called "Fa Jing") and how it is meshed with other kinds of stepping. To my knowledge there is no other DVD available on the Five Fists with the same amount of information
on both form and application. Teachers variations include Yuan Tao, Hung I-mien, Chen Pan-ling and others.
Running time is 46 minutes.
Price is 45.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
Ba-gua Various Masters on the Circle
This is my 30 year plus experience with both form and application on the Ba-gua circle with the eight "Mother" or Circular Changes. The Masters variations demonstrated
include Chen Pan-ling, Wang Su-chin, Sun Lu-tang, Gao I-sheng and others. Often in this DVD I demonstrate more than one application for a single movement so many of you interested in
Ba-gua application will find this very interesting. Now split into 2 DVD's.
Running Time is close to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Includes Circle Palm Changes 1-5.
Cost is $45.00. Running time is 52 minutes.
Ba-gua Various Masters II
Includes Circle Palm Changes 6-8.
Cost is $25.00. Running time is 26 minutes.
Sword, Cloak and Cup
This is a two day INTRODUCTORY intensive on the use of the sword, the cloak and the cup which was taught to one of my visiting students Moria. Included are the basic strokes of the old
saber (not sport fencing) and how to do drills to become skillful at combining the whipping of the cloak with the use of the saber as well as the use of the cup (whether with water or poison).
Students of Rensaissance Swordsmanship or Society for Creative Anachronism members will find this very fascinating and also very fun. I basically taped Moria's private lessons for two days "warts
and all". We had wonderful weather and beautiful locations in the rolling hills of Brittany and even managed to do some of the training at the ancient Chapel of the Seven Saints which is in part
and ancient Druid stone work here in Brittany. Besides the sword work we also worked on The Amazon Dance-my condensed self defense choreography designed for females. All the basics of this very
lethal "dance" are on this DVD.
Running time is 1 hour and four minutes
Price is 65.00 plus shipping from here in France.
(the older dvds are shipped from within the US).
Chen Pan-ling Ba Gua / Hsing I
This video covers the instruction of both Ba Gua Zhang (Pa Kua Chang) and Hsing I Chuan (Xing Yi Quan),
two “internal ” Chinese Martial Art styles. The forms shown can also be found in the two accompanying books,
Pa-kua, and Hsing-I.
$29.95 plus $5.95 Shipping
$12.95 Shipping if Outside U.S.A.
Gao 64 Linear Tactics
Front & Side Views Form Instruction of the second “level” of Gao style Ba Gua Zhang
$29.95 plus $5.95 Shipping
$12.95 Shipping if Outside U.S.A.
An excellent DVD of Allen presenting instruction - An insightful look at the Palm Changes done on the Circle, as found in the Gao style of Ba Gua.
$29.95 plus $5.95 Shipping
$12.95 Shipping if Outside U.S.A.
(Xing Yi System)
Functions / Fighting Applications
This overview was originally done for students who had already learned the five
fists, from other systems. This is from the same style that Allen teaches at
Physical Training Traditions. It includes ways of training the 5 fists, two
linking forms, eight hands and all the animals. Only one fist is shown but the
principles demonstrated are applicable to all the five fists.
$29.95 plus $5.95 Shipping
$12.95 Shipping if Outside U.S.A.
The Gao 24 Heavenly Stems - Tien Gen / Tactical Exercises
Functions & Fighting Applications
Also known as the “Heavenly Gates,” “Heavenly Stems,” or “Celestial Stems.”
This is the “ The Gao system of Ba Gua is divided into thirds, represented as a tree. The 24 are the foundation or
root of the Ba Gua tree and are the first third of the system. Learn more about the 24 Heavenly Stems in the following
article & pick up a copy of the video.
$29.95 plus $5.95 Shipping
$12.95 Shipping if Outside U.S.A.
The postures of this little known form of Yoga are excellent for developing the spine and its anatomical emphasis is on the shoulder
blades and brachial plexus (base of the neck). The breath holding and bending has commonalities with some of the ancient Persian Yogas as
well. These forms are fantastic for wrestlers. (about one hour).
$35.00 plus $5.95 Shipping
$12.95 Shipping if Outside U.S.A.
The Cutting Edge
Allen's latest released writing is on Hoplite Warfare and is Chapter 6 of "The Cutting Edge" compiled by Barry Molloy
available from Nonsuch Publishing Service:
The Mill, Brimscombe Port,
Stround, Gloucestershire GL5 2QG
email: sales@tempus-publishing.com
Walking the I-ching
By Allen Pittman.
Available from North Atlantic Press
View their blog post.
Gao System 64 Linear Tactics • After Creation Stage
This book is the first English exposé with the forms and their shamanistic, trans-cultural connections. Allen is a lineage holder in the system and believes it is time this particular information is released to the public due to the exigencies present at this point in history.
Pa-kuaBy Allen Pittman & Robert Smith
***Now translated into the Russian language & available in Russia from Phoenix Publishers***
"The covers were changed and some clueless chap was put on the front-I don't know why."
-Allen
-John FD. Gilbey, author of Secret Fighting Arts of the World
Highly effective for both fighting and health, this form of Pa-Kua (Ba Gua Zhang) was condensed by Chen Pan-ling from a variety of sources before the Communist Revolution. Chen held a panel in the 1940's and, with the help of 20+ experts, created a curriculum of Chinese Martial Arts. Although most was lost in the Revolution, this form of Ba Gua summarizes his research. The text introduces the theory and form behind the art.
Available from the publishers.
See current accompanying DVD.
Hsing I
By Allen Pittman & Robert Smith
***Now translated into the Russian language & available in Russia from Phoenix Publishers***
"the covers were changed and some clueless chap was put on the front-I don't know why"
-Allen
-The Washington Post Magazine
Highly effective for both fighting and health, this form of Hsing I (Xing Yi
Quan) was condensed by Chen Pan-ling from a variety of sources before the Communist
Revolution. Chen held a panel in the 1940's and, with the help of 20+ experts,
created a curriculum of Chinese Martial Arts. Although most was lost in the
Revolution, this form of Hsing I summarizes his research. The text introduces
the theory and form behind the art.
Available from the publishers.
See current accompanying DVD.
Commentaries on Agrippa