Martial Arts

Basic Uechi-ryu Karate- e-Book -1a

Basic Course in Uechi-ryu - Book I: What is this e-Book all about? What are the students and teachers saying about this series? e-Book #001 : Uechi-ryu Intense Four Hour Basic Course. Important "core" system material, relevant to all systems, but absolutely essential for any practitioner interested in exploring the fascinating Uechi-ryu system...
E-Martial Arts Ltd :: basic :: uechi-ryu :: karate :: e-book :: -1a :: e-martial :: arts :: ltd :: home :: education :: e :: books :: literature :: basicuechi-ryukarate-e-book-1a deluxe :: Basic Uechi-ryu Karate- e-Book -1a

Zen in the Art of Archery Vintage Spiritual Classics

5 stars (Intriguing and perplexing in equal measure.) - I very much enjoyed reading this book. It is a biographical account of one mans experience as he moves from a position of ignorance towards an understanding of Zen. The bewildering spritual "How to" which seems to have a lot more to do with what you don't do than what you do. The confounding realisation that all effort is false, whereas no effort can lead to superhuman feats of accuracy. It's a magical true story about how a mans confusion and understanding become fused into something of an incomprehensible truth: You don't understand it, but it works. What I enjoyed most about the text is that it gives insipration to Zen learners, something to aim for, so to speak. What I didn't like is that it doesn't really offer insight into how one combines an attitude of no presumed effort with the experience of splitting an arrow-shaft lengthwise from the far side of an unlit warehouse. In other words, the book sufficiently illustrates the effects of success with Zen practice but having read the book the cause still remains a mystery: A relaxed attitude alone will do nothing to improve your golfing average, so how does it work? 5 stars (The effortless flow of our own holy being in harmony with what we are doing ) - I read this book many years. It was J.D. Salinger who brought me to it. And the central idea that he taught from it was the art of 'aiming without aiming'. Or rather how wrong and forced effort which is wholly concentrated on ' result' and 'result' alone (i.e. hitting the bullseye) leads to missing the mark. The great idea of this work is the idea of a kind of practice which leads to effortless effort, to a 'hitting the mark' without aiming , to somehow allowing one's own inner powers to be in harmony with the task one is doing. To let the whole of one's being flow into the activity and with it as one. With this in mind I years ago wrote a small forgotten work 'Zen and the Art of Swimming' . I also practica...
Vintage :: Religion & Eastern :: Zen Buddhism :: Philosophy :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Eastern - Zen :: Eastern - General :: Archery And Target Shooting :: Archery :: :: Zen in the Art of Archery (Vintage Spiritual Classics)

Krav Maga - An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense

4 stars (Good source of insight into Krav Maga.) - This book is a valuable insight into Krav Maga. I thought it was well written and considerably informative. Although the technique section wasn't very helpful because it is hard to get an idea on how a technique is carried out by looking at a small drawing of a person using arrows to show direction. If you want to learn about origins and history of Krav Maga then this book is what you want. But if technique instruction is what your looking for then I recommend the DVD set, or even better join a class. 2 stars (The first two levels) - Until now, there has not been a book on krav maga techniques that relates to a average practitioner. This book tries to fill that gap, but in my opinion, it does not do a very good job. At the beginning of the book, Kahn explains why krav maga is so good self defense system. This section annoyed me a bit since Kahn is way too biased, and the text reminded me of TV infomercials. After that, he goes through the history of krav maga, explains the basic principles of krav maga, tells some basic principles of real world self defense, touches on the subject of avoidance, and so on. While it is a good thing that Kahn has covered these issues about real world self defense, he does not do a very good job about it. I even began to wonder about his expertise on these subjects. Next, the book moves on to actual techniques. The book covers the first two levels of krav maga techniques, therefore the average krav maga practitioner can use the book as a reference book. Unfortunately, the techniques are instructed so vaguely that you really can't learns them from this book. There are drawings on every technique (usually 2 of 3 for every technique), but they are not very good, either. Therefore, you must seek an instructor to teach the techniques, and use this book to assist your training at home. At the end of the book, there is a complete, 12-week training program intended for persons who have no pr...
St Martin-s Griffin :: Sports & Recreation & Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Sports & Recreation :: Self-defense :: Safety :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Krav maga :: Health&Fitness :: :: Krav Maga - An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense

The Swordman-s Companion- A Manual for Training With the Medieval Longsword

5 stars (Excellent) - As a long-time researcher and historical fencer, I can say that this is simply the best non-monographical book on the longsword out there. Guy Windsor is a first-rate teacher, and this comes across plainly in his writing and in the organization of this book. The book provides enough historical material to demonstrate where the original concepts and techniques can be found, then expands into clearly-defined lessons from a teacher with considerable experience. Many of the common mistakes are identified and advice is given on how to avoid them or correct them. Actions are explained in terms of martial soundness and correct body-mechanics. Illustrations are numerous, clear and relevant. Furthermore, Guy's writing style is dynamic and interesting, making the Companion a good read as well as a useful training tool. A high-quality, informative and well-written book that I heartily recommend to all serious students of the late-Medieval sword-arts. 5 stars (A great book for those who want to learn real swordsmanship) - I just got my copy of this book, and I am suitably impressed. This book is mainly based on the Italian masters, notably Fiore di Liberi's work. And as such, the terms given here for the guards and cuts are in italian. Initially described in english as well, but italian after that. Now, this may be confusing for those who are beginners or non-italian speakers. More on this in a minute. I like the fact that this book contains plenty of one and two person exercises to work through, illustrated with actual photos that are clear and easy to follow. This book also includes warm ups that should be done before practice begins, and some great exercises on body mechanics. You may wonder what being able to keep your balance on one foot has to do with swordsmanship, especially doing this with your eyes closed (Harder than it sounds!). Nothing, and yet, everything. Proper balance, footwork, and body mechanics are essential to good technique, a...
Chivalry Bookshelf :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Modern - General :: Medieval World History (Circa 450 - Circa 1450) :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Martial Arts :: Guy Windsor :: The Swordman-s Companion- A Manual for Training With the Medieval Longsword

Kung Fu Elements- Wushu Training and Martial Arts Application Manual

5 stars (A lot of good drills.) - If you're looking for drills and ideas to strengthen your foundation in Chinese Martial Arts, this is a great all-around book. I've been studying CMA for over 10 years and I still found this book to be refreshing. It's all about the basics and ways to strengthen the basics. It's those types of drills that, if you practice them diligently, will give you that edge in competition. At the higher levels, it's the little things that matter 5 stars (Good book for begining Wushu.) - I have studied only Japanese styles in a formal setting so far (karate and aikido) and wanted to have some additional practice and influence to help blend my style. I believe the book is intended for a refresher and additional practice for veterans of the style but it works nicely if you already have had some martial arts experience. It gives aspects of style, good stretching exercises, kung fu attainment training techniques and of course free fighting applications. Though you cant substitute reading the "applications" section for formal, hands on experience. I would recomend this book as a resourse for any martial artist wishing to expand their base of knowlege and help blend their style. Peace 4 stars (best overall martial arts training guide) - As a martial artist who has trained in both Japanese (Karate/Judo) and Chinese styles (Shaolin Choy li fut and taiji) I refer to this frequently to refresh my training knowledge. My only beef with it is that it is kind of lacking on some aspects of martial arts such as chi development and training tools. The only other aspect that annoys me is how it refers to martial art styles such as Choy Li Fut in a weird romanization of translation such as calling this style Cao Li Fun when nobody except for a Cantonese speaker would ever call it this name. BUT with that said overall I highly recommend it as an excellent supplement to your serious wushu training. ...
Way of the Dragon :: Martial arts :: Kung fu :: China :: Sports & Recreation & Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Wen-Ching W :: Kung Fu Elements- Wushu Training and Martial Arts Application Manual

Karate-Do Kyohan- The Master Text

5 stars (Just amazing!) - It contains all the most widespread Katas found in Shotokai - Shotokan schools. The images are great as well as the diagrams that show how the Katas should be executed. Shotokai students should be aware that all we have in here belongs to the time prior to Master Egami's evolution which was fully authorized by Master Funakoshi. So special care should be devoted in this regard since the postures were rather tall at that time. There are some changes highlighted by the translator as to the new instances already in use at that particular time but do not cover all the changes found in the Shotokai school. On the other hand it is the cornerstone of all Karat?? as conceived by the Master of Masters: Karat?? as a "Way" of perfectioning one's character. It's the legacy given by the Master as Karat?? should be trained and transmited until the end of times. So it is a book to be constantly studied even by the nowadays Masters and see how the "Way" is been fulfilled. The bottonline? It is the Master Text! Don't miss this one! 5 stars (Best karate book ever) - This is the seminal book on traditional Okinawan karate. It is vey well-written and the pictures are plentiful and first-class quality. Funakoshi is the father of modern karate but never strayed from the belief that this is a way of life and a combination of the physical and spiritual. Funakoshi has no time for "point-fighting" and superflous moves. His martials arts comes from the tradition of hard training where you only fought if you had no choice and then you fought to the end. Case-in-point, the diagram at the end of the book emphasizes strike points that can disable or kill an opponent. This is not for your average "rent-a-dojo" or "kid's karate" system. Bottom-line: this is THE book for those interested in the real thing. 5 stars (This is The Book) - With so many Karate and Martial Arts books out there, it has become more difficult to separate true value from the rest. This is one of ...
Kodansha International (JPN) :: Sports & Recreation :: Martial Arts - Karate :: Karate :: Gichin Funakoshi :: :: Karate-Do Kyohan- The Master Text

Complete Kickboxing- The Fighter-s Ultimate Guide to Techniques- Concepts and Strategy for Sparring

5 stars (A well-rounded compilation of facts) - The collaborative work of martial arts experts Martina Sprague (kickboxing, modern freestyle, Kenpo karate) and Keith Livingston (kickboxing, Tae Kwon-Do, Kenpo Karate, boxing, Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, and former I.K.A. light heavyweight Rock Mountain champion), Complete Kickboxing is a "martial arts student friendly" instructional guide and reference for kickboxing techniques, concepts, sparring exercises and competition strategies. Beginning with the fundamentals of movement, stance, punching and kicking, and progressing to instructions on more advanced jump kicks and sweeps, strategies for short and long range fighting, outsmarting one's opponent, and the business mechanics of competition in the professional ring, Complete Kickboxing is an indispensible resource for novice and career kickboxers alike. A well-rounded compilation of facts, advice, and insight efficiently organized for improving one's skill and strengthening weaknesses. 5 stars (Outstanding) - Martina Sprague's and Keith Livingston's Complete Boxing is correctly titled. First of all there are 480 pages with over 1000 photos! And the Table of Contents takes up six pages with double columns on each page. This puppy is huge but it costs only $29.95. Even if you disagreed with some of the material - not that fighters are strongly opinionated - you're still getting more than your money's worth. It's that loaded and that good. As the title says, the book is about kickboxing, that is, full-contact fighting. Not point fighting where eight times out of 10 the technique wouldn't have had an effect. In kickboxing, the players are really hitting and trying to defeat the other fighter by hurting him so badly that he can't continue, or by knocking him out. So you're not getting foo-foo techniques here; the material in this book is designed to hurt. The authors have been there and done that. Combining their vast experience, they have produced a tremendous book - a huge b...
Turtle Press (CT) :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Kickboxing :: General :: Boxing :: Turtle Press :: Keith Livingston :: Martina Sprague :: :: Complete Kickboxing- The Fighter-s Ultimate Guide to Techniques- Concepts and Strategy for Sparring

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

5 stars ( Tao of Jeet Kune Do ) - Awesome book. Very insightful regarding the training and throught process of Bruce Lee. Highly recommeneded to all Bruce Lee fans and martial artists alike. 5 stars (Very good reference books.) - If you are looking for the most comprehensive Jeet Kun Do books, then Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kun Do" and "Bruce Lee's Fighting Method" dooks and videos are the only reference materials you need. Only books written by Bruce himself are worthy of Jeet Kun Do instruction. 5 stars (The Beauty of the Book) - This book was incredibly fun to read, and I think that it should be kept this way. You cannot learn martial arts from this book, and furthermore, the introduction of the book suggests that Bruce, himself, had qualms about releasing it because he figured that people would use it improperly. This book doesn't teach martial arts, but rather is an outline of various principles underlying them...principles that are best to be absorbed and experienced while reading, and then forgotten about. The book is packed with esoteric wisdom and compelling ideas and drawings. Enjoy! ...
Ohara Publications :: Sports & Recreation :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Jeet Kune Do :: Fiction :: Bruce Lee :: :: Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Best Aikido- The Fundamentals Illustrated Japanese Classics

5 stars (Easy to understand) - I have read several aikido books that demonstrate visually, proper aikido techniques. This is the first book I have read that was easy to follow, easy to understand and easy to remember. Although it was easy in all these areas, it wasn't at all lacking. The information in this book is "must have" for any beginning aikido practitioner. 5 stars (Best Book on the Basics of Aikido) - I have 4 other titles on Aikido and have browsed through quite a few others. I must say this is by far the best on the basics of Aikido. The pictures are reasonably clear and the descriptions are reasonably detailed. However, I would have liked all the techniques executed (and pictures taken) without the hakama on so that the readers can have a good look at the footwork as well. 4 stars (The Fundamentals, from the second Doshu) - _Best Aikido_ is a fine translation of the original Japanese textbook by the noted scholar of Buddhism and aikido, Dr John Stevens. _Best Aikido_ could probably be considered one of the essential cornerstones of an aikido practitioners library. It contains waza patterns for all of the fundamentals of aikido techniques: the major pins (including gokyo) and throwing techniques (excluding koshi-nage) from basic attacks. Helpfully, omotoe and ura variations are included. _Best Aikido 2_ covers more intensive and advanced practice, including weapons disarming, multiple attacks, and more intricate applications of the fundamentals. This book will not teach you aikido. No book can teach you aikido. IMO, aikido can only be learned as fostered in the environment that O-sensei developed in his sublime martial arts pedagogy. Aikido is learned through regular practice, in a dojo, in partnered co-operation with a variety of people, of various shapes and sizes. _Best Aikido_ is meant to be a supplementary resource textbook, to be consulted after class or in preparation for exams. As prepared by the second Doshu (gaurdian of the Way), O...
Kodansha International (JPN) :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: General :: John Stevens :: Moriteru Ueshiba :: Kisshomaru Ueshiba :: :: Best Aikido- The Fundamentals (Illustrated Japanese Classics)

Solo Training- The Martial Artist-s Guide to Training Alone

2 stars (Not what I expected) - This book is jam-packed full of basic information that any martial artist already knows. Detailed descriptions on how to execute a kick or punch. I was hoping it would touch more on workout routines that I can incorporate. I felt like it was teaching a martial art instead of teaching how to prepare yourself physically for whatever style you may be practicing. There are a lot of good reviews on this book and that is why I purchased it, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. 5 stars (Excellent Tips!!!) - This is a very good book for the solo trainer, like myself. It is loaded with helpful tips and great techniques to help you get the most out of your solo workout. 5 stars (Tons of new drills to try) - This book is great! I have been in TKD for 1.5 yrs now and I am reading through this book for the second time. Because I started in TKD at the age of 43, I need all the help I can get. The author is great at explaining why and how things will work on the street. His personal experience and stories allow me to envision the practical application of the drill. ...
Turtle Press (CT) :: Training :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial arts :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: General :: Loren Christensen :: :: Solo Training- The Martial Artist-s Guide to Training Alone

ChiRunning

5 stars (Some excellent information ) - This could have been a much shorter book. Much of what is contained in chapters 1 - 3 is a sales pitch for the book which makes no sense since you already bought it. Chapter 4 is where most of the good information is. Danny's core ideas are excellent and they have helped my running substantially. I would have prefered to have seen more Chi theory in general included although some of the ancedotal information provided regarding his two Masters defies my belief. It is a book that belongs in your library if you are a runner. 5 stars (Great book) - This book was so insightful. It gave great advice on proper running techniques. I am trying out what i have learned and running is becoming enjoyable and easier. 3 stars (Pretty good, but only for serious runners.) - This book has a lot of good information it - probably too much. Unless you are really going to focus on something, it's very hard to remember more than two or three core ideas. I am a casual runner - maybe two or three runs per week of three to five miles - and I really hoped this book would give me a couple areas of focus that would make my running safer, more comfortable and perhaps faster. Instead, I got overload. There is a single 2-page spread in this book that lists about 50 points to focus on in your running. Come again? That doesn't sound very Zen to me (I know it's a different Eastern philosophy, but you get the idea). Dreyer ackowledges the length of the list and suggests picking out two or three of these ideas to focus on for each run, but you still need to be pretty serious to do that. I don't want to consult a checklist before each run and I want to plug into my iPod and relax a little while I'm running. In addition, Dreyer gives a pre- and post-run routine that would add about an hour to any run you wanted to do - again, more than I'm able to commit to this portion of my life. If you are a very serious runner or want to become one, this is a gre...
Fireside :: Sports & Recreation & General :: Training :: Tai chi :: Sports injuries :: Sports & Recreation :: Running & Jogging :: Running :: Prevention :: Martial Arts - Taichi :: :: ChiRunning

The Fighter-s Body- An Owner-s Manual - Your Guide to Diet- Nutrition- Exercise and Excellence in th

5 stars (Loaded with information) - Loren Christensen and Wim Demeere have teamed up to bring you a book that is an excellent addition to the shelves of any martial artist, fit or fat. Why you ask? If you are fit there are plenty of maintenance and improvement (everyone can improve) ideas that you will find not only more efficient but almost certainly more enjoyable that will help you bring out your "A-game" consistently. If you are fat, you will get ideas and encouragement on not simply how to lose weight, but how to do it through your training or with ideas that complement your training. If you are somewhere in the middle, well ain't you special, you get the best of all worlds. Topics are numerous, probably too many for one person to apply concurrently, and some may not be appropriate for everyone. What is best though, in my opinion, is that all the topics can be a gateway to methods you may not have encountered. Even for familiar topics you will find new approaches, exercises, or drills geared toward the improvement of your martial arts. The authors have done extensive research and combined that with their own personal experience as well as their experience guiding students and clients. Why compartmentalize your fitness training from your martial training? Find out how to combine and/or complement both. For example, discussions on HIIT and Dirt Day are sufficient to guide and be put into practice, but have also prompted me to seek further information. 4 stars (simple, but effective) - I enjoyed this book because uses a very straight and simple language, but provides very accurate information, about nutrition and how the human body interacts with various sources of food. About the advises written on the book about weight gaining and weight dropping it, are overall correct and safe. I recommend it to all fitness oriented people, not only to martial artists. 5 stars (Eat proper & Drink your Green Tea) - In brief... this is a fabulous book on nutrition and probab...
Turtle Press (CT) :: Sports & Recreation :: Physical fitness :: Nutrition :: Martial arts :: Martial artists :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Health aspects :: Diets - Better Health :: D :: The Fighter-s Body- An Owner-s Manual - Your Guide to Diet- Nutrition- Exercise and Excellence in th

The Shaolin Grandmasters- Text- History- Philosophy- and Gung Fu of Shaolin Ch-an

5 stars (Clarification) - I am a contributor to The Shaolin Grandmasters' Test, and would like to make some comments about the book. I will do my best to represent other contributors, both living and deceased. Complaints that we fail to shower compliments upon the People's Republic of China (in general) and the resurrected Shaolin Temple in Honan Province (specifically) are not without substance. Many reviewers who are affiliated with the new Shaolin Temple may be offended by our book because we have tried to be truthful. Our perhaps it is simply the blunt presentation. The PRC today employs tens of thousands of human and computerized monitors to censor the information accessible by the Chinese people. Internet sites with the word "freedom" typically do not make it onto the computers of Chinese citizens. The PRC continues to imprison Tibetan Buddhists who so much as say something positive about the Dalai Lama. The Shaolin Temple is the nucleus of a massive tourist industry, and has given rise to kung fu schools nearby for 10,000+ Chinese boys - keeping many young men "occupied" in a nation where the ratio of men:women is horribly skewed. Shaolin kung fu schools in Europe have been sued for using the "Shaolin" name - by an entity intimately connected with the Shaolin Temple. Stating these sorts of facts earn us the distinction of "having no room in our heart[s] for mainland China". Our book is far from perfect. Many of our now-deceased priests were old enough to feel some personal bitterness over the incompetence of the Ch'ing dynasty, and many of our senior members had negative personal experiences with "Red China". In some places in the book, this bitterness shows. Deciding to leave some of these sentiments in the book was not a simple decision, but perhaps it was a wrong one. Buddhism does indeed reside in the heart. Anyone can choose this path. The Buddha even made provision for self-ordination, for those spiritual seekers who could not find a Sangha. I do not ...
Tuttle Publishing :: Zen Buddhism :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Shao lin si (Dengfeng Xian :: Ch :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Martial Arts :: China :: Buddhism - Zen :: s :: The Shaolin Grandmasters- Text- History- Philosophy- and Gung Fu of Shaolin Ch-an

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu- Theory - Technique

5 stars (A must-have reference book for any Brasilian Jiu-Jitsu practicioner) - This book is wonderful. I use it everyday after class to see what I could have done wrong and what are the little things you can do to truly lock a submission or gain the sweeps you need. For example: I always had a problem quickly executing the "Americana." I would always end up getting it but not quick enough. I flipped through this book and discovered that if you rotate your opponents wrist slightly while applying the lock like you would reve a motorcycle, you create a much more painful lock causing the opponent to tap immediately. That tip alone helped me to actually master not only the Americana, but has helped my Kimuras as well. And that is just one of hundreds of little pointers that can help your game. I have been doing BJJ for a few years now but I know that I will always refer to this book even if I reach Black Belt. Also check out Carlson Gracie's book, "For Experts Only." It is another must own. 5 stars (Great for beginners) - When I started BJJ lessons 2 months ago I picked up this book right away. It really helped my learning curve in jiu jitsu and taught me to be more sensitive to every move my sparring partner made allowing me to better react. This book has really made a difference in my training. Now I give it to my classmates and they too all have said it has made a big difference. 5 stars (Great Book) - This book gives an interesting history of how Jiu Jitsu started and how it came to the Gracie family who perfected it. The techniques sections are great. The techniques are categorized by belt colors (easier techniques being under the white belt section, harder in the black). All the techniques are thoroughly explained and the pictures are in color and of good quality. There are 110 techniques explained in this text. My only complaint is that they don't have the techniques categorized based on what position you are in (mount, gaurd, side control, etc.). This is...
Invisible Cities Press :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Jiu-jitsu :: Brazil :: John Danaher :: Kid Peligro :: Royler Gracie :: Renzo Gracie :: :: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu- Theory - Technique

Ultimate Flexibility- A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts

5 stars (Excellent book) - Ultimate flexibility is an excellent book for those who practice the martial arts, regardless of their current flexibility level. It's even great for those who don't. My wife (who doesn't practice martial arts) joins me for flexibility exercises and enjoys the workout quite a bit. The book is divided to 3 main categories. The first chapters deal with the scientific background. What are the mechanisms behind flexibility; what can be improved; what are the limitations; and what are the potential hazards for the un-educated, practicing flexibility. It details the major muscle groups and explains the benefit of having each flexible. It has good suggestions in terms of keeping workout logs and setting goals. The second part has actual flexibility exercises, all clearly explained along with a photo for each. Some exercises are presented with a few alternatives-- easier versions and harder versions. The third and last part suggests flexibility workouts. That is, what a workout should include depending on your background and goals. Ultimate Flexibility has helped my flexibility tremendously. It's educational, clear and concise and most importantly, motivating. I now look forward for some time off so I can go out and practice some flexibility. Bravo. - Petel 5 stars (My teacher snagged it.......................) - I got about 45 minutes to look it over, took it to class with me. My teacher snagged it, haven't seen it since! I think I'm being tortured with stuff out of the book because it's all new......LOL Great book, lots of pictures with good explanations of what is being accomplished with each exercise. 5 stars (Good for All Sports) - The book could just be called "Ultimate Flexibility" without the reference to martial arts in the title. I bought the book as a novice in martial arts, but this is a good, general guide to stretching, period. For us martial artists it has the bonus of letting us know which stretches help for...
Turtle Press (CT) :: Training :: Stretching exercises :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial arts :: Martial Arts - Tai Kwon Do :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Sang H Kim :: :: Ultimate Flexibility- A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts

Jiu-jitsu Unleashed

5 stars (Bravo for Bravo) - This book will improve your game!!! I couldn't stop reading it. The more I read, the more I realized how similar I was to Eddie. We're both musicians, we both love Jiu Jitsu, we came from Karate backgrounds, and we both like to be creative. Eddie has taken his game a step beyond most and though he can come off as cocky (like bruce lee :) , he is the first to give props to the people who got him to where he's at. I'm from a Gracie based academy and know what he means about the Gi. Though he's against it, it is part of the sporting aspect and therefore I don't mind learning about it. But it seems like more and more of my friends are taking off the Gi when it comes to open sparring. Plus, i'm hearing the name Bravo echoing in my school a lot more often. Thanks for your willingness to share your experiences and techniques with us.. -MG 5 stars (Absolutely Brilliant) - I am a jiu jitsu student with about 2 years of experience and I own a number of jiu jitsu books and DVDs. I train almost exclusively with the gi at a BJJ school on the East Coast and have never met or trained with Eddie Bravo. I recently picked up a copy of Eddie Bravo's new book thinking I would flip through it and then put it back since I already have a vast library of instruction materials. When I began to read it however, I realized it was a very different book from what I was used to seeing. Most BJJ books on the market seem to be a collection of random techniques. Most of the books are informative, but they don't tie the techniques together very well. Eddie's book is more than just a technique primer, it's an overview of his very unique system of BJJ. Before I get into the good things, I'll mention the few negatives: First, the book is not in color and the photos sometimes could be from better angles or could have shown more "reverse" angles so a technique would be more clear. The book is only 190 or so pages and does not contain an overwhelming amount of tec...
McGraw-Hill :: Sports & Recreation & Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Jiu-jitsu :: Eddie Bravo :: :: Jiu-jitsu Unleashed

Bushido- The Way of the Samurai Square One Classics

4 stars (Good Book, worth owning) - I'm glad I bought this book, not only for it's historical significance, but also to be able to continuously refer back to it for refreshing. While I really enjoyed the first two chapters (also the longest), it started to get long-winded towards the end. This is still a very quick read and worth it's price. Two parts of the book bring up a sensitive subject (which I won't spoil) which surprisingly seemed to be a fairly common way of life for samurai. No, I'm not talking about ritual suicide, or some of their strong beliefs in honor and service, but instead something that 99% of us I'd wager never would associate with Samurai lifestyles. While unsettling, it's worthwhile learning the truths about their habits without over-glorification. Certainly a classic book which has the potential to enspire everyone to reach for their full potential. 3 stars (Hagakure for beginners) - As the title of my review suggests, I think this book makes a good introductory text for someone who doesn't have a lot of time to dedicate to studying bushido, someone who is just getting acclimated to the new way of thinking, or someone who is merely curious. The positives: -Each quotation is clearly titled and indexed, making it easy to find and reference specific quotes regarding specific topics. -Some translations have been changed to better accomodate the literal English-speaking reader. The negatives: -Short. It is only a small sampling of the wisdom of Hagakure. -While the modified translations will help English speakers avoid some of the pitfalls associated with reading from a different cultural context, they are also an incomplete and sometimes shallow understanding of the text. Again, as an introductory text this one is a good one. For a better, more complete translation of Hagakure, look for the one by William Scott Wilson. It is one of my favorite texts, though I will admit that when pressed for a quotation on short notice, I will still o...
Square One Publishers :: Philosophy :: Mind & Body :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Japanese Philosophy :: Ethics & Moral Philosophy :: Eastern - General :: Early works to 1800 :: Bushido :: :: Bushido- The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

Hagakure- The Book of the Samurai

3 stars (Interesting as a historical text) - As a philosophical book, or a book about a way of living, I think the Hagakure falls short. Yamamoto Tsunetomo often comes across as simply an irritable, grumpy old badger. During his service to his lord, he never participated in a battle (he lived in the Edo period) and he was not really the world's greatest retainer either. Therefore it is difficult to put any merit into his personal ideas and philosophies. If you are looking for a book about the Samurai spirit, or way of the warrior, I highly recommend Code of the Samurai (though the Cleary translation leaves a little to be desired), and the Wilson translation of the Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. Let me give an example of my viewpoint. The basis of Tsunetomo's idealogy seems to be that the greatest achievement of a samurai is to die for his lord. He goes so far as to say "merit lies more in dying for one's master than in striking down the enemy." Granted, he lived in a time of peace, but as a warriors philosophy, this just doesn't ring true. It feels as though he took the Zen/Martial idea of losing all fear of death a little too far. Musashi's viewpoint in the Book of Five Rings seems far more correct. Musashi states that while a warrior should always be prepared for death and willing to die for one's lord, the essence of a warrior is actually in the striking down of an enemy. There is no other point to conflict than victory over your opponent. There is merit in the Hagakure. It is very interesting and useful as a historical text describing how warriors felt and acted in the Edo period of peace. It also contains anecdotes from Sengoku era samurai, which I found very interesting. Also, when Tsunetomo is not going on about rushing to one's death, he does manage a few gems of good advice. For instance, "When there is something to be said, it is better if it is said right away. If it is said later, it will sound like an excuse." If you are a samurai collec...
Kodansha International (JPN) :: Philosophy :: Martial Arts :: Japanese Philosophy :: Ethics & Moral Philosophy :: Eastern - General :: William Scott Wilson :: Yamamoto Tsunetomo :: :: Hagakure- The Book of the Samurai

Bruce Lee-s Fighting Method- Vol 2- Basic Training Bruce Lee-s Fighting Method

5 stars (Fantastic often overlooked principles of training) - Bruce Lee covers the basics and foundations of training. All too often martial artists focus their energies on techniques without developing or preparing the body for such techniques. This volume covers: 1) Aerobic Conditioning - running vs jumping rope 2) Stretching 3) Core muscle strengthening almost always overlooked. Namely abdominal toning 4) Proper stance and movement 5) Footwork 6) Developing power in your strikes 7) Increasing your speed 4 stars (The Fighting Method Series Captures Bruce Lee) - Mito Uyehara was the founder and publisher of Black Belt magazine. Mito actually took privates from Bruce in his office according to staff legend. Mito also gave Bruce plenty of exposure in Black Belt, but the books in this series, Bruce Lee's Fighting Methods, are the true legacy of that relationship. Mito was very protective of Bruce's image and his admiration for him is as clear as the many photographs in these books. Of course, Bruce Lee was always changing his methods and ideas about training. To what degree he would have stood behind this material some 40-years later has been the subject of much debate. The closest thing to a modern version of this series is How to Master Bruce Lee's Fighting Style by Lee student Joe Lewis, who credits much of his success to principles he learned while working with Bruce Lee. But, "never take your eyes off the finger, or you will miss a great book for any Bruce Lee fan." 5 stars (Required reading) - IN MEMORY OF MARIO PONTILLO Since the late 1970's, I have studied Mr. Lee's "Way of the Intercepting fist." I have the 1st editions of all the "best" books. This book will walk you through the physical aspect of his methods. I recommend you get all the volumes from this series. You will need to start from the beginning; and you do that by emptying your cup so Bruce may fill it. My favorite quote: "Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you mu...
Ohara Publications :: Sports & Recreation :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Karate :: Bruce Lee :: :: Bruce Lee-s Fighting Method- Vol 2- Basic Training (Bruce Lee-s Fighting Method)

25 Shoto-Kan Kata

5 stars (Comprehensive and useful) - This kata manual has taken me through blackbelt. The illustrations show the moves, the timing line shows the speed and focus of each move. The number of kata represented, 25, makes this an excellent value. WHat may put some readers off is the use of japanese terms for various moves, but I find it fun to know. Also helpful is the translation to spanish. 5 stars (The best book to get a fast start on any kata) - Many people, especially beginners, have a problem picking up moves of a kata from somebody else (your sensei) performance. This book gives an excellent head start on most popular katas and enormously shortens the learning curve. Pictures in the book show exactly the right amount of details to minimize a confusion and emphasize moves and stances. 5 stars (Outstanding Reference Work) - Shojiro Sugiyama has produced one of the most useful reference books on shotokan karate available. Each kata movement is clearly described. The sketches are very helpful. This is a great book! ...
Shojiro Sugiyama :: Karate :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Handbooks & Manuals :: Shojiro Sugiyama :: :: 25 Shoto-Kan Kata