Martial arts Books
Oakamoor Publishing Colin Oates Judo: Getting Started
£14.99
Snowbooks Ltd Boxing Fitness: A guide to get fighting fit
Book SynopsisThe Best Boxing Fitness Book in the World!Whether you''re serious about boxing or just serious about getting in shape this book will help. The same methods that build speed, stamina and power in the ring have just as much to offer the fitness enthusiast or the beginner. Ian Oliver''s credentials are indisputable and his advice indispensable. Whether you''re young or old, male or female, experienced fighter or enthusiastic amateur, Boxing Fitness will get you in the best shape of your life.
£9.49
On the Fly Productions Ltd EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING: A RETRO JOURNEY
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£31.46
SF Nonfiction Books Jeet Kune Do de Bruce Lee: Estrategias de
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£12.88
Lauric Enterprises, Inc. Knife Combatives
£66.46
Empire Books Wing Chun Masters
£31.50
Cornell University Press Stateless Subjects: Chinese Martial Arts
Book SynopsisKnown in the West primarily through poorly subtitled films, Chinese martial arts fiction is one of the most iconic and yet the most understudied form of modern sinophone creativity. Current scholarship on the subject is characterized by three central assumptions against which this book argues: first, that martial arts fiction is the representation of a bodily spectacle that historically originated in Hong Kong cinema; second, that the genre came into being as an escapist fantasy that provided psychological comfort to people during the height of imperialism; and third, that martial arts fiction reflects a patriotic attitude that celebrates the greatness of Chinese culture, which in turn is variously described as the China-complex, colonial modernity, essentialized identity, diasporic consciousness, anxieties about globalization, or other psychological and ideological difficulties experienced by the Chinese people.Trade ReviewStateless Subjects, by Petrus Liu, is a well-researched book that offers innovative perspectives on the compelling subject of Chinese martial arts literature of the twentieth-century. Through excellent summaries of individual texts—both film and fiction—as well as contemplative consideration of selected historical events in the socio-political milieu during which they were produced, the author's research aims to challenge both early May Fourth (negative) views of martial arts fiction and to transcend canonical analysis of the genre 'as the ideological instrument of Chinese nationalism' (2-3). Liu provides excellent background analysis of the tensions between pop fiction and May Fourth literature, and in the process brings postmodern comparative literature perspectives to bear in his 'intervention' into the dominant May Fourth literary discourse. Readers interested in interconnections between diverse sociopolitical issues such as intellectual history, feminism in martial arts film, the Cultural Revolution, the Cold War in Asia, and tensions in Taiwan/Hong Kong martial arts literary discourse will find many points of departure for further research. Especially notable are the unorthodox subjects from the martial arts literary canon addressed in the five chapters that comprise this book, including Islam, gender issues, and homosexuality. Liu should be applauded for addressing such seemingly taboo subjects in early twentieth-century literary discourse and supplying interesting readings that demonstrate a creative comparative literature approach. * MCLC Resource Center August 2013 *
£84.00
Turtle Press Complete Kicking
£17.99
Victory Belt Publishing Voice Of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment
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£20.39
Faithful Life Publishers Self-Defense, The Biblical View
£18.99
FreeLance Academy Press Burgundian Poleaxe: The Noble Art of Chivalric
Book SynopsisThe poleaxe is a fearsome weapon: the armour-breaching weapon par excellence of the late Middle Ages, wielded on foot in friendly tournaments, lethal duels, and on the battlefield. Instruction on its use is found throughout surviving medieval martial arts manuscripts from Germany and Italy, but Le Jeu de la Hache (Axe-Play)—written in the mid fifteenth century for the Burgundian Court--is both the most complete study of this deadly weapon and the oldest known French-language martial arts text. In this new translation and interpretive guide, Jason Smith presents a complete translation of Le Jeu, detailed photographic reconstructions of its many techniques, and a short primer on the basics of axe combat, creating a complete curriculum for actually training in this unique medieval martial art. Combined with a historical overview of the manuscript and a detailed biography of Jacques de Lalain, a famed Burgundian axe-fighter, this volume is not just a modern training manual, but also a window into knightly culture at the waning of the Middle Ages.
£37.52
FreeLance Academy Press Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions
Book SynopsisKoryu, literally 'old flow from the past,' refers to Japanese martial traditions that predate the sweeping cultural changes that followed the Meiji Restoration of 1868. They generally have a very different character and tone from modern martial arts, such as kendo, judo or aikido which followed. More than the study of antique weapons, self-defense or a form of athletics, these martial traditions are a cultural legacy and a window to another time and place. In the first edition of Old School, Ellis Amdur, a renowned martial arts researcher, and himself an instructor in two different surviving koryu, gave readers a rare glimpse into feudal Japanese warrior arts, both as they were in the past and as they live on today. Nearly a decade later, he returns to the subject in this new, greatly expanded edition, bringing readers inside the dojos of a number ancient schools, providing details analysis of the evolution and morphology of uniquely Japanese weaponry, addressing the myth and reality of Japan's naginata-wielding warrior women, and discussing the modern relevance of the blood oaths, magical ritual and mysticism that often permeate the koryu. Finally, he looks at the challenge of preservation and transmission, especially as more and more practitioners of the koryu exist outside of Japan itself. Writing with a combination of the initiate's passion for his subject, and the scientist's rigorous search for the truth, Amdur asks critically: do the ancient traditions still meet the objectives of their founders? Are they successfully passing their ancient legacy down to the next generation? Over a third larger than the first edition and filled with new artwork and photography, Old School: Japanese Martial Traditions Expanded Edition will be an invaluable addition to the library of old readers and new alike. 125 b&w illustrations, photographs and drawings. Trade Review Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Dedication Foreword to the First Edition Foreword to the Second Edition Author's Note Part One: Something Once New Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu Maniwa Nen-Ryu Higo Ko-ryu Part Two: Essays on Japanese Weaponry Ancient Weapons: A Prologue to the Development of Japanese Weapons of the Classical Era The Development and History of the Naginata Kusarigama: the Chain-and-Sickle Chigiriki: The Japanese Flail Part Three: History and Tradition The Origins of Araki-ryu Women Warriors in Japan Part Four: Nothing Stays the Same: Martial Traditions from the Edo Period Lineal Transmission into the 21st Century Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu Redux Bugei in the Edo Period: The Rise of Competitive Martial Sports Honma Nen-ryu Yoshin-ryu: A Maze of Willows Part Five: The Sinew of Classical Martial Traditions The Role of Esoteric Training in Modern Times Keppan: Blood Vows in Japanese Martial Traditions Glossary Bibliography
£35.62
FreeLance Academy Press Fighting with the German Longsword
Book SynopsisRecorded over six centuries ago, the teachings of the 14th-century Master-at-Arms Johannes Liechtenauer have been given new life by a world-wide community of modern swordsmen and women, fascinated by the elegance, efficiency and depth of his unique martial art. Christian Henry Tobler was one of the pioneers in reviving the medieval Master's art, creating the first, published syllabus for training with the two-handed longsword back in 2004. This fully rewritten, revised and expanded edition brings to bear a decade of refinement, creating a definitive, "how to" guide for students. Beginning with a short historical overview of the art, Mr. Tobler teaches stance, footwork, methods for gripping the sword, and step-by-step instructions for executing the core techniques of the Liechtenauer tradition. Additional chapters introduce students to wrestling, spear and armoured combat; demonstrating the art's depth and breadth. Heavily photo-illustrated, the book also makes use of decision-trees and training drills to aid in learning. Used as a complete, self-contained course, or a primer for studying the original medieval works themselves, this unique book will be invaluable to martial artists, reenactors, medieval historians, or anyone who has ever wondered "how did knights fight?"Table of ContentsForeword About the Author The Chivalric Fighting Arts Association The Selohaar Fechtschule Preface Introduction Chapter 1: Beginning Your Training Chapter 2: Line, Footwork, Measure, and Time Chapter 3: Vier Leger Chapter 4:Three Wounders Chapter 5: Four Openings Chapter 6: Initiative Chapter 7: Defending with Attacks Chapter 8: The Five Strokes Chapter 9: Zornhau Chapter 10: Breaking the Four Openings Chapter 11: Krumphau Chapter 12: Zwerchhau Chapter 13: Schielhau Chapter 14: Scheitelhau Chapter 15: Vier Versetzen Chapter 16: Nachreisen Chapter 17: Fuhlen and Indes, an Interlude Chapter 18: Uberlaufen Chapter 19: Absetzen Chapter 20: Durchwechseln and Zucken Chapter 21: Ringen Chapter 22: Durchlaufen Chapter 23: Sprechfenster Chapter 24: Zwei Hengen, Acht Winden Chapter 25: Nebenhut Chapter 26: Fence! Chapter 27: Armoured Foot Combat Chapter 28: Fencing with the Spear Chapter 29: Fencing with the Half-Sword Chapter 30: Conclusion Table of Drills Glossary & Bibliography
£38.00
FreeLance Academy Press Dueling with O-Sensei: Grappling with the Myth of
Book SynopsisIf you are a long-time martial artist, you have likely been either the recipient, the victim – or both – of the "wise old master" phenomenon, whereby budo students reverentially enfold their teachers as martial, moral and mystical juggernauts sans reproach, in which case, this book will make you clench your fists and laugh out loud, often while reading the same sentence. Iconoclastic, rebellious, yet fiercely holding to some of the most traditional values of Japanese martial culture, Amdur brought something new to martial arts writing - a startling honesty about the flaws, not only within martial arts culture, but also within its practitioners, often using himself as an exemplar of the latter. Originally published in 2000, and now fully revised, with eight new chapters, new artwork and photography, Dueling with O Sensei, Revised and Expanded Edition will be an invaluable addition to the library of old readers and new alike. Trade Review'If there were an 'ordinary martial arts book', this would be its evil twin. Unflinchingly honest, writing from an unique, insider-turned-outsider's perspective, Ellis explores aspects of budo, its philosophies and dilemmas through the lens of aikido, a modern martial art whose founder is discussed in reverential tones and wrapped in quasi-religious mystique. Looking at the idea of budo-as-way-of-life and a path to personal perfection, Ellis confronts the real-world complexities and contradictions behind these simplified stereotypes, revealing insights which hold value for any martial artist or even a non-martial artist with an interest in the darker aspects of human nature.' Dave Lowry, author of Persimmon Wind: A Martial Artist’s Journey in JapanTable of Contents1: The Knights of the Moldy Rope 2: Ukemi from the Ground Up 3: My First Days at the Headquarters D?j? 4: The Best of Their Time 5: Forever Young 6: A Conversation with Dait?-ry?’s Other Child 7: Atemi: Striking to the Heart of the Matter 8: Did You Ever Meet O-sensei? O-sensei Who? 9: Tenchi: Head in the Clouds and Feet in the Muck 10: Toward Simple Morality—Or How Come Something So Fine Sometimes Turns So Ugly? 11: Otoko (Manhood) 12: Anyone Can Be O-sensei In One’s Own Movie 13: The Ring is Where You Draw It 14: So How Tough Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? 15: Setsunint?—Katsujinken 16: Hiding in the Shadows of the Warrior 17: Aiki: A State of the Union 18: Aiki is Not Always Pretty 19: Cutting the Circle 20: Musubi: Tying Together or Tying in Knots 21: Bushi no Nasake 22: Kamae: Taking a Stand 23: Oniisan (Elder Brother) Epilogue
£35.62
FreeLance Academy Press Hidden in Plain Sight: Esoteric Power Training
Book SynopsisEllis Amdur's writing on martial arts has been groundbreaking. In Dueling with O-sensei, he challenged practitioners that the moral dimension of martial arts is expressed in acts of integrity, not spiritual platitudes and the deification of fantasized warrior-sages. In Old School, he applied both academic rigor and keen observation towards some of the classical martial arts of Japan, leavening his writing with vivid descriptions of many of the actual practitioners of these wonderful traditions. His first edition of Hidden in Plain Sight was a discussion of esoteric training methods once common, but now all but lost within Japanese martial arts. These methodologies encompassed mental imagery, breath-work, and a variety of physical techniques, offering the potential to develop skills and power sometimes viewed as nearly superhuman. Usually believed to be the provenance of Chinese martial arts, Amdur asserted that elements of such training still remain within a few martial traditions: literally, 'hidden in plain sight.' Two-thirds larger, this second edition is so much more. Amdur digs deep into the past, showing the complexity of human strength, its adaptation to varying lifestyles, and the nature of physical culture pursued for martial ends. Amdur goes into detail concerning varieties of esoteric power training within martial arts, culminating in a specific methodology known as 'six connections' or 'internal strength.' With this discussion as a baseline, he then discusses the transfer of esoteric power training from China to various Japanese jujutsu systems as well as Japanese swordsman-ship emanating from the Kurama traditions. Finally, he delves into the innovative martial tradition of Daito-ryu and its most important offshoot, aikido, showing how the mercurial, complicated figures of Takeda Sokaku and Morihei Ueshiba were less the embodiment of something new, than a re-imagining of their past. 202 b&w illus.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Author's Notes Forward Section 1 - The Cultivation Of Power 1. Physical Culture: A Uniquely Human Preoccupation 2. The Development of Specialized Martial Skill and Power 3. Six Connections-Comprehensive Power Development Section 2 - Heaven And Earth Within Man 4. The Chinese Connection 5. Kit%o-ryu: Rising and Falling 6. Yoshin-ryu: A Garden Of Willows 7. Tenjin Shiny%o-ryu: Heaven and Man 8. What Happened To Jujutsu? Section 3 - Dait%o-ryu: The Past is Future 9. Aizu Bujutsu: Takeda Sokaku's Birthright 10. Takeda Sokaku: Opening Our Eyes To True Bud%o 11. The Heart of Aiki Is The Sword: Takeda Sokaku's Legacy 12. Aiki Nit%o Hiden Section 4 - Aikid%o and Ueshiba Morihei: More Than A Martial Art & More Than A Martial Artist 13. Is The Heart Of Aikid%o The Sword? 14. Aikid%o is Three Peaches 15. Hidden in Plain Sight 16. Triangle, Circle, Square: How To Be O-Sensei In Sixteen Easy Steps Epilogue Appendix A Appendix B Glossary Photo Credits
£35.62
FreeLance Academy Press Art and Practice of 16th-Century German Fencing:
Book SynopsisJoachim Meyer (ca. 1537 - 1571) was one of the most influential fencing masters of the Renaissance--a prolific writer of fencing manuals. In this training guide, Robert Rutherfoord unpacks the complex and elegant art of Meyer's rapier in word and image, including over 200 easy to follow illustrations to bring the art to life. Meyer's monumental "A Thorough Description of the Free, Chivalric, and Noble Art of Fencing, Showing Various Customary Defenses, Affected and Put Forth with Many Handsome and Useful Drawings" was reprinted, adapted and outright plagiarized for over a century after his death. As a martial artist, he was both the last great master of the medieval Liechtenauer fencing tradition and a young innovator, who combined his native, German traditions with those of the Italian and Spanish fencing masters to create a wholly unique systems of fighting with a vast number of weapons. The centrepiece of his work, however, was the cut-and-thrust "sidesword" or "early rapier" which was rapidly eclipsing the knightly two-handed longsword in popularity. Meyer's synthesis not only adapted his native art to this Mediterranean weapon, but in some cases, his innovations prefigured the developments of rapier fencing that Italian masters would promote in the next quarter century after his untimely death.
£34.50
FreeLance Academy Press Lance, Spear, Sword, and Messer: A German
Book SynopsisChristian Tobler makes a deep dive into the fighting traditions of the late 14th and early 15th centuries, particularly as recorded by Johannes Liechtenauer (1300-1389). It was a time of plague, of the Hundred Years War, of the Peasants’ Revolt, but also a time when the origins of the European Renaissance were formed. In the later years of this turbulent time a shadowy figure named Johannes Liechtenauer systematized lessons for swordsmanship, wrestling, armoured and mounted combat. Recorded in cryptic, rhyming verses, it fell to masters of the 15th and 16th century to record, clarify and expand the grandmaster’s instructions in an extensive body of fencing manuals. As the world of the knight receded into history, these texts — many extensively and beautifully illustrated — were forgotten by all but German-language antiquarians and fencing historians until the last decade of the 20th century, when they were rediscovered by a new audience of martial artists and historians. No author has done more to reveal this lost world of German knightly martial arts to a modern audience than Christian Tobler. Lance, Spear, Sword and Messer is a rich collection of Tobler’s work, containing extensive material on topics as diverse as the two-handed sword, spear, poleaxe, wrestling, and the use of long shields, combined with thought-provoking analysis and historical commentary that will occupy the mind–and challenge the preconceptions–of students and historians of medieval German martial arts. In addition, the martial career–in arms and in the literature of arms–of Emperor Maximilian I, often called “the Last Knight,” who was himself a devoted student of the tradition, serves as a capstone of this collection. Maximilian’s literary output, including a planned but unwritten fight book, was a similar capstone in his own lifetime at the waning of the Middle Ages and start of the Northern Renaissance.
£41.80
Contemporary Fighting Arts The 10 Best Bar Fighting Moves: Down and Dirty
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£12.93
IRH Press USA Inc. The Laws of Success: A Spiritual Guide to Turning
Book SynopsisThe Laws of Success is the modern world's universal guide to happiness and success in all aspects of life. In these pages you will find timeless wisdom, the secrets of living with purpose, and practical steps you can take to bring joy and fulfilment to your work and to the lives of others. Ryuho Okawa offers key mindsets, attitudes, and principles that will empower you to make your hopes and dreams come true, inspire you to triumph over setbacks and despair, and help you live every day positively, constructively, and meaningfully. Your keys to a new future filled with hope, courage, and joy are just pages away!
£13.29
Tambuli Media Mastering Eskrima Disarms
£18.21
Tambuli Media Lameco Eskrima: The Legacy of Edgar Sulite
£18.15
£12.75
Tambuli Media Balintawak Eskrima
£19.94
DoppelHouse Press I Am Oum Ry: A Champion Kickboxer's Story of
Book Synopsis“The story of the legendary martial arts fighter and kickboxer Oum Ry is by turns pulse-pounding, disturbing, and powerful. His is an astonishing life told beautifully by his daughter Zochada Tat and Addi Somekh. The book will grip you from its first pages and not let you go."—Jeff Chang, author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop GenerationOum Ry (b.1944) is a former international champion kickboxer who first brought the Cambodian martial art Pradal Serey to the United States. When his family of silver engravers couldn't afford his food or schooling, he lived with monks until seeking out Pradal Serey masters, soon becoming national champion at 23 years old and one of the most famous fighters in the region. For 15 years, he toured Southeast Asia, and without ever suffering a knock-out, won more than 250 fights. After a young man’s dream-life of stardom, parties, and girls, his new wife gave birth to a child in 1975, two months before the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh and threw the country into the chaos of civil war, where starvation, disease, and mass executions were common.Oum Ry survived the genocide though much of his family perished. He was saved many times from death in Cambodia due to fame, talent, and his resilience, but suffered a life-threatening attack during Southern California’s epic gang violence of the 1990s. Earlier, as a refugee with his young family in Chicago, Oum Ry learned English while working cleaning hotels. But within a few years, he had an investor in Long Beach, California and opened one of the first kickboxing gyms in the United States.This is Oum Ry's life story, which is propelled by his highly anticipated return to Cambodia in February 2022 to reunite with family and to pass on Pradal Serey traditions to the next generation.Trade Review“This memoir strikes hard on multiple levels. It is a reflection of contemporary America and the transnational, transcultural, immigrant experience that many Americans live, whether themselves or vicariously. Oum Ry, like many other fortunate refugees makes his way to the United States where he finds both happiness and deep disappointment. The life of a migrant is bittersweet, filled with hope and longing. Oum Ry’s life has been a rollercoaster in and out of the fighter’s ring, dramatic in positive and negative ways. His is a life worth the reading.”—Dr. JoAnn LoSavio, Washington State University, VancouverTable of ContentsPreface1 – Father and Daughter2 – Childhood3 – Pradal Serey4 – Champion5 – Genocide6 – Refugee7 – America8 – Long Beach9 –Attack10 – ReturnNotesAfterword " Oum Ry's Life in the Context of Cambodia's History" by Michael G. Vann, Ph.D.Appendices:TimelineArchive: Photographs and DocumentsAcknowledgments
£17.99
Via Media Publishing Company,US Academic Approaches to Martial Arts Research
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£22.06
HarperCollins Why We Fight: One Man's Search for Meaning Inside
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£22.49
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Martial Arts in the Arts
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£10.76
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Conditioning for Martial Art Practice: Nutrition,
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£13.46
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Henning's Scholarly Works on Chinese Combative
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£15.26
Tredition Gmbh Karate Lifestyle: Die Kunst des Lebens in
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£13.41
Books on Demand Practical Applications of the Shotokan Kata Jion and Jiin
£13.90
Books on Demand Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Iai: Kommentar
£10.36
Books on Demand La Dim Mak: Punti di Pressione Mortali
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£65.08
Books on Demand The Sons of Maeda: Das Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
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£33.72
Books on Demand Si kao tang lang quan: Praktische und
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£12.26
Hirmer The Art of Self An Interpretation of Traditional
Book SynopsisGrandmast David Ippen was born and raised in Germany. He studied Philosophy in Munich, Germany and is a licensed Physiotherapist. He has been studying traditional Taekwon-Do since Thames & Hudson Ltd, Head Office, Trade Distribution and Accounts 181a High Holburn, London WC1V 7QX Littlehampton Book Services T +44 (0) 20 7845 5000, F +44 (0) 20 7845 5050, Faraday Close, Durrington,Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3RB E sales@thameshudson.co.uk Customer Services +44 (0) 1903 828501, Direct Order Line +44 (0) 1903 828511 E enquiries@lbsltd.co.uk / orders@lbsltd.co.uk F +44 (0) 1903 828801/02 1990 and currently holds the rank of 5th Dan. He has been teaching Taekwon-Do since 1995. In February 2009 he opened the Traditional Taekwon-Do Center Honolulu. His Dojang (school) focuses exclusively on teaching traditional Taekwon-Do. In addition to his martial arts training, GM Ippen studied Kahuna Bodywork under Kahuna Abraham Kawai'i and Ho'okahi Ho'oulu. This style of bodywork are principles based on Hawaiian martial arts. He has extensive training in the recognition of and balancing of energies in people, land, building structures, and generating Mana.
£13.00
Logos Verlag Berlin Die Wiege Des Taijiquan: Der Soziokulturelle
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£39.90
Books on Demand Leitfaden zum Muso Shinden Ryu
£13.90
Books on Demand Shaolin Qin Na Sawah Kuen: Chinesische
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£14.50
Lotus-Press Huichungong - Das Verjüngungs-Qigong: Die erste
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£15.12
Ergon Verlag Leben Und Werk Kano Jigoros (1860-1938): Judo -
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£46.75
Arts of Mars Books Viking Sword and Shield Fighting Beginners Guide Level 2
£25.00
Arts of Mars Books Viking Sword and Shield Fighting Beginners Guide Level 3
£25.00
Tuttle Publishing Japanese Throwing Weapons
Book SynopsisMaster the Japanese art of shuriken throwing with this illustrated martial arts guide.Japanese Throwing Weapons: Mastering Shuriken Throwing Techniques is a detailed instruction manual for learning authentic shuriken throwing techniques as practiced in Japan, known as shuriken-jutsu. Daniel Fletcher studied under Japan''s most notable shuriken sensei, Yasuyuki Otsuka, of the Meifu Shinkage Ryu and in this knife throwing book he reveals the secrets learned in his years of study and training.Fletcher explains the origins and purpose of the shuriken as a weapon and provides information on the various types of shuriken used by the historical samurai and ninjas. Fletcher''s expert instructions, along with over 200 photographs and the enclosed DVD can help anyone become proficient with Japanese throwing techniques.Weapons instruction includes: Shaken Shuriken—The most familiar of the shuriken family, this sharp-edged, st
£12.74
Tuttle Publishing The Samurai Sword: A Handbook
Book SynopsisThe samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans; the samurai sword is considered by most to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo. The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these ancient blades. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, prestigious schools and differences in construction, this revised edition of the classic reference outlines methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly. This must-have for sword lovers is sure to be a bestseller.Topics of this Samurai book include: Japanese History and the Samurai Sword Types of swords Parts of the sword Blade shape, construction, and grain The making of the sword Inscriptions and their readings Care and maintenance Appraisal and value Relative point values Trade Review"This book, written by one of the foremost authorities outside Japan, is the first of this subject in English. it should find many readers since there are now more of these swords in America than in Japan due to United States servicemen's interest in them. --New York World Telegraph and Sun"If you happen to have a samurai sword, John Yumoro's book will help you to determine its category. Whether you have one or not, it will give you all the romance of its background." --San Francisco Chronicle"At long last, an American has produced a handbook on Japanese words aimed at an American market. It is a 'must' for anyone interested in Japanese blades and by far the best single reference volume for those who are not specialists." --Military Collector & Historian
£14.39
Tuttle Publishing Secrets of the Japanese Art of Warfare: From the
Book SynopsisThis samurai strategy books is the first widely available English translation of Yamamoto Kansuke's classic treatise on strategy and tactics.Secrets of the Japanese Art of Warfare is Thomas Cleary's translation of the seminal writings attributed to Yamamoto Kansuke on Japanese martial arts and military service. A mysterious man of humble origins, Yamamoto distinguished himself in the service of the redoubtable Takeda Shingen. Yamamoto was a career soldier and founder of the so-called "school of certain victory," from which the famous Miyamoto Musashi (The Book of Five Rings) emerged. His school developed the art of discerning situational combat advantage so that a warrior was able to commit to action only when success was virtually assured.Translated and accompanied with helpful insights by Thomas Cleary, one of the foremost translators of the martial wisdom of Asia, this book is for all persons engaged in military, law enforcement, or emergency response, as well as for martial artists, athletes, business executives, diplomats and politicians.Trade Review"One of the foremost contemporary translators of classical Buddhist and Taoist literature,…[Cleary's] translations shine with clarity and express the insights of these great teachers with beauty and understanding." --Library Journal
£12.21
Tuttle Publishing When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship
Book SynopsisUncover the historical truth about Buddhist warrior monks with this informative and enlightening book.Film, television and popular fiction have long exploited the image of the serene Buddhist monk who is master of the deadly craft of hand-to-hand combat. While these media overly romanticize the relationship between a philosophy of non-violence and the art of fighting, When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts shows this link to be nevertheless real, even natural.Exploring the origins of Buddhism and the ethos of the Japanese samurai, university professor and martial arts practitioner Jeffrey Mann traces the close connection between the Buddhist way of compassion and the way of the warrior. This zen book serves as a basic introduction to the history, philosophy, and current practice of Zen as it relates to the Japanese martial arts. It examines the elements of Zen that have found a place in budo—the martial way—such as zazen, mushin, zanshin and fudoshin, then goes on to discuss the ethics and practice of budo as a modern sport. Offering insights into how qualities integral to the true martial artist are interwoven with this ancient religious philosophy, this Buddhism book will help practitioners reconnect to an authentic spiritual discipline of the martial arts.Trade Review"If you've ever wanted to understand the true role Zen Buddhism plays in the martial arts, then look no further." --Patrick McCarthy, from the foreword"Mann's book…illustrates the intertwining of martial arts and Zen. Mann deftly braids the physical and the spiritual into a strong rope for the serious student to ascend. This book has simplicity and yet heft--it is brilliant." --Kris Wilder, author of The Way of Kata and The Little Black Book of Violence"This book clearly shows us how the Japanese Budo spirit is related to religion. Specifically, the author explains the concept of mushin very well, a principle to which we Japanese attribute much importance in overcoming various difficulties."--Katsumi Shimane, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology Senshu University 3rd Dan Karatedo, Jodo
£13.49
Tuttle Publishing Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese
Book SynopsisMaster the art of Kendo—Japanese Swordsmanship with this illustrated and comprehensive martial arts guide.Kendo or the "Way of the Sword" holds a special place within the martial arts as one of the few practices tracing back directly to Japan's ancient samurai heritage. Modern students flock to kendo for physically—and mentally—challenging activity that combines traditional martial arts values with strenuous physical activity.Author Geoff Salmon has over 40 years of kendo experience gained in and outside of Japan. His goal in this kendo guide is to dispel many misconceptions about the sport and to make kendo training accessible and practical for anyone. His simple, straightforward writing style is especially helpful for beginning students and martial artists from other disciplines who wish to add kendo training to their repertoire.The core of this kendo book is a series of detailed instructional sequences demonstrating the basic kendo techniques. The author also presents the fundamental principles and philosophy that make kendo as much an exercise of the mind as of the sword. For many adherents, the goal is to train your mind to achieve a state of mushin (no-mind). Beyond that, this book also shows you how to win competitions and integrate kendo into your fitness routines.This is the first book to decidedly link the philosophical and mental elements of kendo to the physical techniques, thereby enabling readers to gain a holistic understanding of the martial art. It offers a comprehensive training program similar to those given by leading kendo teachers in Japan, past and present.Trade Review"It's chock full of sketches and illustrations […] that convey the movements and actions the author describes." --Black Belt Magazine
£12.74
