Book Description
Speed is the most important asset a fighter can have. Find out from a top martial artist and police officer how to develop instantaneous reflexes and explosive speed for punching, kicking, grappling and police defensive tactics. Improve perception, polish timing and double your speed by using these sure-fire techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Great for fast people and even better for someone is slow.
This book is filled with alot of great knowledge on what creates speed, building or having a basis for speed, and improving your overall speed. Also he doesn't go into these complicated scientific explanations of how speed works. I mean come on, if we were smart enough to be scientists why would we be training to fight right? lol. However, I feel that the author spent alot of time reiterating the same points over and over again. That's good for people who have a hard time learning things the first time. For me it made me really the read boring at certain points cause I usually grasp concepts very easily especially when it comes to improving my arts. That's the only reason why I gave this book 4 stars insted of 5. But it's definatly worth it.

Great Book
I just received this book a few days ago.I have read it through and have already started to incorporate some of the techniques into my training.One thing I enjoy about Mr. Christensen's books is his writing style.They are written clearly and with humor.

Awesome Book
I recommend this book to any martial arts student that feels like they have plateaued on speed. The relaxation methods really work and the speed drills are fun and really make a difference. Buy this book, read it cover to cover and use the authors techniques to make yourself faster than you ever thought possible.

You more than likely need this book
This is a very crafty book. What I liked is that author included some internal methods of helping your speed- things like relaxation meditation and so on. Mr. Christensen mostly uses karate for excercise examples but it's still a useful book for the practicioner of any style- a speed is a speed whether you practice Wing Chun or Karate. You WILL find some important/interesting info, whether you are a beginner or a vet.

Speed Training: How to Develop Your Maximum Speed for Martial Arts
I have only just started to read the book, but so far it is very exciting with a lot of interesting information that I feel I could try out immediately. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on proven concepts of martial arts masters, such as Bruce Lee, this bestselling guide provides advanced training methods to maximize speed and reflexes for competition and self-defense. J. Barnes provides education, tools, and drills as part of his famous Speed Loop training system...which is designed to isolate, transform, maximize, and integrate the 7 keys to martial arts speed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Highly recommended supplemental resource for anyone serious about honing their self-defense skills for any reason
Author J. Barnes taps into his more than 20 years of experience in mixed martial arts in Speed Training for Martial Arts: How to Maximize Speed for Competition and Self-Defense, a guide to advanced training methods, instructions, and drills to maximize one's speed and reflexes. Speed Training for Martial Arts covers seven dimensions of speed: visual, tactile and auditory reflexes, as well as adaptation, initiation, movement and alteration speed. Exercises range from mental shadowfighting to practicing a "poker face" so one's opponent will be less able to read one's moves and intentions, to paper bag drills and much more. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds and all martial arts styles, Speed Training for Martial Arts is highly recommended supplemental resource for anyone serious about honing their self-defense skills for any reason, from personal protection to professional safety to improved tournament performance.

INFORMATIVE
THIS BOOK WAS VERY HELPFUL IN GAINING SPEED, IN THE MARTIAL ARTS.READING COVER TO COVER WAS EASY, THE EXERCISES WELL DETAILED. iF YOU ARE IN MARTIAL ARTS OR JUST FOR EVERYDAY AWARNESS THIS IS A GOOD CHIOCE.

Excelent Resource
Very easy to understand, easy exercises that can give dramatic results if you do them.A lot of pratical information with just enough theory to justify the conclusions.

Excellent Reference Book
This book is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in the martial arts.The author explains in great detail all of the elements involved in speed, including movement speed and reaction speed just to name a few, as well as drills and exercises to increase one's speed.The drills are beneficial for beginners as well as experts.This book would make a great addition to anyone's bookshelf, especially a martial arts instructor's.

Good introduction but not enough depth
This is not a bad book by any means but it pales in comparison to Loren Christensen's "Speed Training: How to Develop Your Maximum Speed for Martial Arts," the definitive work on the subject in my opinion. To begin, it's about 60 pages of really good content floated out into a 160 page tome through the use of large type and excess spacing. The writing is easy to read and understand but there's simply not a lot of meat in here. Topics include the Speed Loop, visual reflexes, tactile reflexes, auditory reflexes, adaptation speed, initiation speed, movement speed, alteration speed, speed hampering, and supplemental speed training. The author's knowledge is clearly vast but not enough of it ended up on the pages. For example, the Combat Common Sense principle has a lot of promise but is more or less just hinted at rather than fully fleshed out. Further, while the Speed Loop is the author's trade-marked concept, I'm not convinced that it has any special functionality beyond Boyd's law and the OODA loop that many martial artists already know and understand. The book would have been much improved by addition of more examples, drills, and practical tips to help practitioners incorporate the information into their practice routine. It's a great introduction to the topic but I came away wanting a whole lot more.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction ... Read more

Book Description
If you've priced commercial martial arts equipment lately, you know you could easily spend a small fortune amassing the gear you need for effective at-home training - and still not have exactly what you need. The good news is, you can make your own for a fraction of the cost. Author Michael Janich is an old hand at turning out homemade martial arts equipment. In this book he shares the best of his simple yet ingenious designs, providing step-by-step instructions for fashioning functional, durable gear from ordinary materials at nominal cost. The plans in this book cover a wide variety of home-built martial arts equipment, from heavy bags and speed bags to focus pads and air shields to sparring weapons, stretching machines and more.Whether you're on a tight budget or just enjoy the satisfaction of do-it-yourself projects, this book shows you that a little ingenuity and sweat equity can go a long way toward greatly enhancing your home training regimen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

WORSTHow-To-Book EVER WRITTEN!!!
The book is so thin it would make a lousey paperweight, many of the pages have huge black and white photographs which might have been some effort by the publisher to increase the size of "book."You'ld need little imagination to top this guys sorry gadgetry - used tires, plywood, pullies & rope. Had expected at least a minimal level craftsmanship for equipment someone would want to use everyday.Can't imagine how many people died trying not to bust out laughing at the author when he "proudly" displayed his "workmanship" to anyone.

The lesson is more valuable than the plans.
On your path to knowledge, mastery of your art, enlightenment or the furthering of any goal, let nothing be an obstacle, merely another challenge.


The most important thing about this book is the fact that it changes your mind-set and starts you towards thinking creatively. Where there is a will there is a way. A lack of funds is nothing but a lame excuse. Mas Oyama used no expensive equipment to become "God Hand". Mushashi slew opponents with a whittled down boat oar. I gave one star for this lesson alone.


For the equipment plans themselves, well...the designs presented are better than nothing. But you will, in some cases need specific skills to execute them. I, personally cannot sew and therefore am helpless before the daunting spectre of The Inner Tube Air Shield and The Heavy Bag.


I also thought The Heavy Bag design looked weak, not affording a solid enough surface or sufficient resistance. The dummy knives appear almost as big as clubs. I gave one star for The Stretching Machine. It delivers at a fraction of the commercial price, but still requires some above rudimentary skills and a cash outlay.


Other than that, there's really nothing earth-shattering here that you couldn't have formulated on your own. My best advice, learn to think creatively in your quest...or GET A JOB(!) so you can afford to buy the expensive stuff!

It's easy for this book to pay for itself
When I attended one of Janich's classes, we used some of his home-made training knives.I bought this book then.Since then I've built a few of the projects that he describes in the book.

Many pieces of martial arts training equipment cost $50, $100 or $250 if you buy them new. If you buy this book and build even a couple of the projects you WILL save money when compared to buying the pre-built training equipment.

Even if it does wear out faster than factory-made gear, most of the designs are so inexpensive, you'll save money by building them a couple of times than buying them once.

-Chuck

Don't waste your money
Don't waste your money on this book it didnt give me any useful information and half the stuff you build in this book would fall apart under heavy usage ... Read more

Book Description
An in-depth guide to the modern practice of Greek martial arts and their beginnings in ancient Greece and Egypt

• Examines the correlation between ancient depictions of one-on-one combat and how martial arts are practiced today

• Explores the close relationship between Greek martial arts and spiritual practice

• Distinguishes between Pammachon (martial arts) and Pankration (combat sports)

The ancient friezes and decorative motifs of ancient Greece contain abundant scenes of combat, one-on-one and hand-to-hand. In The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece, the authors offer close inspection of these depictions to reveal that they exactly correlate to the grappling and combat arts as they are practiced today. They also show that these artifacts document the historical course of the development of both the weaponry of the warrior classes and the martial responses those weapons required when fighting hand-to-hand.

The depiction of each ancient technique is accompanied by sequenced step-by-step photos of modern practitioners performing the various stances of one-on-one combat. In addition, the authors explain how the development of Hellenic combat arts was tied at its heart to a spiritual practice. The centeredness, clear mind, and consequent courage that develops from a spiritual practice was considered a martial strength for a warrior, enabling him to be at his best, unobstructed inwardly by conflict or inertia. The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece provides a practical and comprehensive approach to the techniques and philosophy of the martial arts of the ancient Mediterranean that will be welcomed by modern fighters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A rare cross-comparison of methods and history.
Any in-depth collection strong in martial arts history needs The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece: a survey of early hand-to-hand combat and a comparison to how they are practiced today. Artifacts depict these scenes in a step-by-step series of motifs capturing position and method: step-by-step photos of modern practitioners accompany these early depictions allowing for a rare cross-comparison of methods and history.

A Stellar Martial Art Historical Study and Technical Manual
In a single word, this book is outstanding.It is well worth its price, being both more interesting and more comprehensive than similar volumes, while also being cheaper.Although I know the author and have read his previous works, this book was an unexpected surprise as I only realized that it was him as I was standing in the store and leafing through the book's pages, suddenly recognizing the author in the various photos.Thus, I had no preconceived expectations or bias towards the book.

Although my entire review can be summed up in the first sentence, below are the detailed strengths and weaknesses that I have found in this publication:

Strengths:

1. Literary Style:The book is written in an easy to understand writing style that is accessible to both amateurs and professional martial artists regardless of their age (teens and above), which makes it a great introductory book for younger adults that should get a well-rounded understanding of the combat arts before committing themselves to any one style or skill type.

2. Illustrations:The photos and illustrations are clear and easy to follow.In addition, the photos of historical images are also very clear and the tying in of historical images (i.e. - ancient paintings/sculptures of Greek warriors engaged in martial techniques) with photos depicting the technique's modern equivalent are one of the books greatest strengths.

3. Historical Detail:Tying into the above comment, the historical facts, figures and examples that the book brings forth are excellent.They give a real understanding of the background of ancient Greek martial sports and martial arts and how this is linked to the martial arts of the present day.

4. Technical Relevance:The publication contains numerous martial techniques that are clearly depicted, easily reproducible by any reader with a base level of skill and are relevant for both those interested in martial sports and/or actual personal combat, of which the book makes a clear and explained distinction.This is yet another one of its strengths, the fact that it easily shows the reader that those techniques that are effective in martial sports (i.e. - MMA) are not necessarily applicable to actual combat and can be quite dangerous if applied to a life-and-death situation, thus helping to weaken the modern illusion that current Mixed Martial Art competitions are somehow the equivalent of actual combat.

5. Factual:Quite simply, the book uses various footnotes and academic backing to support its claims.This provides more credibility to the authors' statements and deductions.

6. Unique:Although not the only book in existence that pertains to the martial arts of Ancient Greece and its surrounding Mediterranean neighbours, the way this book synthesizes historical facts with modern techniques provides it with a unique flavour that is a welcome change to the many martial art books that are focused on only one specific aspect of their art.

Weaknesses:

1. Length:I found the book to be slightly too short and certain sections could have used further detail, but there are two factors that mitigate this as a weakness.The first is that for individuals that are only interested in certain areas of knowledge, be it martial techniques or martial history or religious-martial links, the condensed aspect of each section helps to ensure that the entire book does not get bogged down by any specific section.The second mitigating factor is that the authors already stated that a second book is in the works, so anyone craving more should keep their eyes out for that volume and will be able to get more details from there.

Covering historical facts, spiritual ideas and ethical theories that link to the martial arts, while also being filled with highly effective and applicable techniques, this is a book that sets a standard for other modern martial arts publications to follow.I highly recommend it for anyone from the amateur martial artist to the professional to those simply interested in the historical and non-technical aspects of personal combat.

If you have any questions before purchasing it that have not been answered above, please let me know and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Rados D. Miksa
Kingston, Ontario
Canada
miksard@hotmail.com
... Read more

Book Description
Carl Brown—attorney, author and black belt judo instructor—describes the legal policies that can protect or indict an individual who uses martial arts techniques in self-defense. Topics include assault and battery, the law and self-defense, martial arts weapons, state laws and a table of cases. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Read this so you don't go to jail
If you are a person who trains in the martial arts you need to read this book. Did you know kicking someone with a shoe on is an attack with a deadly weapon? That is why Billy Jack took his shoes off.
This book can drag a bit but will give you good info to help in understanding the law so you dont go to jail.

Not What I was Hoping For
For the most part, I was very disappointed and this was not what I was hoping for.I was hoping for examples and thoughts on the law for martial arts when used in self-defense situations.Brown did not really present any of these cases, which either leads me to believe (1) the true martial artists that practice their skills strictly for self-defense do not or have not had law suits against them (criminally or civilly) and/or (2) true martial artists do not get into alterations.Many of the cases Brown presents in the book are very old.Some of the cases are absurd.He cites cases where a person who has practiced martial arts was involved - and the crime was usually one they initiated (such as robbery or rape).First off, I would not consider any of these people martial artists, since they are not using their skills in the way it was intended.These are just people who happen to know techniques taught in martial arts, so I disagreed wholeheartedly with his using those examples and citing those persons as martial artists.Brown does cite some relevant cases, but then does not tell the outcome of those cases.I also did not understand his point on Ninjas at all.He explains how Ninjas were trained assassins and are trained to kill and then goes on to state if called or act like a Ninja this can be used against you in trial.Seems common sense to me that if you act and dress the part of an assassin that you may be called that in a trial (and probably should be expected to).I was also disappointed on his section of the law in states and martial arts weapons.Seems it was taken verbatim out of the law books with all the legalese language.Would have been nice if tit was written so a layman could understand easily.Brown does present and provide some good examples on what is considered excessive force.Brown also does ask some interesting questions and brings up some interesting thoughts such as should a martial artists announce to an attacker they are trained so the attacker is aware and understands what he is getting into.He also believes that someday martial artists may be considered deadly weapons.He does believe that martial arts training can and will be brought out in trial, but that belt rank should be of consideration, which is a valid point in my book.I might recommend this book to someone totally uninformed and ignorant; and for that reason alone have rated it two stars and not one.

A Good Start
Mr. Brown clearly knows his Judo and martial arts history, but the book lacked the substantive legal analysis I was expecting.Like any good attorney, when you don't have the law you argue policy, and that is what this book is, mostly.There isn't much law on point, but Mr. Brown does an excellent job addressing some policy issues any martial artist/instructor should be thinking about.
It makes sense that he is a professional editorialist.His writing reflects strong opinion and interesting viewpoints, which the reader must ultimately discern for herself.
The writing is not at all what I expected, but it serves its purpose well.I had expected more hard, technical writing. Mr. Brown has a wimsical tone, similar to a radio host's, that suits the book's subject matter fine.The minimal primary sources and average scholarly writing was a tad disappointing for me personally, but it makes his book accessible, which is just what this information should be for fellow martial artists. Mr. Brown has done the MA community a service by making this important contribution.If you want to discuss potential legal issues with your students, and you should, Mr. Brown's book is a good starting point.

Informative, but not focussing enough on what matters.
I found this book enjoyable and informative, but I felt it lacked a lot of what I really expected from it.It covered in detail as best as it could some topics of question such as state laws and general self defenselegality issues.But, I found that it lacked substance when referring tothe main question on any martial artist's mind...WHAT CAN I LEGALLY DO TODEFEND MYSELF?I found that the book seemed to focus more on what wouldhappen to someone who was attacked by a martial artist, than what wouldhappen if someone was hurt while the martial artist was defending himself /herself.Most of the court cases involved someone with prior martial artsexperience that had committed a crime.All and all it was an okay read,but I felt it hazed over a lot of the questions and important detail amartial artist should be concerned about.Things like the consequences ofdisarming an attacker and then retaliating with the weapon, or the everpopular question on the mandatory registration of black belts as deadlyweapons,that is so often spoke of.All in all I would say it is not a musthave, but a step in the right direction for legal education for martialartist.

Required reading for all martial artists.
For anyone who practices martial arts, this book is a real eye-opener.Ifyou ever wondered about what you can and can't legally do with your skills,this book will answer most of your questions.This is information allinstructors should make their students aware of. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Book Description
Thomas Cleary's translation of Code of the Samurai introduced the social, political, and organizational principles of samurai culture, including loyalty to family, a sense of service and duty, and the rules for dealing with allies and enemies.
In Soul of the Samurai, Cleary delves into the key influence of Zen on the samurai's combat style, from its emphasis on detachment-meaning a willingness to sacrifice life (including one's own)-to the attempt to clear the mind and "be in the moment," which freed the swordsman's mind from distractions and allowed him to act in an instant.
Including translations of Yagyu Munenori's Book of the Sword, and Takuan Soho's Inscrutable Subtlety of Immovable Wisdom and The Peerless Sword, the teachings in Soul of the Samurai represent the recording and codification of these beliefs in the seventeenth century.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Subtle
This work is remarkably subtle, especially its evocation of Taoist energetics in explaining certain phenomena in martial arts.This book is not for the superficial.

No soul
Cleary is a legend. Many great translations!The Japanese Art of War is superb.

This book is bad!Waste of money.I don't believe much effort was put into this book ... Read more

Book Description
The Filipino martial tradition, its history, cultural perspective and technique, makes for a rich and fascinating story. This is the first book to delve deeply into that legacy, examining the different schools of arnis and contributions made by leading arnisadores through history. This book examines training regimens, fighting techniques and innovations, and provides an exhaustive bibliography of all the books ever written on the subject. With 125 remarkable photographs, Mark Wiley's groundbreaking study of arnis stands as an important source book for all serious practitioners of unarmed Filipino martial arts-as well as any serious student of martial arts as it is practiced worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

overall a worthwile read
There is so much information that I read this book in a week.The other reviews of this book are correct.What I came away with this book is that Filipino martial arts(FMA)is hardly in danger of extinction although it is probably practiced by not a great number of people.It came as a surprise to me that some universities in the Philippines have FMA in their curriculum.There are gems in this book, for instance it identifies the earliest published book in the subject which is a tract entitled "Mga Karunungan sa Larung Arnis" roughly translated means "A Body of Knowledge in the Game of Arnis", it was written sometime in the 1950s.A book like this is appropriate for discussing FMA.A how-to book would not be instructive by the very fact that mere pictures cannot encapsulate the essence of the various movements.In early book on the subject Danny Inosanto wrote about it, in his book the most useful parts are the stories of the Grandmasters and history of FMA, and not the instruction with pictures.FMA can only be learned through corporal instruction, that is because FMA is a social martial art.That means that you are only as good as the people you are around you, that includes practitioners who you can steal knowledge from.

I do have some misgivings about this book and that is when they discuss FMA in the United States, they only focus on California, particularly Stockton.They leave out the vibrant FMA community in Hawaii, which is very much a Mecca as Stockton is.They even cover the distant FMA communities in Europe and ignore Hawaii where many grandmasters reside.

Collection of Academic Filipino Martial Arts Articles...
Be advised there are no pictures in this book, it is an academic undertaking.If you are looking for something with visual historical material in it, try the two books authored by Mark Wiley: "Filipino Martial Culture" and "Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice".

The placment of Mark Wiley's name on the front cover suggests he is the AUTHOR, where he is in fact, the EDITOR of this collection of articles (he is also a contributor).Not Wiley's fault--he credits the collective group in the introduction.Small point that only matters to us fans of footnotes, I know...now, on to assessing this collection of articles!

In Part 1, writers offer perspectives on the origins of the Filipino arts, including five articles such as "A Question of origins", by Felipe Jocano, Jr., and "Questioning the Origins of Escrima", by Dr. Ned Nepangue, etc..Part 2 focuses on Historical Perspectives with five offerings like "A History of Eskrima in Cebu and Negros", by Krishna Godhania.Part 3, Cultural Perspectives, includes eight articles by different contributors, including "Passion from the Crescent Moon" by Marilitz Dizon, and "The Making of the Batangas (Balisong) Knife" by Dr. Jopet Laraya.Part 4, Facing The Future, includes three articles including Combative vs. Competitive Escrima by Krishna Godhania, and "The Implimentation of Arnis in the Physical Education programs of Tertiary Schools in Cebu City" by Abner G. Pasa.

Overall, this is a good collection of topics of a calibre more advanced than most newsstand martial arts magazines could tolerate.The tone is clearly academic in nature, although less than half of the article include notes of some sort at their conclusion.Wiley does include a well-rounded list of source materials for further reading.If you are tired of how-to manuals, here is a book which will present new information, even for those of us who have pretty well "been around the block" when it comes to learning about other cultures and practice.The variety of perspectives are insightful.

Well worth a read for FMA practioners.
Be aware, the "editiorial comments" above do not accurately reflect the content of this book; I suspect they are based on another of Mark Wiley's books.

There are no pictures in this book.

This book is actually a collection of articles about various aspects of the history and development of FMA. Some of them are new and some have been taken from the pages of Rapid Journal (published in the Phillipines). Some of the articles are written by well known people on the FMA such as: Tony Somers, Krishna Godhania and Mark Wiley, other names are new to me.

As the title suggests, the articles are about the history of the arts, not the technical side and as such this volume fills a gap in the reading of most practioners.

On the down side, some of the articles are very thin; it hardly seems worth while to have bothered with the item on the history of FMA in Europe.(This is a real contrast to some of the others).

I enjoyed the book, but was left wanting more.

JB ... Read more

Book Description
Teaching is an art. Effective martial arts teachers must not only be competent practitioners but must also develop the communication and interpersonal skills of any good teacher. In this collection, twenty-six experienced martial arts teachers discuss the process of learning and teaching a martial art, from the 'nuts and bolts' of teaching technique to the philosophical underpinnings of training. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Interesting tidbits
I bought this book as a holiday gift for my martial arts teachers.Be forewarned the book has some fairly liberal articles which may offend some schools/teachers.Overall, I thought the book offered some good tips for teaching and working with students, and has a wide variety of articles covering the martial arts from many points of view.

A fascinating read.
There are some real gems in here.Carol A. Wiley interviews a good cross-section of martial arts instructors and portrays their collective wisdom in an entertaining and fast-paced style.If you teach martial arts, you'll want to read this.Couple cool quotes from the book:

"Kids love to compare and compete, and they especially love calling attention to each other's mistakes.I frequently have to remind them that I am the teacher and their job is to concentrate on their own improvement, without worrying about anyone else's...From the student's point of view, the problem is that the mind is quicker than the body - and the mouth is quicker than the mind." - Didi Goodman Sensei, Chief Instructor, Cuong Nhu Redwood Dojo.

"Traditional schools emphasize self-improvement and self-realization as the primary goal, with "not losing" (in an actual fight) a result of sincere training.Modern tournament schools emphasize being better than others, that is winning (and displaying) trophies.Fun is not the purpose of traditional karate-do; the development of good character is.To the extent that one has ego-centered fun at the expense of others, one has left the realm of self-improvement behind and sown the seeds of self-destruction.On the other hand, training cannot be distasteful.It has the rewards of happiness, fascination, satisfaction, and even humor, and it is on this feedback that the instructor and the club will succeed or fail." - Dr. Elmar T. Schmeisser Sensei, American Teacher's Association of the Martial Arts (ATAMA).

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Tips, insights, and musings on teaching martial arts
Wiley has collected essays from 26 teachers/practitioners (six men, 20 women)of a wide variety of martial arts.In addition to the essays, the book includes an extensive bibliography of books on and about the martial arts.

The backgrounds of the contributors are as diverse as their martial arts styles, and each has been allowed to develop his/her essay in quite personal and individual ways.The disadvantage of this approach is a lack of uniformity among the essays. For me, though, this is greatly outweighed by the advantage of being able to glean from a single book a wonderful diversity of resources to bring to my own martial arts practice and teaching.

Some essays focus on very practical aspects of teaching:how to begin a karate course in a college or university setting; how to develop self-defense courses for audiences ranging from victims of violence to law enforcement professionals; how to keep drop-out rates among beginning students low; and more.Others address more "theoretical" aspects of martial arts pedagogy (differences in learning style and how to accomodate them; differences between teaching children and adults; etc.); still others describe the effects martial arts teaching has had on those who teach it.I can't imagine a serious teacher (or student, for that matter!) of any martial arts discipline failing to take away valuable insights -- and not just once, but every time s/he returns to the book.This will definitely be a resource I continue to use for years, and I recommend it heartily. ... Read more

Book Description
This book's primary focus is on the detailed descriptions of the three main internal boxing methods (Hsing I, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi), as well as many substyles. In-depth comparisons and analyses of the different arts in regard to their methods of movement, principles and philosophies, use of force and energy, body mechanics, and some practical applications, are also described. Frantzis also includes "Personal Odyssey" sections where he recounts many of his interesting encounters with famous martial arts masters. This feature recalls Robert W. Smith's Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods, from a previous generation of martial arts books. To make this book as accessible to beginners as possible, there are five appendices covering the different styles of tai chi (such as Yang, Chen, Wu, Tung, Hou, and Sun), a history of Ba Gua, energy anatomy of the human body, a summary of Mr. Frantzis's training and lineage, a chapter on Chinese terminology and transliteration, and an extensive glossary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

Interesting and Entertaining
This book offers interesting stories about Frantzis' encounters with legendary masters and others.Also, it provides some food for thought on the internal Chinese martial arts.On the other hand, it can be a bit verbose and most of what you read probably won't make much difference to your everyday practice.This is definitely not a "how-to" book on any of these arts.

More scholarly than practical, but informative
I think this is a book that would be most enjoyable to those who wish to add to their intellectual or theoretical knowledge of the internal martial arts. It may come as a disappointment to those looking for a "how-to" manual, and I doubt anything mentioned in the book really ranks as a true "combat secret." However, the book does contain a decent amount of information on a subject that normally does not see a lot of exposure (or at least not as much as many would like). While certainly not comprehensive (not all variations of bagua, xingyi, or tai chi are explored, which would no doubt be an exhaustive project spanning several volumes) it is useful as a comparative resource. I found the personal anecdotes charming and often inspiring, though perhaps lacking in credibility at times. Some things the author writes about may have to be taken with a grain of salt, but overall I enjoyed the text and found it useful. I would suggest, however, that those looking for actual techniques to practice look elsewhere.

Misunderstood, but great!
Sadly there are a lot of people who are misled but the subtitle that says: "Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I." And I see how it can be, I don't think this subtitle should have been used. Otherwise it's a very informative book.
People who posted negative reviews on this book do have points. The book does have structure issues. The book seems a bit chaotic when you read it. Another thing people mention is author's "self-praise." While I do find that there could have been less of it, I don't find it horrible or obstructing your reading flow.
This book is packed with information. Not much for practical knowledge, but there's a lot of info as far as theory goes. But what some don't understand I guess, is that it's an axiom. Even book on strictly technique can practically help you only so much. The book cannot develop your fast-twitch muscles, cannot give you sharp reflexes, techniques, or supply you with Chi (Ki, Hei). No matter how attractive the word "secrets" in title sounds, there's no secret or magical way to improve. What "secrets" means in this book is an explanation of energy work, the other way to view human body for martial applications and such. Also "secrets" in this book are the knowledge and wisdom of the great martial artists the author had privilege to train with. If you can see this knowledge and apply it to your training or not is up to you.
This is not a book about techniques of internal martial arts, but rather it helps you understand what are you learning: all the energy, technical or mechanical works behind internal martial arts. Kind of like explaining you how the plane works rather than teaching you to pilot it.
All in all it's a great book which is rather misunderstood (partly because of subtitle).

Hmmm..
A wise man once said something akin to "Those who know, do not speak. Those who do not know, speak." Another wise man once said "A teacher is someone who started before you."

Undoubtedly mr. Frantzis is an intelligent, talented, well-trained, eloquent person, fluent in so and so many languages. However, I find the amount of excessive pride either attributed to or claimed by the author himself (i do not know what is the case) somewhat troubling. I prefer my teachers humble and modest. Boasting creates unnecessary boundaries and thresholds that merely obscure the arts. Besides, how much time and energy is waisted because of protocol? I'm sure many people can relate to this (though protocol can be beneficial too sometimes).

The internal arts mentioned in this book to me seem to be all the more interesting and profoundly inspiring because they are accessible to all. We are all beginners in a field that knows no point of arrival, no stage of absolute attainment of perfection. I guess every field needs its gospel and prophets. What a shame. I wonder whether this is really something mr. Frantzis really aspires.

Nonetheless an awesome book, very inspiring and informative.

Strength of the Blade is not in the sword, but in the Arm that Weilds it!
This tome is of the Power within, recommended to those that follow Bushido and Chivalary.
To Thine I say these words
Be Strong, Be true
Never in Malice, Never in Hate , Never in evil shall this blade be raised. But in righteousness and Justice forever shall it shine
Be Victorious
Our time will come ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Instruction Through Many Examples
This book provides extremely thorough and clear instruction in this art/science.The numerous examples for each house (and some that span multiple houses or extend "outside the box") are like a series of labs.

Notes:

-The methodology is very classically oriented, with a rather strong emphasis on Lilly; however, it is by no means slavish, and the author fully accounts for modern contexts.

- It is [perhaps] surprising and rather wonderful to notice that the authentic chart examples in the book yield the same conclusion even if you use a different house system (and even a slightly less classical approach; for example, setting aside triplicity, face, and term considerations).For example, in several cases, in which the equal houses system yields a completely different significator for the "quesited", a diligent analysis leads to the same conclusion as does the approach used by the author.This speaks to something profound in horary astrology itself, going beyond any one methodology or author.

An excellent *second* book on horary astrology
Lehman has done a wonderful job of cramming much of what you need to know to do basic horary astrology into a single volume. But she does assume that you've learned something about traditional astrology already. So this book does not explain general concepts or vocabulary in much detail (there are appendices and a glossary in the back, but the beginning student may want more before tackling this book).

This is an excellent text to refer back to. Lehman has taken the sensible step of organizing her examples by the house you use to answer the question. Not only does this help you find the rules later, but it ensures that there's a few examples for each house (unlike other horary books that give you several examples of a few kinds of questions and leave you guessing wildly on other subjects). Lehman gives almost 100 examples in this book, each explained fairly completely (that's where the bulk of the instruction comes from: most concepts are mentioned during the explanations and aren't in stand-alone chapters). ... Read more

Book Description
The Ultimate Martial Arts Q&A Book offers new and experienced martial arts students expert answers to 750 questions. Organized by theme into 15 distinct chapters, students of all martial arts styles will enjoy learning about topics as diverse as martial arts myths and misconceptions, martial arts and human values, martial arts in the entertainment industry, and a dozen additional topics. Written by two experts with a lifetime of experience in the martial arts world, every chapter entertains as well as informs,ensuring that this book will be a uniquely popular work among students and fans of the martial arts for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent!
This book is a good background guidebook to the martial arts.It has chapters on Bruce Lee, the martial arts in movies, and discusses karate, tae kwon do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and others."The Ultimate Martial Arts Q&A Book" is peppered with interesting facts and photos.For examples, photos of Elvis Presley's $500.00 karate gis are shown (in an era where $500.00 went really far).What this book will not do, however, is teach you techniques or katas, or how to win a fight.A good read for entertainment value.

ExcellentResource
This is a Very Good Book.It provides accurate historic information in an easy to use formate.You can open up to any page and read facts about the various styles of the martial arts.This book is a Great Learning Tool. RECOMMENDED!

Poorly explained and poorly researched
The answers are highly oversimplified, and many totally untrue.The bias of the authors is evident, and I suspect they purposefully are passing missinformation.They did not dispel any myths and only propagate some old ones.They need to pull this book, do their homework (some of the people they write about are still alive) and re-write it with reliable information.

Great Q&A on the Martial Way
A solid, direct, and affectionate work, "The Ultimate Martial Arts Q&A Book" will amuse martial art veterans and enlighten beginners.The authors are not afraid to dispel movie generated falsehoods, such as killing with chi powers from across the room, or catching the blade of a "live"sword with a bare hand.The writing reflects not only a love for the martial arts, but also the wisdom that comes from many hours of time devoted to the martial way.

The chapters start by covering by region as diverse a number of arts and schools as possible.Thenature of the koryu , as well as the difference between budo and bujutsu are discussed in the chapter on the Japanese arts. When discussing Korean arts,Hwarang-do, Kumdo and Kuk Sool Won are not neglected or ignored, as happens in many other encyclopedia-like books.

The book also includes a very practical chapter on choosing the right martial art school for oneself,The chapter on Bruce Lee bestrepresents this book;it attributes his great power and skill to nothing more mystical than constant training, and shows respect for the man while dispelling the myths.And what do authorsCorcoran and Graden tell us was Bruce Lee's bestquality?
His speed?His skill with nunchaku? The one-inch punch?
No, say the authors- it was his smile.

If you agree with that, "The Ultimate Martial Arts Q&A Book" should agree with you.

The most honest, up to date information
What I like about this book is that it is not style oriented or even traditionally oriented. It's a fun read on a wide variety of subjects. It avoids the narrow focus of most martial arts books. This is not biased towards or away from any style or system.

It's well worth the small investment. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic book by John Graden shows you step-by-step: Trial vs. Non-Trial Enrollment Strategies; How to Teach a Trial Lesson; How to Set Tuition; 12 Income Streams; What it Costs to Get One Student; How to Make Cash Outs Work; How to Improve Retention and Renewals; How to Design Your Curriculum for High Retention and Quality, plus a 100 question test to determine if you have what it takes to create a rewarding martial arts career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Very good book!
If you have a martial arts school or just a club, this is a must have book! Go for it immediately!

The Truth sometimes hurts...
...and this time around it should at least ruffle your feathers!

John Graden, Martial Arts Master Teacher, has gone to the heart of what it takes to be an effective Martial Arts teacher today.Without completely disgarding the training ideas of the past, he instead shows how to build on these ideas, how to use what we know about the psychology of learning, the physics of motion and the economics of the 21st century to create a learning environment that firmly turns it's back on the "Dungeon Dojos" of the last century and creates a modern, safe atmosphere where serious, effective and (dare I say it?) FUN martial arts training can take place!

(Lest any naysayers regard the concept of "safety" and "fun" as somehow being contrary to "real" martial arts training, I refer them to the summary chapter entitled "A School Full of Pooh Bears"--it will open your eyes!)

There are lots of things to learn here, lots of great writing, too.If nothing else, I will always remember Mr. Graden refering to the war-like aspects of the Martial Arts and explaining that this doesn't mean that every class is devoted to destroying the enemy.He explains: "...that our foundation is one of peace through superior firepower."

I like that.Get the book.You'll like it, too.

John Graden does it right AGAIN!
John Graden has a unique way of showing you everything you need to successfully run a top martial art school in today's age.
He does it with the insight of someone who has obviously "been there and done that".
This new book can be used by any martial arts instructor, regardless of style, as a step-by-step blueprint for everything from how to negotiate a lease for your school up to how to train and compensate an employee/instructor.
No one else in the industry has his superb talents. The martial arts industry will forever owe a huge debt to this man for showing us how to be a professional success without selling out!

Just what I expected from John Graden - Excellence!
The content of this book accomplished two very important things for me, as a martial arts businessman - 1) it re-affirmed what I was already doing in my business and, most important, 2) it provided me with new concepts, methods and ideas that will help take my business to the next level. Awesome resource!

Great for All Instructors
If you are a martial artist who wants to make a living full time and not just do martial arts on the side then you NEED this book. You'll learn how to set up a very successful school that you can be proud. Every instructor no matter what should get this book!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Legends Of The Martial Arts Masters- Review
I love the book "Legends of the Martial Arts Masters" by Susan Lynn Peterson. The book was very entertaining because with the stories it helped me understand that martial arts it's not about violence. Martial art is an art using your mind, body, and spirit.Furthermore, my favorite story in this book was "Great Power, Great Control." I really liked it because it showed that without control, you have no power and you will loose many challenges. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes martial arts. In addition, I would mostly recommend this book to children and teenagers because they think martial arts is about fighting, but it's more than that.

The best book ever!
Legends of the Martial Arts Masters by Susan Lynn Peterson is a very inspiring book. I thought that this story was very entertaining because there are many adventures in it. This story talks alot about how to become a better person. The lessons in this book will make you the best martial artist. My favorite story is The General Fights the Bull. It is about a general who is ordered to kill a bull. He doesn't want to kill an animal but finds another way. He learns that killing is not the answer. I would recommend this book to young teens who like to read adventures."

The best book ever!
Legends of the Martial Arts Masters by Susan Lynn Peterson is a very inspiring book. I thought that this story was very entertaining because there are many adventures in it. This story talks alot about how to become a better person. The lessons in this book will make you the best martial artist. My favorite story is The General Fights the Bull. It is about a general who is ordered to kill a bull. He doesn't want to kill an animal but finds another way. He learns that killing is not the answer. I would recommend this book to young teens who like to read adventures."

The best book ever!
Legends of the Martial Arts Mastersby Susan Lynn Peterson is a very inspiring book. I thought that this story was very entertaining because there are many adventures in it. This story talks alot about how to become a better person. The lessons in this book will make you the best martial artist. My favorite story is The General Fights the Bull. It is about a general who is ordered to kill a bull. He doesn't want to kill an animal but finds another way. He learns that killing is not the answer. I would recommend this book to young teens who like to read adventures."

Awesome Book review
I really enjoyed the book "Legends Of The Martial Arts Master" by Susan Lynn Peterson. I read the whole book and it was so interesting. This book helped me see the world of martial arts in a different way. Most people think its about kicking people here and there but this book helps you understand that its deeper than. A lot of the stories not only entertain you but they teach you valuable stuff. My favorite story was "The general fights the bull" The moral i got from that story was that Your brain can be a very powerful weapon so use it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good history and background
This book gives a nice overview of the history of the Korean weapon-based arts, and background and history of particular weapons.Interesting, but not enthralling.

Of course, it is NOT POSSIBLE to learn a fighting style from a book; you need an instructor and a gym.So, read this book for history.If you want to lean Korean weapons, go to classes, and use this book to supplement your classes.

boring
This book does not excite the reader in any way. In addition, it does not provide insight into many of the Korean fighting styles.I noticed that no Hapkido (a Korean martial art) weapons were discussed at all.This isparticularly disturbing, because Hapkido is rapidly gaining in popularityin the United States.

A general survey of Korean martial arts weapons
In his first book aimed at the general public, Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh introduces traditioanl Korean weapons with histories and demonstrations.Also, included are parts of sword and staff forms as taught in Kuk SoolWon.This is a good reference for anyone interested in Korean martial artsweapons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Want a well rounded child?
I bought this book for my six-year-old niece.

As a black belt in multiple styles and a martial arts teacher, I recommend this book to any parent who is enrolling their child in martial arts at the child's request. I also recommend this book to any parent who thinks that martial arts will help their child not be a sissy. Why? Because martial arts is much more than kicking and punching, it is about how you behave all day long. Dr. Webster-Doyle speaks to those things that are essential to the arts but most people do not think about: respect, order, honor, responsibility.

Do you know how many people want me to prove myself once they find out I'm a black belt? Do you know how many of them are martial artists? Zero. The reward of a martial artist is not the ability to beat up "all comers", it's the self-confidence AND self-disciple to exercise grace and peace until the last moment possible. Don't think that the smile-y faced instructors in this book couldn't hurt or kill you if they had to.

Most of the concepts in this book will need to be discussed with your child. This book will need to be read to younger children. Older children can take turns reading with their parents. The kids will love the pictures.

Before you buy, you need to know this is not a book that introduces different styles of martial arts. It is more a primer on behavior expected by child martial artists in (and out) of the dojo.

Pretty Bad Book Overall.
I got this one for my son before his first class.It is really awful.I enrolled him so he could learn to fight.To protect himself from bullies.He got nothing out of the reading and the concepts were not condusive for teaching a kid to protect himself.It really seemed more like a book on how to become and absolute wimp.I don't know what world this guy lives in, but it isn't this one, where signs of real qweakness just get you beat down.What a collosal waste of money that was.

let these international awards and acclaims speak for themselves
The books of Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle have won widespread praise as resources for the understanding and nonviolent resolution of conflict.

Dr. Webster-Doyle winner of the Martial Arts Industry Association Distinguished Service Award

* Endorsed by:
* National PTA
* Scouting Magazine - Boy and Girl Scouts or America
* NEA - National Education Association
* Sports Illustrated for Kids
* Mothering Magazine - to name only a few

*"The books of Dr. Webster-Doyle are the first attempt I have seen to explain to young people and adults the concept of martial arts as a peaceful, nonviolent 'way of life' and to give students the tools to accomplish this goal." - Linda Lee Cadwell

* Awarded the Robert Burns Medal for literature by Austria's Albert Schweitzer Society, for "outstanding merits in the field of peace-promotion"

* Selected by the International Association of Educators for World Peace for their Central American peace education project in Panama and El Salvador

* Acclaimed at the Soviet Peace Fund Conference in Moscow and published in Russia by Moscow's Library of Foreign Literature and Magistr Publications

* On permanent display at the International Museum of Peace and Solidarity in Samarkind, Uzbekistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States.

* "Why is Everybody Always Picking on Us? explores the roots of prejudice. I don't think I've seen another book like it. How wonderful if this book could be used in social studies classrooms! I have learned where prejudice begins, how it is created, how it is perpetuated, and how it can be resolved. This book looks at stereotypes, bigotry, discrimination, scapegoating, racism, and more. It is a wonderfully comprehensive manual for young people and adults alike on understanding our conditioning and the root of prejudice."
American Pride Through Education

*"Webster-Doyle's insight is that by recognizing, understanding, and accepting our violent tendencies, we can avoid acting them out.These new books . . . are good for teachers and parents of elementary school children who need appropriate language and activities to help children deal with their feelings and the violence-provoking parts of the environment.To this reviewer, they are realistic and practical." --Young Children - Magazine of the National Association for the Education of Young Children

* "The book excels at impelling children to understand how conflict works within themselves. Tug of War offers engaging exercises that enhance a child's ability to understand the world. These exercises inspire self-observation, and the drawings of award-winning illustrator Rod Cameron enliven the book." Forum ¬- Newsletter of Educators for Social Responsibility

* Fighting the Invisible Enemy and Tug of War recommended by the Elementary School Library Collection as "fine contributions to materials for children"; both books also chosen by the British Commonwealth Collection - A Selection of Books and Journals on Nonviolence and Social Change

*"Every publication from the pen of this author should make a significant contribution to peace within and without.Highly recommended!" -- New Age Publishers and Retailers Alliance Trade Journal

*Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me? -- cited by the Omega New Age Directory as one of the Ten Best Books, for its "atmosphere of universal benevolence and practical application"

* Dr. Lawrence Shapiro of the Center for Applied Psychology described Dr. Webster-Doyle as an "eloquent leader of the movement to combine principles of education, psychology, and the martial arts to teach young people to resolve conflict peacefully."

* Selected by the National PTA as a recommended resource for parents.

*"We use his books and thoroughly endorse the usefulness of his methods which have high potential in schools." - Stewart W. Twemlow, M.D. Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis, Menninger Clinic

* Endorsed by Scouting Magazine and Sports Illustrated for Kids

* Endorsed by Mothering Magazine

* Nine time Winner of the Benjamin Franklin Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing - in six consecutive years

*Selected by the American Booksellers Association for its resource listing of "Children's Books About Peace"

*"These topics are excellent and highly relevant."
--Dr. Charles Mercieca, Executive Vice President
International Association of Educators for World Peace
NGO, United Nations (ECOSOC), UNICEF & UNESCO

*"Helps young people deal with conflict and violence by describing practical skills for peace." --Holistic Education Review

*"I realize Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me? urgency for every child and adult. . . My daughter couldn't stop reading it!"
--Marina Dubrovskaya, Assistant Director
Dept. of Sociology, Lenin Library, Moscow, Russia

* "Your book (Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me?) has really helped me ignore the bullies and in a way stop bullying others."- 4th grader

* Presented the National Conference on Peacemaking & Conflict Resolution

*"The materials were very helpful to the facilitators who conducted the workshop on bullying strategies." - New Jersey State Bar Foundation

* Endorsed by the New York City Board of Education

...To name only a few ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Written by a martial artist for martial artists
Lily Chou is uniquely qualified to give us a guide to yoga specifically for martial arts. Her ten years of experience include cross training in Yongmudo, Taekwondo and over four years in Hatha yoga, coupled with her skills in editing numerous health and fitness books and participation in the UC Martial Arts Program is an exceptional combination for an author.Lily has divided her book not by the typical yoga poses, but by their application to specific martial arts skills. Thus, we find chapters on grappling and throws with the poses she and her co-author Kathe Rothacher (a yoga practitioner for over 30 years) see as most appropriate. The book is well illustrated with photographs of every position (including martial arts examples) and cross-referenced to other pertinent sections so that the reader may quickly move back and forth from the benefits of yoga to the details of each pose. While hardcore yoga practitioners may find the book too elementary, this is exactly the kind of guide practicing martial artists need to get them motivated to attempt something that is both beneficial and out of our comfort zone.

A creative blending of concepts
While I'm not convinced by these materials that yoga was the genesis of all martial arts, the author does make a compelling case that yoga techniques can complement martial training. The routines described herein can help improve body control, balance, flexibility, and strength. Not surprising since many of these techniques are already found in most traditional martial arts training.

There's really nothing earth shattering in here, but there is some good stuff that can help you become a better martial artist if you add it to your daily routine. It's pretty well written and easy to follow, an interesting and creative blending of concepts not generally associated with each other. On the other hand, I certainly would not consider it a "must read" by any means.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction ... Read more

Book Description
Divided into six scientifically designed sections, this training diary gives you an organized way to record your goals, techniques, progress, reflections - anything you need to k