|
|
| Author |
Message |
granmasterchen
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Posts: 1027
Location: japan
|
 Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:27 am Post subject: Great MA books |
 |
|
I am in a search of really great books of martial arts knowledge. The best book that I have read, but I forget which author it was, was the BOOK OF FIVE RINGS.
I have read several different versions of this translation of Musashi but one author I found to be very great....but thats not whats important right now.
I am looking for your help in finding me some more great books to read and learn more. I dont want any of the basic how to do this or that. I am looking for writings on the higher learnings of martial arts.
So please help me if you can so i can add some nice books to my collection and hopefully learn some new stuff to make me feel ..... like more of an artist instead of sports player if you know what i mean.
Thanks in advance
_________________
That which does not destroy me will only make me stronger |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
tommarker
Black Belt
Joined: 22 Mar 2003
Posts: 1325
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
It has been highly reccommended to me on more than one occasion by several different masters that I should read:
"All Men Are Brothers" as translated by Pearl S. Buck (not the Autobiography of Ghandi.)
If you can find it, there are hardback editions from the 1930s with BEAUTIFUL illustrations.
_________________
I'm no longer posting here. Adios. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ashigeru
Yellow Belt
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 31
Location: California, U.S.A.
Styles: Kyokushinkai, Akijutsu, TKD, kempo, kenjutsu
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The best books that I have read concerning the Martial Arts are:
*Miyamoto Musashi - his life and writings, by Kenji Tokitsu (really explains the next book, and is a seriously good book)
*The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho), by Miyamoto Musashi
*The Art of War, by SunTzu
*The Unfettered Mind, by Takuan Soho (really good)
*Hagakure
And (saving the best for last)
*Living the Martial Way- the way a modern warrior should think, by Forrest E. Morgan, Major USAF. 
(this last one seriously changed my life! I have two copies- one for studying and note taking, and one hardbound for rereading. A Must have!) 
_________________
OSU! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Shorin Ryuu
Black Belt
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 1862
Location: Pearl City, HI
Styles: Shorin Ryu, Ryukyu Kobudo
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The Secrets of Okinawan Karate by Kiyoshi Arakaki
Unante: The Secrets of Karate by John Sells
Don't let their over-usage of the word "secrets" in their title fool you. They are among the best books written about martial arts I've read. The first one is more technique and theory (actual combative theory and principles, not just basics). I thought it was so good, I went and bought it and the two sequels in Japanese (the two sequels are not translated yet) in an attempt to read up more on it. It's not what I would consider light reading though. Some of the stuff is obvious, some of it is semi-new and some of it is just intriguing. I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, since the majority of it is on actual fighting concepts rather than a more "artistic" orientation.
The second one is the most exhaustive book out there on the history of karate in English. It also dispels common myths out there about karate.
I did like "Living the Martial Way", although I really just nodded in affirmation to a majority of his points rather than it having a life-changing impact on me. Perhaps it has more impact on people not used to his kind of armed service culture.
Martial Musings by Robert Smith is another good read. As the name implies, it really is just the author's musings on various things and some history of his life.
_________________
Martial Arts Blog:http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Shorinryu Sensei
Black Belt
Joined: 13 Jun 2002
Posts: 2045
Location: Kalispell, Montana
Styles: Shorinryu Matsumura Kenpo (Seito/Orthodox) Karate and Kobudo
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Okinawa: Island of Karate by George Alexander.
Now, before we get to carried away, I am NOT a big fan of Sensei Alexander or the claims he makes, but I do like his book and feel it is well written and well researched.
_________________
My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GhostlySykanRyu
Green Belt
Joined: 10 Sep 2004
Posts: 393
Location: Pennsylvania
Styles: Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I enjoyed Living The Martial Way as well, even did a research paper on his views and how they effect the MAs and our daily lives...but again,it had no huge impact on me.
_________________
To condemn the art of another is to condemn your own as well. We all have the same origin. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stoneheart
Orange Belt
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Posts: 152
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Shorinryu Sensei wrote: |
Okinawa: Island of Karate by George Alexander.
Now, before we get to carried away, I am NOT a big fan of Sensei Alexander or the claims he makes, but I do like his book and feel it is well written and well researched. |
What are some of the claims he makes that may be controversial? I'm considering buying his White Crane video series. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Shorinryu Sensei
Black Belt
Joined: 13 Jun 2002
Posts: 2045
Location: Kalispell, Montana
Styles: Shorinryu Matsumura Kenpo (Seito/Orthodox) Karate and Kobudo
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 1:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| stoneheart wrote: |
| Shorinryu Sensei wrote: |
Okinawa: Island of Karate by George Alexander.
Now, before we get to carried away, I am NOT a big fan of Sensei Alexander or the claims he makes, but I do like his book and feel it is well written and well researched. |
What are some of the claims he makes that may be controversial? I'm considering buying his White Crane video series. |
I'd prefer to not say on here, and will be heading out the door shortly for the evening. On his tapes...maybe 8 years ago I bought a number of his tapes to use to give out to my students to work on kata at home. The quality of those tapes was WAY worse than you can do yourself with a cheap video camera. There were also gross mistakes of techniques on the tapes...such as one student stepping the wrong direction while the rest stepped the correct direction. That should have been re-shot....but they didn't bother. Quality was so poor you couldn't tell what color belt people were wearing...something dark..could have been black, brown, green or blue for all I could tell.
_________________
My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
strangepair03
Blue Belt
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 312
Location: New Jersey
Styles: Okinawan Shorinji Ryu Karate-Do
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would like to suggest the Bubishi...the Patrick McCarthy translation, I was told by my 1st sensei to read it as a white belt and then re-read it once a year as I progress in my training and I was pleasantly suprised how the text offers more as your knowledge grows, I am not talking about the iron man stuff or the herbal medicine stuff. I wonder if anyone else has done this or your thoughts on what I have done. I am also a big fan of Living the martial way, really helps me to put the ancient principles and lessons into modern practise. I also like the book The twenty guiding precepts of karate by Gichin Funakoshi sensei. Liked Okinawa island of karate by Alexander sensi for the historical info....I too have seen some of his "works" on video and have also been as sorely disappointed as Shorinryu Sensei. An 8th grade a/v class could do far better work.
P.S. I also enjoyed Traditions by Dave Lowery...a nice read. IMHO 
_________________
A punch should stay like a treasure in the sleeve. It should not be used indiscrimately.
Kyan Chotoku Sensei
Last edited by strangepair03 on Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
strangepair03
Blue Belt
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 312
Location: New Jersey
Styles: Okinawan Shorinji Ryu Karate-Do
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Shorin Ryuu wrote: |
The Secrets of Okinawan Karate by Kiyoshi Arakaki
Unante: The Secrets of Karate by John Sells
Don't let their over-usage of the word "secrets" in their title fool you. They are among the best books written about martial arts I've read. The first one is more technique and theory (actual combative theory and principles, not just basics). I thought it was so good, I went and bought it and the two sequels in Japanese (the two sequels are not translated yet) in an attempt to read up more on it. It's not what I would consider light reading though. Some of the stuff is obvious, some of it is semi-new and some of it is just intriguing. I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, since the majority of it is on actual fighting concepts rather than a more "artistic" orientation.
The second one is the most exhaustive book out there on the history of karate in English. It also dispels common myths out there about karate.
I did like "Living the Martial Way", although I really just nodded in affirmation to a majority of his points rather than it having a life-changing impact on me. Perhaps it has more impact on people not used to his kind of armed service culture.
Martial Musings by Robert Smith is another good read. As the name implies, it really is just the author's musings on various things and some history of his life. |
Shorin Ryuu, is the book Unante: The secrets of Karate that good of a read? I was up in the air about buying it, as I heard very little about it...Judging by your post it will be in my library straight away!
_________________
A punch should stay like a treasure in the sleeve. It should not be used indiscrimately.
Kyan Chotoku Sensei |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
on the post.
