can you reccommend books?

[rachel]

I'm interested in reading books about karate and the martial arts. Can anyone reccommend some good authors and books? Some good martial artists to read up on? Thanks in advance!

 

[Elfan]

What kind of books are you looking for? Biographies? history? technicle stuf? Some specific art or "everything"?

 

[rachel]

I study chinese kempo. So karate is mainly what I'm interested in. Biographies are good. Technical. I'm really interested in all aspects of it. i would enjoy reading biographies but books about techniques are good too.

 

[Elfan]

I don't study Chinese Kenpo so I woudn't know of any good technicle stuf. You might find these interesting:

Karate-Do: My Way of Life - Biography of the man who brought Shotokan karate to Japan

Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts - Just what the title says. A thoughough discription and history of Asian Fighting arts

Zen in the Martial Arts - Popular book of short stories based on the author's training with a number of prominant martial artistis.

 

[rachel]

Thank You for your help.

 

[TragicHero]

I don't study Karate-Do either (well, I don't study it as my *martial art*, but I do read about it a lot.. <g>), but I *have* read all three of the books mentioned above, and they are *all* excellent.

I especially endorse "Zen In the Martla Arts", it should be required reading for all martial *artists* (as opposed to just *fighters* -- if you want your practice to overflow into your everyday life, you have to grasp the sort of ideas this book espouses, IMHO).

 

[rachel]

Zen in the martial arts sounds good. I'll pick a copy up. Thanks.

 

[jfarnsworth]

I think Mr. Conatser has a book called Secrets of Chinese Karate. I've personally not read it but Mr. Hatfield makes references to the book from time to time in class. Rachel, maybe you could ask or bring some life back to an old thread in the kenpo section.

 

[Samurai]

SECRETS OF CHINESE KARATE is one of Ed Parker's early books. Very basic information presented. Many libraies have it.


One of the BEST Karate books I have seen from a technique point of view is called The Heart of Karate-Do by Shigeru Egami.
He is the current head of the Shotokan group I believe.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK

Another book that every martial artist should read is


The Tao of Jeet Kune Do by some guy nobody ever heard of. I think his name is Bruce Lee.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK

Thanks
jeremy bays

 

[Cryozombie]

"Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan

 

[Elfan]

Originally posted by Technopunk
"Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan

Review/discusion here:

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4429

 

[rachel]

I just picked up my copy of "zen in the martial arts". I can't wait to read it. It looks good. Thanks.

 

[Zujitsuka]

Here are three of my favorites:

EFFORTLESS COMBAT THROWS, by Tim Cartmell

INDONESIAN FIGHTING FUNDAMENTALS, by Bob Orlando

THE MARTIAL ARTIST'S BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, by Stephen Kaufman

Enjoy!

 

[Cthulhu]

I don't recommend Kaufman's The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings. When compared to other translations, some of the text just doesn't seem quite right and I have it on good authority that a lot of the translation is just plain wrong. I own the book, but have since lost it in my garage and I don't plan on wasting any time looking for it. If you are interested in Miyamoto Musashi's work, I'd recommend a more general translation (pretty much any but Kaufman's).

Cthulhu

 

[Jill666]

I also have Kaufmann, and felt like it was missing something.

There are many translations, some for businessmen (they actually say stuff like success on the jacket). *shudder*

Can someone recommend a good through translation?

 

[Jill666]

Originally posted by Technopunk
"Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan

I thouroughly enjoyed this book, and read it through. You will get some odd looks on the subway or at work. Which is a nice bonus.

Oh, that reminds me, I am interested in our pagan friends' reviews of "the Wiccan Warrior" by Kerr Cuhulain. He's a cop, martial artist, wiccan, and examines the warrior archetype (as the jacket says).

 

[moromoro]

go to your local second hand or antique bookstore and buy out of print books

i have over 100 old MA books

i mainly collect old how to boxing books, and also old judo, jujutsu text, anything that is old

 

[Randy Strausbaugh]

Originally posted by Jill666
I also have Kaufmann, and felt like it was missing something.

There are many translations, some for businessmen (they actually say stuff like success on the jacket). *shudder*

Can someone recommend a good through translation?

Try Thomas Cleary's translation. It also contains a translation of Yagyu's Heihokadensho.:asian:

Trying to avoid life's potholes,
Randy Strausbaugh

 

[Jill666]

Funny that you replied now. Just the other day in Taijutsu class, my cousin paraphrased from the Five Rings to illustrate a point. When I asked him what translation he favored, he answered he read three different ones to get a fuller sense of what Mushashi was saying.

I thought this was an excellent approach- if you have the time to do it. I don't. :shrug:

Must be nice to be rich.

 

[Randy Strausbaugh]

I might be rich if I didn't spend so much on books.

Trying to avoid life's potholes,
Randy Strausbaugh