Recommended Reading!

[Laurentkd]

Girl Bug, one more suggestion for your track: back in the 80s, there was a great mini series based upon the book by James Clavell, called Shogun! with Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune as the Japanese star. Though sometimes a little ribald and over the top, it was a great mini series about that age in Japanese warlord periods.

And the actually book Shogun is waaaaay better than the mini-series

 

[Ninebird8]

Laurentkd is absolutely right....the actual James Clavell book was long but much more vivid and exciting, a relatively good portrayal of the times.

 

[KenpoTex]

• Principles of Personal Defense by Col. Jeff Cooper (the definitive work on the proper fighting mindset, AFAIC)
• Kill or Get Killed by Col. Rex Applegate
• Get Tough by Col. W.E. Fairbairn
• Put 'em Down, Take 'em Out by Don Pentecost
  

 

[SteffenBerg]

Some great books listed here already... and I've read quite a few of them.

Here are some books that haven't been mentioned that some of you might find interesting (I study Japanese Martial Arts so my selections are a bit slanted...):

• Martial Musings - Robert W. Smith
• Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts - Donn Draeger & Robert W. Smith
• Warriors of Stillness vol. 1 & 2 - Jan Diepersloot
• Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods - Robert W. Smith
• Effortless Combat Throws - Tim Cartmell
• Xing Yi Nei Gong - Tim Cartmell
• The Gracie Way - Kid Peligro
• Persimmon Wind - Dave Lowry
• Autumn Lightning - Dave Lowry
• In the Dojo - Dave Lowry
• Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan - Diane Skoss
• Sword & Spirit - Diane Skoss
• Keiko Shokon - Diane Skoss
• Martial Arts and Ways of Japan vol 1 - 3 (Classical Bujutsu, Classical Budo & Modern Budo) by Donn Draeger
• Legacies of the Sword - Karl F. Friday
• Old School - Ellis Amdur
• Japanese Swordsmanship: Technique And Practice - Donn Draeger
• Dueling with O-Sensei - Ellis Amdur
• Aikido Masters: Prewar Students of Morihei Ueshiba - Stan Pranin / Aikido Journal
• Daito Ryu Aikijutsu - Stan Pranin / Aikido Journal
• Illuminated Spirit: Conversations with a Kyudo Master - Dan & Jackie DeProspero

Have fun,
Stef