MA book recommendations

[younwhagrl]

Here are some books I recommend you guys read:

A Book of Five Rings

written by: Miyamoto Musashi

and

Zen in the Martial Arts

written by: Joe Hyams

Anyone else have any MA book recommendations???

[AndrewGreen]

Well, we all know someone is gonna say "Tao of Jeet Kun Do" so let's just get that out of the way...

Anyone with Okinawan Roots should read the Bubishi, I'm partial to the George Alexander translation over McCarthy's.

Also the books on the oral history are interesting read

Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters - Shoshin Nagamine

Weaponless Warriors - Richard Kim

are a couple

Another good one is "Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts" vol 1 & 2. Well, part good. 1 is Taira Shinkens book, translated... but instead of the original photo's the author used pictures of himself. The 2nd is a compilation of historical stuff...

Kodokan Judo - Jigoro Kano , good for just about anyone, especially those doing Judo

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere - Westbrook & Ratti - Personally Aikido is not my thing, but the theories and ideas are well explained in here.

Brazillian Jui-Jitsu: Theory & Technique - Renzo & Royler Gracie, Good starting point for BJJ theory, and basic techniques for the beginner with a very high quality of publication

BJJ The Master Text - Gene Simco - Great book, lots of good stuff for BJJ, Submission and MMA

Oh, and Something by Ahida Kim for kicks

[orion82698]

Nice! I'll check some of these out!

[Jay]

Sensei Kanazawa The complete kumite

[orion82698]

Well, with the books though. Are they just like videos? I know everyone complains about videos not being the way to go. I knwo they don't teach the style, but rather talk about it. Are they still a great source of info?

[lgm]

One of the best books written about Shotokan karate training, particularly useful for beginners and intermediate students, I recommend "Karate-The Japanese Way" by Mark Groenewold.

You will find reading this book written in easy, conversational style highly informative as well as interesting. Check it out.

[scottnshelly]

Anyone else have any MA book recommendations???

I have listed my recommendations on a couple other posts; such as the Martial Arts research library Sticky in General Martial Arts. I think that reading is the second most important facet of training. I stopped attending a Dojang/Dojo (not by choice) almost five years ago. Since then, I have started reading and I think I have progressed more in these five years as a Black Belt than I did the first 10 years. When you go to one Dojang/Dojo, you only focus on that material. When you pick up a book, you can read about another style.

Well, with the books though. Are they just like videos? I know everyone complains about videos not being the way to go. I knwo they don't teach the style, but rather talk about it. Are they still a great source of info?

As with videos, I tend to stay away from instructional themed books. I like to read about Martial Arts, but I prefer not to read about how to do them. I prefer books regarding the histories, philosophies and theories of the Martial Arts.

[Tommy_P]

Anyone with Okinawan Roots should read the Bubishi, I'm partial to the George Alexander translation over McCarthy's.

That's interesting, can you say what makes Mr. Alexanders translation better in your opinion. I've never read Pat McCarthy's version but I did brief through George Alexanders a long time ago.

I'd be interested in hearing your comparison.

Tommy

[orion82698]

Anyone else have any MA book recommendations???

I have listed my recommendations on a couple other posts; such as the Martial Arts research library Sticky in General Martial Arts. I think that reading is the second most important facet of training. I stopped attending a Dojang/Dojo (not by choice) almost five years ago. Since then, I have started reading and I think I have progressed more in these five years as a Black Belt than I did the first 10 years. When you go to one Dojang/Dojo, you only focus on that material. When you pick up a book, you can read about another style.

Well, with the books though. Are they just like videos? I know everyone complains about videos not being the way to go. I knwo they don't teach the style, but rather talk about it. Are they still a great source of info?

As with videos, I tend to stay away from instructional themed books. I like to read about Martial Arts, but I prefer not to read about how to do them. I prefer books regarding the histories, philosophies and theories of the Martial Arts.

Exactly! I could care less about how to do them (I know that sounds odd saying that in this forum) but I want to read the history, the philosophical side to the art. I have always been fascinated by Japan and the many arts. Is there a great book out there that will discuss some good Okinawan styles?

[MATX1]

No one has said Sun Tzu the Art of War yet. An excellent "must have" book that you'll read time after time