Your Martial Arts Library

[tallgeese]

I was just wondering what everyone had on their list of "required" reading in referance to the arts. Mine would include, at the top of the list:

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Living the Martial Way- Forrest Morgan

The next couple will probibly surprise people coming from me, but also:

Karate-do, My Way of Life- Funikoshi

Secrets of the Samurai- Ratti and company

Code of the Samurai- trans. by Cleary

Not really martial arts related, but important none the less:

On Killing and/or On Combat - Grossman

A couple of these are actually required reading for black belt level candidates, I'm considering mandating a couple of more for my guys.

What else do you guys consider "essintial reading"?

[bushido_man96]

Not really martial arts related, but important none the less:

On Killing and/or On Combat - Grossman

I hope to read these eventually.

As far as required reading goes, although I do own copies of some of Funakoshi's books, and appreciate what he writes about, I don't always agree with the philosophies of the "old masters." Therefore, I don't think that I would require too much of them.

Tao of Jeet Kune Do is good. A Book of Five Rings would be recommended by many as well. Sun Tzu's Art of War might also be high on the list.

The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe is a great text that delves into the fighting style that existed in Europe, and dispells a lot of myths about them.

Check this thread for information: http://www.karateforums.com/martial-arts-research-library-vt8082-80.html

[st0ut]

The Zen Way to the Martial artist. Taisen Deshimaru

other than that i listen to my shihan and sensei. i do not want tocloud with what they are teaching by what other say is proper or better.

[ps1]

Karate Do, My way of Life

The Book of Five Rings

Art of War

Zen and the Martial Arts

Moving Zen

Living the Martial Way

Gracie Jiujitsu: The master text

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Any book by Dave Lowry (Autmn Lighting, Traditions, Sword and Brush)

Bushido: Code of the Samauri

I'm sure there are others I haven't thought of right now.

[Zanshin]

Quality literature, particularly Bushido, and PS1's choices.

What about The Bubushi?

[KarateEd]

These are books that I believe should be required reading for MA

1. Living the Martial Way by Forrest Morgan

2. Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

3. A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

4. The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho

[ShoriKid]

The Bubishi

Small-Circle Jujitsu

Okinawan Kempo (Choki Motobu)

Zen in the Martial Arts

The Book of Martial Power

I second Col. Grossman's On Killing

I'd recommend Medieval Swordsmanship by John Clements

does for older forms of swordsmanship what bushido_man's MA of Renaissance Europe does. Too many misconceptions out there.

[bushido_man96]

I'd recommend Medieval Swordsmanship by John Clements

does for older forms of swordsmanship what bushido_man's MA of Renaissance Europe does. Too many misconceptions out there.

Yes, this one is quite good. It is also in my library.

[snorri]

I don't think there's any "requirement" to read anything about martial arts, what is required is good instruction and lots of practice. Having said that I love reading about martial arts. I second a lot of the suggestions above and would add Angry White Pyjamas by Robert Twigg, a brilliant read.