Martial arts research library

[bushido_man96]

The Essence of War

Trans, ed, Ralph D. Sawyer

This book is a compilation of excerpts taken from the ancient Chinese texts of The Seven Military Classics (including The Art of War) and Military Methods.

The excerpts are arranged under 41 topics, with excerpts from each of the works placed together that describe the same topic. It reads very much like The Art of War, and is arranged much the same, but with extra contributions from other military geniuses.

I enjoyed reading this book, and if you love military history, then this book is for you.

[bushido_man96]

These are the books that I have on Weapons:

English Martial Arts

Terry Brown

Muye Dobo Tongji The Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts of Ancient Korea

Trans, Sang H. Kim, Ph.D.

The Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima

Mark V. Wiley

Schools and Masters of Fencing From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century

Egerton Castle

Old Sword Play

Alfred Hutton

Bo: Karate Weapon of Self-Defense

Fumio Demura

Jo: Art of the Japanese Short Staff

Dave Lowry

Stick Fighting

Masaaki Hatsumi, Quinton Chambers

Medieval Combat A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat

Hans Talhoffer, trans, ed, Mark Rector

Fighting with the Quarterstaff A Modern Study of Renaissance Technique

David Lindholm

Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword

Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat Sword-and-Buckler Fighting, Wrestling, and Fighting in Armor

David Lindholm and Peter Svard

Renaissance Swordsmanship

Medieval Swordsmanship

John Clements

Codex Wallerstein A Medieval Fighting Book from the Fifteenth Century on the Longsword, Falchion, Dagger, and Wrestling

Grzegorz Zabinski, Bartlomiei Walczak

The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe

Sidney Anglo

Art of Defence An Introduction to the Use of the Rapier

William Wilson

Art of Dueling Salvator Fabris’ rapier fencing treatise of 1606

Tommaso Leoni

Sword of the Samurai

George R. Parulski, Jr.

By the Sword

Richard Cohen

Master of Defence The Works of George Silver

Paul Wagner

English Swordsmanship The True Fight of George Silver, vol. 1

Stephen Hand

Broadsword and Singlestick

R.G. Allanson-Winn, C. Phillipps-Wolley

The “Walking Stick” Method of Self-Defense

By “an officer of the Indian Police”

Medieval and Renaissance Dagger Combat

By Jason Vail

Highland Knife Fighting with the Dirk and Sgian

Christopher Scott Thompson with Louie Pastore

In Service of the Duke The 15th Century Fighting Treatise of Paulas Kal

Translated by Christian Henry Tobler

The Sword & The Mind The Classic Japanese Treatise on Swordsmanship and Tactics

Translated by Hiroaki Sato

The Samurai The Philosophy of Victory

Robert T. Samuel

Krabi-Krabong Thailand's Art of Weapons Fighting

Kruu Pedro Solana Villalobos

Edited September 17, 2007 by bushido_man96

[bushido_man96]

These are my books on boxing:

Boxing: Complete Illustrated Instructions in the Art of Self-Defense

Put out by Spalding's Athletic Library in 1929, this is a boxing classic. Although much of what is discussed in this book may be different from what it is today, there are still many interesting concepts in the book.

Various strategies are discussed, such as blocking/slipping/ducking and countering, along with footwork, and the like. It is a nice historical piece, with short bios on some of the most famous boxers known at the time, with a couple of greats illustrating the concepts.

Overall, very nice.

Boxing The American Martial Art

R. Michael Onello

Edited April 10, 2007 by bushido_man96

[baronbvp]

Bushido Man, you have a LOT of books. Excellent. I've seen quite a few of my titles in your library and in the lists of others.

[bushido_man96]

Bushido Man, you have a LOT of books. Excellent. I've seen quite a few of my titles in your library and in the lists of others.

Thanks, baron. I have read the most of them, or am in the process of doing so. I am almost overwhelmed with information!

[bushido_man96]

The “Walking Stick” Method of Self-Defense

By “an officer of the Indian Police”

This book was an interesting look at a stick fighting method developed by an Indian Police officer named H. G. Lang, who was Superintendent of Agency Police in Kathiawar, India.

The method he describes is very simple, using the stick to make "cuts," and then continue to follow through, to circle back around to a guard, or to send in another attack. He describes various strikes, guards, and "tricks" used to disarm and take down another attacker. He stresses speed and suppleness of the wrist to maintain control of the weapon. Some of the movements mimic some sword-type movements, and some are unique.

I enjoyed this book, and I feel like this system stick fighting could be fun to use. The system was actually adopted by the Boy Scouts in India, and replaced the staff in the curriculum.

There were some good points in this book. As a how-to book, it can be tricky to follow at times. However, it is an interesting look at a weapons system that could have some valuable uses in self-defense, with a simplistic weapon.

Edited April 4, 2007 by bushido_man96

[bushido_man96]

Zen in the Martial Arts

Joe Hyams

This was a fun read. It is about Joe Hyams' journey of learning Zen through the Martial Arts, and then applying (or attempting to apply) it to his life in general.

Full of anecdotal chapters on lessons and discussions from various instructors, like Bruce Lee, Jim Lau, Ed Parker, Bong Soo Han, Pat Strong, and even a chapter about Mas Oyama. The chapters are insightful and informative, and you come away knowing that you can apply various ideas and concepts throughout your life, if you just slow down and realize it.

A very good read, and I highly recommend it. If anything, it is enjoyable, full of interactions and experiences that many can appreciate.

[bushido_man96]

Broadsword and Singlestick

R.G. Allanson-Winn, C. Phillipps-Wolley

This book was originally written in 1890. C. Phillips-Wolley supplied the section on the Singlestick, and Allanson-Winn was responsible for the rest of the book.

Including chapters on the Quarterstaff and Bayonet as well as the Broadsword and Singlestick, this book is a good source of what the weapons of the day were and how they were used.

This book makes a great companion for anyone studying the history of weapons in civilian combat. Some of the diagrams can be confusing to the beginner. The attacks are described through a circle, with the appropriate parries described in the circles as well.

Although the book does tend to lend a "sporting air" with the weapons, much practical weapons fighting information can be gleened from its pages.

As reprints go, it is an average book.

[bushido_man96]

Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Sul Real Applications to the ITF Patterns

Stuart Paul Anslow

This book takes an Iain Abernethy approach to the Ch'ang Hon system of TKD forms (the ITF forms). In this book, Anslow takes each form (including four direction block and four direction punch drills) and digs out the applications involved. It shows applications for each of move of each form, up to Jung Gun tul. The applications are very well explained, and the descriptions are supported by photos that guide the visual aide.

Accompanying the forms applications are brief histories of the person for which the form is named, describing their importance in Korean culture. The author also opens the book with his philosophies on the teaching of TKD forms, how he went about his research for the applications, and his MOs for each of the applications.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I hope that he is able to bring out the second volume soon. Even if you don't go along with what he demonstrates, it does stimulate the brain to think about what the forms can mean to different people. An excellent book, in my opinion, and I recommend it.

[bushido_man96]

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Bruce Lee

Well, what can I say about this book? I am sure that many have already read it, so I will refrain from a large summary of what many consider a staple in any Martial Arts library. I will say a few things, though.

In the intro, Gilbert L. Johnson says that the book "has no real ending...serves as a beginning." This statement exudes the amount of philosophy that Bruce exhibits throughout the book.

There are some points in the book that stand out. Many times, Bruce alludes to "athletic performances" in speed, agility, balance, preperatory phases of movements, etc. It is obvious that he felt that Martial Artists were athletes, who did an athletic activity, and this was important for economical performance.

His notes are very well researched, and he studied books on Western boxing and fencing to facilitate some of his style components.

His last two sections are philosophical. He talks a lot about freeing the mind, and liberating oneself, in order to better oneself as a person, and not just as a Martial Artist.

When it comes down to the ideas in the book, one can see that Bruce spent a lot of time studying and trying to improve himself through constant practice and study. He tried whatever there was, and kept what worked for him. Striking, kicking, in-fighting, and grappling...he covered it all.

As far as books go, I really enjoy this one, having read it twice through. I highly recommend it, to gain insight, ideas, and to facilitate what it is that the Arts are to you.