Martial arts research library

[bushido_man96]

Fighter's Fact Book 2 by Loren W. Christensen

This book is devoted entirely to the use of street-oriented self-defense. Given the subject matter, one would think that the book is filled with RBSD instructors talking about disarming guns, etc. However, Christensen offers his own chapters, along with chapters from other experienced instructors, ranging from Iain Abernethey, Rory A. Miller, Lawrence Kane, Kris Wilder, and others.

There are chapters on defending against dog attacks, using hair attacks, using a tactical flashlight, kicking in self-defense, and the list goes on and on. The book is underlined by two major subjects: that you will fight the way you train, and that you need to be justified for whatever you use in a self-defense situation.

This is an awesome book, and if you like Christensen's work, then it is a required addition to your library.

[bushido_man96]

Boxing The American Martial Art

R. Michael Onello

In this book, the author attempts to lay out a 12 week boxing course that you can do where you live, with the help of a partner with some drills, and by yourself on others. It starts out with general stretching and conditioning drills, which focus on the abs and upper body. Along with the lessons he lays out, he lists conditioning drills to go along with them.

The lessons seem to be fairly easy to follow, and with a partner, I think that you could put together a fairly nice routine. Would it prepare you for the ring? Not likely. However, it would be a good, fun way to get the basics of boxing down.

I thought that this book was ok. If anything, I took away in the lessons a lot of ideas for mini solo-training workouts on heavy bags or shadowboxing. I also may try some of the partner stuff out, to see if I can make the defensive aspects work.

Overall, this book is alright. It does lend some decent drills, I think (based on my limited boxing knowledge), and the author has some good credentials to back his stuff up.

[salman]

Hi, This post is very informative, however I would like some specific information. If someone can help me then please send me a private message. Best Regards,

[bushido_man96]

Muay Thai Unleashed

Erich Krauss, Glen Cordoza, w/Tana (Chun) Yingwitayakhunp

This was a good book, and I learned a lot of things about the Muay Thai fighting that I really didn't know. The difference between the boxing done in Muay Thai and in boxing is discussed. There is discussion about some of the training ideas, which was interesting as well. These athletes are in top shape; world class athletes, for sure. I also learned quite a bit about the clinch, and the war that goes on there as well.

I would recommend this book to those who don't have much exposure to Muay Thai. I am not sure what experienced practitioners would think of the book, but from my standpoint, it was very informative, and I learned quite a bit.

[bushido_man96]

Medieval and Renaissance Dagger Combat

By Jason Vail

This is an ARMA member book.

This was an excellent book. In this book, the author has studied various medieval fight manuals, and has practiced the various ways of using and defending against the dagger attack as it was done in Medieval Europe. What will be suprising to many is the fact that many of the methods and defenses that can be found in the Medieval manuals are very similar to many things found in the Easter Martial Arts as well. From locks, to throws, to knife hand strikes, you can find them here.

The book describes 3 different types of dagger combat: unarmed against dagger, dagger against dagger, and dagger against sword. His research in these areas has been backed up by hours spent in both drill and free play.

The author is also not shy about stating the odds when fighting dagger against sword, or unarmed against dagger. He does not say that it is easy, but that it is important to drill properly, to gain the proficiency needed.

By comparing the research that he has done with other contemporary writers on knife combat, including W. Hock Hochheim, James LaFond, and Marc MacYoung, you can see that not only were the methods of dagger combat valid in Medieval times, but they are still valid to this day.

[bushido_man96]

Solo Training

Solo Training 2

Loren W. Christensen

These two books are great. The original is already a classic, I think. With chapters on kicking, stiking, footwork, and sparring, he covers the gamut of striking styles. In Solo Training 2, he goes further and covers ways to train grappling solo. They are very unique ways, but inventive, and one could benefit from them. This volume also concentrates on training the core, in order to build up the strength needed to perform good Martial Arts techniques. Combined with his chapters on the mental aspect of being a Martial Artist, and his humoruous writing style, his books are always worth their price.

If you are ever stuck in a rut in your MA training, you can grap one or both of these books, flip open to a page, and find training ideas to keep you interested for weeks at a time. I recommend just about anything by Christensen.

[Zanshin]

The Serge Mol books are pretty accurate on the traditional Japanese MA side of things.

As a Wado-ka I would also recommend:

Introduction to Karate, and Karate Katas of Wado-Ryu - both written by Shingo Ohgami

Eugen Herrigel's "Zen in the art of archery" is a good little read as well.

[bushido_man96]

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

Translated by Christian Henry Tobler

This book is a facsimile copy of one that is held in the State Library of Bavaria. This Medieval European fectbuch is written by the Master Paulas Kal, who was employed by Ludwig IX, duke of Bavaria-Landshut, who reigned from 1450-1479.

Kal was a master of defense whose lineage is tied to that of Master Johannes Liechtenauer from the late 14th century. This Grandmaster, so-to-speak, spawned many Masters that repeated his work.

Most of Kal's teachings here are founded Liechtenauer's teachings, which Kal has illustrated in sections of duels on horseback and foot in with a lance, with poleaxes, clubs and shields, between man and woman (a judicial duel), sword and buckler, longsword, messer, dagger, and wrestling. Along with the illustrations and captions is a detailed technical analysis of each section, plate by plate, done by the author. The author also garnishes from other similar fightbooks from other Masters of the Liechtenauer tradition, gleaning further translations and insights.

This book was printed on a special limited run of 900 (mine is number 374). The facsimile is full sized, and the illustrations are beautiful. The author even makes notes about the dress and armor used in the illustrations that would be of interest and use to historians of the period.

This subject is just my thing, but I think that this is an excellent book, and a great example of the application and practicality of the Medieval sword arts. From reading this and other fightbooks, I have seen that the European weapons systems were trasnferrable from weapon to weapon, with common applications and principles ranging from weapon to weaponless combat. The author is quick to point out where there are similarities between the wrestling plates and the plates of armored longsword combat.

Great book, great research, and I look forward to cross-referencing other fight manuals with it in the future.

Edited August 24, 2007 by bushido_man96

[bushido_man96]

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

Translated by Hiroaki Sato

This book is the treatise presented by Yagyu Munenori on the system on the Shinkage school of swordsmanship. There is a brief technical section, followed by several sections on Bhuddism and Swordsmanship.

Most of this book is a philosophical outlook, and really isn't up my alley. There is a lot of discussion on state of mind, and relating it to swordsmanship. If you like to read about Zen aspects, especially related to swordsmanship, then you will enjoy this book.

[Zanshin]

bushido_man96

You crack me up. You are actually quoting yourself in your posts!!

OMG I envy you so much that you have a job that allows you to read about 3 books a night!

Or so it would seem.