Whose books or articles have influenced or helped your martial arts career the most?

 

And if you can elaborate on the "why" part, all the better.

the book of five rings, it is very interesting, no matter what level you are on in your training, and even after you think you understood it all you can go back and find something else new, it is a book that is very insperational and has a lot to offer.

 

also the book that i am writing will be very good someday, it will take me several years to complete, but if you are all around i will let you have a peak hehehehe

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams has probably had the biggest impact on my training.

I'm more interested in finding the favorite author than the favorite book, although if the author has just one good book, then it is okay to just mention the one book.

 

My favorite author nowadays is Loren W. Christensen. Reason: lots of real life info based on experience and the KISS principle.

Gichin Funakoshi (in particular his auto-biography)

 

BIG influence very inspirational (also slightly humbling) and use to everyone not just Karate-ka.

There are so many great texts, but I think probably "The art of peace" which is a series of peoms by O Sensei has really helped me get over some stuff. Anger White Pyjama's is also a good book.

 

I have taken so much from so many books its really impossible to say which is the best, depends on my mood at the time.

Did anyone else think that Hagakure was overly death orientated and a bit depressing, I don't think it is as good as its made out to be, but I probably haven't really given it enough time (its not really light reading!) is it worth persevering (SP?) with?

Did anyone else think that Hagakure was overly death orientated and a bit depressing, I don't think it is as good as its made out to be, but I probably haven't really given it enough time (its not really light reading!) is it worth persevering (SP?) with?

 

It's very indicative of a samurai frame of mind, and should be taken that way. Anything read in that book could be applied to a modern situation, but would take some thinking through. I found it a good exercise in modifying examples.

 

But I do ramble, so it doesn't matter. Keep reading, you may like it in the end.