When it comes to sports and entertainment, the glitz and the glamour of celebrity life, most of us only aspire to gain something small such as an autograph. Few of us ever have the chance to sit down with stars and discuss their lives, or rub shoulders with those closest to them. Being up close and personal with UFC, boxing and entertainment stars is just part of journalist Fiaz Rafiq's daily routine. He's worked closely with some of the most revered champions and pioneers of UFC. In this gripping memoir he shares riveting behind-the-scenes stories of the top MMA and boxing champions and legends, their gritty beginnings and their most triumphant moments. The result is the culmination of over two decades of work , gaining the trust and confidence of the greatest fighters and personalities in MMA and combat sports. To the Top is a fascinating odyssey, a compelling tale of triumph despite insurmountable odds. It uncovers the hidden history of the most brutal combat sport on the planet.

There's more to winning battles than fists and feetFor world-renowned professional fighter Georges St-Pierre, the greatest asset is not physical strength or athleticism--it's a sense of purpose. From his beginnings as a small, mercilessly bullied child first discovering karate to his years as a struggling garbage collector who spent all his free time in the gym, his hard-fought rise in the sport of mixed martial arts, and his long, painful recovery from a career-threatening injury, Georges never lost sight of his ambition to become the greatest martial artist of all time. In The Way of the Fight, Georges for the first time reveals what propelled him not only to become a champion but to embrace obstacles as opportunities to build character.Georges's story is interwoven with fascinating insights from those who know him best: his mother, who tells of his drive to master new skills, even as a child. His mentor Kristof Midoux, who describes a young fighter with an extraordinary sense of discipline. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher John Danaher, who witnessed the development of an indomitable work ethic. His coach Firas Zahabi, who worked alongside the champion through a potentially career-ending injury. And his longtime friend, training partner and manager, Rodolphe Beaulieu, who may understand this intensely focused athlete more than anyone.The Way of the Fight is an inspirational look into the mindset of a master. To Georges, all life is competition, and there's no more perfect metaphor for competition than the life of a fighter. He explains the value of discipline, risk and even fear, with the wisdom of one who knows that nothing is assured--his next fight could always be his last. Drawing inspiration from fighting legends, Eastern philosophy and a trusted inner circle, The Way of the Fight is a powerful, life-changing guide to living with purpose and finding the way to accomplish your loftiest goals.

Karate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting is the definitive guide to Shotokan Karate--the most widely practiced style of Karate--and has inspired millions of Karate practitioners worldwide. Authored by one of the great masters of the art, Hidetaka Nishiyama, this book is a classic, groundbreaking work on the sport of Karate, and one of the first published in English. An Olympic sport, Karate is today practiced by over 100 million people worldwide. Nishiyama began his training under the instruction of Gichin Funakoshi, the legendary founder of Shotokan Karate. He helped establish the Japan Karate Association and, as head of the JKA's instructors training program, was instrumental in bringing Karate to the U.S. and other Western countries. When he arrived, he proceeded to train the first great generation of Karate instructors spawning a whole new generation of martial artists. Highly accessible and richly illustrated with over 1,000 photographs, this book is a comprehensive manual with step-by-step instructions to all the basic movements and techniques of Karate. Topics covered include: A brief history of Karate Theories and principles of the martial art Effective training and exercise methods Karate techniques including stances, blocks and attacks Defenses against weapons With a new foreword by Ray Dalke, who trained under Nishiyama and, at 8th Dan, is the highest ranking American in Shotokan Karate, Karate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting provides analyses from the standpoint of physics, physiology, philosophy, and body dynamics. The book's techniques apply to all styles of the martial art and is a valuable reference for any Karateka--stressing Nishiyama's lesson that mastery of the basics is not the end but merely the beginning of a lifelong journey.

Strike and kick with explosive power. Take down and grapple with sustained brute strength. Counter and evade with unmatched speed and agility. Be the best. Be your best with Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts, the complete guide for physical and mental dominance. Whether you practice MMA, Brazilian jiujitsu, taekwondo, karate, judo, aikido, kung fu, muay thai, krav maga, wrestling, or a combination of these, you have discovered your go-to training guide. Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts eschews the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, you'll learn to evaluate your conditioning along with physical strengths and weaknesses. You'll select from 120 exercises-each tailored to improve a key martial arts skill or attribute-to enhance performance in the discipline you practice and the goals you set. Then you will learn how to structure a conditioning program for short-term gains and long-term success-success you'll see and your opponents will feel. Loren Landow has been featured on The Ultimate Fighter and has trained some of the best martial artists and UFC fighters in the world. Now you can learn his secrets and follow his proven program in Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts.

"He's the toughest street fighter alive." Freddie Foreman Picture a man, he's tall, not excessively so, yet as wide as he is high. This man is a spitting and growling street brawler; a tank full of ready to blow, muscle-fuelled aggression. Imagine, if you will, the comic book style Bulldog of Great British stamp. Well, there you have him! The prototypical face taken from the terraces of an '80s football fan's rolled-up newspaper cosh; a poster-boy of malevolence left over from Thatcher's post-punk Britain. Stormin' Norman's his name and when this storm is erupting, he's like a force-nine gale fused with a hurricane. In his heyday, Norman saw off a plethora of gangland minders, and with his own style of hands-on education, taught Glasgow's prolific hitman, Billy McPhee, the laws of the Guv'nor's land. He's the Godfather of Aylesbury, former British Bare-Knuckle Champion, and undefeated European Boxing Federation 'Guv'nor'. The loveable lunatic with the heart of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Yes, this my accidental friends, is the new Guv'nor. He is the man who rebuked many a heathen, but was also everyone's friend, and for all the right reasons. So, settle in with your favourite tipple, and let us regale you with a lifetime of fronting the doors, serving at Her Majesty's pleasure, righting wrongs, and brutal bare-knuckle tear-ups.

Martial arts have grown in popularity in recent years as we have begun to discover the many benefits that each one can offer. While they can help to improve physical fitness, they also teach the importance of balance between body and mind, and this makes them particularly appealing. There is a wide range of disciplines to choose from and this book will introduce you to some of the most popular forms. The history and philosophy of each art is explained, followed by photographic step-by-step instructions that clearly illustrate the key techniques. Whether you are a beginner or experienced practitioner, this guide will help you develop your skills at every stage.

A new book.

The result of extensive research, including an analysis of over 140 active shooter/killer incidents, Krav Maga Extreme Survival provides an apolitical view of personal safety--concentrating on practical methods to survive violent situations. In his third book, Gershon Ben Keren explains how Krav Maga techniques can be used to survive some of the most relevant, extreme situations including carjackings, home invasions and attempted mass killings. The book also details predator profiling methods to aid in the prediction, prevention and avoidance of violence. Demonstrating effective solutions that have been tried and tested in both the real world and through reconstructions of real-life events, each section of Krav Maga Extreme Survival presents detailed instructions alongside a series of photographs that show how to defend yourself and others against: Attacks in workplaces, homes and public places Instances of domestic violence including violent and abusive relationships Assailants armed with knives, handguns, long barrel firearms, explosives, and improvised weapons Attacks in cars and other confined and restricted spaces Vehicular rammings Unarmed attackers One-on-one assaults and attacks targeting a group Emphasizing a dynamic assessment of your environment, combined with a rapid response, Krav Maga Extreme Survival teaches practitioners to neutralize an assailant's advantage early, before the situation escalates.

Mick Foley is a nice man, a family man who loves amusement parks and eating ice cream in bed. So how to explain those Japanese death matches in rings with explosives, golden thumbtacks and barbed wire instead of rope? The second-degree burn tissue? And the missing ear that was ripped off during a bout-in which he kept fighting? Here is an intimate glimpse into Mick Foley's mind, his history, his work and what some might call his pathology. Now with a bonus chapter summarizing the past 15 months-from his experience as a bestselling author through his parting thoughts before his final match. A tale of blood, sweat, tears and more blood-all in his own words-straight from the twisted genius behind Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind.

Finally Frank has brought his unique style of training unto the screen! A brief description of the contents of this epic training DVD is: Body Tone & Stretching; Blocking & Applications; Punching & Applications; Kicking & Applications; Knife Attack & applications; Grappling; Breathing & Meditation; and, Road Rage - Cashpoint Machines - Car Parks! Extra Features include History of Karate-Do / Interviews with students / Deleted Scenes! The perfect viewing - The Complete Guide! Approximate running time: 180 minutes.

A vivid and realistic picture of the most controversial sport on Earth, On Boxing is a riveting, electrifying journey through a world of glitter and gore--where heart-soaring triumph and heart-rending tragedy go hand in hand. A magnificent work by a consummate artist.

Following the success of Jeffrey L. Forgeng's translation of Joachim Meyer's The Art of Sword Combat the author was alerted to an earlier recension of the work which was discovered in Lund University Library in Sweden. The manuscript, produced in Strassburg around 1568, is illustrated with thirty watercolour images and seven ink diagrams. The text covers combat with the longsword (hand-and-a-half sword), dusack (a one-handed practice weapon comparable to a sabre), and rapier. The manuscript's theoretical discussion of guards is one of the most critical passages to understanding this key feature of the historical practice, not just in relation to Meyer but in relation to the medieval combat systems in general. The manuscript offers an extensive repertoire of training drills for both the dusack and the rapier, a feature largely lacking in treatises of the period as a whole but critical to modern reconstructions of the practice. The translation also includes a biography of Meyer, much of which has only recently come to light, as well as technical terminology, and other essential information for understanding and contextualizing the work.

Benny Leonard was arguably the greatest lightweight champion of all time. With superb boxing skills and potent punching power, he fought over 200 times and suffered just five defeats. He spent his boyhood in a crime-ridden ghetto in Manhattan's Lower East Side, and was the greatest of a long line of Jewish boxers to emerge from the slums. Leonard was still only 19 when he knocked out Freddie Welsh to become world lightweight king in 1917. He defended the title eight times and retired as undefeated champion in 1925, to please the only woman he loved, his mother. But the 1929 Wall Street Crash wiped out his fortune and he was forced to make a comeback at 35. Leonard fought the best of his era: Johnny Dundee, Johnny Kilbane, Rocky Kansas, Jack Britton, Ted Kid Lewis and Lew Tendler among them. Apart from being a sublime boxer, Benny was a first-class showman who helped to put boxing on a higher plane. He died as he lived - in the ring - while refereeing a fight at age 51. This is the definitive account of his remarkable life and career.

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER! A vivid trip through the mind of the top professional wrestler in the business-a nobody from nowhere who achieved his ambitions and walked away with the gold and the girl of his dreams. Ride alongside Jon Moxley as he retraces some of the highways traveled on his remarkable journey. Revel in the never-before-told stories about his early life in Cincinnati, Ohio; the gritty independent wrestling scene where he cut his teeth; the complicated corporate landscape of the WWE where he bucked against authority; and the rebellious upstart AEW, where he won the championship in 2020 and was finally free to achieve the vision of the wrestler he'd always wanted to be. With plenty of pitstops and revelatory insights, including grisly ultraviolent encounters, crazy characters who became lifelong friends, and his unforgettable matches in Japan, MOX is the riveting account of the life of a brawler. It is a tale written in blood and soaked in debauchery, with a good dose of wisdom accumulated along the way. More than a backstage pass into the arena, MOX is a ticket into the ring. Once inside, you'll never look at pro wrestling the same again.

"A teacher is never a giver of truth--he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst."--Bruce Lee Within the pages of Striking Thoughts, you will find the secrets of Bruce Lee's incredible success-- as an actor, martial artist, and inspiration to the world. Consisting of eight sections, Striking Thoughts covers 72 topics and 825 aphorisms--from spirituality to personal liberation and from family life to filmmaking--all of which Bruce lived by. His ideas helped energize his life and career and made it possible for him to live a happy and assured life, overcoming challenging obstacles with seeming ease. They also inspired his family, friends, students, and colleagues to achieve success in their own lives and this personal collection will help you in your journey too. Sections include: On First Principles--including life, existence, time, and death On Being Human--including the mind, happiness, fear, and dreams On Matters of Existence--health, love, marriage, raising children, ethics, racism, and adversity On Achievement--work, goals, faith, success, money, and fame On Art and Artists--art, filmmaking, and acting On Personal Liberation--conditioning, Zen Buddhism, meditation, and freedom On the Process of Becoming--self-actualization, self-help, self-expression, and growth On Ultimate (Final) Principles--Yin-yang, totality, Tao, and the truth This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also features: Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon Bruce Lee: The Tao of Gung Fu Bruce Lee: Artist of Life Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body Bruce Lee: Jeet Kune Do

Former WWE head writer Brian Gewirtz brings readers behind the scenes for an unprecedented look at the chaotic, surreal, unbelievable backstage world of the WWE.With untold stories from a career spanning over 15 years and featuring the biggest names and controversial moments in wrestling history, HEELS AND HEROES is an honest, unflinching look on how an introverted life-long fan unexpectedly became one the most powerful men in all of professional wrestling.For decades wrestling was shrouded in secrecy. It had larger than life personalities, bone crunching physicality and jaw-dropping theatrics but backstage it was an industry devoid of outsiders. Then in 1999, after working together on a special for MTV, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson turned to 26-year old television writer Brian Gewirtz and asked "You ever consider writing for WWE?" That question, and its answer, would have a profound effect on both of their lives for years to come.HEELS AND HEROES is a story about perseverance, tenacity, and steel chairs. Most writers in the WWE last for a matter of months; Gewirtz was there for over 15 years, writing some of most memorable and infamous storylines in WWE history (covering the "Attitude Era", the "Ruthless Aggression Era" and into the "PG" and "Reality" eras). Throughout this journey Gewirtz found himself becoming both friend and antagonist to some of the biggest names in WWE history - Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, Stephanie McMahon, Bill Goldberg, Paul Heyman, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, and the two men who he worked the most closely with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. These men not only shaped his life professionally but also personally, forcing him to grow and change both as a writer and a human being. So how does a lifelong fan and outsider break through to become the ultimate insider? How does a low-key personality deal directly with his boss, the most brash, unpredictable "alpha male" on the planet, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon? How does one gain respect in a locker room that wants nothing more than to see him disappear? Where does one go when every year in wrestling takes you further away from the writing career you always wanted? Taking advice from his idol, the late "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, when you're so full of fear, there's only one way to push through: become fearless.

For over one thousand years, Bodhidharma's (Da Mo) timeless classics have been considered the key to enlightenment and long-lasting youth. Now, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, one of the world's leading authorities on Qigong, has translated and written commentaries to make these ancient and profound teachings accessible to everyone. Using ancient Buddhist and Taoist documents as its foundation, this book analyzes and discusses theory and training methods in a modern, scientific manner, and presents safe ways for you to begin your own practice. Improve your health and strength through the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic). Work towards longevity & enlightenment with the Xi Sui Jing (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). Qigong, the Secret of Youth is an invaluable guide for Qigong practitioners and Martial Artists who want to explore deeper levels of internal energy training. * Learn the keys to rejuvenating & reconditioning your body.* Discover methods for nourishing the brain and bone marrow.* Includes Qigong exercises & massage techniques.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler is a sporting legend. Often called the greatest middleweight boxer of all time, he held the world title for 12 defences, including bouts with Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran which entered fistic folklore. From his wild early fights in the boxing wilderness of Brockton, Massachusetts, Brian and Damian Hughes trace the blazing trail of Hagler's career: the controversial defeats subsequently avenged, a riot-scarred title win in London, and his unification of the middleweight crown. Hagler became a huge favourite, taking on all comers while never taking a step back. And so to The Ring magazine's "greatest round of all time" against Hearns, his ferocious battle with Duran, and the still-controversial loss to his nemesis Leonard. Marvelous tells the story of Hagler's extraordinary life for the first time, separating truth from myth to get right to the heart of a complex and charismatic man.

Journeymen tells a story that is often purposely ignored - that of the modern-day boxers who lose for a living. Far from huge purses and pay-per-view hype, the book lays bare the reality of the boxing business and the way it works in small-hall venues countrywide. October 2013 saw the 100th and final fight in the career of East London's Johnny Greaves, remarkable in that he won only four contests. He took fights at short notice, facing young prospects with the implicit understanding that he was not there to win. Journeymen features in-depth interviews with Greaves and other men who have similarly served the fight game, including Kristian Laight (180 defeats), Jason Nesbitt (178) and Daniel Thorpe (113). Though sometimes dark, their tales reveal humour, wisdom and sporting pride: the journeymen eschew glamour, make the best of what they have and face the world with a smile and a wink.

Describing the principles and techniques that define Japan's most popular style of swordsmanship, this martial arts manual gives practitioners master-level instruction. This book is a collection of the most effective and proven fighting methods spanning from the feudal to the modern eras. It illuminates the art with masterful photography and is accompanied by in-depth descriptions of the methods perfected by Japan's ancient warrior class. Providing instruction on the etiquette, fundamental footwork, striking, countering, defensive tactics, test cutting, maintenance, and safety needed for proficiency in authentic swordsmanship, this expert guide transports martial arts practitioners beyond mere physical technique and opens the door to self-mastery through the use of the samurai sword.

This comprehensive guide to "the gentle art" by one of its foremost practitioners and teachers helps readers master the fundamentals on which a confident self-defense or professional competition career are based. The book covers the history and theory of jiu-jitsu; contains extensive sections on practical techniques such as strikes, holds, locks, throws, and evasions; distinguishes Brazilian lineages such as ground fighting and sudden attack techniques from other traditions; and shows readers how they can overcome any attacker, with as little effort and physical strength as possible.