To work with Al Huang is to learn to move with wind and water... in the course of everyday life... a truly superior and gifted teacher who works upon others as the sun and rain upon plants.' - From the foreword by Alan Watts, one of the great writers of Comparative Philosophy and Religion and Taoist and Zen literature. First published in 1973, this all time classic of Tai Ji literature remains as fresh and illuminating today as when it was first published. Written with true passion and eloquence, the book richly conveys the subtle yet profound principles underlying Tai Ji. Movement, stillness, joyfulness, and the ability to live in the moment are the threads running through the text, as well as the humor and compassion to acknowledge the impossibility of human perfection. Containing the original foreword by Alan Watts, the book is illustrated with beautiful calligraphy by the author, and photographs by Si Chi Ko, one of China's "National Treasures". This timeless masterpiece is essential reading for anybody interested in Taoism, Tai Ji, or the Tao philosophy of "Living Our Own Tao", and the author is a wonderful, dramatic, and inspiring presence throughout the book.

The Real Ultimate Power website is a phenomenon, attracting more than 9.2 million visitors. Picking up where the Web leaves off, this new book mines the rich psychological ore of being ten years old and on Ritalin as Hamburger misinforms the reader about ninja history, ninja weapons, and ninja philosophy.

The urge to forge one's character by fighting, in daily life as well as on the mat, appeals to something deep within us. More than a collection of fighting techniques, martial arts constitute a path to developing body, spirit, and awareness. "On the Warrior's Path" connects the martial arts with this larger perspective, merging subtle philosophies with no-holds-barred competition, Nietzsche with Bruce Lee, radical Taoism and Buddhism with the "Star Wars" Trilogy, traditional martial arts with basketball and American Indian culture. At the center of all these phenomena is the warrior. Though this archetype seems to manifest contradictory values, author Daniele Bolelli describes the heart of this tension: how the training of martial technique leads to a renunciation of violence, and how overcoming fear leads to a unique freedom. Aimed at students at any level or tradition of martial arts but also accessible to the armchair warrior, "On the Warrior's Path" brings fresh insights to why martial arts remains an enduring and widespread art and discipline. Two new chapters in this second edition focus on spirituality in the martial arts and the author's personal journey in the field.

This thoroughly revised edition of "Muay Thai: Advanced Thai Boxing Techniques "teaches intermediate Muay Thai fighters how to counter a wide range of opponents' attacks. Author Christoph Delp explains the rules and ceremonial procedures unique to Muay Thai competition, demonstrates historical and modern techniques, provides training tips, and details the benefits of training in Thailand--experiencing the art in its country of origin.
The primary focus of "Muay Thai""Counter Techniques" is on counter-tactics, or techniques used to counter an attack from one's opponent. Muay Thai is a martial art with a variety of impressive techniques; every attack technique can be countered with a large number of variants. No two fighters will react to an attack in the same way, because while most Muay Thai fighters learn the same basic techniques (as presented in Delp's earlier book "Muay Thai Basics"), each fighter will go on to learn a wide variety of secondary techniques and will adapt them to his or her individual fighting style. This edition includes new full-color photographs throughout in which many well-known Thai boxers--including champions like Saiyok Pumphanmuang, Kem Sitsongpeenong, and many others--demonstrate the most important techniques for competitive success. Suitable for Thai boxers as well as mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, "Muay Thai Counter Techniques" is a useful addition to the library of anyone seeking to add more techniques into their repertoire and take their training to the next level.

This illustrated manual takes the martial artist step-by-step through everything necessary to convert their skills for use in the "street".

Muay Thai, also referred to as Thai boxing, combines fitness training, self-defense, and competitive sport. In this hands-on guide, renowned trainer Christoph Delp presents the sport's history, development, rules, and equipment. In the techniques section, he first details basic skills such as the correct starting position and footwork. Next he offers a complete list of all the attacking techniques and a selection of effective defensive and counterattacking strategies. All techniques are presented step-by-step by Thai champions from the famous Sor Vorapin gym in Bangkok, showing readers the fine details of each technique. The training section provides detailed information about the structure, content, and planning of training regimens and this includes historical training methods, a stretching program, and training schedules. Suitable as both a self-training guide and a supplement to club training, "Muay Thai Basics" offers authoritative instruction for Thai boxers and other martial arts enthusiasts.

The shinobi, or ninja, is one of the most widely recognized figures in the world of espionage--and also one of the most misrepresented. What do we really know about the historical shinobi, his tactics, and his role in medieval Japanese society? In "Secret Traditions of the Shinobi, " these questions--and many more--are answered. Translated into English for the very first time, this widely sought-after collection of historical documents brings to light the secret practices, techniques, philosophies, and lifestyles of the shinobi.
Included are:
- the "Shinobi Hiden, "or "Secret Ninja Tradition," a documentation of techniques commonly attributed to one of the best-known ninja masters, Hattori Hanzo;
- the "Koka Ryu Ninjutsu Densho, "a small but important work from the Edo period that reveals the realm of ninja magic and spells;
- the three shinobi scrolls of the "Gunpo Jiyoshu, " a manual enthusiastically promoted by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun of Japan;
- one hundred poems written between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries--making them the oldest collection of written ninjutsu information in the world; and
- seventy historical black-and-white illustrations depicting ninja tools and weapons.
"Secret Traditions of the Shinobi" will enthrall martial artists eager to learn the real skills of the shinobi, as well as anyone interested in this exciting period of Japanese history and espionage.

Teaching: The Way of the Master is the classic text for martial arts instructors. In a revolutionary approach, Sang H. Kim Ph.D has blended his extensive knowledge of martial art training with modern and classical teaching methodology to create a system of teaching martial arts for the 21st century.

Looking at the subject of relaxing and how the body moves, this text examines how basic walking methods combined with awareness can help reduce the stress in your life and provide new insights into how to behave.

Bone-smashing action, brutal finishes and fighters that leave it all in the cage. Mixed Martial Arts has exploded onto the scene to become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. MMA was born with one single, bloody question: Which fighting style is the toughest? To reach the top, a fighter must master various fighting techniques -- kickboxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu and more -- and blend them together: The great Georges St-Pierre steamrolls through his opponents in the UFC, but in school he was mercilessly targeted by bullies, that is, until he learned karate; Most fighters respect their opponents, but they don't have to like them; some of the greatest rivalries of all time feature bad blood (and lots of real blood, too) -- Chuck Lidell vs. Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes vs. Georges St-Pierre and Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie; Before going on to have one of the greatest careers in MMA history, Randy Couture won a gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in wrestling; In the early days of the UFC there were no weight classes; in one match, a karate master was 400 pounds lighter and nine inches shorter than his sumo wrestler opponent, but the karate master still won; Legendary UFC hall-of-famer Royce Gracie was born to be a champion: his father and uncle invented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an art that any self-respecting MMA fighter with a ground game must learn.

The ancient Chinese martial art of Xingyi Quan is known for its explosive internal power. Closely related to both Taiji Quan and Bagua Quan, Xingyi is regarded as the most esoteric, and the most dangerous of the fighting arts, though the purposes of consistent practice include health and spiritual development. This in-depth guide is the first to cover the history and traditions of the art in such a comprehensive way, describing the essential Xingyi Quan movements, and their effects, in fully illustrated form, and including the author's research with the Song Xingyi Quan clan in China. The book contains a comprehensive teaching guide to the practice of Santi Shr and the Five Element Fists, the core exercises of this potent fighting system, as well as explanations of the underlying principles which give Xingyi Masters their great depth of skill and refined understanding of combat strategy. The reader will also find clearly illustrated teachings of all the Twelve Animal Forms, linking forms, two person sets, basic skills, and the weapons training. This authoritative book will be an illuminating and complete guide for anyone interested in the internal martial arts, especially those practicing or teaching Xingyi Quan or wanting to learn more about it.

Conflict is an unavoidable aspect of living. The late renowned aikido master Terry Dobson, together with Victor Miller, present aikido as a basis for conflict resolution. "Attack-tics" is a system of conflict resolution based on the principles of aikido, the non-violent martial art Morihei Ueshiba created after World War II. Not all conflicts are contests, say Dobson and Miller, and not all conflicts are equally threatening.

In this book, Dr. Kuhn effectively explains and demonstrates how Therapeutic Qigong is a valuable and important adjunct to good health care. Her helpful directions and clear illustrations demonstrate this simple yet powerful Qigong routine that anyone can use to improve and then maintain their health. Therapeutic Qigong is a form of medical Qigong that was created in the early 1970's, by Dr. Zhuang Yuanmin and other expert Chinese Medical Doctors at the University of Sports Medicine in Shanghai China. This Qigong routine combines physical exercises, stretching, breathing and self-massage. By enhancing energy and blood circulation, Therapeutic Qigong can accelerate the body's healing process and immunity, to help relieve illness and prevent disease. Therapeutic Qigong is easy to learn and easy to practice. The program is divided into six groups. Each group focuses on different muscles and joints to achieve maximum benefit. You only need 15-30 minutes per day to enjoy the results of this effective Qigong regimen. If you are new to Qigong, you can work on individual groups until you are ready to add others. * Categories, definitions and a brief history of Qigong.* Relationship between Qi and our attitudes.* How energy effects our body.* Exercises; Neck, Shoulders, Back, Hips, Legs, Arms, Elbows, Hands & Wrists.

Long before Tai Chi and Qigong became household names in the West, an American sailor visiting Shanghai discovered a gentle Chinese exercise called Jiangan - The Chinese Health Wand. This exercise system is simple yet potent and involves the manipulation of a lightweight pole traditionally made of bamboo. Jiangan co-ordinates slow diaphragmatic breathing with graduated stretching and strengthening exercises to promote circulation and stimulate the cardiovascular system. This book offers a concise practical guide to Jiangan exercises, providing detailed instructions and illustrations while also exploring the Chinese philosophy behind the art. Although a gentle and meditative form of exercise, the book shows that Jiangan has the muscle-toning and weight-loss potential of more robust gym workouts and is an ideal daily exercise routine or warm-up for a range of sports and martial arts classes. This book will be a valuable resource for teachers and students of Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as anyone looking for a simple and effective way to improve health and fitness using Eastern health arts.

Master the art of Kendo--Japanese Swordsmanship with this illustrated and comprehensive martial arts guide. Kendo or the "Way of the Sword" holds a special place within the martial arts as one of the few practices tracing back directly to Japan's ancient samurai heritage. Modern students flock to kendo for physically--and mentally--challenging activity that combines traditional martial arts values with strenuous physical activity. Author Geoff Salmon has over 40 years of kendo experience gained in and outside of Japan. His goal in this kendo guide is to dispel many misconceptions about the sport and to make kendo training accessible and practical for anyone. His simple, straightforward writing style is especially helpful for beginning students and martial artists from other disciplines who wish to add kendo training to their repertoire. The core of this kendo book is a series of detailed instructional sequences demonstrating the basic kendo techniques. The author also presents the fundamental principles and philosophy that make kendo as much an exercise of the mind as of the sword. For many adherents, the goal is to train your mind to achieve a state of mushin (no-mind). Beyond that, this book also shows you how to win competitions and integrate kendo into your fitness routines. This is the first book to decidedly link the philosophical and mental elements of kendo to the physical techniques, thereby enabling readers to gain a holistic understanding of the martial art. It offers a comprehensive training program similar to those given by leading kendo teachers in Japan, past and present.

Lao-tzu: My Words Are Very Easy to Understand interprets the sayings of Lao-tzu, one of the earliest writers in Chinese history. His work describes the merest traces and indescribably marvels of the Tao and promotes Non-action, concepts which are central to these unique teachings of thousands of years ago.

Since ancient times Tai Chi Chuan has been practiced as a holistic mind/body fitness system, bringing immense benefits for practitioners in health, longevity, relaxation, and concentration. But it was also practiced as an effective and deadly martial art. Because of this, the masters rarely disclosed their secrets, guarding them as closely as they would military secrets. They preserved their profound insights in obscure songs, poems, and classics, revealing only to those they considered trustworthy and ready. That is, until now. Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style contains secrets kept hidden in the Yang family for generations and only revealed to the public in the last two decades. The majority of the secrets found in this book were written directly by Yang, Ban-Hou, second generation lineage of the Yang family, a master well known for his deep understanding of theory and for the manifestation of martial power (Jin). Now you can reap the benefits of this wisdom and practical experience to deepen and refine your own Tai Chi. Discover ways to reach the essence of your Form and take your Push Hands to higher levels. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming has translated these classics from the original Chinese, and has written commentaries to make them more accessible to contemporary minds. Immerse yourself in the secrets of the Yang Style, the world's most popular style. You'll find Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style an invaluable resource for understanding your art. *Can be used with any style of tai chi chuan.*Sound, practical advice for any martial art.*Includes commentaries, translation, and original chinese.*Key points for incorporating the teachings into your practice.

The authors have divided pulmonary tuberculosis into twelve of it's most prominent characteristic symptoms, and given a plenary treatment of each symptom, believing that in doing so it would greatly aid the practitioner in successfully combating it's fatal ravages: General atonic condition of the body; Emaciation; Debility; Haemoptysis; Asthma; Hectic fever; Night Sweats; Aphthae; Diarrhoea; Pain; and, Bed sores. The pathology of the disease has been entirely omitted, it being so fully written in our works on pathology, which are n hands of every practitioner. In writing the treatment of each symptom, the authors have collected together from textbooks and journals a vast amount of information that has been written on this disease, and put in such shape that the busy physician and student can grasp and utilise it at once, without having to search over their whole library whenever a case presents itself for treatment.

Martial artists that reach a certain level of proficiency with their barehanded fighting forms, may choose to expand their knowledge to include weapons techniques. Over the past 5,000 years, the Chinese have developed a vast array of weapons, built for a multitude of purposes. These weapons and their derivitaves are found in all martial art styles, including Kung Fu, karate, Taekwondo, and Indonesian styles. You may ask What weapon should I choose? What are their original or main purposes? What is the history of these weapons? What weapon is right for my body type or strength? Ancient Chinese Weapons: A Martial Artists Guide is an easy reference guide designed to offer the answers. It is profusely illustrated, easy to navigate, and conveniently broken down into the four main classifications: Long Weapons, Short Weapons, Soft Weapons, and Projectile / Thrown Weapons. Contents include: Techniques and fighting strategy for many kinds of weapons The history and evolution of Chinese weapons Weapons classifications Over 130 illustrations Inside you will find ancient Chinese weapons of many types, from swords and spears, sharpened coins to flying claws! Even if you're not a martial artist, but have an interest in history and warfare, you'll find this guide an invaluable resource.    

A fun and accessible introduction to studying karate--designed specifically with the interests and capabilities of young martial artists in mind. First-time martial arts students are not just starting a program of physical and mental practice. They are entering a new world--one that not only has new rules, new goals, and even new clothing--but that also offers them lots of new opportunities for fun and accomplishment. Karate for Kids will help prepare kids to start learning about karate and help them practice at home. It includes thorough introductions to the history and philosophy of the techniques, what to expect in the first few classes, how to warm up and practice, and advice on setting goals. With over 75 full-color illustrations, including 40 clearly diagrammed karate exercises, along with lots of fun facts and informative sidebars written in kid-friendly, jargon-free language, this is the perfect introduction for the younger martial artist.

Cheng Man-ch'ing, the famed master of t'ai chi, is regarded as an enormously influential figure in codifying the most widely practiced form of the ancient martial art. This volume, developed by the martial arts master and scholar, details the way that students arrive at a posture -- from beginning movements to the end pose. Master Cheng provides practitioners with a complete and concise guide to the Short Form, enabling them to make rapid progress.