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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Combat sports & self-defence > Oriental martial arts > General
If you are a long-time martial artist, you have likely been either
the recipient, the victim - or both - of the "wise old master"
phenomenon, whereby budo students reverentially enfold their
teachers as martial, moral and mystical juggernauts sans reproach,
in which case, this book will make you clench your fists and laugh
out loud, often while reading the same sentence. Iconoclastic,
rebellious, yet fiercely holding to some of the most traditional
values of Japanese martial culture, Amdur brought something new to
martial arts writing - a startling honesty about the flaws, not
only within martial arts culture, but also within its
practitioners, often using himself as an exemplar of the latter.
Originally published in 2000, and now fully revised, with eight new
chapters, new artwork and photography, Dueling with O Sensei,
Revised and Expanded Edition will be an invaluable addition to the
library of old readers and new alike.
Since the publication of its first English translation in 1974,
"The Book of Five Rings" has become an underground classic in the
American business community, where it is studied as a text on
Japanese management techniques. Here are timeless principles of
craft, skill, timing, and spirit from a great samurai warrior--plus
background on Zen, Bushido, Heiho, and Musashi's life. Two color.
Profound - In Depth - Taijiquan Theory In the last seven centuries,
many songs and poems have been composed about Taijiquan. These have
played a major role in preserving the knowledge and wisdom of the
masters, although in many cases, the identity of the authors and
the dates of origin have been lost. As lifelong pursuit, Dr. Yang,
Jwing-Ming has translated many of these documents and according to
him, believes many are incomplete for reasons relating to:
forgotten oral secrets, the original authors personal understanding
being too narrowly focused, and many documents that have gone
missing could help unify Taijiquan theory. In response, his book
Taijiquan Theory of Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is an attempt to join the
various theories on Taijiquan in one complete text. This book is
structured with treaties, songs, and poems, followed by the
original Chinese text and interpretations of the passages. Contents
include Regulating the body, breath, mind, Qi & spirit Analysis
of Jin, pushing hands and sparring Taijiquan's long range and short
range fighting strategies The relationship of Jin and Qi The
unification of the internal Qi and external physical manifestations
of Qi "Based upon my personal background and understanding, I have
tried my best to compile the Taijiquan Theory and practice concepts
in this book. I have attempted to make this effort as complete as
possible". -Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming This second edition includes
Updated pinyin that includes diacritical tonal marks (for proper
pronunciation of Chinese words). Updated Chinese text character
font (providing better readability).
Renowned budo (martial arts) and ninja grandmaster Hatsumi explains
how Japanese sword fighting embodies the essence of budo and the
spirit of the samurai. For centuries, sword masters like Miyamoto
Musashi have been revered, and have fascinated and inspired people
everywhere. Now, in his definitive work, Masaaki Hatsumi, the
world's most famous living budo and ninja grandmaster, shares his
vast knowledge of Japanese sword fighting as it's been practiced
through the ages: its history, techniques, styles, and core
philosophies, along with the deepest secrets of this venerable
martial art.
Chen style Taijiquan is the oldest of the five main Taijiquan
styles. In this book, Master Jan Silberstorff, a leading Chen
practitioner, shares his expertise and insights. He explains the
background to Taijiquan, and its key principles, and gives the
reader a true insight into the Chen system. Master Silberstorff
sets this within the historical context of Taijiquan in China, its
country of origin, and explains the martial, health and spiritual
aspects of traditional Chen Taijiquan. He discusses the different
Chen forms and the importance of each, as well as the place of
competition and the effect on participants.The book also contains
the complete sequences for both the empty hand and weapon forms.
This accessible and comprehensive guide to Chen style Taijiquan is
ideal for beginners and will also be useful to advanced
practitioners wanting to deepen their practice.
Increase your strength, improve your health, and develop explosive
martial power with Qigong - the cultivation of your body's internal
energy. Renown Qigong and martial arts master Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
explains how and why Qigong can improve your martial training, and
presents ten complete sets of proven Qigong exercises for martial
artists and health seekers. You'll gain muscular strength and
vitality, increase your fighting power, and learn meditation
training for improved concentration and longevity. This book also
includes healing Qigong exercises and soothing massage techniques
to help you recover more quickly from injury. In addition, Dr. Yang
discusses Qigong and health, and charts the major cavities used in
the martial arts. * Develop explosive martial power. * Recover
quickly from injury. * Choose from ten Qigong training sets. *
Easily integrated with any martial style. * Over 200 photographs
and illustrations.
Based on over 15 years of research, this text proposes a new
definition of the martial arts to examine how such fighting systems
are being re-imagined and reconstructed beyond the arenas of combat
and sport in the 21st century Western context. Taking the viewpoint
of the martial arts as art forms open to reinterpretation, this
unique book considers the ways in which martial arts can be used
for different purposes, such as within movement systems and for
self-help and therapy. However, the martial arts industry is a
highly unregulated space. The book, therefore, considers the ways
in which the martial arts are being regulated by Western
influencers on social media as well as more formal international
organisations connected to UNESCO. The project then examines the
lives of long-term martial arts instructors and practitioners of
historical European martial arts (HEMA), Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan),
Wing Chun Kung Fu and other internal martial arts such as Cheng
Hsin. This book draws on a wide range of data sources including
autoethnography, ethnography, life history interviews and social
media and textual analysis to paint a vivid picture of the
reinvention process in contemporary society. It shows how elements
of the martial arts (often from East Asian societies) are being
adapted, critiqued, managed and merged to suit the social needs of
today's martial artists and the public. This monograph will appeal
to all scholars and students interested in combat sports, martial
arts and physical culture from a social scientific and qualitative
perspective. "The author presents the situation of selected martial
arts traditions of China and Europe in today's social contexts. At
the same time, he shows both social sensitivity and broad
erudition. His research on Mexican traditions brings a fresh
perspective to the analysis of cultural influences and theoretical
reflection on the heritage of martial arts. Also, the qualitative
methodology used here is most appropriate for an in-depth
description of the attitudes of martial artists. It includes, but
is not limited to, autoethnography. I highly recommend this book to
researchers and enthusiasts of martial arts / fighting arts."
-Professor Dr Wojciech J. Cynarski, 10th dan of Idokan "Dr.
Jennings' Reinventing Martial Arts in the 21st Century is a fresh,
extremely current piece. Written in a clear, precise and simple
language, it addresses many of the topics inspiring contemporary
social research on martial arts-their hybridization with other
movements systems, their consideration as self-help or therapy
practices, or their protection, revival or reinvention as
intangible cultural heritage, to name a few. It is solidly
structured and developed, presenting findings on all these fields,
based on the author's original research and knowledge as veteran
martial artist. No doubt this book is a brilliant contribution to
the field of study of martial arts and combat sports." -Carlos
Gutierrez Garcia, Associate Professor, Department of Physical and
Sport Education, Universidad de Leon, Spain; Editor-in-Chief of
Revista de Artes Marciales Asiaticas "Most martial arts celebrate
their long historical traditions, ancient roots and aim to
inculcate their learners with respect for expert practitioners and
their values. Those that originated in East and South East Asia
spread across the rest of the world in the twentieth century, and
now flourish in societies very different from those where they
originated. Alongside the globalised martial arts an academic field
of research-martial arts studies-has grown up. Its focus is not
only on those Eastern and South-east Asian martial arts and combat
sports, but also on those from Africa and the Americas (such as
Capoeira and Xilam), and those claiming European origins such as
Savate, HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) or Breton
wrestling. Some of these are self-conscious recreations; others are
evolved varieties of earlier activities. One important theme in
martial arts studies is studying how different forms of combat
change and develop; a second research area is focused on how
practitioners can benefit physically and mentally from
participation. George Jennings has, in this book, drawn together
several of the key themes in martial arts studies which became
highly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on
ethnographic work done before, during, and since the height of the
pandemic in Europe, key themes in martial arts studies are
explored. Jennings has worked intensively on three martial arts
(Taijiquan, HEMA and Wing Chun), and also draws on the research
about other activities such as Venezuelan Stick fighting, Savate
and Xilam. The text addresses core themes in martial arts studies
while blending the standpoints of the practitioner, the teacher,
and the researcher." -Sara Delamont, Reader Emeritus, Cardiff
University, United Kingdom "George Jennings tackles the western
reinvention of traditional martial arts in terms of
McDonaldization, heritage studies, and sport science to discuss
emerging forms of virtual community, therapy and self-help. Through
evocative auto-ethnography Jennings demonstrates the advantage of
training in swords while taking notes. The result is a highly
readable academic account of colorful vignettes and vivid insights
shared from a lifetime in martial arts and scholarship." -DS
Farrer, University of Exeter, United Kingdom "This book offers a
fascinating exploration of multiple overlooked aspects of the
living and breathing richness and diversity of martial arts as
lived practices, often intertwined with different livelihoods,
issues and aspects of health and wellbeing, and ways of growing.
Jennings speaks fluently in a range of voices, allowing different
levels and kinds of focus and attention, from large perspectives to
attention to less obvious areas of life and practice. This work
will be of particular value to ethnography, anthropology and social
science students and researchers of martial arts, culture and
society." -Professor Paul Bowman, Cardiff University, United
Kingdom; Author of The Invention of Martial Arts (2021)
Long considered a classic text by teachers and students, The Root
of Chinese Qigong offers the principles and theories of qigong
practice. This third edition includes Updated pinyin that includes
diacritical tonal marks (for proper pronunciation of Chinese
words). Updated Chinese text character font (providing better
readability). Dr. Yang is acclaimed for helping readers understand
qigong concepts deeper and more clearly by expressing them in
familiar methods for the Western mind. He takes these ancient
concepts and presents them in a logical way that helps
practitioners stay on the right path to deepen knowledge and skill.
In this book Dr. Yang teaches sitting and standing meditation,
demonstrates qi massage techniques, and examines the Qi pathways in
your body. He explains correct breathing methods, shares secrets
for quieting the mind, and discusses how to increase your body's qi
supply. He further explains important concepts such as the Three
Treasures and regulating the body, breath, and mind. Contents
include Qigong's history Basic concepts of qigong Qi and the human
body The five categories of qigong Regulating body, breath and mind
Regulating your essence, qi and spirit Key points for improving
practice A detailed look at qi channels and vessels in the body
Whatever style of qigong you may practice, making sense of qigong
theory and principles is the best way of achieving your goals
sooner, more accurately, and deeper.
Signs and images of Chinese martial arts increasingly circulate
through global media cultures. As tropes of martial arts are not
restricted to what is considered one medium, one region, or one
(sub)genre, the essays in this collection are looking across and
beyond these alleged borders. From 1920s wuxia cinema to the
computer game cultures of the information age, they trace the
continuities and transformations of martial arts and media culture
across time, space, and multiple media platforms.
The book examines the deep interplay of martial arts, combative,
and self-defense practices with nationalism and ethno-religious
politics. It focuses on the complex formative process of
ethno-religious communities, their growth and resilience, in the
context of the establishment of the State of Israel and the
contemporary Jewish Diaspora. By presenting the unique case of Krav
Maga, literally meaning "hand to hand combat", which is a
selfdefense system initially developed between the late 19th and
the beginning of the 20th centuries which is now considered a
staple of Israeli culture, the book ultimately provides strong
evidence in support of the idea that the understanding of physical
violence proper to the martial arts is not only accepted and
tolerated within modern egalitarian democracy but it is indeed
needed as a profoundly unifying collective experience.
You have trained in aikido for at least several months and wonder
what's beyond the mechanics of basic technique. You ponder why we
do what we do, and what principles underlie the techniques. You are
looking for an edge to accelerate your learning and deepen your
understanding. This book's 'Especially for Students' section is for
you.The 'Especially for Teachers' section offers tips for aikido
instructors. It helps you articulate to your students some of
aikido's more difficult ideas.The third section's longer chapters
treat philosophical and strategic questions that are central to
aikido practice.Learning and Teaching Aikido shows
beginning-to-intermediate aikido students how to approach their
practice, explaining why we do what we do in aikido. This literate
presentation for the thoughtful practitioner also advises aikido
teachers on how to present difficult concepts to their classes.
Drawings and photos make the explanations clear. Learning and
Teaching Aikido is a needed supplement to the many books that
explain aikido history and how to execute aikido techniques.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is an international phenomenon, with a
fascinatingly diverse and complex history that stems from fighting
sports around the world. In Mixed Martial Arts: A History from
Ancient Fighting Sports to the UFC, L.A. Jennings explores the vast
global history of martial arts-including Asian martial arts,
African fighting sports, European pugilism and wrestling, and the
fighting styles of North, Central, and South Americas-and how they
gave rise to the modern sport of MMA. Jennings shares some of the
most famous moments in fighting history alongside stories of the
fighters themselves, such as the infamous 1976 fight between
Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki. When the Ultimate Fighting
Championship premiered in 1993, it introduced the world to the
controversial "cage fighting" at a scale never seen before. With
the assistance of technological innovations and globalization, MMA
has become the fastest growing sport on earth, the culmination of
thousands of years of fighting for sport. Featuring fascinating
stories and photographs of fighters from around the world, Mixed
Martial Arts reveals the long and captivating history of this
often-misunderstood sport.
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