This is an essential guide for any person studying any martial art. With over 130 photographs to help guide you through your study of this amazing art! It is an excellent reference guide for those in particular who are studying or wish to study the White Crane Art. A form originally taught at the Shaolin Temple in the Fukien district of South China. The main intention of this book is to preserve two of the ancient forms passed down over the centuries by the Shaolin Masters. It contains a "reference guide" to the "Shuang Yang Hang Pei Ho" a form from the Shaolin soft art. Plus learn the techniques of the famous Shaolin Form the "Sum Chien". A series of techniques to help develop the legendary "iron-shirt" The ability to with stand heavy blows and strikes to both the body and even the vital organs. Bending spears on the throat and washing in broken glass are just some of the amazing feats achieved by those who study and develop this art. * Kung Fu * Tai Chi * Soft & Hard Qi-Gong * Breathing * Relaxation

More than 1,000 years ago, the people of Iga, the mountainous region of Japan, were forced to rise up against their merciless Samurai oppressors. Out of this struggle, nine traditions of the ninja arts grew. The ninjas' strength enabled the mind to believe it was the master of its fate. This power is known as ninjitsu.

In his groundbreaking books "Knights of Darkness "and "Mind Manipulation, " Dr. Haha Lung has shown the ultimate power of controlling the mind of your enemy. In "The Nine Halls of Death "he reveals the mystical power of overcoming your opponent's body through the Japanese art of ninjitsu. Dr. Lung reveals the secret to mastering all nine "halls" (training areas) of the ninja;from unarmed combat and combat with various weapons to the mental crafts of stealth and spying.

Dr. Lung guides you through such invaluable ninjitsu techniques as:

• The art of disguise;physical and mental discipline
• The Seventh Hall;the art of Espionage
• Mastering self and others through hand yoga (kuji-kiri) and upsetting balance (in-yo-jutsu)
• The art of mysticism (which include memory enhancement, visualization, and even self-hypnosis).

By unlocking the ancient secrets of the masters, the modern fighter will learn to unleash the warrior within and discover the magical point where physical mastery melds with mental clarity.

For academic study only

Dr. Haha Lung is the author of more than a dozen books on martial arts, including "Assassin , Mind Manipulation, Ninja Shadowhand, Knights of Darkness, Mind Control: The Ancient Art of Psychological Warfare, " and "The Lost Fighting Arts of Vietnam."

Kurosaki Killed the Cat
John Jarvis began training in Kyokushin Karate in London during 1965 under Steve Arniel. He then trained for a year in 1967 in Tokyo under Masutatsu Oyama and qualified Third Dan. He became the branch chair for Australasia and the Pacific Islands. At this time he was promoted to Fifth Dan. John also trained at the Tokyo Riot Police School under Kuroda Sensi and achieved Second Dan in Iaido. He then trained at Rembukan Jodo Dojo under Shimizu Sensei and graduated Second Dan in Jodo and Tanjo. John changed Karate systems in 1974 to Okinawa Gojo Ryu and was graded Fifth Dan by Sensi Higaonna Morio. The author retired in 1987 as the most qualified martial arts teacher in Australia. He is presently a senior teacher and Dean at St. Patrick's College, Silverstream where he specializes in Religious Studies.

A journey starts with the first step and your martial arts career starts when you first step into a Dojo (martial arts training hall). My book will help people of all ages who have never done any karate before to understand the basic techniques with step by step guidance and take you on an exiting journey from novice to intermediate level. More importantly you will learn a comprehensive range of practical self defence routines that are simple to follow. Even if you have practiced another style of karate or other martial art you will, with the easy to follow photographic illustrations be able to gain new and sometimes quite unique skills quite quickly and that will be of great benefit to your own martial

If you try to remember which books affected your life like no other, you will come up counting two or three fingers on your hand. This can be one of them

The term ""martial art,"" like the title, The Art of War, has a dissonant ring. To associate art, that sublime expression of the human spirit, with the enterprise of maiming and killing seems almost profane. Similarly, the martial arts have long been associated with traditional medicine. But, how can the art of healing ally itself with the art of killing? Watching Your Back applies Daoist notions of wellness and survival to reconcile these apparent paradoxes and unveil the origins and rationale of the unexplored symbiosis of Chinese medicine and the martial arts. It discusses the applications of Daoist philosophy and its practitioners, explains how creative arts are simultaneously conserved and advanced within a traditional Chinese lineage, and clarifies the differences between the separate, but parallel, martial and military disciplines. Drawing from history, philosophy, medicine, linguistics, and the realities of combat, Dr. Schmieg convincingly describes how early proponents of Daoism responded to sociopolitical events in China to shape a unique martial arts tradition and how this ancient system evolved into modern combat forms. Throughout he makes ample use of entertaining anecdotes taken from his years of study under a Daoist physician-scholar and ""old school"" boxer. Written with both the layperson and scholar in mind, Watching Your Back examines the full spectrum of the martial arts while demystifying its philosophy and debunking its myths, and thus brilliantly reveals the true majesty of the ancient Chinese art of selfdefense.

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 relationship between meditation and the martial arts is a multifaceted one: meditation is one of the practices in which martial artists engage in order to prepare for combat, while the physical exercises constituting much of the discipline of the martial arts might well be considered meditative practices. Michael Raposa, himself a martial arts practitioner, suggests there is a sense in which meditation may in turn be considered a form of combat, citing a variety of spiritual disciplines that are not strictly classified as "martial arts" yet that employ the heavy use of martial images and categories as part of their self-description.

Raposa, in this extraordinary alloy of meditation manual, historical synthesis, and spiritual guide, provides a fascinating approach to understanding the connection between martial arts and spirituality in such diverse disciplines as Japanese aikido, Chinese tai chi chuan, Hindu yoga, Christian asceticism, Zen Buddhism, and Islamic jihad.

What happens when spiritual discipline is appropriated for exercises meant for health or recreation? How might prayer, meditation, and ritual be understood as martial activities? What is the nature of conflict, and who is the enemy? These are some of the questions Raposa raises and responds to in Meditation and the Martial Arts, his rumination on the martial arts as meditative practice and meditation as a martial discipline.

Michael L. Raposa, Professor of Religion Studies at Lehigh University, is the author of Peirce's Philosophy of Religion and Boredom and the Religious Imagination (Virginia).

Studies in Religion and Culture

Popular in China for thousands of years, Qigong is the art of cultivating your vital energy through gentle movements and techniques that incorporate breath, sound, visualization and self-massage. Often thought of as "Feng Shui for the body" or "Chinese yoga", Qigong is not simply about physical fitness, but also internal healing. The practice is commonly used in China, and increasingly in the US, to maintain fitness, heal ailments, promote longevity and reverse the aging process. This book provides a 20-minute programme of revitalizing movements and healing postures. The step-by-step Qigong workout aims to help women of all ages improve their overall health and fitness while maintaining youthful skin, eyes, hair and energy. It explains how each series of movements benefits the mind and body. Readers can then customize their routine and move beyond the 20-minute workout as they learn to apply the healing powers of Qigong - along with herbal recommendations, dietary remedies and self-accupressure - to specific age-related concerns such as arthritis, hearing loss, weight gain and sexual vitality. Special attention is paid to eomen's health issues such as menstruation, hot flashes, osteoporosis and breast health.

This remarkable book gives the reader a unique insight into an amazing five-year study of a single kata (Gojushiho). It shows the depth that is waiting to be discovered by the close study of kata, covering an incredible range of subjects including: * imagery * the psychology of confrontation * the common acts of physical violence * vital points and how to exploit them * the methodology for the break-down and understanding of kata * the applications of the kata * the principles of karate and how to apply them * the applications (in detail) for each of the movements of Gojushiho * the major variations of each application * objective measurements regarding their practicality * how to link the applications together The author also explains how to undertake your own study using a single kata of your choice, and how to build a training regime based on the kata. If you have ever wondered what kata is really all about then this book is for you. When karate was a secret art, practiced in the back yards of Okinawa by a few dedicated masters and their disciples, it was usual to train in a single kata for many years. A master of karate would know just one, two or possibly three kata. Through the deep study of those few kata the master karateka would possess a complete self-defence system, he would be well versed in the underlying principles of karate and he would have a memory aid which would map out his complete training regime. Over the last century the practice of a single kata has disappeared from karate practice. The deep understanding of a few kata has been replaced by the superficial understanding of many. This book shows you in great detail how to recover that understanding and how to put kata back at the heart of karate. What leaders in the field have to say about the book: "Without question this book adds to the body of knowledge in the study of karate" - Rick Clark

A Goju Ryu Guidebook: The Kogen Kan Manual for Karate gives the reader a tool to navigate the history, exercises, equipment, techniques, kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karatedo.

Grace and self-control. Anyone who has been on the inside of my sporting effort know for the most part those words do not exist. They may accidentally present themselves on occasion, but for the most part, when humans and physical challenges come together in the same arena, everything but grace and self-control results. It seems the harder we strive for perfection the more our human side takes control, bringing with it blunders, mishaps and confusions. The martial arts is by no means an exception. This book is commemoration to this effort by way of a collection of light-hearted cartoons honouring the attempts by human beings living to imitate the ways of nature.

Unlike most t'ai chi books, which focus strictly on how to do the t'ai chi forms, "T'ai Chi as a Path of Wisdom " presents a personal, practical view of this intriguing martial art. Lehrhaupt shares illuminating stories from her own life and the lives of her students that show how t'ai chi can be a vehicle for profound self-discovery and spiritual growth.
In learning to master each body posture, t'ai chi students often confront self-doubt, frustration, and the desire to compete and compare themselves to others--problems that also arise in daily life. Lehrhaupt shows how these and other obstacles provide valuable opportunities to deepen awareness and recognize the striking continuities between practice and everyday life.
Each section of the book includes practical exercises designed to enhance students' understanding of t'ai chi movements, and a helpful appendix answers many frequently asked questions about t'ai chi training such as how to find a teacher and how to balance practice with family life. Full of useful insights and guidance, "T'ai Chi as a Path of Wisdom " will be a valuable companion for all students of this increasingly popular martial art.

A fifth-degree black belt in the revolutionary martial art of aikido and co-owner of an aikido school in Mill Valley, California, George Leonard is, "the granddaddy of the consciousness movement" (Newsweek). Leonard is president of the Esalen Institute and founder of Leonard Energy Training (LET), a practice inspired by aikido that offers alternative ways of coping with everyday issues. In this book he applies ancient techniques, physical and spiritual, to the battles we wage every day in both our public and private lives. Along the way, Leonard shows us unique and effective ways to: * cope with sudden, often brutal, setbacks in our lives--and turn them into gifts for growth * develop ki, or positive energy, to enhance vitality * use the aikido principle of "blending" to deal with verbal and psychological attacks With an already large following, George Leonard now brings the valuable wisdom of aikido to a wider audience.

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.

Martial Arts After Forty is the first book ever to explore the needs and advantages of the over-forty martial artist. It takes an in-depth look at the realities of training in mid-life including: * What type of exercises are beneficial and which ones are dangerous? * What are the effects of aging and what impact do they have on training? * How can baby boomers keep up in a class of Gen-Xers? * What types of injuries are common after forty and how can you prevent them? In addition to providing a wealth of fitness and training information, author Sang H. Kim addresses the fact that many older martial artists are looking for something more meaningful than just a good workout. His positive and knowledgeable approach to taking up or continuing martial arts training after 40 is inspiring, reassuring and informative. This book should be read by every adult martial artist regardless of age.