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Become a Better Martial Artist by Applying Lessons from the World's
Greatest Military Strategists from Sun Tzu to Von Clausewitz
Lessons in the Art of War investigates the theories and
philosophies of the most prominent military thinkers in Asia and
Europe and examines the combat roots of a variety of fighting
styles from traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts
to the fighting arts of the ancient Greeks and modern Israelis. It
also demonstrates how the martial arts, whether Asian or Western in
origin, were historically about brutal fighting, often to the
death, and how ancient attitudes and beliefs can be adapted for
success in today's MMA steel cage, judo or karate tournament as
they were in ancient armies. Including an introduction to Asian and
Western military thought, chapters include: The Nature and Conduct
of Combat What is Combat? Preparing for Battle Elements of Tactics
and Strategy Imposing Your Will Destroying the Enemy Force Strength
of the Defensive Position Failure Moral Quality of Courage Securing
Victory
Edged weapons became a mainstay in early Chinese history and
through the Ming (1368-1644 CE) and Qing (1644-1912 CE) dynasties.
The Chinese used swords to settle personal disputes, win military
battles, and indicate one's social and martial status through the
end of the Imperial Period. China, a country of vast resources,
developed its metal and iron industry earlier than its western
counterparts and achieved great advances in metallurgic science.
There were two classes of Chinese swords: the straight double edged
jian and the slightly curved single edged dao. The jian proved
effective mainly for chivalry combat in the Zhou Dynasty (1045-256
BCE), and was later carried by the nobility as a symbol of status.
Military officers, perhaps because of their association with the
nobility, seem to have preferred the double edged jian over the
dao. The dao proved useful mainly in cavalry combat, which started
to gain popularity in the Western Han Dynasty (202 BCE-9 CE). The
dao was a true soldier's weapon that required more attention to
fighting skill than finesse. This book follows a chronological path
through China's dynasties, exploring sword design and
swordsmanship. The concluding remarks recap the long history of the
sword with focus on the philosophical value one assigned the
weapon. Knives, Swords, and Bayonets: A World History of Edged
Weapon Warfare is a book series that examines the history of edged
weapons in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East
and surrounding areas before gunpowder increased the distance
between combatants. The book series takes a critical look at the
relationship between the soldier, his weapon, and the social and
political mores of the times. Each book examines the historical
background and metallurgic science of the knife, sword, or bayonet
respectively, and explores the handling characteristics and combat
applications of each weapon. The individual books are excerpted
from the previously published book, A History of Edged Weapon
Warfare, also by Martina Sprague. Look for more books in this
series in the near future.
Self-publishing used to be the last resort when an author had
exhausted all other channels. Self-publishing meant that your book
wasn't good enough for a traditional publisher. Even if you knew
your sales would be virtually nil, you self-published because your
vanity required it; you self-published so that you could say that
you had published a book, even if it never sold a single copy.
Since the e-book explosion, self-publishing no longer carries the
stigma it did a few years ago; it is no longer considered
equivalent to vanity publishing. If you choose to go independent,
your luck is that self-publishing has become a whole lot easier in
the last few years since the advent of the digital age.
Self-publishing is no longer a last resort, but a conscious choice
that comes with many advantages over traditional publishing. The
technology available today has made it possible to self-publish in
both electronic and paperback versions, even if you don't have a
penny to invest in the process. The electronic book market is
growing, and publishers have traditionally paid lousy royalties on
electronic books. Despite your lack of publishing experience, you
might have a better chance making money if you self-publish rather
than pursue a traditional publisher. But knowledge is power, and it
is crucial to educate yourself on the process and be aware of the
factors that might influence your decision. Going Indie: 25 Things
You Should Know Before Self-Publishing Your Book, offers a number
of tips that will raise your awareness of the benefits of
self-publishing over traditional publishing. To learn about
traditional publishing, look for Confessions of a Published Author:
47 Truths About What Can Go Right and Wrong When Selling Your Book
to a Traditional Publisher, also by Martina Sprague.
You are an unpublished writer with a long and impressive background
in your field of expertise, and you've got an idea for a great
book. You write a proposal, and send it off to a publisher who has
stated a need for this type of book. It seems like a perfect match.
Three weeks later you receive a rejection letter: "Thanks for your
interest in us. Unfortunately, your idea doesn't meet our current
needs." You are puzzled. Or, you look through the advertisements in
Writer's Digest magazine, and find several publishing houses "now
seeking new and established authors." Having waited for an
opportunity for years, you print the manuscript that has been
gathering "dust" in your computer folder and rush it to the post
office. Don't If it sounds too easy, it is. Or, you just landed
your first book contract with a legitimate publisher. Instant fame,
right? Wrong Confessions of a Published Author: 47 Truths About
What Can Go Right and Wrong When Selling Your Book to a Traditional
Publisher, talks straight about the publishing experience, with
focus on asking, "What if?" What if you don't want to write your
manuscript in the recommended format? What if you have no
credentials or can't state your qualifications for writing this
book? What if you don't like the critique you're getting? What if
you can wallpaper your office with rejection slips? What if you
want more than the standard 10 percent royalties? A number of
common issues are explored, such as what to include and what to
leave out of your query letter; what matters and what doesn't, and
what you must be careful with when signing the publishing
agreement.
The Power Trip: How to Survive and Thrive in the Dojo is an
informative and critical series of books that gives you the power
to thrive in an environment where other students and instructors
are sitting on their "high horses," arguing over "best techniques,"
or making snide remarks about your performance. It also arms you
for the day you will begin teaching the martial arts (or improves
your technique if you are already teaching), and shows you how to
build your integrity and repute as an instructor. If you are a new
student in the martial arts, ready to sign up for your first
lesson, you will gain insight into the difficulties you can expect
to encounter throughout your training, and options for resolving
potential conflicts. If you are a seasoned martial artist with
years under your belt, you will no doubt recognize many of the
scenarios presented, and look back at your journey and consider
what you could have done differently. This special volume comprises
the full series of the following six books (each book can also be
purchased separately): 1. 10 Things the Martial Arts Student Must
Understand 2. 8 Ways to Be Professional and Ethical in the Martial
Arts 3. 8 Methods for Learning the Martial Arts, Setting Goals, and
Getting Motivated 4. 6 Ways to Improve Performance and Correct
Errors in the Martial Arts 5. 8 Ways to Benefit from Critique and
Testing in the Martial Arts 6. 6 Tips for Communicating Effectively
and Dealing with Behavioral Problems in the Martial Arts The
material in this book is excerpted from the previously published
book (now out of print), The Complete Martial Arts Student, also by
Martina Sprague.
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