Myths of Light

Bibliography:
Campbell, Joseph. "Myths of Light: Eastern Metaphors of the Eternal." New World Library. Novato, California. 2003.

Review: If your taking a route toward understanding the culture that brought us the martial arts then you have already studied the Ancient Classics of Japan, Okinawa and China. To dig into China's cultural beginnings, i.e. those influences that changed China's culture long, long ago, then study the culture's, myths and symbolism's of India.

This book cuts it all down into a terse explanation of those cultural beliefs that must have been carried across the borders by Bodhidharma into the Chinese province that hosted the Shaolin Monastery where some believe all martial arts of Okinawa and Japan began.

This book covers it nicely and if you have studied the ancient classics along with ken-po goku-i, bubishi, etc. then you will readily see the connections. Worth the effort and money to get a copy!

Speed Training in Martial Arts

Bibliography:
Christensen, Loren W. "Speed Training: How to Develop Your Maximum Speed for Martial Arts." Paladin Press. Boulder. 1996.

Review: Go for it. Don't hesitate, arghhh, too slow already. Don't hesitate and make if fast - buy this book :-). Simple, easy and it will increase your speed using simple physics, common sense and a positive affirmative mind-set that with this book you will get fast.

Christensen Sensei has presented a means to achieve speed but you have to expend some costs yourself. Costs? A positive attitude and lots of hard, hard work. I have slow twitch musculature but have picked up speed and I am fifty-nine years young.

OhhYahhhhh.

Timing in the Fighting Arts

Bibliography:
Christensen, Loren W. and DeMeer, Wim. "Timing in the Fighting Arts." Sante Fe New Mexico. Turtle Press. 2004.

Review: Another outstanding accomplishment for martial artist everywhere from both Loren W. Christensen and Wim DeMeere. Don't let the title fool you as they cover, in great detail, many subjects that either directly or indirectly influence the timing necessary to achieve dominance in the fighting arts including both defense/fights/combative and all those under the heading of sports.

This is well written it seems sometimes to me like a great action book you just can't put down until you reach the ending. In this case the ending of the book opens the door to many features you can incorporate into your training and practice to achieve a reality based training system.

The Katas

Bibliography:
Tokitsu, Kenji. "The Katas Meaning behind the Movements." Shambhala. Boston & London.

Review: There are many awesome materials out there on kata that are exemplary in their content and meaning. I have listed my favorites on this blog and my web site recommended reading list.

I applaud the works of:

Bibliography:
DeMente, Boye Lafayette. "Kata: The Key to Understanding & Dealing with the Japanese." Tuttle. Vermont. 2003.

Kane, Lawrence A. and Wilder, Chris. "The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications." YMAA. New York. 2005.

Wilder, Kris. "The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power." YMAA Publication. New York. 2007.

And, we must not forget the references to kata in the  many books listed here and elsewhere that promote the understanding of kata.

This book takes up the cultural basis of the martial art kata as it has meaning to budo. This also speaks to kata in light of both the art of the sword and the writings/teachings of Miyamoto Musashi as understood by Sensei Kenji Tokitsu.

His approach is different and from the expertise of a Japanese martial artists of note. It is highly recommended and can answer many of the questions toward the depth and breadth of kata practice. 

A must read, a must have and a must place it in your library!

The Inner Art of Karate

Bibliography:
Tokitsu, Kenji. "The Inner Art of Karate: Cultivating the Budo Spirit in Your Practice." Shambhala. Boston & London. 2012.

Review: This book is an outstanding choice to provide a different perspective toward the practice of karate. It also speaks to the implementation of budo from Japan into the Okinawan art of Karate. This one is an excellent addition to any karate or martial art library.

Tokitsu Sensei has far exceeded my expectations upon finding this fine book and taken the explanations often assumed by western practitioners and placed them directly within our grasp for us to assimilate and apply in karate goshin-do (budo oriented practice).

He extends meaning in terms and their implementations and applications in an easy westernized format that can and will change how martial artists perceive karate and other budo oriented martial arts. He even uses the sport/combat sport aspects to make his point valid and obvious to all those practitioners as well. 

This book stands tall among such books as the Book of Martial Power and it should be read immediately - get your copy today, click the title above in the Bibliography.

High recommendations to all karate practitioners!

Complete Book of Five Rings

Bibliography:
Tokitsu, Kenji. "The Complete Book of Five Rings." Shambhala Publications. Boston. 2000.

Review: I have several translations from several translators on the Gorin no Sho but this one is a bit beyond those in context, content and understanding. I am in the process of reading it yet felt it a large contributor toward understanding budo, etc. and felt it was a library addition of note.

It is a book with a unique definition and historical time-line on the concept of "budo." A more modern term that speaks to the warrior and the way, etc. A very interesting viewpoint on this single term often used and abused in modern circles of martial arts.

This book has a section at the back in "notes" that discusses the difficulties in translations. It is worth the effort to read this section with diligence simply because the writing of kanji/kana is based from feudal times and influences the culture and beliefs of the Japanese which by direct and indirect influences either comes from or adds to the Okinawan's and Chinese cultures and beliefs. 

More to come .....

Martial Arts Spiritual Dimension

Bibliography:
Payne, Peter. "Martial Arts: The Spiritual Dimension." Crossroad. New York. 1981.

Review: This particular book has many benefits to include the insight of the author. There are some sections that don't seem to fit a philosophical view and don't seem as clear as I understand and would like but it is worth the funds just the same.

The China Study

Bibliography:
Campbell, T. Colin and Campbell, Thomas M. II. "The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health. BenBella Books, inc. Texas. 2006.

Review: This book is important not just for martial artists but for any human being who desires to maximize their potential, both health and martial, through fueling the body and mind with proper foods, etc.

This one was earth shaking for me. I had an incident a few years back and was told to go on medications, etc. and I refused. I already knew there had to be some way around those recommendations and all they would subject to my mind and body as to complications, etc.

I changed my diet but even then it was not enough even when the specialist said diet would not do it. Now, today, I have come to the conclusion that I would refuse both bypass heart surgery and/or angioplasty, etc. along with the drugs and am moving to the diet explained in the China Study. I am almost totally on a plant based diet except for fish. I am going to move away from fish as well and get what I need and what the body truly desires from a plant based whole food diet.

This is something I believe wholeheartedly and the first time I have seen the facts and figures in print that say, this stuff is meant to be how I nourish my body. The stories involved are inspiring and bring me great hope for a long, healthier and happier life way into the hundreds. I want to be a karate-ka who exceeds the hundred ten years mark.

This book is a must read for everyone. You can read some of the stories within the pages and come to understand that this study is earth shaking news and changed my way of seeing my health, fitness and well-being.

ADDENDUM dtd May 18, 2012: I have read this book and find it illuminating yet at the same time I believe that unless you read it with an open mind you will find it ...... it is earth shattering, earth shaking and confirms my growing suspicions about our medical and food industries.  I have changed my diet, I have joined the Dr. McDougall web site and I will live a long and healthy life because I have been presented the information which I CHOOSE to incorporate into my life as my wife will do as well. Thank you Dr's Campbell and Dr. McDougall for going the distance, stepping up to the plate and attempting to do what no one else has the intestinal fortitude to do - create a healthy lifestyle.

The Key [鍵]: Opens [開く] the Door [戸] to Potential

Often I think to myself what it is I am trying to do here on the blogosphere. Am I trying to teach a dogma that is mine regarding martial systems? Am I preaching the gospel according to Charles? Am I forcing my perceptions and beliefs on those who read my mindless meanderings?

No, what I am trying to accomplish is to give a esoteric gift to those who read my stuff. The gift is a key. This key is to open the door of each person's potential. It is to open the mind so it will think for itself.

I don't want folks to follow anything I provide here or in practice but rather to assimilate all that I have to offer and then decide on their own as to its validity and to its value to that individual, that person, YOU!

I am not saying that anything I provide is either true or false, fact or fiction, or good or evil but rather information that may be or at least seems to be "different." It is not right or wrong, good or bad, true or false - just different.

The sages of China teach that a cornerstone of any great structure is the knowledge gained in its building, creation and foundation. It has to be the kind that is subject to reflection and change as to the moment, the person and the environment, etc.

I hope all who read this and my output are discovering the key and using it to open their door to their potential.

Force Decisions

Bibliography:
Miller, Rory. "Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide." YMAA Publications. NH. 2012.

Review: I ordered this book yesterday, the 31st of April 2012, and look forward to the read.

This is another "hit" for Rory Miller. In light of the recent news hoopla on the Florida Trayvon and Zimmerman case this is one book every single person who shouted out their indignation toward the police handling things should read, read, and read again.

Mr. Miller provides a lot of information on how Police, generally speaking, work and handle things, i.e. force situations, etc. and does so in a format easy for anyone not a police person can understand.

This is another one for the required reading and understanding rule of any self-protection system including the various forms of martial arts. 

The modest price on Amazon makes this must read book very easy to acquire - get it and read it soonest. :-)

p.s. I just finished Rory Miller's new book. I can state, "When I read of an officer using force I have a better understanding of the circumstances that drove it and the rules, fundamentally, the officer works under. "