Samurai: The Last Warrior

Bibliography:
Man, John. "Samurai: The Last Warrior." Bantom Books. London. 2011.

Review: One quarter way through as of 13:17 hours on January 24th in the year 2013. I am impressed and will follow up with a more comprehensive review when reading is completed. I can say with enthusiasm that this one should be in any martial art library.

I am stunned by the misconceptions we have regarding both the samurai of Japan and the martial arts that have come to being from as far back as the feudal era to present day.

February 13, 2013: Satsuma, a family name many who practice karate recognize as the family of samurai who conquered Okinawa around the 1600's. It appears that this samurai tribe had far more influence on the changes that Japan, and by osmosis Okinawa, endured during the restoration period.

This book looks at one of those samurai who had a huge influence on this period of history, Saigo. It goes through his associations and connections with Japan, the Shogun and the Satsuma. It is an excellent book on the history, culture and belief of Japan that had a strong influence on its subjects of Okinawa.

Nice addition to the martial library and it will open some eyes as to how things transpired and affected the martial practices of modern times.

Happy Holidays Everyone

As the week progresses we get a bit closer to the annual celebration we call Christmas. Since there are many who celebrate in different ways I tend to just wish every one a happy holiday since regardless of beliefs those who reside here in the America's tend to take that time as a holiday I felt it generic enough to express happiness and joy for the season while, hopefully, not offending anyone.

I will be at work till this Friday which means I will be in the Bloggersphere but after Friday until the morning of the second of January "2013" I will be on holiday with my wife, three cats and poodle dog. Have a great holiday everyone if I don't hear from you; I wish us all the best for 2013!!!!

The Study of China Hand Techniques

Bibliography:

Itoman, Morinobu and McKenna, Mario (translation). "The Study of China Hand Techniques." Mario McKenna Publisher. 2012.

Review: A very interesting and validating book to say the least. Mario McKenna has gone to a good deal of trouble to translate this book from a copy that is apparently on display at the Hawaiian Karate Museum run by Charles Goodin. I find this book a refreshing one and recommend it for your collection of karate or martial arts library. 

The only drawbacks is the clarity of the snapshots but assume they are copies of older and less clear shots when this book was originally published. 

Leading the Way

Bibliography:

Bown, Tim and Miller Rory. "Leading the Way: Maximize Your Potential as a Martial Arts Instructor." Rachelle Bown. Kindle. 2012

Review: Rory Miller was right, this is a solid book all martial arts sensei should read, and, read again and again and again. I would have loved to see what Tim Bown would have produced in other writings if not for his untimely passing.

I agree with Bown Sensei that this professional teaching requirement is missing from many dojo, training halls and gyms. It is a shame that upon earning the coveted black belt those new yudansha don't or have not already acquired the ability to "teach or lead the way" and often fall back on inadequate teaching methods simply because it was the way my sensei did it so it is good enough for my students.

Get this book, make it a part of your studies and then deliver the benefits to your students. 

Campfire Tales from Hell

Bibliography:

Overland, Clint; Anderson, Drew Dr.; Kane, Lawrence; Trahan, Terry; Burrese, Alain; Demeere, Wim; Eisler, Barry; MacYoung, Marc; Miller, Rory; Miller, Kamila. "Campfire Tales from Hell: Musing on Martial Arts, Survival, Bounding, and General Thug Stuff." CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2012.

Review: What can I say, another effort headed up by Rory Miller. There is not much else that anyone can say about the efforts he has made in this genre and those other authors have their own expertise that is passed along in this book. I thought to myself, what else can be said in the subject of violence than another book arrives on Amazon and I am blown away once again. 

This book is worth every penny. It is something to be used as a teaching guide to anyone who is working in the profession or who is teaching about defense against violent conflict. 

Scaling Force

Bibliography:

Miller, Rory and Kane, Lawrence A. "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-making under Threat of Violence." YMAA Publisher. New Hampshire. 2012

Review: I just got this book yesterday, the 3rd of October 2012, and have read only one foreword, by Clint Overland. That one foreword was enough to get me thinking about self-defense, violence and martial arts if not for the previous books by Rory Miller, Lawrence A. Kane, and others - impressive credentials on violence and impressive articulation of the importance of this book and how all of us perceive  self-defense, fighting and violence. 

It feels like one of those fictional page turners you spend the next forty-eight hours straight reading - no sleep, no shower, no food but the book. It is one of those, for me, that tunes me out of this world and takes me into another whole different world. I sit here now writing this review with such anticipation that I will stop now and get back to reading the book. 

Do I need to say any more? Thanks Mr. Overland for you outstanding foreword, it made a difference and I will take your advice and truly study this book. Domo! ありがとう

Zensho

Bibliography:
Aiello, J. "Zensho." A Warriors Broadcasting Network. 1994.

Review: It has been a while since I read this one so the review is going to be terse in nature. This book interested me as it presents a view from the author into a bit of the culture that inspired the ancient masters who created the various systems.

It states that the author is a modern Zen master who has been inspired by his studies and attempts to bring the ancient cultural beliefs he perceives to have existed in those ancient dojo or for Okinawan's the tombs, yards, and fields where they practiced the empty hand called "Ti or Toudi."

A good read and worth the money if you can find a copy.

My Library Listings - work in progress

I still have a good deal of books to add to this blog. I have lost many books over the years but have a list of one hundred and seventy-eight on hand and listed in an excel document. 

I will be adding them one at a time with reviews starting with the "A's" and skipping over the one's that are already listed below. I will add the data first and then put in a photo of the book cover's later as time permits.

I look forward to sharing my reading of books and hope to hear some suggestions from the blog members. 

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.