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.

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.