Uechi-Ryu.com

I thought making a list of our favorite martial arts books might be a good idea. My favorite is:

Karate Masters
By: Jose M. Fraguas

It's a collection of interviews with 24 of the world's leading martial arts experts. It's a great read and the interview format makes it easy to pick up and read an interview real quick during the day.

http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Masters-Jo ... F8&s=books
$13.57 at Amazon but most local bookstores should have it as well.

I wasn't aware of this book and it sounds very interesting. Since I know many of the people interviewed, it will be fun to read what they had to say "on the record" as compared to what they talked about after a tournament or class, over a beer.

_________________
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"

My first treasured book is
UechiRyu Karate Do written by George Mattson
It's an excellent book. The basics text book that can help a beginner.
I would recommend to use this book to help your study.
Thank you George for all the work especially for the illustrations and descriptions.

My second favorite is
The Bubishi /The Bible of karate/ written by Patrick cCarthy.

Patrick McCarthy has spent over ten years researching and studying The Bubishi and the arts associated with it.
The Bubishi is an important historical book which was treasured through the centuries and influenced most of the karate's legendary masters . They have studied the book and applied their teachings into it.
The secret text passed from master to student.
The book called as "The Bible of karate" by the famous master Miyagi Chojun.
Is an excellent work based on philosophy, strategy, medicine, and techniques as they relate to the martial arts.

This is my favorite quote from the book:

"Do not deceive your fellow man.Deceiving people is the most serious
of all crimes as there is no defence against it. Should someone take
it upon themselves to deceive another, the God will protect the good
and judge the evil.
Those who use deceit and violence will never know peace or enjoy a long life."
/Bubishi-Patrick McCarthy/


There is one more treasure in my library...

"Artist of Life" about Bruce Lee by John Little.
It is a collection of Lee's private letters and writing.
Also including his poetry, life philosophies, his thoughts on martial arts, love, friendship,acting.
A fascinating to learn the man behind the myth.

He wrote poems to encourage his friend.
"It's all in the state of mind."

If you think you are beaten,you are.
If you think you dare not,you don't.
If you like to win,but think you can't
It is almost certain you won't.
If you think you will lose,you are lost.
For out of the world we find
Success BEGINS with a fellow's WILL.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed,you are.
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go to
The stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later the man
Who wins is the man
WHO THINKS HE CAN!

_________________
Eva

George Alexanders translation of the "Bubishi" is in my 'bag of refrence books'

_________________
FEARS Ltd
"Art meets Reality"
www.fearsltd.com

Has anyone read both McCarthy's and Alexander's translations of the bubishi? Are they materially different? I've read the McCarthy version and I'm wondering if Alexander's has any additional or different content that make it worth purchasing both.

I'd like to know the answer to that too -- I've read one, but not the other -- will probably get the other just to see for myself but....

My most recent favourite is Rory's book, Meditations on Violence. Quite moving. Deeply moving.

And just before that it was this one:

'Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals, a Historical Survey' by Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo. Published by North Atlantic Books c. 2005.

Two parts - a series of essays about the history of Chinese MA followed by translations of many training manuals - both recent and not so recent along with some small marginalia by the authors.

Fascinating read which, in my mind at least, addresses many of the concerns expressed in these forums about 'realist training vs. TMA'; misunderstandings about 'chi' and other things we may no longer understand the contexts for.

good thread!

_________________
Chris

According to Amazons reviews-

"..........This book on Bubishi seems to be an accurate translation of the original text. I prefer this version over McCarthy's becasue it is not filled with the translaters commentaries. This book should be in every martial artist library. This is the book that our Grandmaster's learned from."

George Alexander and I taught together at Karate College at Radford U. this summer he has great wisdom , is a lot of fun , it is an honor to call him my friend . If you want a signed copy 'pm' me and I'll give you his home # ..

_________________
FEARS Ltd
"Art meets Reality"
www.fearsltd.com

Nearly all of the books mentioned here are of interest and I do have some of them and others I have seen or glanced at from time to time. If you want to know more about books in karate and related martial arts I suggest you go to the rare book and magazine list at the HAWAII KARATE MUSEUM website at http://museum.hikari.us/ The majority of these magazines and books are now housed in the University of Hawaii. If you have some books you'd like to donate to this museum, all of the information you need is there plus a lot of other interesting things. I plan to donate a number of other items from my personal collections. This is a good way to recycle things and also ensure they will be preserved. I might mention that Patrick McCarthy has donated his works there also as have several other notables. You can see George Mattson's works there also.