Reading List

Dana Sheets · Post by **Dana Sheets** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:18 pm

Dan Millman's "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" collection is an enjoyable introduction to the kinds of things that help you train better and more thoughtfully.

The "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" is especially good to give to younger readers as it tells the coming of age story of a young man at college. Also these books are written in a very conversational style and don't come off "high brow" or inaccessible. Cheap used copies abound on Amazon.com

Yang Jwing Ming's "Shaolin White Crane" is dense but fascinating.

Patrick McCarthy's translation of the Bubibshi is a must.

And I really looked very differently upon my training after reading "The Accidental Buddhist" by Dinty W. Moore. This is a really great story of a guy that went to write an article about Buddhism and ended up on serveral Buddhist retreats that he describes in a really enjoyable light-hearted and comical way. This book I've seen at many public libraries.

chewy · Post by **chewy** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 5:06 pm

Bill,

There are several editions of "Art of War" out there with various interpretations and translations. May I recommend, highly, this edition:

"The Art of War, Special Edition"
by Sun Tzu, Lionel Giles (Translator)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

Very nice uncorrupted translation from a leading scholar on the ancient orient. In addition to the clear-translation it also includes the original chinese version (for those among us who study the language) and a wonderful section-by-section analysis by the author in a third translation.

Also wanted to throw out one of my personal favorites, although I've only been through it once:

"The Endless Quest"
by William J. Dometrich

http://www.shindokanbooks.com/quest.shtml

A great look at somebody who has dedicated himself to a particular traditional art and his experiences in his own words. After reading it I've started wondering if GEM would be interested in such an undertaking.

It would most definitely make for intersesting reading.

cheers,

chewy

AE Moores · Post by **AE Moores** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:38 pm

Rory,
Can you be a bit more specific as to the problems you had with "On Combat?"

Thank you,
Andrew

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:47 pm

Wonderful suggestions, everyone! Keep them coming!

Andrew

I was hoping you would come on board w.r.t. On Combat. I know you were an early reader and know Grossman well. I'm all ears when it comes to you and Rory discussing this.

dpasquarelli

Welcome aboard!

Yes, Living the Martial Way is by Forrest E. Morgan. It's a good one!

- Bill

AE Moores · Post by **AE Moores** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:57 pm

Bill Sensei,
Yes I have gotten to know Dave pretty well over the past few years, but I have read some of Rory's excellent posts and am curious as to what problems he had with the book.

I will add to the list:
Embracing Fear- Thom Rutledge
Predators- Anna Salter
Deep Survival- L. Gonzales
Surviving the Extremes-K. Kamler
Anatomy of Motive-J. Douglass

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:01 pm

Indeed. I know you are positive with Rory.

I hope to learn more by such discussions.

- Bill

NEB · Post by **NEB** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:16 pm

You can't go wrong anything written by Richard Kim. Also "THe Fighting Spirit of Japan" by E.J. Harrison is a good read. No one has mentioned Alan Dollar's book yet, either, but I honestly thought it was very well researched and would definately recommend it.

NB

dpasquarelli · Post by **dpasquarelli** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:30 pm

Thank you for your kind welcome Mr. Glasheen.

I am not too familiar with the more psychologically/situanally based books but look forward to reading more of them as time goes on. For myself, reading helps me to intellectually understand concepts amd through understanding to begin to internalize them.

I believe there is no way to learn better than doing but mostof my reading is focused more on developing my own philosophical underpinning of why I train and study an art, any art including surfing, writing,etc.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:05 am

I have been collecting martial arts books for 20+ years.
These are the ones I find myself opening the most out of my collection.

1. Uechi-ryu Karate (yellow or red) george Mattson
No one else picked that? Surprising.
2. Secrets of Uechi-ryu Karate A. Dollar
Makes you proud to tie on the belt.
3. Explosive Karate Arthur Rabesa
No nonsense book on how to hit harder, wish there was a video to go along with it.
4. Best Judo Isao Inokuma
I have 30-50 Judo books, this is the one to have.
5. Autumn Lightning Dave Lowry
Building Warrior Spirit Robert Scaglione
6. Moving Zen CW Nicol
7. Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters Shoshin Nagamine
8. Kodo Ancient Ways Kensho Furuya
9. almost forgot-Uechi-ryu 2000 Allen Moulton
Possibly the most thorough Uechi book
10. Master Uechi's book. I have to break down some day and buy it.
F.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:27 pm

FYI... I intentionally have not mentioned style-specific books or books by vendors. The former are no-brainers for practitioners of a particular style. The latter gets beyond reading and into cross-training, political issues, etc.

I think I already have almost every book on Uechi Ryu in English or Japanese. I'm missing some collectables such as the Mattson pamplets that were prequels to his yellow/red book, but otherwise have most of the rest. But as I said, these are no-brainers. Still... I don't mind people mentioning them. It's good for all to see what matters to individuals here.

Thanks to all for the books and the reasons why you like them. Keep it coming!

- Bill

AE Moores · Post by **AE Moores** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:55 pm

Here's two I forgot.

Blink- Malcolm Gladwell
In The Gravest Extreme- Massad Ayoob

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 6:49 pm

Bill,
One of my students bought one of the Mattson pamphlets a couple of years ago on bookfinder .com for $10.00.
That was a good buy.
Last one I saw on E-bay was well over $60.00 when I stopped bidding.
F.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:53 pm

For a new age look at energy and healing:

Donna Eden, Energy Medicine Origins and spirituality of Okinawan ... Zen Kobudo

Controversial perhaps but full of insights:

Nathan J. Johnson, Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and Karate

Post by **gmattson** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:28 pm

I've been working with John David Morenski, M.D. (J.D.) on a new Eastern Arts Review site.

Although not linked-up to the main site yet, since there seems so much interest in books here, why not contact J.D. and write a review for his site.

http://uechi-ryu.com/pages/reviews

chewy · Post by **chewy** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:23 pm

The Way of the Warrior : The Paradox of the Martial Arts
by Howard Reid, Michael Croucher

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

No, it didn't get the best reviews, but I found it a fun quick read. The book is based upon a 1980's BBC documentary. It gives you a nice overview of where various modern martial arts orginated, how they spread, and the influences of religion on the arts. It also helps the novice sort out some of the differences between various styles/systems of chinese, japanese, and okinawan arts.

The one section that facinated me was on the Indian martial arts. I felt like a complete idiot for never even pondering if India, another ancient culture of the Far East, may have a system of unarmed combat. The book is worth it just for the section on India. Some of their weapons were interesting too; like a multi-bladed (literally 4 to 8 individual blades) "soft" sword whose blades flex and twist as you whirl it through the air.

cheers,

chewy

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