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Martial Arts Book Reviews and Links
This list is not exhaustive.
Karate
| Fundamental Karate Books with a Shotokan Orientation |
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Shotokan Advanced Kata Vol. 1, Vol. 3. Kenosuke Enoeda (Vol.
2 is great -- but out of print and not available).
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Stretching Scientifically. Thomas Kurz. Dangerous, but
it works for about 50% of the people. Use with care.
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Best Karate, Vol. 5 (Heian, Tekki). M. Nakayama.
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Best Karate, Vol. 6 (Bassai, Kanku). M. Nakayama.
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Dynamic Karate. M. Nakayama.
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Karate. Hidetaka Nishiyama (one of the greats).
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Complete Stretching. Maxine Tobias. This is stretching
as a religion and a lifestyle. Ok as a book. Compare with ...
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The Wharton's Stretch Book by Jim & Phil Warton. These are
the stretching techniques used by Olympic elite atheletes.
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Jo, The Japanese Short Staff. Dan Zier and Tom Lang.
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Karate-Do Kyohon. Gichin Funakoshi.
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Karate-Do My Way of Life. Gichin Funakoshi.
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25 Shoto-kan Kata. S. Sugiyama. (Endorsed by Nishiyama).
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Swords (for Smiths &
Collectors)
| Books on swords |
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The Craft of the Japanese Sword by Leon Kapp and Yoshindo Yoshihara
is by far one of the best beginner's guides complete with technical information
as well as great color photos.
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For collector info on Japanese swords, for serious students: The Connoisseur's
Book of Japanese Swords by Nagayama.
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Shop for the best price.Both are must have books for anyone interested in
Japanese swords.
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Renaissance Swordsmanship : The Illustrated Use of Rapiers and Cut-And-Thrust
Swords by John Clements. "This book will change that. It has received
positive reviews from the historical-recreation community, martial arts
community, leading scholars of sword history, several knife and history
magazines, and from readers in Belgium, England, Germany, Brazil, Czech Republic,
and Australia."
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Step-by-Step Knifemaking by David Boye
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Three of the best and most readable books on the subject, suitable for rank
amateur and seasoned professional alike!
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The Complete Bladesmith
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The Master Bladesmith
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The Pattern-welded blade
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Jo, The Japanese Short Staff. Dan Zier and Tom Lang.
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Swords and Hilt Weapons by Peter Connolly, etc. This book runs
chronologically from stone,bronze,and iron age to WWI and WWII. It also has
separate sections on swords of Islam, China, India, Africa,and Pre-conquest
America. It has a very extensive section on Japanese swords. All these sections
are written by 9 experts so it's just not one person's perspective. It has
excellent photos.
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Archeology of Weapons by Ewart Oakeshott.
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The Book Of The Sword by Sir Richard Burton. "It concentrates
on mostly ancient swords and in the light of modern knowlege and technology,
I don't trust its accuracy. It was written in 1884 and is interesting, however,
for it's Victorian views. He wrote it when swords were still in use and tells
how one tests a sword, fighting styles, etc."
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Other
| Other martial arts works -- especially Judo and Akijutsu |
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The Illustrated Guide to Judo. Tony Reay & Geoffrey Hobbs.
If you already know the throws and are looking for variants, ideas, etc.
this is a great book.
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Stretching Scientifically. Thomas Kurz. Dangerous, but
it works for about 50% of the people. Use with care.
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Complete Stretching. Maxine Tobias. This is stretching
as a religion and a lifestyle. Ok as a book. Compare with ...
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The Wharton's Stretch Book by Jim & Phil Warton. These are
the stretching techniques used by Olympic elite atheletes.
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Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. Conversations and interviews with Okamoto
Seigo, etc. (Bugei Trading Company).
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Jo, The Japanese Short Staff. Dan Zier and Tom Lang.
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Samurai Aikijutsu by Toshishiro Obata. One of his students,
now a Go-Dan, introduced my wife and I to each other.
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