5 comments about The Last Great Fight: The Extraordinary Tale of Two Men and How One Fight Changed Their Lives Forever.

1. The author presents an even paced novel of the Tyson/Douglas fight that has some extradinary detail that keeps the book entertaining. This book could have benefitted with pictures. There are none.
   It seems almost unfair that the cover photo, which is great, has Tyson looking like the victor of their match.



2. This book is a discussion of how the very different lives of Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas were forever changed by their history making bout in Tokyo. Joe Layden points out that Tyson was considered almost ubeatable at this point in his career, while Douglas had a reputation for being a less than properly motivated fighter who quit when the going got tough.
   
   Instead, both guys fought courageously. Douglas dominated almost every moment of the fight, except for the closing seconds of the 8th round when Tyson dug down deep and floored Buster with an uppercut.
   
   But Buster came back strong in round nine, and then he finished Tyson in the 10th round with a deadly payback uppercut, followed by four concussive blows. The end result was a dazed and battered Tyson, groping around on the canvas for his mouthpiece. Douglas' stunning victory is still considered by many today as the greatest upset in heavyweight championship history, even more of an upset than Braddock decisioning Max baer or Cassius Clay stopping Sonny Liston.
   
   Layden goes on show how Douglas' managerial team was torn apart with dissension, and how Buster lost the itch for fighting. His weight ballooned up to 300 pounds. He lost some of the weight, but his flabby, weak and unprepared for his first title defense against Evander Holyfield. Evander would go on to knock Douglas out in the third round. Douglas would spend years and years fighting the battle of the bulge, putting on so much weight that he nearly died at one point while in a diabetic coma. Buster now raises his kids and enjoys retirement in the central Ohio area. he also has a home down in Marco Island, Florida. He is financially well off and looking for ways to help others.
   
   Tyson, on the other hand, was effectively finished as a prodigy fighter. He would go on to have some decent moments in the ring, but his life would become characterized by an increasing number of brushes with the law. Even his ring performances would become memorable for their controversial moments, such as the ear biting incident in the second Holyfield fight, the punching out of the referee in the Savarese fight, and the leg biting incident in the prefight melee with Lennox Lewis and his entourage.
   
   But Layden goes a step further by contending that not only were Douglas and Tyson in decline after their fight, but that Boxing was in decline after their fight. No one in the heavyweight ranks came forward who had the style and charisma (and circus atmosphere) of Tyson.
   
   While I feel that it is a bit of an overstatement to tie the decline of boxing's popularity with the decline of Tyson himself, Layden makes a very interesting case and his book cannot be ignored.It is one of the best boxing books that I have read, and I highly recommend it.



3. I ordered thE book 'The Last Great Fight' a month ago from greatbookdeals and I've yet to receive it. It's two weeks past due and I've sent them over 10 emails, yet they don't answer. I'm furious. Amazon makes it very difficult to contact them with complaints as well. I'll never use this service again, it's just not worth the energy.



4. The best boxing book I have read in years....maybe ever! Fascinating and compassionate look at two champions: Tyson, the grotesque anti-hero, and Douglas, the unknown who shocked the sporting world with his victory. Required sports reading!



5. 'The Last Great Fight' will go down as one of the best sports books ever written and I personally believe will be one of the (if not THE) defining books on Mike Tyson. The genius of this book lies in the ability of Joe Layden to construct a narrative structure around one moment in history - the Tyson-Douglas Fight on February 11, 1990 - and use this fight to explain the rise and falls of two fighters, and the sport of the pro boxing as a whole.
   
   The Tyson-Douglas Fight is one of the most underappreciated moments of modern sports history, primarily because (a) it occured overseas right before the advent of the Internet and 24 hours News (b) Mike Tyson has now become more of a punch line than what he was in 1990 - arguably the most feared and greatest fighter in boxing history. Objectively speaking, Douglas over Tyson represents the greatest upset in the entire history of modern sports. In light of that, this is a book that truly had to be written.
   
   Layden does a great job of analzying the fight/fighters in a Before/During/After narrative structure that is extremely detailed, fast-pasted and filled with fascinating ancedotes. I could not put the book down (read it in one day) and found it equally fascinating, depressing, and inspirational. There are many life lessons one to can learn from this story and for anyone interested in sports (and what they mean in a larger life context), this book is a must-read. Tip of the hat to Joe Layden - great job.

5 comments about Mastering Wing Chun Kung Fu.

1. Mastering Wing Chun is truly one of the best books, if not the best book. on the market concerning the Ip Family Wing Chun methods. This is the only book to be endorsed by BOTH of Ip Man's sons, Grandmasters Ip Chun and Ip Ching. It was honored by being placed into the Ip Man Museum in Foshan, China making this book an awesome feat in Wing Chun history.
   
   Master Kwok and Master Massengill write superbly to detail what makes the Ip Family method unique. From the history of Wing Chun to the detail of the empty hand forms, this work leaves you feeling like you have been able to train with all three Grandmasters at once. There are many citations from all three members of the Ip Family that help one to understand exactly what they taught. If you are serious about your Wing Chun, you need to get this book!!!



2. Pros:
   It covers all forms and short swords and pole weapons. This is the only Wing Chun book I could ever need on Wing Chun. Although it would be wise to buy a book on developing Ki. This is REAL Ip Man Wing Chun everything else different from this is something someone made up because they didn't know the proper way.
   Cons:
   I tried teaching Wing Chun to myself but you need to train with Wing Chun people. Unfortunately every place you go there's a different way of doing the forms and chances are you won't use anything in here there. If you get good at Wing Chun by training at a Wing Chun place you will be able to self teach this though.



3. Wow. This book is wonderful, that's all I can say. If you have some experience with martial arts--specifically Chinese--and want to learn an authentic style a Gong Fu, this is the book you should get. There are also some harder-to-find dvd companions. If you can't find them here, just go to Master Kwok's website.



4. I got this book because one of the other reviewers said that it had the complete Wing Chun System in there. The guy obviously doesn't have or hasn't even read through the book. It only has the 3 fist forms - Siu Nim Tau, Chum Kiu and Biu Ji. It has nothing on the Dummy, Bot Jom Doa (8 Slash Knives) or the 6 1/2 point pole.
   
   The book was short and to the point which is the way of Wing Chun. There was really nothing new in the book. I have met Ip Ching and was really excited to learn more about his family's official version of Wing Chun, but I'm sorry to say this book didn't match my expectations.
   
   I found more details in the Wing Chun Compendium Vol. 1 & 2 than in this book. In Sifu Kwok's book, they had an interesting section on Fan Sao (Ch. 10) but that was short. Other insights were on Facing or Dui Ying, Fa Jing, Translation of the VTAA Code of Conduct, Ip Man's written history or Ving Tsun and Sifu Kwok's Personal Photo Album. They were all kind of short. After each form there are a few pages on applications of certain aspects of each form. There is also a short section on Chi Sao.
   
   This book isn't expensive so it's a nice addition to any collection. But if you have the Wing Chun Compendium, it's not necessary to get this book.
   
   To be a bit nit picky, there were some spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes. The writing style was also a bit of a chore to read. Instead of "Yee Gee Kim Yeung Ma" the book says "Gee Kim Yeung Ma" It does that throughout the book! Big lack of detail.
   
   I'm sure Sifu Kwok is a great teacher and his DVDs are probably better. This book was just a bit of a letdown.



5. Mastering Wing Chun Kung Fu by Samuel Kwok is a book for all. After 26 years of Martial Art training - primarily BJJ, Kyokushin and Thai Boxing, I found this book refreshing and informative. The format of the book and layout of the material made it an easy read for a non Wing Chun practitioner. I appreciated the historical moments leading to the 1st form series and then application. This led the book into the next 2 forms making me more interested in delving further into Ip Man Wing Chun, seeing how it could compliment my current style of martial art training. Well informed and knowledgable books such as this, makes the progression in martial arts a never ending story. Thankyou Samuel Kwok and thankyou Ip Man Wing Chun. I highly recommend this book to both Non Wing Chun martial artists and Wing Chun practitioners alike.

5 comments about Beginning T'ai Chi.

1. I use this book frequently, and find it answers my questions. It is very helpful when the instructor is not available.



2. This book is, as it says, a good beginning for someone unfamiliar with Taiji Quan. It demonstrates the Beijing 24 movement form. This was in fact, my very first book on the subject, and gave me a basic understanding of Taiji Quan form and movement, before I was able to find an instructor.
   
   Overall, the material is easy to follow, the illustrations are clearly drawn, the directional arrows are a big help in determining proper transition between the forms.
   
   If you are completely new to Taiji Quan and have no access to a teacher, you will find this book a good starting point.



3. This is a very detailed book on 24 forms tai chi., but it is still a book and therefore two dimensional. I found that I cannot wrap my mind around the pictures and need a three dimensional learning tool. For those who can learn from diagrams, this should be a very useful and inexpensive tool.



4. As a teacher of Tai Chi and having read numerous books on this topic, I recommend this book highly to all beginning students. It is very difficult to learn any psychomotor skill from just a book; however, this book is an excellent addition to those who are taking Tai Chi and are learning the basic 24 movement form. The drawings are a lot more clearer than any photograph showing the Tai Chi Forms, and I found the instructions are helpful to follow the movements. Rating: 4 stars, Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Season of the Warrior, Walking with Warriors, PR-24 Baton Advanced Techniques, Never Trust a Politician).



5. This is really good read if you have never been exposed to Tai Chi. It does not explain though what type of style the forms come from but I believe they are the ones that were released by the Chinese government. Good to start practicing Tai Chi with as a ultimate beginner or an enthusiast.

5 comments about Budo Teachings of the Founder of Aikido Ueshiba (Best Karate).

1. Books to do with Morihei Ueshiba are a must for the Aikido student, this book is loaded with great text and photos. Also recommend "The Art of Peace".



2. It's got some interesting takes on Aikido, and some really good photos of O Sensei, but I felt that it wasn't put together cogently, or at least enough to keep my attention. If you like Aikido, I would recommend getting 'the art of peace' before I would recommend this work.



3. OK, before I see any more 3, 4 stars on this review, understand... This IS the original Morihei Ueshiba work (translated of course) not recommending this book for any reason is like not recommending the bible to a Christian. Of course over the years there is over a hundred texts with wonderful pics and illustrations which is what he would have wanted anyway however this book is what it is. Like the bible or Magna Carta it is the fundamental document and should not get any rating other than 5 stars, especially by an AIKIDOKA regardless of Kyu or rank. Anything less would highly disrespectful.
   "ATIAVAJM"



4. Any time you can pick up and read a book written by a true martial arts master, you should grab it immediately. This book was orginally written in 1938 when Master Ueshiba began to develop his Aikido art from Aikijutsu. At that time he called his art Aiki-Budo. This book has several pictures of the author in his younger years demonstrating Aikido. The wonderful book tells about the background of Ueshiba and the many different martial arts he had studied. He was trained and certified by the historically famous Master Sokaku Takeda of the Daito-Ryu Jujitsu school before developing his own art of Aikido. Even though I only studied Aikido for a very short time and have no rank in this art; nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to any serious martial artist, no matter what style or system. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Shotokan Karate Self-Defense Techniques, Tanto-Jutsu, Wakizashi Jutsu, Monadnock Defensive Tactics (MDTS) System, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques, Season of the Warrior).



5. I don't have this book right now - and miss it...
   
   At the time that I did have it though, it made a great resource and reference to what I considered to be THE aikido. Only later I found out that the photographs were from the period when Morihei was still "working on it" so to speak. But..the spirit was intact, and that is showed in the poems that are printed along - very charged and inspiring.
   
   Not being an Aikido practicioner, I don't think I can recommend it, but if you are like me - just an aficionado - i think you ll enjoy it a lot.

5 comments about Knife Self-Defense for Combat (Special Forces/Ranger-Udt/Seal Hand-to-Hand Combat/Special Weapons/Special Tactics Series).

1. i'vc had this book since i was 7 years old. i loved the awesome photos of echanis doing his thing. if you like the elaborate and complex, then this is the knife fighting book for you. there are simpler ways of "getting it done", but few are more fun to try. and, by the way, if any of you are curious as to how he died, he was killed while "training" in nicaragua. hmmm . . .



2. Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Michael D. Echanis', "Knife Self-Defense for Combat." This book is directly influenced by the Korean martial art of Hwarang Do and its current Grandmaster Joo Bang Lee, who Echanis had studied under before his untimely demise in Nicaragua.
   
   This book along with its two companion volumes, "Basic Stick Fighting for Combat" and "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat," were not initially released to the general public, but instead were only available to certified and recognized self-defense instructors. These books were originally intended to be military training manuals for the various elite units in the United States military. These were units such as the Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, etc.
   
   This volume, like the other two in this series, starts out with a brief section on the history of Hwarang Do and its relationship to hand-to-hand combat. This is followed by another brief section that looks at the theory and internal dynamics which make up this very impressive art.
   
   The next section of this book goes over in very good detail the basic principles involved in defending oneself against an attacker armed with a knife. This section is very well done and provides a lot of very sound advice. It then concludes with the following:
   
   4 Basic Rules in Unarmed Self-Defense Against a Weapons Attack
   
   1. Clear your body of the weapon's line of fire and angle of attack.
   2. Stabilize and control the weapon...
   3. Disarm the weapon...
   4. Neutralize the enemy...
   
   This section end with the following quote from the author, "No matter how proficient the unarmed expert becomes at disarming an armed assailant, he will remain vulnerable to even the smallest weapons expert." Concerning the subject, have any truer words been said?
   
   The author proceeds to demonstrate 38 basic methods for disarming an attacker who is armed with a knife. The author stresses that these are merely examples for the readers of this book to use as a guide for finding the right technique that works for them. It is by no means intended to be cure-all or gospel of knife self-defense. Use your own ingenuity to find and develop your own self-defense methods using the ones that the author has demonstrated as a guide.
   
   I have read other reviews where the readers have criticized some of the moves in this book as being to complex and unrealistic in nature. I don't feel that this is the case and did not see that when I read the book as the author intended. However, if you read this book under the impression that these 38 techniques are to be executed exactly as they are presented instead of as they were intended, which is as a guide to go by, then yes, I could see where that misinterpretation could come from.
   
   Although the clarity of the photographs was outstanding and easy to follow, I felt that the descriptions themselves could have been a little bit longer and more detailed. I would have also liked to have seen some close-up photographs of some of the grabs and hand positions. Other than that, this is a very good book and one that should be on your list too buy, if you don't own it already.



3. Mr. Echanis's untimely death & a publisher's clever advertising ploy elevated him into a folk hero. Regrettably his books, while nicely bound, are filled with techniques that would be difficult in a dojo & fatal on the street. His knowledge of hapkido & aikido are not translated into "combat" tactics & are at best highly questionable. His books have recently been touted as "too deadly to be revealed until know"; a true statement if one considers the reader's health & safety to be what's in danger. Mr. Ellner's recommendations for other texts would be far better ways to spend one's money. While many hapkido instructors in America shy away from teaching serious street self-defense moves, there are some, along with (non MMA, NHB) combat-oriented jujutsu teachers, who would provide decent instruction - provided you research the matter well. If one has to study from a book, make sure it's a good one.



4. I've had this book since it was first published. I've always regarded it as generally sound, and after more than 35 years of martial arts experience, I haven't changed that opinion. There is a lot of real stuff in the techniques demonstrated. A great deal of it, in fact, is similar to material you will find in Medieval fighting manuals dating from 1409-1600 (ie, Fiore, Talhoffer, Marozzo, Meyer). If you think that the guys who wrote those books didn't know what they were doing, you are a fool.
   
   Nonetheless, there is some chaff in the book. Determining what is wheat and what is chaff, however, is a difficult business. It requires an appreciation of how knife attacks happen in the real world, and most of the posters (particularly the sneerers) probably don't have the experience to justify their sense of superiority -- a condition sadly prevalent in the "knife" community, including the authors of knife DVDs and books. Most knife defense systems aren't based on a study of how knife attacks really happen. They usually are based on some guy's fanciful idea of how they happen.
   
   So I would recommend the book, but with a caveat (which should be applied to all the works by the modern self described knife experts) that some of the material shouldn't be trusted.



5. RATING: I give this trilogy of books 1.5 stars overall.
   
   1 star for validity, 4 stars for marketing and 5 stars for Echanis service in the U.S. Army as Green Beret, may you RIP.
   
   Now back to the review. I am reviewing all three titles in Echanis's series of books.
   
   Fist Echanis system of fighting was established and based on Korean Hwarang-Do, which he developed into a somewhat hybrid military hand-to-hand combative. All his methods and techniques are based on this system in all three books.
   
   I will start with "Knife Self-Defense for Combat". This book offers compendium of 35 plus knife defense techniques that entail multiple variations that supposedly provide unlimited possibilities for the combatant. The only possibilities I see are ways to get you killed. I have been studying bladecraft for sometime now and can say that I seriously question the validity of most all these techniques in this book. The majority of the methods are way too complicated to perform under duress and stress. The moves are too long with too many steps to remember and choreographed like it is Kata. Defensive knife moves need to be simple, short and sweet, but deadly effective. Unfortunately these moves are not. Maybe if you have 5-6 hours a day to practice and learn a handful of his moves they may work for you. But for me I would rather use my time more wisely.
   
   The second book is "Knife Fighting/Knife Throwing for Combat". Like the first volume that same echoes here. There are some points of interest to be found in this title, but can be found in better and more up to date works that are available. I have to make it know that a vast majority of the methods in this book are ridiculous. One major and contradiction to knife fighting is the topic of knife throwing, I just do not see the validity in this. If you are using a knife most likely you lost your firearm (malfunction/disarmed), so are you literally going to throw your last line of defense away? This method has no place in combat, maybe Hollywood.
   
   The final title is "Basic Stick Fighting for Combat" which was published after Echanis passed away. It is said he never completed all the text to support this book and if so I do not think it would have made a difference. Like the other titles the moves are just to complex and very limited in there employment. I do think if you are an avid stick fighter you may get some use from this title but for the true combatant they are just too choreographed for any fluid and effective use in combat.
   
   Overall this entire series is very poor and would not recommend using most of the moves for defense or combat. With that I do recommend the books for what not to do. They are also useful in the study of the historical evolution of modern combatives. A lot has changed in the art and science of combatives since the late seventies. Ultimately there is always something to be learned whether it is good or bad and knowing the difference may help to keep you alive to fight another day.

5 comments about The Essence of Taiji Qigong, Second Edition: The Internal Foundation of Taijiquan (Martial Arts-Qigong).

1. As with all of the books by Dr. Yang, this is a stand alone book which you can learn easily from. He first provides his theoretical foundation of both Qigong and Taiji, and then moves deeper into the subject matter, going to a point well beyond most, if not all authors on this subject.

   An incredible amount of information is transmitted in each of Dr. Yang's books, and though the first few chapters are there go get any reader at any level up to speed on his basic theory, when he gets into the main subject matter it is really very amazing.




2. This book gets to the core of everything you can learn about the ancient martial arts of Tai Chi and Chi Gung. Thorough explanations of history, techniques, purpose of motion, chi energy movement, chi/body/mind interconnectivity, proper breathing, postures, etc. Well illustrated with plenty of exercise "sets" including a nice warm-up. This book will be a great help with your training and an important reference in your library.



3. At certain critical areas, the decriptions are ambiguous i.e. the cavities and names along both conception and governing vessels that yi and qi should pass or they do not matter. Also, Fig 3-40 and 3-41 are imcomplete or not clear.



4. I have been involved in martial arts for nearly 30 years, starting in Karate and eventually working my way through the spectrum of arts before settling in Aikido. I also teach a "senior taichi" class at my local parks department. As a teacher of Yoshinkan Aikido I became interested in Taijiquan after realizing how similar it is to Aikido. I read this book not only to learn more about taijiquan, but to learn more about the Chinese idea of chi (ki in Japanese).
   
   The book begins by defining chi and there is some history on qigong and taijiquan. It then goes on to explain more detail on theories behind chi and how it relates to health, the mind and body, and taiji training.
   
   When I finished reading the book, I felt that I had a much better understanding of chi as well as the foundation and purpose of taijiquan. I can take what I learned from reading this book and apply it to my own martial arts training as well as to other exercises that I do to maintain general health.
   
   This book is not something to be read just once and put aside. I will go on to practice more, incorporating what I learned from my first reading. I'll likely read other books from Dr. Yang Jwing Ming and then re-read this one. Although the first reading was quite educational, it will take several readings over time to be able to absorb all of this information. This book will be added to my reference shelf and consulted often.



5. Overall satisfactory. The pictures were hard to follow in this book. This was a required text for a Taiji class I had so between the book and the professor the forms were not too hard to learn. I wouldn't recommend this book for someone to learn Taiji without the help of a teacher to accompany it :)

5 comments about Liu Bin's Zhuang Gong Bagua Zhang: Foundation Practices, Volume One.

1. This is an excellent first book on Ba Gua. The authors clearly have a sincere and humble approach to the subject,backed with obvious mastery.A great book for the beginner or experienced artist.The chi gong and chilin forms,with the single palm change are a welcome addition to one's knowledge.Overall a brilliant start which augers well for the follow up book(s).Let's hope the second book is not long coming.



2. I was expecting much more from this book and was thoroughly disappointed. The photos didn't convey anywhere near the depth and experience that the author claims, I'm sorry I bought it.



3. At first glance, the contents of this book seems shallow, if you're a flashy kick and punch guy looking for forms to impress others at your next tournament. However, for BaGua enthusiast, this book is a treasure! It describes a depth of understanding of Ba Gua normally not conveyed in other works I've collected! It's pictures and instructions on how to perform the exercises are very clear and easy to follow. It also provides a very humble and sincere presentation of BaGua Chang. I'm eagerly looking forward to the follow on works promised by the authors!



4. The unfortunate truth is that you can't learn ba gua, or any martial or internal art, from a book. However, this is a good book and is a good supplement to what you might be learning from a class or private lesson. The author has an engaging, clear writing style and the book is full of interesting and useful stuff.



5. This book was an enjoyable read for a Bagua enthusiast. I doubt anyone who doesn't practice Baguazhang would like it. The history and stories were entertaining and I enjoyed the pictures from the old days. The forms presented in the book were foundational forms that would make a good introduction to the Baguazhang body method. I would have like to have seen more realistic combat, but that's possibly just me. Overall, I would recommend it to any Baguazhang practitioners out there who like to read about their art.

5 comments about The Hidden Roots of Aikido: Aiki Jujutsu Daitoryu - Secret Techniques of an Ancient Martial Art.

1. First and foremost, this was a good book. A clear connection between Aikido and Daitoryu Jujutsu is made, especially with the visual aid of the many photographs of the techniques. Their similarities are evident. However, not much is given to readers on the actual working relationship of Daitoryu and Aikido, and what exactly makes them different. I feel that this book was created for the Aikido practitioner who perhaps is looking for answers that he may be asking about where his or her PHYSICAL techniques originated from. Philosophy is barely touched upon. The author's treacher was a second generation disciple of the headmaster of Daitoryu, (who taught the founder of Aikido). I wonder how much of the book's content is synthesis and how much is authentic. All in all, it is a fascinating book, and does provide insight into the workings of both Daitoryu Jujutsu and Aikido technique.



2. This is one of the best books I've ever read in the martial arts field. It has helped me a great deal in my own development in the arts. I teach a self defense class in Florence,AL which is geared for practical defense on the street. I especially enjoyed the section on pins and their variations. In today's dojos I see so many instructors focusing on the sport aspects of the arts which don't always work on the street. I loved the fact that they showed the pins that you could do without using your hands and that they never assume that there is only one attacker on the street and that every move addresses these situations. I feel like this book will benefit people of all arts not just Aikido. Many modern style Jujitsu practitioners really need to see this book because I feel like they would learn alot. The only drawback I see is that if you don't already know how to do certain wrist locks you may be lost in some places. For those people I would recommend they read Dynamic Aikido by Gozo Shioda first before buying this book,but I would definately buy this book if I wanted to be a better martial artist



3. I did not rate this book with 5 stars because some techniques are poorly explained and you need to follow the pictures. Ah !!! the pictures, they are great, easy to follow and there are lots of them. You can grab so much good information and take it with you to the dojo for practicing. I wish I could have more time to practice everything on this book.



4. This book has a lot of good facts and a huge load of techniques for self-defense. The pictures are slightly hard to follow, but if you fit them together with the description of the process, you should be fine. It would be a very good idea for students and instructors to keep a book like this, since it is a textbook.



5. I found the book to be a disappointment. There is nothing special or secret about these techniques. I've studied Aikido for years and did not see anything I haven't seen on the mat.

5 comments about Blows to the Head: How Boxing Changed My Mind (Excelsior Editions).

1. First off I will say that I am not a fan of boxing, despite the important historical and cultural impact that personalities in the sport such as Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis had during the last century. I've read too much about the corruption, hype and brutality that unfortunately has dogged certain segments of the sport since - well, the beginning of human history. However, from the whimsical cover to the final page, "Blows to the Head" is a beautiful, winning and openly personal meditation on the sweet science that convinced me how pure and fulfilling boxing can be in the right hands (no pun intended), and how life-affirming and positive it is for one incredible woman. Binnie Klein "turns over stones" and finds her "out of the box" self as she describes her fascinating personal journey of mind, body and spirit by taking up boxing at an age when many people are considering slowing down and working on Sudoku puzzles as a lifestyle.
   
   Through a variety of compelling anecdotes, the author relates in intimate detail her rigorous training full of blood, sweat and tears with an amazing boxing coach whom she originally discovered through an AARP article, and who becomes a part-Angelo Dundee and part-shaman to her. However, this book contains a lot more layers in addition to describing a woman's personal heroine-quest accompanied by Everlast gloves. With incisive humor and a unique perspective, she relates how she spied a pair of boxing gloves on a wall, and among other circumstances those gloves not only helped to open up to her a luminous new world of personal fitness, strength, and colorful personalities, but also a new-found interest in history and her family's genealogy. Those gloves also become an invaluable metaphorical aid to confronting some of the demons of her past - and present.
   
   As entertaining as the book reads as a memoir and family history, it's also an absorbing history of boxing and athletics, feminism and empowerment, and the struggles of Jewish immigrants to America in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. Klein describes fantasy "interviews" with historical Jewish boxing luminaries such as Benny Leonard, Barney Ross and Daniel Mendoza. These gentlemen come alive on the pages as courageous, brilliant, charming and sophisticated, and they shatter all dismissive preconceptions and negative stereotypes about boxers being a bunch of palookas. However, even more empathetic are the descriptions of the ever-supportive relationships within the author's contemporary new universe. Klein and her readers joyously uncover the positive impacts that her coach, other female and male boxers, and children from contemporary American immigrant societies at a local community center discover in opportunities to build self-confidence through activities like boxing. It's both astonishing and encouraging.
   
   I can say wholeheartedly that this book is one of the most enlightening, witty, and captivating reads I've had in a long time. And while this might sound trite, perhaps the book's greatest message is this: don't be afraid to try new challenges no matter what your age, condition, gender or station in life is, and despite what other people say about what you do. After all, if you're not open to new experiences, the fun in life you're missing is probably your own!



2. Who of us never wished for that one middle school gym class "do over"? Come on....be honest! As adults we are supposed to move past all that, but it is as much a part of who we are as any other experience. We all want to be good at something. Binnie Klein's "Blows to the Head: How Boxing Changed my Mind" is many things, not the least of which is social commentary on how women are viewed, how we see ourselves, what empowerement is, and, most importantly, how we can all attain it. The ring is probably one of the last places a woman would expect her trainer to say: "Women are better students of boxing". This may be a sport considered by many to be solely brutish and violent, but for the author it was both a catharsis and a bridge to her history. She and her trainer really taught one another, in both boxing and life, a bond that transcends these pages. Congratulations to the author for telling her story so that others may follow in her footsteps.



3. I read the whole book in a day. It was mesmerizing, fascinating, funny, thoughtful and delightful. How interesting to read about Binnie Klein's realization that boxing provides a path to self-realization. I recommend this book heartily.



4. A great memoir, really enjoyable read for a fellow baby boomer. Then! Klein comes from her big heart and knocks you out at the end. really sweet.



5. I agree with the other 5-star reviews, and would only add the following. Klein has achieved something rare and wonderful: she has written a memoir in which she graciously highlights the people who have contributed to her own life while somehow effacing herself in the process.
   There is no more enthusiastic boxing fan than me. The most recent book I have read on the subject is the grim "The Arc of Boxing" by Mike Silver, which goes beyond pessimism concerning professional boxing. But Klein has written the perfect complement. She has provided a paean to amateur boxing and to the people whose great spirit keep it alive as a source of strength and honor for people of all ages.
   This is also a book for contemporary philosophers, at least for those to whom the Delphic oracle "Know Yourself" remains an ongoing task and challenge. Klein is always honest with herself, and always regards herself with great good humor.
   Finally, I found the depiction of her father to be the most subtly moving portrait. He comes across on the surface as gruff, crude, and resentful of his lack of worldly success. But as one reads, one becomes aware that he managed to provide excellent educations to all three of his successful daughters, and that he loved them beyond his capacity to express.

1 comments about The Leader as Martial Artist: Techniques and Strategies for Revealing Conflict and Creating Community.

1. Dr. Mindell has provided an interesting and inclusive model for leadership that takes into account many levels of individual and group psychology. This book goes far beyond, or should I say far deeper, than most of the "pop" nonsense on leadership.