5 comments about IAI: The Art Of Drawing The Sword.

1. Iai: The Art of Drawing the Sword is good as a refresher, at best. Craig opens his tome with some personal history and stories, which is a fine method of doing things, until he brings his own opinion into it. He gives the impression that spiritualism should account for most everything in iaido; as most practitioners are aware, spiritualism is only one aspect, and technique is equally or more important.

   Throughout the book, Craig provides small interludes detailing Japanese history, and other information, some of which is accurate, some of which is very much exaggerated, and some of which is not true. While the thought was nice, he should have researched his facts more.

   The drawings accompanying his descriptions of the kata are sketchy and vague; a beginner would have difficulty following them, although someone with grounding in another Japanese sword art such as kenjitsu may have better luck. However, with knowledge of the kata, or at least of the mechanics of the motions, a reader would find this book a helpful reminder, as long as he does not try to base his study entirely on this book.

   Overall, this is not a terrible book, but there are much better on the subject, with regards to technique, illustration, and history.




2. I have all of Shihan Craig's books, except for 1 that was out of print before I started reading his works. He is a uniquely qualified and highly regarded martial arts instructor and historian. I found this to book to be quite helpful. I bought it before starting Iaido when I just wanted to read his books. Now that I train in Iaido I use it as a reference.



3. I happened to buy this book amongst others as I have an interest in the history of Japanese swordsmanship and Iai.

   I found this book helpful in terms of history, sword-testing and nomenclature; though I found the drawings a big 'sketchy' at best. For reading purposes this is a good book, with plenty to keep it interesting... but if you want to know more on the practical side of the art of drawing the blade I'd suggest "Flashing Steel" by Shimabukuro instead. It uses photographs in illustrating points and offers better descriptions in its' instruction.




4. I say "oldie" because the All Japan Kendo Federation has added several new kata to its regimen since the book was published. But the description "goodie" still fits! There's a bit of something for everyone in this book: stories, history, philosophy, and practical tips.
   
   As always, I'm grateful for the many thoughtful reviews here on Amazon. I'm surprised, however, that so many folks think a BOOK is the way to learn any martial art, especially a traditional one like iaido. If you're serious about learning iai (and not just reading about it), find a qualified, respected instructor and practice, practice, practice. Then buy this book as a supplement to your education.



5. Well laid out and informative. Unlike other reviewers I really liked the illustrations. They are simple, but easy to understand and more than adequate to reinforce the commentary. This fascinating book covers everything from understanding the terminology to selecting and purchasing a sword, to caring for your weapon, to etiquette, to technique. It even shows how to fold your uniform. I especially enjoyed the historical vignettes scattered throughout. The section on sword testing was also captivating. If you want a solid education in the fundamentals of iaido this is an excellent resource. It is not really aimed at advanced practitioners but is well written for beginners and intermediate students. I learned a lot from this excellent tome.
   
   Lawrence Kane
   Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

5 comments about Championship Sambo: Submission Holds and Groundfighting.

1. Actually this book is almost too easy to read and use. These kinds of holds really should be taught by a competent instructor for safety's sake. But, Mr. Scott knows his subject so well that the step by step instruction can be followed easily by the rawest beginner or the most advanced practitioner of Martial Arts. And, Mr. Scott covers almost all of the issues with each movemment. The only other book that I have read that is as complete as this one is Mr. Scott's book on armbars.
   This book is well worth the price for any student of the Martial Arts.



2. good book, easy to follow. and my favorite part, its actually INSTRUCTIONAL...not just a history lesson. much of it is pretty basic, beginner's stuff, but you could probably get some good ideas from it, or at least maybe a different point of view, or a refresher.
   many grappling techniques cross over from style to style, meaning you will see alot of this stuff in judo, bjj, as well as sambo and other grappling arts. after all they all share a common heritage. in many ways, the rules dictate the style.



3. I got this book hoping to learn about footlocks to add to my BJJ game. I wasn't impressed, the book didn't offer much info on footlocks which suprised me because all of the Sambo guys I have trained with were crazy on the footlocks. This book would be good for a beginner who couldn't afford anything better.



4. I bought this book thinking it would explain different submissions and such. It does not. It goes over the same technique in many different cases instead. The same arm lock from the side, from behind, from etc. All the same lock.
   
   It did have some good advice in getting prepared for the ground fight. I will keep the book as reference but expected much more from reading the title and inside cover.



5. Steve Scott is a wonderful instructor and his approach is practical and easy to follow. I had the privilege of attending one of his seminars in Minnesota through the Northstar Martial Arts Academy and his book and live demonstrations are totally in sync. You will find you are able to effectively apply what you read in his book.

5 comments about The Straight Lead: The Core of Bruce Lee's Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do.

1. This book is for true believers of the JKD art. Ignore the bashers and wannabees. These are truly the fine points of technique and style. If you want fanboy stuff or are more about reading than working, yes, just ignore this book.
   
   If you want to move beyond all the fluff and fisticuffs, stop right here and click to order.



2. It is obvious that Ms. Tom went into "Jeet Kune Do" with little, if any, martial arts background and understanding. She has biases that are common in those students-not just of JKD-that have only studied one art. Her biases shine through, which destroys a lot of the integrity of the book, but that is not to say that this book does not have something to offer. It is refreshing that someone has taken the time to write a complete book on one technique. Ms. Tom does explore the "straight lead" rather deeply and I did come away feeling better off after reading it. If nothing else, she offers quite a few great drills one can incorporate into one's own training. It does make me wonder, though sarcastically, if these drills came directly from Bruce Lee himself, as she does preach throughout the book how important it is to only follow what Bruce wanted...whatever that means. In the end, if one can get through the biased, preachy aspects of the book, I think it would be a good addition to any martial artist's library.



3. Like my first ten books in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series, author Teri Tom takes one singular technique, in this case the straight lead, and writes a truly remarkable book on the subject.
   
   I was really impressed with the amount of information and the writing style in which that information was conveyed in this book, and for that the author deserves some additional kudos. The information and back-story is solid and really adds to the integrity of this book.
   
   The book itself takes a very detailed and in-depth look at the straight lead punch that the late Bruce Lee taught and explains in precise detail how to execute it correctly in order to generate the maximum amount of power in your technique.
   
   Like the book, Championship Fighting Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense by Jack Dempsey, this book will dramatically improve your punching power if you simply empty your cup and allow the information provided in this book to fill it up.
   
   I strongly recommend that you purchase and implement the information contained in this fantastic book.
   
   Shawn Kovacich
   Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.



4. We should not forget that people naturally tend to pick what works for them best out of any system. All the more so is that the case with followers of Lee, who rightfully pride themselves on open-minded practicality. Teri Tom's book on the straight lead explores this tendency a bit, but in a way that could be misleading.
   
   Bruce's lead hand in his books remains notably higher and his elbow further out from the ribs than Ted's version of the guard stance shows. This is true of the guard stances of both his mother art, Wing Chun, and his Jun Fan period, as well as at least one of the styles that developed from his Jun Fan period and were carried on later, like Wing Chun Do. Lee encouraged people to do what works for them, but this will necessarily provoke idiosyncratic changes if only to compensate for differences in body types and the onset of aging.
   
   There will virtually always be some variation even among very loyal students, even those completely disinterested in any other styles. We should probably consider some of these divergences as idiosyncratic adaptations as much as variations. There can be confusion, though, when the adaptations themselves are portrayed as in any way the equivalence of or intention behind the source from which those adaptations sprung.
   
   The book in question, which touts the value of Tom's and perhaps especially Wong's collapsed and low-leverage front hand guard, seems to veer slightly into this territory. Thus, though this is a good book, some of it is too personalized, ironically rendering it vulnerable to the same criticism it levies against others as to their watering down of Lee's original ideas. This is a minor note in an otherwise generally good and interesting book, but it is worthy of note. I look forward to future books by Ms. Tom and Ted Wong, but hope they will not fall into a temptation it appears they got snagged by in this one.
   
   Another note: There is a mantra-like, near chanting of the idea in this text that because the straight lead is the simplest punch, it is the hardest to learn. Such a notion is not only inherently self-contradictory, but a bit uncomfortably "cute" in not recognizing its limitations. It isn't up to bearing the weight of deep knowledge or even utility that appears to be assigned it. At any rate, once or twice was more than enough.



5. First off I will say, I have no experience with JKD other than reading books by Bruce Lee. I do have experience with other martial arts though. But from what I could tell, everything presented in this book was excellent. It explained every step clearly, the pictures were very helpful, except in a few instances. It also backed up what it was saying with science. I have worked on my straight lead after reading this book, and I can say it definitely is better. Although still nowhere near perfect, I can say that I understand the concepts of the technique and their applications much better after reading this book. I also understand the history of straight punching and where the concepts derive from. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in JKD or even martial arts in general.

5 comments about Tunney: Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey.

1. I really enjoyed this book.
   The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars was because it lacked info on the private and older Tunney.



2. After his first and only defeat in the ring,
   heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney salved his
   physical and mental anguish by pondering the pithy
   perplexities of Shakespeare's retelling of the Iliad,
   Troilus and Cressida. Lanky, literate, blessed with
   athletic and mental agility, uncommon self-possession,
   and artistic tastes, ranging from Victor Hugo to
   Wagnerian opera, Gene Tunney is portrayed as a
   pugilistic enigma in Jack Cavanaugh's fascinating
   biography. A Marine Corps boxing champion in WWI who,
   after turning pro, went undefeated as a heavyweight
   (his only loss came as a light-heavyweight), Tunney
   was knocked down only once in his career. He retired
   at age 31, married heiress Polly Lauder, and for the
   rest of his life pursued a variety of business
   ventures and the arts. Tunney, like F. Scott
   Fitzergerald's Gatsby, was a remarkable, self-created
   individual. Tunney's heroic flaw, however, was that
   he wasn't the champ the people wanted him to be -- but
   what a fighter he was. What a man.
   
   Jack Cavanaugh's wide-ranging biography chronicles not
   only Tunney, but also the parallel rise of his
   nemesis, heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. Tunney
   defeated Dempsey twice, the first time to take the
   title from Dempsey in the "fight of the century" in
   1927. Their rematch a year later became an indelible
   event in boxing and sport history when Tunney was
   knocked down by Dempsey for the only time in his
   career in the round that became known as the "long
   count." Cavanaugh takes the reader on a fabulous
   carnival ride through the world of boxing as well as
   providing a wonderful panorama of American popular
   culture during the 1920s.
   
   Cavanaugh engages the reader early with Tunney's
   upbringing in Greenwich Village in New York. Tunney's
   Irish immigrant father, John, was a hardworking
   stevedore who labored on the docks of the Hudson
   River. John loved boxing and encouraged his oldest
   son, James, called by family members "Gene," to box,
   buying him gloves when he was ten years old. A tall,
   rangy kid, Gene Tunney learned how to fight not only
   for self-protection but also to defend his two younger
   brothers. It's not clear that Tunney ever loved
   fighting -- he was simply very good at it, as he was
   at almost everything he was to do in life from boxing
   to literature to business. He was highly disciplined,
   adept at learning and adapting from previous mistakes,
   and had unusually high self-confidence in his mental
   and physical abilities.
   
   Cavanaugh also plumbs fascinating biographical
   information about heavyweight champion and
   contemporary rival, Jack Dempsey. Dempsey's
   relentless, snarling, back-'em-up with hooks and
   uppercuts from out of his trademark coal miner crouch
   served as a marked contrast to Tunney's master-boxer
   style. Dempsey's story -- going from town to town,
   fighting grown men in bars while still a teenager --
   is boxing true grit. A charismatic fighter before,
   during, and after becoming champion, Dempsey had his
   share of image problems, stemming from a highly
   publicized divorce as well as the incorrect, yet
   public, perception that he avoided fighting in WWI.
   Dempsey was immortalized as an American icon in the
   famous George Bellows painting depicting him being
   knocked out of the ring (in one of eleven total
   knockdowns in less than four minutes) in his fight
   with the Argentinean "Bull of the Pampas," Luis Firpo.
   Firpo, who incredibly became a successful businessman
   and one of the wealthiest people in South America,
   commented, "so many writers pushed him [Dempsey] back
   in the ring it looked like he was getting a back
   massage!"
   
   Cavanaugh also describes an eerie foreshadowing when
   Dempsey and Tunney accidentally met on a ferry in New
   York. Tunney, recognizing Dempsey, strode over and
   introduced himself. Dempsey, as affable and friendly
   outside the ring as he was a raging pit bull inside,
   even advised Tunney how he could wrap his right hand
   to protect a knuckle that Tunney had previously
   injured. The right hand, of course, was one of
   Tunney's most damaging weapons in his future
   domination of Dempsey in their subsequent twenty
   championship rounds against each other.
   A fascinating digression in Tunney's tale is
   Cavanaugh's discussion of the great lightweight
   champion Benny Leonard, about whom writer Budd
   Schulberg said, "I think that Leonard was to many
   young Jews what Ali became to young blacks many years
   later." Cavanaugh tells the "you can't make this
   stuff up" story of Leonard's savage pounding of Irish
   Eddie Finnegan in a fight that took place in western
   Pennsylvania. Amidst the din of anti-Semitic catcalls
   and insults aimed at Leonard, Finnegan startled
   Leonard by begging in Yiddish for Leonard to take it
   easy on him -- telling him that his real name was
   Seymour Rosenbaum!
   
   Still another fascinating and entertaining side story
   is Cavanaugh's mention of five-time Tunney opponent
   Harry "The Pittsburgh Windmill" Greb. An incredible
   fighter who threw hailstorms of legal and illegal
   punches from every angle, Greb rarely trained, was a
   wanton womanizer, had perfect hair, powdered his face,
   and defied common sociological explanations as to how
   and why he ever got into and liked the fight game.
   Greb was the only man ever to beat Tunney, so badly,
   in fact, that writer Grantland Rice said it was "like
   a butcher hammering a Swiss steak." Harry Greb, who
   is ranked by boxing historian Burt Sugar ahead of
   Dempsey, Tunney, and Ali (#5 out of the hundred
   greatest fighters), is fabulous and, of course,
   ultimately tragic.
   
   But there's much more. Cavanaugh tells the
   machinations behind another "fight of the century,"
   the Jack Johnson versus Jim Jeffries title fight in
   Reno, Nevada, in 1912. And then there are the stories
   of the Jack Londonesque life of boxing promoter Tex
   Rickard, quotes by "Golden Age of Sportswriters"
   characters, like Damon Runyon, Grantland Rice, Ring
   Lardner, W.O. McGeehan and the
   hard-drinking-ukulele-playing Hype Igoe ⦠and
   there's more, incidental to Tunney. But who cares?
   It's vaudeville, it's a Broadway musical revue, it's
   boxing, and it's great.
   .
   The second half of the biography is more
   straightforward from the reader's standpoint as it
   chronicles Tunney's two fights with Jack Dempsey.
   Tunney's taste for reading the classics made for a lot
   of press. Tunney, for his part, was annoyed,
   sometimes disdainful, and tried to play it down. But
   when hearing of Tunney's training camp reading habits,
   Jack Dempsey's bodyguard told Dempsey, "The fight's in
   the bag, Jack. The so and so is reading a book!"
   
   The first fight between Tunney and Dempsey took place
   on September 23, 1926, in Philadelphia's
   Sesquicentennial Stadium. According to Cavanaugh, it
   was the "biggest sports attraction ever held before
   the largest sports crowd of all time." Attendees
   included, among others, the Astors, the Vanderbilts,
   Irving Berlin, Franklin Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt's
   three sons, William Randolph Hearst, Flo Zigfield,
   Babe Ruth, Gertrude Ederle (the first woman to swim
   the English Channel), Walter Chrysler, New York City
   Mayor Jimmy Walker, Ellis Gimbel, Leopold Stokowski,
   Douglas MacArthur, Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, Harry
   Sinclair, William Wrigley, Andrew Mellon, Charles
   Schwab, Bobby Jones, Arnold Rothstein, Abe Attell,
   eight members of the infamous 1919 Black Sox team,
   including Shoeless Joe Jackson, and more women
   (estimated at 10,000 out of a total 135,000 who came
   to the fight) than had ever attended a boxing match.
   Incredibly, seemingly totally out of character, and
   after vehemently denying rumors, Tunney and a
   colleague took off from a New York golf course in a
   bi-plane and flew to Philly the day of the fight -
   unheard of in a day when rail travel and the
   automobile were the preferred public modes of
   transportation. Though it turned out to be a mistake
   (the pilot got lost in the fog and the flight was
   nauseating), Tunney, nonetheless, had no problem
   handling Dempsey. His brilliant footwork, artful
   clenching, and well-timed right hand leads and jabs
   enabled Tunney to win all ten rounds on both judges'
   cards. It was the first time a heavyweight
   championship was won by decision and not a knockout.
   Tunney was the heavyweight champion, and the fans
   never loved Jack Dempsey more.
   
   The rematch was held on September 22, 1927 at Soldier
   Field in Chicago with 145, 000 fans in attendance.
   Cavanaugh quotes fight promoter, Tex Rickard, telling
   a sportswriter,
   
   Kid, if the earth came up and the sky came down and
   wiped out my first ten rows it would be the end of
   everything because I got in those ten rows all the
   world's wealth, all the world's big men,all the
   world's brains and production talent. Just in them
   ten rows, kid. And you and me never seen nothing like
   it.
   
   Tunney dominated Dempsey once again, but in round
   seven Dempsey caught Tunney with a flurry of blows
   that put him down. Tunney had righted himself to a
   sitting position and grasped the middle rope with one
   hand as the time-keeper counted to four. The ref,
   however, had been screaming at Dempsey to go to a
   neutral corner, starting his official count only after
   four seconds had elapsed. Tunney seemed to become
   aware at the ref's count of two, though six total
   seconds had expired. He watched as the ref counted to
   nine, then, according to Cavanaugh, "bounced to his
   feet." He succeeded in weathering Dempsey's assault
   for the rest of the round by dancing, clinching and
   rocking Dempsey with left-right combinations of his
   own. Tunney resumed boxing brilliantly, even knocking
   Dempsey down in the eighth round with a perfect right
   hand, and handily won the fight. In later interviews
   Tunney always claimed he took the maximum amount of
   time to clear his head in the "long-count" seventh
   round but could have gotten up any time after the
   ref's count of two. Dempsey, though bitter afterwards
   about losing, later said about Tunney, "he took the
   count, whatever it was, and that's what any smart
   fighter would have done." Promoter Tex Rickard wrote
   Tunney a check for $1,000,000 (Tunney's take was
   actually slightly less but Tunney wrote Rickard a
   personal check for the difference of $9554.46), which,
   according to Cavanaugh, made Tunney the first athlete,
   possibly the first person in history to get that sum
   of money for one evening's work. Dempsey didn't fight
   again. Tunney defended his title successfully with a
   TKO of Tom Heeney in twelve rounds almost a year later
   and retired. Months before his final fight, he held
   500 students, professors, and reporters spellbound
   discoursing on the ancient fight between Hector and
   Ajax in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, citing
   European scholars and critics, and amazing an audience
   who had come to hear him talk about his career as a
   fighter. He married heiress Polly Lauder and traveled
   to Europe, where he took in the museums, the theater,
   and the opera, and hobnobbed with F. Scott Fitzgerald,
   Ernest Hemingway, and H.G. Wells. He even carried on
   a long correspondence with Irish playwright George
   Bernard Shaw, with whom he shared a number of
   interests, including boxing.
   
   Though he taught his three sons to box, his four
   children were mainly oblivious to Tunney's career as a
   boxing champion since little memorabilia of his life a
   as professional pugilist was kept in his home. He
   went on to serve as the director of physical fitness
   for the U.S. Navy from 1941-1945 and spent the rest of
   his life in a variety of business ventures. He never
   lost his love of the arts and read avidly, attended
   the opera, and enjoyed the company of writers,
   artists, and business tycoons. He was not immune to
   family tragedy and triumph - his daughter Joan was
   accused of murdering her husband and committed to a
   hospital for the criminally insane. A son, John,
   narrowly won a Congressional seat in California after
   Jack Dempsey himself appeared in campaign rallies to
   support the son of his old adversary. Cavanaugh
   quotes Los Angeles Times sportswriter Jim Murray on
   Tunney:
   
   he was an austere man, pedantic, bookish, autocratic
   and aloof. He always acted as if he were slumming in
   pugilism. His fights were solo recitals. His
   opponents were just pianos, canvasses, spear-carriers.
   Something to practice his art on. He was the artist.
   He was like no Irishman you ever saw, but he was the
   greatest Irish athlete who ever lived. If you don't
   think so, tell me who was.
   
   Tunney died in 1978 at the age of 81. According to
   Cavanaugh, Tunney's obituary ran 750 words on page 22
   of the New York Times without a byline. Dempsey died
   in 1983 and was front page news on the New York Times
   with a 3,000 word obituary in the sports section.
   Tunney's grave-marker noted his date of birth, date of
   death, and his service in WWI and WWII. Nothing more.
   
   Cavanaugh's biography is not necessarily neatly woven
   - as in the Garment District in New York City in the
   1920s, there are plenty of loose threads. But what a
   great, great collection of anecdotes and quotes about
   boxing and about the man they rarely called champ (and
   his nemesis, Jack Dempsey, whom they did). The book,
   footnoted and indexed, includes a selected
   bibliography and the complete boxing records of both
   Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey.
   
   Tunney's self-made ascension from street to high
   society is quite remarkable - a real "American" story
   of success. And yet, the public could never relate to
   Tunney's unusual combination of pugilistic and
   literary erudition. Tunney was never quite a hero in
   sports or otherwise. What comes through loud and
   clear in Cavanaugh's book is that Tunney was a man of
   great discipline, self-insight, courage, and personal
   honor both in the ring and out. He didn't apologize
   to anyone for who he was, where he came from, or who
   he had become. I had to think through the "hero"
   thing again. So I'm glad I read Cavanaugh's book.
   Remarkable.
   
   
   
   
   ________________________



3. This biography of Gene Tunney is an excellent work that paints a portrait of an exceptionally interesting person, who happened to be a professional boxer for part of his life. Clearly, boxing was not his life, for his interests were many and varied and fascinating. The contrasts with Jack Dempsey, with whom Tunney's younger years were entwined, are drawn beautifully, even though both men were gentlemen at the core and appreciated each other into their later years. I read Dempsey's autobiography (an "as told to" book) when I was a boy and was fascinated by his story. I was no less drawn into Tunney's story and am very happy that I was able to read it and come to learn about this very remarkable man who sought to leave rather than to linger in the limelight.



4. I'd have to rank this right behind Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" as the second-best sports book I've ever read. That's because author Jack Cavanaugh paints such vivid pictures of the principal characters that you get really involved with these boxers. You care about what happens to Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey. They were both incredibly-fascinating people who wound up fighting each other twice in front of the biggest sporting crowds (to this day!) in American hisotry. Both, at various times, were Heavyweight Champions of the world.
   
   Tunney remains to this day the most unique boxing champion in history, a man who preferred reading to boxing, a man who got more of a thrill lecturing at Yale University about Shakespeare than winning the prestigious pugilistic crown. As for Dempsey, well....to me, it's hard to think of a more colorful good guy-bad guy-superstar in sports history, along with the likes of Babe Ruth and Wilt Chamberlain. The book is about Gene Tunney, but it's just as much about Dempsey and both men come off as likable guys, even though they were very different.
   
   What makes this book special, although, was Cavanaugh's fascinating portraits of other men, like promoter Tex Rickard, manager "Doc" Kearns, and a host of memorable boxers like Benny Leonard, "Battling Levinsky," and my new hero - Harry Greb. Cavanaugh's accounts of Greb, a boxer few people have heard of, are still haunting me days after finishing this book.
   
   This is truly a book I was sad to see end. I could have kept reading these amazing stories of these colorful people in the "Roaring Twenties" for weeks on end. I'm not even a big boxing fan, but I'm more of a fan now, thanks to Mr. Cavanaugh's exceptional book.



5. Gene Tunney is one of the most criminally overlooked, underrated, and unappreciated athletes of all time.
   
   Gene had the misfortune of defeating the biggest sports idol of the 1920's(yes Dempsey was actually bigger than Babe Ruth), who was a two fisted stalker who attacked like a cobra.
   
   Tunney was a scientific wizard who outside of the ring lived a low key existance reading Shakespeare, spending time with his beloved family, exercising, and engaging in intellectual discussion with the likes of George Bernard Shaw among others.
   
   Tunney is a book designed to give you an insight into the man who would retire as heavyweight champion, the man he took the title from who is refreshingly not villified and shown the respect he deserves, the era they fought in, and other greats of the time like Battling Levinsky and Benny Leonard among others.
   
   The star of the book is obviously its namesake, and you'll be taken on a wonderful journey through his youth in what was Greewich Village at the turn of the 1900's, parochial school, the hardships a gangly youngster faced in the harsh ghetto's of New York City, his discovery of athletics and his introduction to the sweet science, his time in the Marine Corps during the first World War, and of course his Hall of Fame career in the professional ranks in the fight game and his penultimate rivalry with the Manassa Mauler.
   
   I can't give this book anything but my highest possible reccomendation.

4 comments about Lore of the Shinobi Warrior (Ninja, Vol. 5).

1. This is a very excellent resource on true Ninjutsu, one of the few, it should be charished by all true warriors.



2. Stephen K. Hayes is a well respected martial arts teacher and lecturure. Of course one cannot truly learn ninjutsu without a teacher, this book, and all of Hayes' books are very useful.



3. From the table of contents:
   
   1. Lessons behind the lessons
   2. Myths of ninjitsu
   3. Ninpo Taijitsu
   4. Jissen No Ho
   
   Written by the first American ninjutsu teacher, this book covers the history of ninjutsu, philosophy, fighting, the mind as a tool of the spirit, active meditation, extended realities and the art of understanding. Fully illustrated techniques with step-by-step photos and instructions



4. There is no way anyone can truly say that they study or train ninjutsu without reading Stephen Hayes' material. He is probably the only reason that ninjutsu is accessable to the masses. His work and dedication to the art without being a fringe kook or a wacko give him the highest level of credibility. This is good stuff. His master, Masaaki Hatsumi is still alive and in Japan. There are no secrets--just verifiable truth waiting to be discovered. If you want your knowledge of ninjutsu/ninjitsu/ninpo etc. to be complete, you will buy his books.

3 comments about The Arc of Boxing: The Rise and Decline of the Sweet Science.

1. This is purely and simply the best book on boxing I have ever read. I do have a very large collection amassed through the years, however this is the finest . A must to fully understand boxing and its history.



2. Read this book and found it full of interest to a boxing fan of many years. It was a varied and truthfull picture of the declining interest in and standard of our sport today. Should be read by the power brokers of the game and maybe, just maybe they will realise that the game is going down the drain. A fine book that should be on the bookshelf of every real follower of the sweet science



3. Incredibly entertaining and insightful. A must read even for those without prior knowledge of boxing's history.

5 comments about Karate-Do Nyumon: The Master Introductory Text.

1. Karate-Do Nyumon is a wonderful book for any karate practitioner to read. I've read my copy through many times, and that's not counting all the times I've come back to specific areas of the book. This is one of the best books available for the new student in helping them understand just what karate-do really is, and it is no less a very informative read for students and teachers of all other levels.



2. All of us who study karate are lucky that Funakoshi wrote all he did. Except for a very few others, Funakoshi is the only early written information about karate and the earliest material that was translated into English.

   Unfortunately for myself and many others who study karate history, Funakoshi never goes into much detail about much of anything. He almost never gives a date and he rarely, if ever says where he learned any of his kata or other practices.

   The material on his teachers (Itosu and Azato primarily) is in summary form, never mentioning more than anecdotes. There are no dates, mentions of other students they had, what they taught etc...

   Over all, this kind of book is about real karate, certainly enough to get a young mind going in the right direction about karate. It is well written, we can probably thank the translator for that. It contains some interesting material that is fun to read. Beyond that, it lacks detail to keep you interested for long.

   Most of Funakoshi's books are like this for history. For the real meat of Funakoshi's karate (rather than this introduction), take a look at "Karate-do Kyohan", which contains much more technical information.




3. This book begins with history of te and a couple of masters. Of course in Funakoshi style there is no in depth details nor any dates. Ten no Kata is revisited, which is no longer practiced with frequency today. Funakoshi's books were the text book of karate in the early 1940's. Good for their time, but still a good addition to your library.



4. There are certain books in which EVERY true martial artists should have in their library. A few of those books are "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do", "Karate-Do KyoHan", "Zen in the Martial Arts", "The Book of Five Rings", "The Art of War", and last but not least, "Karate-Do NyuMon". Gichin Funakoshi has a view of Karate-Do that most practitioners do not see. He wants it more of a way of life...a whole excesize of mind, body, and spirit. In this book, he expands on this belief and even includes the almost forgotten (but SO important) Ten-No-Kata. It is short and worth the study. VERY IMPORTANT! This book contains a lot of "Do" as well as technique. Funakoshi is the "man" in my book, along with Lee, Inosanto, Ueshiba, Rhee, and Hatsumi. I HIGHLY recommend this book.



5. I bought this book as I have heard much of Gichin Funakoshi through my training in Shotokan. It is the first book I've read which was written by Funakoshi.
   I expected, as the book's title suggests, an introductory text. It therefore delivers.
   It is interesting to read the master's thoughts on the way karate-ka should develop. I would say this is a must read for anyone who sees Karate as purely about technique. My teachers have always tried to instil that it's more than that. This book underscores the principle that it should be about enhancing one's self, that through Karate you should develop as a person.
   Some interesting points about his teachers, and an interesting Kata i'd not heard of before (Ten No Kata).
   I'll be buying Karate-Do Kyohan

5 comments about WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling (WrestleCrap series).

1. I bought this because I saw the rave reviews and thoroughly enjoyed RD's other book 'the Death of WCW'. I enjoyed the presentation of that, and figured this was continuing in the nature. It did just that, but included far more humorous affair. The book spotlights several, not every single one, but a big chunk of some of the worst gimmicks and events to happen in the modern sport of entertainment we know as Professional wrestling.
   Two of the key things I was concerned about was that the book not just be a repetition of 'Death of WCW', and that they didn't just rip on Hogan the entire time. They did a good job keeping that stuff separate, although everything example they give about Hogan in this book is sadly valid.
   But make no mistake about it, this book isn't solely about cheesey 80s to the failure of WCW in the last chapter, it keeps going, further proving there will always be more Wrestlecrap to write about.
   I strongly recommend you read this book as well, it's a very educated read and will shock you:
   The Death of WCW: WrestleCrap and Figure Four Weekly Present . . . (WrestleCrap series)



2. I visit the site Wrestlecrap at least once a week to check out whats new. Its a funny site about how many stupid things wrestling companys tried to put out as a good idea. I read the book in less then two days because its so funny and you can tell he enjoys wrestling. He is refreshing and writes the truths about some of the dumbest stuff WWE and WCW ever put out. I highly recommend this book, I laughed alot while reading the book. Also check out his book, Death of WCW. Ive read that book at least ten or more times and it never gets old. I cant wait for the next book.



3. As a fan of RD Reynolds / Randy Baer as a person and a writer I bought this book a few years ago. I read this book cover to cover 1 time and have had no desire to pick it up ever again. Due to the many factual and writing errors in the book as well as its lack of depth, the book just has no re readability. This is especially true for any fan of the Wrestlecrap web site, which I have been for a long time, because the entire book is just reprinted and rehashed from the Wrestlecrap site.
   
   Every entry about an old wrestlecrap gimmick in the book is the same as "Gimmick A was a stupid idea because Wrestler X looked stupid in his costume while playing a wrestler with blank day job." Outside of the comments from the late, great, John Tenta on being Earthquake / Shark / Avalanche there is no depth to any of the characters or why they existed and failed. The remainder of the book is just the usual "smart fan" opinionated garbarge that can be read on any wrestling web page about how Hart, Flair, Benoit and all wreslers under 6 feet tall are gods and Bischoff, Russo, McMahons, Nash, Hogan, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels are all the spawn of the devil who have conspired to destroy the greatness of professional wrestling. These problems with the book come from the fact that Reynolds did no research on the book and has no inside knowledge of the wrestling business.
   
   My advice is to read the Wrestlecrap web site once per week for an entire year. If you do this you will read everything that is in this book for free and in a more entertaining fashion with video / sound clips. This book is okay to check out from a friend or a library once for a trip down memory lane. If you buy this book you will find it mildly amusing once and then it will just gather a lot of dust.



4. I loved this book. It brought back so many memories of idiocy in the wrestling world. But how could they omit Dustin Runnels a.k.a. Golddust?! The single most humiliating ring identity of all time? It destroyed Runnels' career. And where was the mention of what Vinny Mac also did to Dustin"s father, Dusty? After putting "the American Dream" in a polka dot outfit and saddled with the worse valet ever, you'd figure these incidents would deserve special mention as it seemed Vince was going out of his way to discredit the Runnels family.
   
   I also noticed there was no mention of Rowdy Roddy Piper's unfortunate Wrestlemania VI appearance where he painted half his body black in responce to his facing Bad News Brown. Truly embarrassing.



5. Wrestlecrap: The very worst of pro wrestling is a great read for any hardcore wrestling fan and a must have for any fan of the Wrestlecrap web site. Good descriptions of classic crappy characters and story lines- a great refresher especially for those of us who grew up in the '80s.

5 comments about Cheng Hsin: Principles of Effortless Power.

1. If you are an individual interested in exploration of being and consciousness, and especially the interaction of body and mind in this endeavor, The Principles of Effortless Power can easily become a kind of bible, a constant source of learning with unceasing depths.
   
   Although it has been said that what Ralston does best is clarify the internal martial arts, it is much more than that. Any student of Zen will quickly see the similarities in language and concept between Cheng Hsin and Zen studies. Read about self-questioning, not-knowing, direct experience of the moment, and grounded openness, and you will quickly realize where things are going.
   
   Ralston's Cheng Hsin deals with matters far beyond what would appear to be the narrow interest of martial arts. Indeed, its depth reaches concerns of the deepest kind, yet being always aware that its content is to be found in constant actualization, questioning, and interaction. Cheng Hsin cannot be explained because the well from which the manifestations of its principles spring is fundamentally unspeakable.
   
   As a reviewer for another one of Ralston's books said, Cheng Hsin is not for a lazy mind. It is not one of those quirky books that you read once, get the gist of, and move on from. The Principles of Effortless Power is very challenging, and at times very obscure and tedious. The book and Cheng Hsin itself require unceasing patience. Throughout Ralston implies that all the elements of Cheng Hsin he is describing are simply manifestations of deeper principles which cannot be put into words, and he is constantly hedging himself against any appearance of dogma or pseudospirituality. As he says on his website, he establishes Cheng Hsin as a way of openness planted on the firm ground of practice.
   
   Peter Ralston is one of those rare people, a modern master who has realized the fundamental principles all the classics refer to on his own terms. As a modern and genuine system, The Principles of Effortless Power is the scripture of Cheng Hsin. But that isn't saying much, as like any worthwhile master, Ralston makes sure to drive home the knowledge that Cheng Hsin is a matter of personal effort. Words can only point the way.



2. I echo the sentiments of the other reviewrs who benefitted from this book. Ralston is a legitimate master at internal martial arts and has a very keen understanding of how to transmit his knowledge to a Western audience. You will, however, have to let go of some of the concepts that you have about power, fighting, strength, winning and ego. I find this right on target for freedom of movement: Free heart, Free body. There are so many great concepts in this book that I just have to say give it a shot and see for yourself.
   
   I do think that he goes too far in some of his possible Taoist concepts for my taste. Of course the ability to set aside your concepts and metacognate is essential not only for a martial artist but also a human being. Didn't Aristotle say that one hallmark of an intelligent mind is the ability to entertain a concept and not accept it? But the apophatic needs to be balanced by the cataphatic, unknowability with knowability, impersonal with personal, even if the Person behind or above or through it all is beyond knowing as revelaed as unknown, not as the conclusion that our minds can't figure it out as a matter of difference by degree. It is a difference of kind, but that must be revelaed. And this is where I part company with some of Ralston's ideas. And this is no negative judgement. It is a FANTASTIC book even with parts that one might find untrue or not useful.
   
   I would also suggest that you look at Systema, a Russian martial art taught in North America by Vladimir Vasiliev. It is unique and is both internal and external, hard and soft, formed and formless. It is fantastic and has also changed the way i do all of my training. Vasiliev's book "Let Every Breath..." is a great intro to their breathing techniques and any of his dvds are amazingly instructive, of very high quality and unique among martial arts dvds.
   
   Enjoy!



3. This is one of the most amazingly insightful books I have ever read. Not a martial artist myself, I have applied its principles to tennis, chess, sitting, sleeping, and generally walking and biking around the physical world. Ralston emphasizes grounding in such a way that he changed my body. For example, in several metaphors, he urges us to imagine a weight pulling us down to earth. When I fall asleep now (never a problem for me), I sink more fully and luxuriously into the pull of gravity. When I stand or walk, I enjoy my connection to the earth as if there's a large sphere surrounding me, extending equally far below the ground. My words can't do justice to his presentation, which, as some other reviewers have pointed out, is often rather cumbersome or even ugly stylistically. It's not a mental change that this book helped me with; it's a physical transfiguration. This is one of the very few books of which I never read more than one or two pages at a sitting because each page gives me so much to try to assimilate into my new feelings of how my body moves within space.



4. Great book. I used it to help with ballroom dancing. Identical principles involved. This is a must read for golfers, dancers and anybody involved in sports and movement related activities. This is not just for martial arts people. You also have to read the book 5 or 6 times - there is no way you can understand it through a one time quick read.



5. This is one of the best books ever written, in terms of its content.
   
   Peter Ralston knows something important, and he knows it well. Read this book with your life's question in mind, and you will understand.

5 comments about Bowies, Big Knives, And The Best Of Battle Blades.

1. The other positive reviews pretty well sum up my thoughts on this text. A must for people who carry a knife with the idea that they may have to use it someday to save their skin. I also recommend Cold Steel by Steyers and Everybody's Knife Bible by Paul. Put together, you will not need any other texts on blade usage.



2. The author dwells too much on knife fighting rather than the knives. I found the book to be a disappointment.



3. Bill Bagwell was the author of the `Battle Blades" column in `Soldier of Fortune' magazine from 1983 to 1987. During that time he wrote many articles about a wide variety of knife related topics. In his book "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" Mr. Bagwell reprints many of these articles.
   
   Mr. Bagwell begins his book with a closer look at the Bowie knife, which he advocates as the deadliest knife on earth. He advocates carrying a knife of at least 9.25 inches, and in Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades he explains how to effectively carry a large knife in modern society without drawing unwanted attention. (I can personally attest to the effectiveness of Mr. Bagwell's instructions on the use and carry of the Bowie knife, as I have done so for years using the method he suggests.)
   
   Because much of the book is reprints of `Battle Blades' articles we also are treated to Mr. Bagwell's opinion on a number of other knives, such as the K-Bar, saw-toothed blades, daggers, the Kukri, the Japanese tanto knife, throwing stars (shuriken), and the AK bayonet. Mr. Bagwell's opinions on these knives can be controversial, but his opinions are well reasoned in each case ~ whether one agrees with him or not.
   
   While "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" gives much insight into the idea and concept of knife fighting, it isn't a manual intended to teach knife fighting techniques. For that Mr. Bagwell recommends the training material produced by James Keating at Comtech, here in Washington State (again a recommendation I can personally attest to having much merit).
   
   If there is any criticism about "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" it's that because many of the book's chapters are reprints of the `Battle Blade' articles they are limited in length imposed by a magazine (Soldier of Fortune). Still this is only a very a minor criticism, as the quality of the book as a whole is excellent.
   
   For anyone interested in carrying large knives (especially Bowie knives), "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" is worth adding to your personal library.



4. It is an interesting book. Bagwell's repeated condemnation of knives less than 9 inches long wears pretty thin though. And on this point he doesn't know what he's talking about - there are situations (fighting a large animal,eg,) where a blade longer than 7 inches will rapidly become a liability.
   
   Also his pronouncements on the absence of effective short blade fighting tradition in Japan is just wrong.
   
   And would anyone really choose that U-shaped Chilean military knife over a Kbar in combat???



5. A classic by a master blade smith and acknowledged king of Bowie knife makers. For anyone interested in the Bowie and large fighting knives in general, it is a valuable read.