5 comments about Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence.

1. This book is an eye opener. I know many martial arts practitioners who, consciously or unconsciously, perceive martial arts as live action role playing. Just like video games and the movies, it can be escapist. Who wouldn't want to become a ninja or Jedi? Everyone gets a cool uniform, learns a mysterious language from an ancient culture, plays with exotic weapons, and even bow to long dead teachers. Wow! To some it can be mystical. The people who make money or stroke their own egos through martial arts love this. The bullsh-t is gleefully passed down from one instructor to another... along with the mistakes. Unfortunately all the icing is useless in a real life violent encounter. Rory Miller does an effective job at separating out the fantasy from reality. Every school should have at least one veteran cop or (preferably reformed) outlaw biker on their staff.



2. This book is a gripping read and full of very good arguments and examples. Disclosure: I can't evaluate the material on the basis of experience, and I can only express my gratitude and respect for warriors like Miller. What I can confirm is that it addresses some suspicions I had about martial arts training (e.g., sparring as just a sport and poor preparation for an all out fight). The conclusions also line up with others that have significant experience, such as Fairbairn or Christensen, and with research, such as Siddle or Grossman.
   
   I must flag the last few pages as a serious disappointment, in the way that Miller expounds his particular religious world view. He's entitled to hold those views and I respect them, but they just pop up incongruously with no transition. The philosophy and attitude toward violence, that is the real strength of the book, is consistent with other world views and there are fine examples of effective warriors from virtually all world religions (including atheism). I suspect that Miller himself would agree, but one may conclude from the last chapter that he's promoting a samurai ethic and the eastern concept of annihilation as being an essential foundation for an effective warrior spirit. The last chapter would have been much better with just a little transition saying, "here's what I happen to believe and how it relates to the attitude towards violence as described in this book".
   
   Despite this serious flaw, the rest of the book is so strong that I still give it 5 stars.



3. This book is great for those who want to take a look at violence in the real world and has valuable lessons for all martial artists. If you are looking for technique, look somewhere else. This book is about bad people, bad places and how bad things happen. I take it back, if you are looking for technique, you should probably read this book so you can understand how little difference that would make when bad things happen. It's a good book and definitely worth the read.



4. Very well done...
   
   The author is clearly an intelligent and intuitive (and humble) individual who understands himself and the way his world works, very well.
   
   He espouses the position that we, as humans (as well as martial artists), should learn to question, to seek more knowledge, to train to discover what actually works, rather than just have blind faith in our (or our childrens) teachers.
   
   Mr. Miller's insights rang true in my cortex, as well as my gut. He has an excellent grasp of psychology as it relates to violence. (His
   "monkey dance" descriptions are dead on, (as anyone who has lived though any of it's variations can attest....) and his knowledge of the progression of many one on one altercations is also very accurate.
   
   Most valuable in my opinion was his philosophy of determining in advance at what point you will act (not alawys possible, of course, but a very valuable goal).
   
   Highly recommended, but only for those willing to cast off the shackles of preconception.



5. This book contains information that could save your life. No, it doesn't teach techniques. It tells you what violence is really like, what works and what doesn't, and why. The author talks about the criminal mindset, your mindset, and how to mentally prepare yourself. The essential knowledge of how to avoid violence in the first place is given, as well as what you need to do and think in order to survive.
   
   The author works security in a prison, has had his share of encounters outside that environment, and give numerous examples of what really happens, even to trained individuals. I urge you to purchase this book, absorb the lessons, and pass the book on to loved ones.

5 comments about Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat.

1. An informative, hysterical, no holds barred look at the life of Forrest Griffin from the viewpoint of a impartial genius, Forrest Griffin.:-)



2. I think this book is fantastic for any fight fan i especially love the story that forrest tells about the toughest guy in the world who happened to be a skinny nerd



3. well after reading the sample i thought this book was just going to be funny and pointless but as i read and read it actually had some pretty good point i normally dont like reading but i could not set this book down



4. I love Forrest as a fighter and an author. His humble down to earth personality is well reflected in this book. He has had his share of ups(having the light heavyweight title) and downs (being run out the the ring by Anderson Silva). This book deinitely represents these ups and downs very well. He shares his weaknesses with the reader which definitely makes them strengths. This book gives the reader the whole range of emotions. From his introductory test where I was laughing my balls off at his questions to the moment I began crying when I realized I had failed his test and should go home crying to my mother. If you are looking to become a better fighter or martial artist because of this book I think you should look elsewhere. While he does share some martial arts techniques in the pages of this book, it is his humor which creates the awesomeness of this book. His writing style is second to none. He kept me drawn in the entire time and I read the entire book in three days. If I wasn't such a slow reader I probably would have read it in just a few hours. I really hope that he writes another book. Please Forrest Please!



5. Knowing Forrest Griffin's personality from his Ultimate Fighter and UFC days, I was not expecting a serious book by any means. However, I felt that the antics and silliness of the book got in the way of the actual methods and techniques.

5 comments about Zen in the Art of Archery.

1. For me this book is first and foremost about Zen. Students of Japanese archery can come to it to take their craft to another level but for me the archery is just a mantle for the teachings to sit on. I've been studying Zen for ten years or so, and have read many great works on the subject. This book was a gentle reminder, ushering me back onto the path. It's wisdom can be applied to almost anything. For a more in depth look at some of the discussions in this book, see Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture.
   
   One reviewer, with whom I disagree, says that this book is not a valid source of Zen because the master archer in the book had never "studied" Zen. I think he came in touch with the Zen Mind through his art. The Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng had never "studied" Zen either and came by his enlightenment through living life and carrying fire wood. "Studying" Zen, in terms of following the rituals of an institution, can be formative but is not necessary. Zenmind existed long before the Zen religion.
   
   So whether you're studying Japanese Archery or looking to deepen your awareness of your own art (I study painting, music and Tai Chi), this book can help if you're ready for it.



2. This is not a book on kyudo. As Earl Hartman says in another review, Herrigel did have little contact with kyudo in Japan (3-4 years). This book could be about many interesting things (zen, misticism, ...), but I don't know of them. But it's not a book on Kyudo. It seems more a book on Herrigel himself.
   I don't says this is the worst book someone can read if is interested on kyudo. Last years saw apearing one or two terrible book's with kyudo in title.
   Should be read with precaution and specially doesn't substitute pratice and guidance from a teacher or a master. Many persons come to kyudo allready knowing this book but after a few sessions they give up. and many of them continue to claim that they know about kyudo only by reading this book.



3. This is the famous little book that Minor White advised his pupils to read. It's an account by German professor Eugen Herrigel of several years of archery lessons with a Japanese archer in the 1950s. My review is written with photography in mind, though the principles discussed in the book can be applied to many arts.
   
   If you have an interest in photography, should you read it?
   
   Here are a few quotes from this little book in which I have taken the liberty of replacing archery lingo with photography lingo:
   
   1. "...fundamentally the [photographer] aims at himself and may even succeed in hitting himself."
   
   2. "Do you know why you cannot wait for the shot and why you get out of breath before it has come? The right shot at the right moment does not come because you do not let go of yourself. You do no wait for fulfilment, but brace yourself for failure."
   
   3. "If [the photographer] is to fit himself self-effacingly into the creative process, the practice of the art must have the way smoothed for it. For if, in his self-immersion, he saw himself faced with a situation into which he could not leap instinctively, he would first have to bring it into consciousness."
   
   If these ideas interest you, then this book is for you. It is a pleasing and thought-provoking little book, written in a conversational manner lacking the overcomplicated lingo and "isms" of most philosophical and spiritual texts.



4. I have just re-read Zen and the Art of Archery, by Eugen Herrigel.
   
   I was a philosophy student in my undergraduate days, and my primary focus was on Zen, so I had underestimated that little volume in my youth; it was too short, and too easy to read. And the author didn't make the process sound exotic enough for my arrogant youthful tastes.
   
   But now, Zen and the Art of Archery talks to me through a megaphone. The book recounts the experiences of a German philosophy professor who studied Kyudo (traditional Japanese archery) for several years. He undertook the study to develop his understanding of Zen Buddhism.
   
   As you read the book, you will see that the concepts and practice of traditional Japanese martial arts have leaked into popular U.S. culture. See Karate Kid and Star Wars, for example.
   
   And there's nothing wrong with that.
   
   But when you read this book, you get to see one of the real-world prototypes of Mr. Miyagi and Yoda.
   
   So read it, and thank me later. But don't think you're going to learn to fire arrows. This isn't an instruction manual.



5. I was left with the distinct feeling of having just completed a long journey after finishing this 80 page book. I have been practicing (traditional) western archery for over a year now and I completely agree with many of the tenets of archery that Master Kenzo Awa spoke of. I took up archery because I was interested in the idea of letting the arrow go versus the common mentality of shooting the arrow at the target and this book reiterates that kind of thinking.
   
   I have never undertaken Kyudo so I cannot speak to the accuracy of what was written, but I do know that many of things written by Herrigel, such as breathing exercises and being surprised when you release the arrow, can applied to western archery. I found the author's prattling and difficulties a bit irritating but it is understandable due to Kyudo's complexity. However, I was left skeptical with the author's understanding of "zen", and while he mentioned this idea of the "Great Doctrine" (of archery), I could not find his definition anywhere.
   
   At the end of this text there are a few pages dedicated to archery's relationship to swordsmanship which I understand but felt it was incongruous with the overall feeling of the rest of the book.

5 comments about The Book of Five Rings.

1. 
   The book appears at first to be written simply; it stated the obvious. Written at a time when perhaps things were simpler.
   
   This is NOT a book to read in one sitting, though you easily could.
   
   Read just a bit, then put it down and walk away. Allow what you have read to be mulled over in your mind.
   
   The book is really complex. It contains secrets to living every day, for dealing with everyone you encounter no matter what their state of mind is. It contains secrets about how to do business.
   
   The title is a translation. Like English, words can have multiple meanings. What is translated into the word "ring" can also be translated into "spheres" which I think is a more appropriate translation. The sphere is the most perfect thing in the universe. Beginning at a point and drawing the ring/sphere/circle you will get to a point where the line begins again upon itself. This is a key to understanding the book.
   
   Cleverly written, it holds the knowledge to live at peace with the universe.
   
   An excellent read and mental workout.



2. This is a great book. Makes you really think about life in a different way. I think everyone should read this book.



3. This book is based on the writings of a 16th centery master duelest, but is a little long from a narrative point
   
   the shipping could be improved on this item. 17 days is just to long when it was shipped from a 10 hour drive away.



4. I was really excited about reading this book and it lived up to the expectations. Granted, it wasn't the fastest reading book ever printed, but it was very thoughtful and inciteful. I will absolutely read this book again in the future. But for five dollars, the book was worth every penny.



5. I highly recommend William Scott Wilson's translation over this one. Wilson strives very delicately and respectfully to choose the most fitting translation for every word, where as Cleary's translation is very loose and often subject to his own interpretations, even omitting entire phrases in favor of his own.
   
   I bought this book expecting a direct translation of The Book of Five Rings, but received something more like a remix of The Book of Five Rings. Furthermore, rather than opening a classic piece Japanese literature, full of poetic imagery, Cleary's translation reads more like assembly instructions, far too analytical to lend any credibility to the fact that it was written by a great martial artist.
   
   
   The Book of Five Rings (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior)

5 comments about Jiu-Jitsu University.

1. I really like this book. The first chapter alone is full concepts that I personally haven't been taught in classes. I have been training long enough to know that I wish Saulo's ideas about survival had been the first things I learned in jiu jitsu. I ordered his Jiu Jitsu Revolution dvd because of this book. Thank you, Saulo Ribeiro.



2. The way this book is organized is very helpful. The author leads the reader along an in-depth and comprehensive organization that takes advantage of the natural progression in learning this martial art. The photos and angles of the photos are good. I would recommend this book.



3. This book is fantastic, reccomended for any brazilian jiu jitsu practicioner... Saulo's knowledge and love of this amazing gentle art really shine through. Buy it.



4. I'm very happy with the book. I'm a Judoka and sometimes train with (and admire) BJJ fighters and wanted an overview of the moves, nomenclature and strategy/philosophy. this booked seemed comprehensive and has lived up to my expecations. a well done publication and very effective format - using 2 photos of each step taken from different angles. I recommened it.



5. I have many good jiu-jitsu videos and books, but this and the Demian Maia videos are the best.
   
   In this book, the first two chapters (white and blue belts) deal with survival and escapes. I'm a white belt, and with this book in only three months of training I could put a very good defense against very good purple and brown belts. This book is very dense and requires repetitive reading to absorb all the knowledge, like all good books.
   
   It's worth every penny.

1 comments about The Karate Mouse (Geronimo Stilton).

1. The kids in our elementary school library love this series. They are so cleverly done with the fun and different fonts included in the text. I can't buy them fast enough.

No comments about The Five Ancestors Book 7: Dragon.

5 comments about Mind Gym : An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence.

1. This book includes many of the basic mental concepts discussed in sports: staying positive, etc. Although there were some helpful tips, it was a task to sort through the excessive name dropping. As an athlete, I don't need to know the names of everyone the author has ever helped. I assume, since I am buying and reading the book, that I will at least somewhat trust what is being said and that I will be willing to try it myself. If you need the 150/224 pages of professional athlete anecdotes, then this book is for you. If, like most athletes, you don't have time to sit and read fluff, find another book.



2. I am an 1,90 and 120kg marathon runner. When I announced that I intend to run a marathon the reactions varied from amusement to worry that I will not survive. That might have been the case if I wouldn't have had THIS book. It made all the difference in the world. Maybe half of the training time was "mind gym".
   The result? Not only I have finished alive but I made quite a good time (3h44). This performance changed not my weight (I am still 120kg) but my self-image. I know now that the only limits are in my head. I changed. A lot. From the introvertit obese to the cocky, confident obese :) I fired my boss. Actually, the company fired him for mobbing. I got a fat settlement. I switched careers. I took one sabbatical year and focused on learning trading. Here, again, the "Mind gym" made a huge difference. I become profitable and then ... very profitable. I don't own a Porsche but I am free (of worries, schedules, bosses)
   
   If you intend to buy only one book for the next year: BUY THIS ONE !!



3. Pretty good book if you need some general motivation... The author knows the topic and gives some good examples, but doesn't really get into specific actions to help resolve issues. Also, alot of baseball and golf examples, I found it hard to relate it to the sports I am involved in. Tons of great quotes, etc to get you amped.



4. This book is tough to review because people have different expectations with sport psychology books. If you are looking for a neatly organized system of beliefs, principles, and exercises to begin applying to your game tomorrow this might not be the book for you. Maybe you should check out With Winning In Mind or 10-Minute Mental Toughness? With that said, I loved this book. Once you start it you might not be able to put it down. Its a motivational book that weaves sports psychology principles into stories to illustrate the importance of each principle. This book inspired me to write down an effective system of beliefs and checklists I can go through before a game. The important part is the system and beliefs are mine.



5. This book was recommended to me get over issues I had playing racquetball. I kept making mental mistakes and things got worse as the match progressed. This book has taught me how to stay focus and keep moving forward. My game has improved quite a bit and I have beaten players that I have never beaten before. When things go wrong I use the techniques in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to take the next step. This is one of those books that you will read more than once and make notes of certain chapters.

5 comments about The Little Black Book of Violence: What Every Young Man Needs to Know About Fighting.

1. I've been training in the martial arts since 1965 and I enjoy a collection of martial arts books that numbers in the hundreds. Kane and Wilder's The Little Black Book of Violence earns a slot on the top shelf as arguably one of the best texts on the subject of violence to come out in recent years. Actually, you can't go wrong with any book by this dynamic writing team, as each one they've written fills a critical void in the martial arts genre.
   
   Understand that you're not going learn how to better throw a punch or kick, but you will learn when to use them and when not to use them. This text isn't about the mechanics of martial arts techniques, but about everything else involved with a violent encounter.
   
   The text is broken into the three parts of every physical encounter:
   
   Section One: Before Violence Occurs
   Section Two: During a Violent Encounter
   Section Three: Aftermath of Violence
   
   Each section is meaty with solid info that will help you avoid a confrontation, survive it when it does explode, and know how to survive the aftermath, which many have learned the hard way can be the worst part of all, with such issues as arrest, court, lawsuits, PTSD, and physical injury.
   
   While martial arts schools show you how to kick and punch, this book fills in critical information about street survival that most instructors don't teach or simply don't know.
   
   Get this book.



2. Completely thorough and easy to understand and get through. Excellent resource for troubled young men.



3. The so-called `little black book' is actually a weighty tome, and if you're looking to understand violence and how to deal with it, this volume has pretty much got it covered.
   
   Expert advice and real-world insights are delivered in true Kane and Wilder style. Working on many levels, they connect the wisdom of ancient masters like Sun Tzu and Miyamoto Musashi with leading modern-day martial artists and self-protection gurus to paint a truly complete picture.
   
   The book spotlights the real cost of fighting in graphic and sometimes gruesome detail, with photos to match. The aim is to familiarise the reader with real-world violence and give them the tools to make the right decisions when faced with a potentially violent situation.
   
   The question of when to fight (and when not to) is given the careful consideration it deserves and is one of the highlights of the book. The writers take into account the important factors of youth and pride, especially in young males, and provide a realistic framework for judging the right course of action based on reason rather than emotion.
   
   Personal anecdotes abound -- some humorous, some profound, many shocking -- from martial artists, security personnel, law enforcement and armed forces. The issues of weapons such as knives and guns is included throughout, along with advice on dealing with wounds, psychological trauma and the tricky matter of the law.
   
   The text is so comprehensive that several readings and regular revisions would be the only way to truly know and digest the wealth of information contained within. The Little Black Book of Violence is one very big, very credible source on the subject, and comes with a big recommendation.
   Goran Powell, author of Waking Dragons: A Martial Artist Faces His Ultimate Test



4. A very well written book on the violence cycle. This book is written for 'young men' but there is a lot of totally relevant information for women here and it is so easy to read! Granted, the humor is male oriented (as it should be for the target audience) but you will be hard pressed to find so much information in one book elsewhere. I thoroughly recommend this book for beginner to advanced in the field of self defense.



5. After reading more into an overly broad mention of this book on Glenn Reynolds "instapundit" I picked up a copy and finished it last night.
   
   Let me take a page from the author's book as it were.
   
   Violence is a horrible thing. Its messy, its gory, it is painful, and it often results in death, disfigurement, and legal action. The taking of a human life is not a decision that should be arrived at easily nor quickly. Even the attempt to kill in "sanctioned" situations can lead to emotional, physical, and spiritual distress of an individual.
   
   However, for the horrors of violence, there are often times where violence is the correct answer, the best choice. Believe it or not (and the authors would have you believe not) violence isn't a tool of last resort. The authors would have you believe that you should only fight when backed into a corner trapped, with no other way out. They further pontificate that you should change your life, avoiding certain places, people, and things. You should be afraid, avoid going out after dark, and avoiding new places and new situations, all so you can avoid violence.
   
   Be a coward. But at least you'll be alive.
   
   I don't agree, at all. Somethings are worth fighting for. Somethings are worth killing for. Somethings are worth dying for. And not as a last resort either.
   
   I think the authors and I would agree, that your life is worth fighting for. That is the premise of the second half of their book anyway, what to do once you find yourself in a situation where a fight is unavoidable. But even then I disagree with their "mental and verbal judo" approach to things. They would rather have you let your enemy control the battlefield, allowing them to be the aggressor, putting you into a position from which you react to them rather than initiating or escalating the conflict.
   
   The book however, isn't a complete waste (hence two stars rather than one), just misdirected. The sections on situational awareness are very good. They stress that you need to be situationally aware at all times, and not just when on unfamiliar ground or in new situations. They preach the credo "Trust in God, but everyone else needs to show their hands" and more importantly to check the hands, check the feet, watch the posture. Don't be lulled and to be prepared.
   
   As far as their self defense teachings go...its hard to learn this type of stuff from a book. Really hard. As a matter of fact I can only think of one or two ways worse than learning self defense from a book, and that would be to teach yourself, or to learn it from watching "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"...
   
   That really isn't a fault of the authors however. Thats a limitation of the medium.
   
   If I were to get off my lazy butt and write a book of this nature, here's the way I'd do it.
   
   1) Understand what it means to fight for something. It means being willing to accept death, dismemberment, and legal action. It means being willing to hurt, maim, or kill.
   2) Decide what is worth fighting for. This is on the individual to decide and to determine. For me, life, liberty, family, and country are worth fighting for. The three bucks in my wallet? Probably not.
   3) Prepare yourself to fight for those things. Be situationally aware. Be prepared to end the fight quickly by any means. Be prepared to make the decision to fight before it is forced upon you.
   4) Know how to fight. Take a good self defense program/class. Avoid competitive martial arts.
   5) Read "The Gift of Fear" and "On Killing"
   6) Live you life how you will, without regret, and without some book (or some reviewer on Amazon) telling you how.

5 comments about Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

1. this book is just very well written. you can tell when he is sad from when he is happy and you just fill good about your self after reading this book. i cant stand reading at all but after i watched this movie i had to buy this book after getting it in the mail i started reading it. and yes there are some very cheap stick figures drawing in it and some strang art but it still was an out standing book.



2. Good insight to Bruce Lee and how he looked at things pertaining to attack and defense. Easy to understand text and pictures.



3. I agree, this book is inspirational. You probably have to be ready for it, but if you are, it will enlighten you.



4. . . . book was in excellent condition with fast and expediate service . . . thanx . . .



5. This book is a great read, it's almost like a bible........A Martial Arts Bible! A must read!!