Product Description
The Clubmaker's Art is the most complete,authoritative, and stunningly beautiful book ever produced on antiquegolf clubs.Eminent golf club collector, dealer, and historian,Jeffery Ellis leads you on an incredible journey into the minds andworkshops of golf's greatest craftsmen, exploring the remarkableevolution of the equipment of the game. Sumptuously illustrated with800 full-color photographs depicting more than 640 antique clubs, TheClubmaker's Art reveals the most astonishing array of sportingequipment ever assembled.

Exhaustively researched and impeccably documented, the text describesin rich detail more than 1000 rare and innovative clubs, and brings tolife the fascinating artisans who created and used them. Combininginsightful historical information with entertaining anecdotes andquotations, Ellis vividly captures the exquisite artistry of the gameand its equipment.

The Clubmaker's Art is for everyone who loves the game ofgolf. It is an absolute necessity for collectors and students of thegame. It will be the standard reference work in the field for decadesto come and a treasured possession of everyone who owns it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Must Have for the Avid Collector
Without doubt this is the most beautiful and fascinating compendium of antique golf clubs you will ever come across.It is well worth every penny.The illustrations are superb and the content flawless.You will be amazed at the splendour of the Clubmakers Art.

A GREAT GIFT!!!
I recently recieved this book as a gift for my birthday from my wife.Iwas highly impressed with the fine quality and craftmanship of this work ofart.I plan to give this book to my friends that are as interested in golfas I am, and even to the ones who don't like golf!No one could ever bedispleased with this book!My compiments to Jeff Ellis on hisaccomplishment.

An excellent work of art!
The Clubmaker's Art is a magnificent example of hard work and dedication to the golf industry.I received the book recently, and I couldn't be happier with what I got.The pictures are so life like, and they pop out at you.This is the best example of quality in the writing industy, and I think that every golf collecter, lover, and player must get this book!

An interesting document of golf clubs.A must have!
I haven't seen a better book!The auther clearly spent a lot of time on this work of art.It is a must have for all collecters, and all golf fanatics.If you are looking for a father's day gift, this is perfect!If you have any doubts, I advise you to buy it anyway.It will definitly be worth your while! ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows readers how to make and use ingenious home training aids--from easy to find objects such as grocery bags, towels, and tires--to enhance their martial arts practice. Included in this book are simple instructions for a wide array of equipment for the home martial arts studio, including:
* the shadow boxing towel
* the footwork, balance and leg developer
* the precision blocking stick
* heavy-duty striking post
* small hanging bag
* and more.
Martial Arts Home Training also sets out the author Mike Young's patented "rock & roll" training methods for getting the most out of your training equipment and training time. Young also provides a discussion on maintaining the diligent yet playful attitude necessary to get the most from developing home training equipment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Kelly McCann's Combative for Street Survival
One of the best books I have ever read in the area of combative survival techniques.

Nice info but hardly "Complete"
"The Complete Guide to the Construction and Use of Home Training Equipment"
I preface my comments by stating that I was expecting a more formal guide to constructing equipment, similar to what is available in the weight training area.
I agree with everything that reviewer P. Edwards states; however, I would add that, from such a book, I was expecting more breadth of coverage on different training apparatus.Mr. Young showed only 7 items of training equipment (or 10, as he showed three completely different uses for one).Although I found the heavy duty striking post interesting, I would have appreciated some additional alternatives, such as more traditional makiwara designs or wing chun dummies.The internet is a better resource for construction ideas.
Although most of the materials are easy to come by, I would have also appreciated some guidance on where to find some of the materials for the only "complicated" piece of equipment, the heavy duty striking post.Duct tape I can handle but it's not like I can run down to Lowe's for a 6ft section of telephone pole.
Overall, an interesting read but disappointing.

4 Stars only if....
...you are homeless and want to practice martial arts but don't have any money to spend.

Great idea, good book
This book does offer some insight to training equipment that can be built/used at home.The first 22 pages are spent convincing you of the need to train; this seems out of place for this book.The next 10 pages discuss using a towel, a fairly common technique, I thought.20 pages are spent on "blocking sticks", this should not be new to anyone who has trained with a competent instructor.These pages were not very helpful and could have been put to better use in my opinion.BUT - this book shines in the chapters that cover "Heavy Duty Striking Post", "Choking Dummy" and "Small Hanging Bag" construction and use.The directions are clear, the techniques simple, and the materials readily available and cheap!This is what makes this book worth the price.If you are disciplined enough to work out at home this book will fill a need.

Essential Book on Home Training!
Mike Young has certainly put together a valuable reference book for martial artists of any style, beginner to advanced practitioner. To his credit, Mike stays away from system-specific dogma and does not tell the reader that they must train a certain way with a certain piece of equipment. In fact, he does the opposite: he explains the dynamics of each piece of training equipment, offers some ideas on how to train with them, then inspires the reader to develop a program that will fit their own specific development needs.....

Martial Arts Home Training is a book that all martial artists should have in their home or gym bag, and refer to it for ideas and inspiration throughout the years. Blindly following a teacher will get you only so far; you must develop and experience "the feel" of the arts within you, and this book shows you how! ... Read more

Product Description
This is the most complete book on the art of Ba Gua Zhang ever presented in English. It tells the story of the history and legends of the art and its most famous masters as well as presenting the basic training, forms, fighting and weapons of Ba Gua Zhang. The text also includes a new translation of the classic Ba Gua 36 songs and 48 Methods as well as the Daoist meditation roots of the art and the method in which Ba Gua becomes at its ultimate level a physical and energetic manifestation of the Chinese Classic of Change, the Yi Jing. This book will be of interest not only to practitioners and enthusiasts of Ba Gua Zhang, but also to everyone who is interested in the history, philosophy and methods of Chinese Internal Martial Arts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

a bit dissapointed
I guess this book focusses in on a particular lineage, seeing they are disciples of Liu Jing Ru, and that is helpful if your after this style, for me though i find this book a little too bland, yes it is helpful but just a bit too much hero worship and myth making. Its a bit more gloss than essence, and they dont have the subtle and challenging art of teaching through book form down.

A Wonderful Overview (And In-depth view!) Of Baguazhang
The Whirling Circles of Baguazhang is a fantastic read for the novice and advanced martial artist.

I found it incredible for several reasons:

A great history -- the legends alone make me want to go out and practice!
An Inclusion of the "Thirty-Six Songs and the Forty-Eight Methods" which were an oral tradition of teachings to pass onto the students.
The Inclusion of the Daoist roots and some delving into the esoteric Iching.

The pictures and explanations are great, and it's overall just a very well-done book.

Good stories, lacking depth.
The first few pages of this book are a typical (in a good way) legendary story of the origin of bagua... but then it goes on and on through a disorganized narrative of every interesting and uniteresting bagua practitioner up to their own teachers..which is where the story gets really boring and disorganized.While I believe that these two authors are likely excellent and qualified in-person teachers, they have picked up in their studies the Asian habit of using long paragraphs where a simple chart or list would be easier to understand. There is an above-average pictorial guide through the "kata" or coreography of one empty-handed BaGua form and a weapon variant.But what the book has in well-intended but poorly presented breadth (probably the fault of an editor), it is missing in depth. It has little qigong/combat elaboration. This book is a great introduction to BaGua, but for depth buy B. K. Frantzis's The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I.

Great book
This is an awesome book. Good little history on the art of Baguazhang. Good descriptions of stances and forms. Like all other martial arts medias only uses this book as a reference no as an instructor some of the stances and the like can cause damage to the joints if done incorrectly. Other than that it is a great reference tool to have if you are just starting off in the art of Bagua.

The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang
The instructional material in Frank and Tina's book may not be for someone brand new to bagua, but the history of the characters who created the art would be worth the price of the book by itself. This book is fun. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
The magnificent sports art of nationally recognized artist Bart Forbes is together in this incredible book. A new, original composition graces the cover, and beautiful reproductions of Forbes' art captures the superstars of baseball, basketball, football, golf, boxing, and the Olympics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Bart Forbes, Artist
Bart Forbes can draw and paint like no other.He has uncanny abilities and an innate sense of design and composition.He not only illustrates about sports but can draw and paint everything.A modern-day master.

Classic Bart Forbes
This is a great book for both art lovers and sports fans.Bart is an incredible artist and an even nicer human being.His has a great talent for realistic images that capture the essence of a moment.The work in this book has been featured at the Seoul Olympics, on stamps and in Sports Illustrated.His golf images are legendary.Many people consider him a modern day Norman Rockwell.I love his great images of old-time baseball playes:Christy Mathewson, Rube Waddell etc.I'm just waiting for a book of his paintings of musicians.I would highly recommend that everyone buy a copy of this book.

Great book for any sports lover
I bought this book for my husband for Christmas and he hasn't put it down.Any one who loves sports will love this beautiful book of sports art.

For the person who appreciates the color of sports
This book not only shows the artist of Mr.Forbes but it is a walk through the heros of every sports during the last 30 years.You will immediately recognize the players (my grandchildern did) or the sport being profiled ina way that captures the grace of the participants and the color of thearena. Mr.Forbes gives his comments along side many of the pieces so youhave more than just a picture but some insight into why this picture wascreated. We have the book sitting on an end table so all of our visitorscan browse through it. There hasn't been anyone yet that stopped short ofreviewing the entire book, it captures your interest and it lets you sensethe grace of themen and women who compete and/or who excel. You will lovethe color and you will marvel at the art. ... Read more

Product Description
Combat is as old as man himself. In the Philippines it developed to a degree of effectiveness unsurpassed anywhere in the world. The Filipino martial arts is an expression of man's indomitable will to survive adversity in the most direct and self-reliant manner possible. There has been an obvious need for a book that coordinates and puts into perspective the roots and principals of a fighting art--a book that explains the relationships between weapons and empty hands, philosophy and history, asseses strengths and weaknesses, and finally a book that liberates the mind from the classical way of thinking. Here now is that book. Compilation of THE FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS has been a monumental task for the authors, representing over 1900 years of historical research, travel, observation and personal participation. Documentation of these arts have been supplemented with interviews with some of the last surviving Masters. Their daring exploits serve to illustrate the most deadly fighting systems that the world has known. This volume is illustrated with over 750 photographs and drawings and written by one of the most respected martial artists in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

All martial arts change with three inches of steel.
Dan Inosanto has been one of the best teachers and proponentsof the martial arts.His resume need not be repeated.In this book he explains and teaches the fighting system of his homeland.Unless a system realistically addresses weapons, sadly few do,it cannot call itself a complete martial art.For non ballistic( firearms) weapons, Kali has stood the test of time.Amongst my most prized books is a signed copy I received from Dan Inosanto attained at a seminar.His teaching ability is legendary and at your fingertips with this book or anything he does.

An excellent book from a historical aspect concerning the Filipino Martial Arts.
As most martial artists know, Dan Inosanto was Bruce Lee's top student.However, Master Inosanto had been a seasoned martial artist with a background in various Filipino martial arts before meeting Bruce Lee.This excellent book covers the basic history of the Filipino Martial Arts, the use of the arnis sticks and knives. The combinations taught in this text are effective and practical.As a lifetime student of the martial arts, including the Filipino stick and knife arts, I found this book an excellent reference source when combined with actual hands-on training under an instructor.Rating: 5 Stars.Joseph J. Truncale (Author:Monadnock Defensive Tactics System, Use of the Monadnock Straight Baton, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques, Martial Art Myths, Season of the Warrior, Never Trust a Politician).

Dan Inosanto Excellent book
This book is excellent, in terms of diagrams, it has a good brief history of the Filipino Martial Arts, and the lives of some of the masters of the art who actually taught Dan Inosanto.The sections are broken down for the novice clearly.It is an old book, one out of print- if anybody is really interested in Filipino Martial arts, this book is a must.But the problem is how many are still available.

The Filipino Martial Arrts as taught by Dan Inosanto, inspired me to seek Serrada Escrima
I already had Black Belts in Modern Arnis and Taekwondo, and I was still training in Jujitsu, Silat and Muay Thai for several years when I went to Stockton, California (Some people say Sticktown, Kalifornia.)the Mecca of FMA in the United States,to train in Serrada Escrima from Grandmaster Vincent Angel Cabales Sr. I had started FMA in the 70's, then in 1992 I attended the FMA tournament at University of Pacific, in Sticktown.I noticed Master Vincent Angel Cabales Jr. getting cheated out of points, and I didn't know if the cheating was intentional or accidental as some strikes are so fast that they could easily be missed by judges, but it was obvious to me that whoever trained him did an excellent job.Most of the strikes were direct solid hits.Other people were furious that he was getting cheated so bad, one woman asked if the judges were watching the same fight or if they were blind.She was so mad she was spitting.After the fight was over I asked the fighter who it was that trained him so well, and he introduced me to his Dad, Grandmaster Vincent Angel Cabales Sr.I'm glad I made the right choice to learn Serrada.Many of the Masters in Danny Inosanto's book attended that tournament.This book should be back in print.
Train hard and have fun!
Guro Dennis Servaes

Excellent Martial arts book but flawed history
This excellent book on the Filipino martial arts has become an out of print collectors item.

It covers angles of attack, empty hand infighting parrying, double dagger, rattan stick single and double as well as an excellent solo training skills section.

The only area that it falls short in is in the historical description of Magellans death at the hands of King Lapu lapu.

According to many Filipinos magellan landed with his men ready to assault the local village, Lapu lapu and his corageous tribe of warriors attcked the spanish with only rattan sticks.

The firceness and bravery of the filipino warriors were too much for the spanish bandits and after a good fight, Lapu lapu overcame magellan and killed him Thus he became a Legend.

The above story sounds amazing, however we do know from historical spanish records and by recreating the conditions weaponry and situation of the 1600s that the above version found in Inosantos book is a fallacy.

In fact there were fewer than 40 spaniards accompanying Magellan( a portuguese explorer) to shore on that fateful day, Magellan had thought he had rights of passage due to a pact he had with another chief.

Not long after disembarking Magellan and his men realised they were in an ambush. Surrounded by more than 2000 filpino warriors the lightly armoured spaniards who thought they would be on a scouting mission were soon in the midst of a hail of arrows and spears and gunshots ( yes the filipinos had small cannons albeit handheld as historians noted).

Here we then have the truth of the matter, over 2000 filipno warriors armed with high powered bows, spears swords and to some extent hand held cannons against 40 spaniards that were manly armed with sword and dagger and a few muskets. They fought back the Filipinos fiercely, killing hundreds of them in close range combat before being completely overun by the ferocity of the arrows and spears being hurled at them from a greater vantage point, magellan was pierced by several spears and arrows thus he was leaning forward half dead when Lapu Lapu and his thousands of warriors finally surrounded the spaniards. It was at this point that LApu Lapu took advantage of the situation and felled magellan with a blow to the back of the head severing it from his body, not with a rattan but with a kampilan sword.

The Filipinos were intrigued by the efficiency of the dagger and sword method, it is said that it was a combination of portuguese , Italian scrimia methods and Spanishtechniques that the Filipinos incorporated as the bulk of what later would become the Escrima that we know of today.

Incidentally just in the last 10 years or more ancient Italian books on their art scrimia dating back to the early 15th century were translated into English, it is strikingly similar to the later art we now know as Filipino Escrima. Evidence that the European Martial arts were in full force and influential in helping to forge modernised FMA. ... Read more

Product Description
Kick into high gear with Martial Arts in Action. Children will learn about karate, tae kwon do, jujitsu, judo, and kung fu. Important concepts are also discussed, including self-defense, self-discipline, self-confidence, concentration, and balance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Resource
This book is truly a great resource for those wanting to learn more about martial arts and their history.There are MANY types of martial arts discussed, usually a bit of history, the country of origin, and the basic techniques of some are mentioned.I bought a copy for my children's martial arts school.The instructors were very pleased with the simplicity of this book for their younger students to use for a book report assignment.I read it myself and learned quite a bit from it. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Experience the wisdom of a veritable ecuyer.
This book is an absolute delight to read and a source of inexhausitble inspiration for riders of any discipline.I'm sharing it with friends at the moment but can't wait to re-immerse myself in the "just-add-water" classical principles outlined by Sr. Oliveira.His descriptions of both horse and rider describe a state of kinetic beauty that can only be achieved through proper attention to the fundamentals.

How to think and ride
If you are looking for hands on exercises this book is not for you. But if you are looking for deeper understanding on how to think and feel when riding - this is one of the best ones. For many riders today riding is either sport or time to relax. Then there are a few serious students of equestrian art. The ones that ride to achieve unity with their horse, to submerse themselves in the beauty of deep understanding between their equine partner and the rider. If you are looking for a philosophical approach you just found it. A true jewel for the rider that wants to dig deeper and find meaning beyond the sport in his/her riding.

Short book from one of the masters in classical riding
This short book don't give much explanation on how to give the right aids or how to train your horse. But it is quite easy read and might wake up your desire to learn more. As inspiration boook rather than school book I think it is good.

The heart of classical equitation!
Should be required reading for all modern-day dressage riders and anyone who truly believes in achieving harmony with his or her horse!Not a specific "how to" book, but rather the core of the master Oliveira's philosophy of classical horsemanship succinctly and powerfully stated.His was a school of horsemanship that expected and achieved a level of lightness and collection rarely attained in today's competitive dressage horse.As Sylvia Loch said in her book (also highly recommended)Dressage: The Art of Classical Riding,Nuno Oliveira was" . . .aman who could bring magical steps out of the most ordinary horse, a man who rode like a king, so that his horses carried him like a king."

Nuno Oliveira, The Master
This book is written by probably the greatest horse master in the 20th century. A book that every horse lover, and especially dressage rider, must have. It is a pity that only one (I believe) of six books is translatedinto English. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (32)

Martial Arts
The book is an excellent exploration into the various martial arts with weapons. It has been around for years and is still excellent.

A fantastic basic guide to the Japanese Samurai martial arts.
Even though there were many reviews of this great book, I thought I would add a few comments.First off, the critics have some valid points concerning the accuracy of every single martial art covered in this 483 page book.However, with the volume of material this book covers, there is bound to be some errors. Nevertheless, I think the authors did a very good job of researching most of the material.This book is very detailed and impressive.The illustrations were clear and meaningful.If you are a serious martial artist this book provides a good overview of the way of the warrior.If you are a historian this book will be of great value in your research.As a follower of Bushido, I highly recommend this book.Rating: 5 stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Season of the Warrior: A Poetic Tribute to Warriors, The Monadnock Defensive Tactics System, Use of the Monadnock Straight Baton, PR-24 Baton Advanced Techniques, Use of the Mini-Baton).

Accurate & Detailed!
This is a long book, not something you are going to sit down and read straight thru. It is a valuable reference book, however, showing the basic principles and tactics of a variety of styles. It is one of the few books you will find that points out the differences between different schools/ styles of the same general art type (such as different styles of Jujutsu or different style of Karate). This is not a teaching book that allows one to learn a style, but it will help people from most arts to grow in their understanding of such practices and disciplines.

A Note to the Ignorant
This book is a work of genuine scholarship. An assertion has been made that there is no such
thing as tessenjutsu, as though the authors made the art of the iron fan up for some unfathomable reason.
This statement is either an outright lie or a reflection of the critic's own ignorance. Search for the terms
tessenjutsu or tessen online and you will find a satisfactory amount of information on this technique. I have
patronized a source in the U.S. that sells top of the line Japanese weaponry, including tessen. Know of what you speak before you write, gang.

A great addition to any library
Having read Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, I looked forward to reading this book and adding it to my library.While Aikido was the newer of the two books, it was my first exposure to these authors.I had grown fond of their academic, though dry at times, writing style as well as their tendency to research their topic in great detail.I was hoping this book would live up to that standard, and I was not let down.In Secrets of the Samurai Ratti and Westbrook explore in great depth the historical roots and many practices of the samurai culture of feudal Japan.To lend some context or background for the focus of this book they include an introduction that contains a brief time line of the era, as well as some meaning to the words bujutsu (the group of methods employed by the military).The book then quickly moves into the structure of the Japanese military itself.

The authors go into great detail on the ranking system of the military, as well as it's relation to the government of the period.However it is not a book strictly about the rise of the samurai.Instead, the authors include a vast amount of detail about many topics surrounding the warrior class.Details such as the clothing that would be common for each rank or class, the armor the samurai would have adorned and the weapons they had employed.They do not limit their exploration to just the samurai themselves, choosing to also cover more obscure topics of the samurai culture, topics such as subcultures that existed within and around the samurai: ninja, Buddhist monks, and the women of the samurai for example.The use of simple sketches and drawings help to fill in the picture and are a nice inclusion.

While they choose to cover many topics, there should be no concern that the material is watered down.Instead, the main focus of the book is given great depth.The authors go into exhaustive detail about the many military tactics the samurai had used.Exploring fighting techniques does not limit itself to weaponry and armed combat.Instead a hearty portion of the book is devoted to many styles of martial arts.Great detail is given in techniques of unarmed combat, as well as the history of many styles and schools that the samurai would have been exposed to.Certainly they give an in depth look into the religious beliefs and spirituality of the samurai, as well as any influence Zen Buddhism may have had on these warriors. Having studied martial arts and eastern philosophy a bit myself I truly appreciated the coverage afforded the martial arts, and spirituality.

Westbrook and Ratti have clearly put a great deal of research into this comprehensive and indispensable text.Some have claimed that their sources lack any ancient Japanese texts, and while most of their sources are English, they do cull information from various Japanese sources.Surely this is not the end all of information regarding the samurai, but it is certainly a good place to start.While it may be a bit dry in reading due to its extremely academic nature, it comes as no surprise and the book never claims to be a page turner.It is however a wonderful asset to anyone interested in martial arts, feudal Japan, and the rise of the militant ethos of the samurai, and may allow at least a fair amount of insight into an old and very foreign culture.This book makes a great addition to a martial artist's library, and is a great value.
... Read more

Product Description
An abundantly illustrated and well-researched work from renowned scholar and martial arts teacher Donn F. Draeger- this classic provides a comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated forms of empty-hand combat and myriad unique weapons which characterize Indonesian fighting styles. Draeger shows how the forms are related to their mainland cousins, provides historical context for their development, and describes the combat methods of Menangkabau warriors, Alefuru headhunters, and the Celates pirates. With over 400 illustrations, this book is an indispensable addition in any martial artist's library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Definitive Western Work on Indonesian Fighting Arts
Absolutely Five Stars (don't know why it shows up as 4 out of 5). Donn Draeger's "Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia" is the definitive Western work on Indonesian fighting arts, and is "must" reading for anyone interested in Indonesia's martial history and culture.

Bela Diri /Maenpo
This book is excellent,you will find allot of information in it.I think it might need to be updated,it's missing a few weapons and many styles of pencak silat.Many styles are not even known about outside some families.You know,keep it in the family!Some styles are not that old in terms of how long silat has been in Indonesia.I also wish they had more about inner power.I have seen it with my own eyes.But their is nothing close to this book out there.I stayed in Bandung for about 3 years.

Outstanding Overview
Draeger offers a relatively detailed overview of the martial arts of Indonesia.An invaluable starting point for anyone with an interest in Silat or Kuntao.

the best
this is the best book of it's type.this book is the most in-depth book on the Indonesian fighting arts I have seen.it's an excellent source for the armed/un-armed fighting arts of this region,as well as a resource for the history and culture/anthropology of Indonesia.some of the descriptions of the people in this book are rather outdated and ideo-syncratic. there are tons of photos and illustrations in this book.there are also great descriptions of how some of these things are made such as boobie traps,poisons,clubs with fish bone edges,etc. if you are an avid collector,beginning collector(especially),practicioner,or someone with an interest in the country and people of this region this is a must.

You must read this book.
This book was out of print for years and thankfully it has been reprinted. If you have any interest in SE Asian martial arts this book is essential reading. It is very wordy and does not, by its own admission, cover all ofIndonesia, but it is very thorough and covers so much more than just theTjimande and Harimau based styles that we see in the west. The chapters areby island and are broken up into sections on silat, kuntao and any otherodds and ends. There are some wonderful black and white photos. The styleis a little dated but there is no other book of its kind in existence. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

The Art of Sports Officiating covers all aspects of officiating for anysport. Based on the principle that officiating is an art, not a science, thisvery unique book prepares an official beyond the memorization of rules andmechanics.

Product Description
The Martial Arts Athlete answers questions that today's competitors must know to succeed - should you do push-ups or lift weights? Are energy bars and sports drinks any good? Are traditional forms a waste of your time? How do you eat to win? Discover powerful mind/body training for peak performance and incredible physical conditioning.

* Imagery for better strikes, kicks & takedowns.
* Meditations for a sharper mind.
* The power of relaxation.
* Mental skills to manage pain, improve discipline, and feel great!

Incredible physical conditioning to get you in the best shape of your life:

* Step-by-step strength training for powerful arms & shoulders.
* Killer ab-work for a lean torso and washboard stomach.
* Plyometrics for strong legs and explosive kicks.
* Three kinds of stretching for dynamic flexibility.
* Simple breathing techniques to power you up.

Discover the most effective workouts, nutrition secrets, and mind/body training for peak martial arts performance in competition and daily practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Awesome Book
The thing I liked most about this book is that everything that Dr. Seabourne demonstrates can be done in the comfort of your own home.There is no fancy equipment that you need nor do you have to go to a gym and find a particular machine to use.Dr. Seabourne also demonstrates a wide array of exercises.I cannot stress the diversity of exercises he offers in this book.The tips that Dr. Seabourne provides are invaluable.He offers imagery tips, relaxation methods, plyometric drills, weight training drills, the whole 9 yards.I am indebted to Dr. Seabourne for the information he has provided through this book.If I had one complaint it would be in the ordering of the photographs, they can be hard to follow from time to time.

Hit harder and kick faster
Hit harder, kick faster and use martial arts fitness routines to maximum advantage with the use of Martial Arts Athlete, a guide which offers training and conditioning techniques to enhance a martial arts routine. These exercises are especially tailored for the martial arts and black and white photos throughout provide clear instruction on the steps.

Incredible
The Martial Arts Athlete was one of the best all around fitness books I have ever read.It provides information about how to tighten your abs, stretch correctly, heal low back pain, and improve any sports skill,especially martial arts.

This book is excellent, all level athletes can learn a lot!
This book using great illustrations tackles much more than the details of martial art training. All info. can be applied to virtually any activity making this book the perfect guide for a novice to an elite athlete. TomSeabourne is an excellent author and hope to see more in the future. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by Tae Kwon Do masters Yeon Hee Park and Yeon Hwan Park with American black-belt Jon Gerrard, Tae Kwon Do is the definitive and only international reference to the sport. A highly effective tool to assist students and aspirants build and maintain skills, this volume is illustrated with photographic "walkthroughs" of every posture and contains: a concise history of the art; warm-up exercises; clear instructions for learning the basic techniques; important tips and strategies for sparring; a glossary ofEnglish to Korean terms; 700 photographs throughout the text (25 new to this edition) to clearly illustrate each move. Endorsed by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The TKD Bible !
A fantastic read and reference point.
Indispensible parent's handbook in providing extra coaching for youngsters.
An invaluable tool in supplementing formal training.

A must....
....for those of us who need to refer to our poomsae quickly. Tedeshci's texts (taekwondo and hapkido) would be a lot better, but they're big and are rather expensive.
Park and Park gives you a lot of bang for your buck, and the book can easily be stored in your briefcase, gymbag, etc.

Great reference for beginner and intermediate TKDers
Overall great reference guide to starting and intermediate tae kwon do students. Lists the applications and effectiveness of all most aspects of TKD with slideshow pictures to demonstrate correctly. Of course, don't think you can learn the whole martial art from a book; you will need to accommodate by training with an instructor.

The Best Reference Guide to Tae kwon do I have seen to date
This book is above par.I am a soldier deployed in Iraq and I purchased this book to continue my study while on deployment.It has accurate information and pictures to explain everything from the basics, to advanced level forms, and top notch sparring techniques.A great purchase.

Good reference
It is a good starting reference for those beginning about the sport.The pictures of the poomse are helpful but nothing takes the place of good instruction.I found it hard to rely on the pictures to do the forms.
... Read more

Product Description
Whether you’re a beat cop or a "SWAT team" specialist, you’ll benefit from the tried-and-true methods explained in this book. Destined to become a bible of law enforcement self-defense, Martial Arts Techniques for Law Enforcement offers instruction in techniques and tactics that specifically address the situations unique to police officers. These simple, easy-to-follow lessons teach readers the theory behind strikes and kicks, come-alongs and takedowns, psychological defensive tactics, and techniques including one-hand defenses and defenses.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Clear, useful instructions for self-defence on the streets
I do not have any martial arts background and I find a lot of martial arts books hard to follow as they have too many maneuvers or require another person to practice with. This book provides useful and easy to follow instructions on how to defend yourself (important for women) and useful tips on how to avoid getting hurt while bringing the assailant down. It is very practical and its short and easy steps are a plus, as in real dangerous situations you don't have enough time to think through complicated maneuvers.

Buy this book, stop looking at that other one, buy this one!!
I mean it! This is the man! Having been trained at a police academy I can say he knows what he's talking about when he exposes the areas of police training that are neglected at the academy. There are many hits and holds he covers that are very effective that go beyond your academy training which will help you maintain the advantage on the street level. Great book.

Basic Martial Arts
I was excited to check this book out but unfortunately was a little disappointed. While this is a good martial arts overview for new officers with no DT training, it's not a very good book for more experienced officers. The title covers the basic interview stance, standard strikes & kicks as well as standard locks & takedowns. The weakest part of the book is the weapon defense material which emphasizes different tactics for for each weapon category. Knife defense includes the traditional simultaneous block/parry with one hand while striking with the other hand. I personally prefer to control the weapon delivery system because by not doing so it greatly increases the chance of being injured or killed by the chaotically moving knife. The firearm defense stuff is the traditional grab the gun and strip it from the gunman's grip. Again, not my favorite of tactics because anyone who is still conscious will instinctively convulse on the weapon as well as fight to maintain their hold on the firearm.

If an officer has no training this might be a good starting point but I would caution against the practice of the weapon-defense material. ... Read more