Strategy

[YODA]

Hi MAPers

Have any of you studied Sun Tzu's "Art of War?" or Musashi's "Go Rin No Sho?" - or any other martial strategy works?

Has this had any effect on your training in martial arts or on your life in general?

If anyone has seem the logo for my club - What most assume is a dragon is in fact a serpent (Snake's head - no lower limbs). This is "The Shuoran" - The serpent from Chang Mountain from the Art of War.

[waya]

I have read, and continue to read Sun Tzu... The copy I have sits on my desk all the time. I also read (obviously from my sig) Confucius, and alot of Greek Philosophy and strategy books as well.

I think the biggest impact these readings have comes whenever I am frustrated, burning out, or something of that sort. There is always something in them that will apply to the situation and what I am dealing with that will point me along a path to solving the problem.

[Jim]

I read (not red, am reading) both the art of war and book of five of five rings. Very deep reading that you can get on several levels so it's good to go over again later once you think it's 'sunk in' just to find something new in the text.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

I'm currently reading the Art of War, in order to help with playing Takeda.

Unfortunately most of the time when I need help the advice given basically sums up as 'don't be in this situation'.

[Freeform]

I have read the book of five rings (Steve Kauffman translation), but have only scratched at the surface of what it contains. I aim to re-read it with a notepad and pencil someday. Also can anyone recommend a good translation of 'The Art of War' for me to pick up.

Cheers

Colin

[TkdWarrior]

i hav read Sun Tzu's Art of war...
does that inspires me?...yup
does that helped me in my MA training...?? yup again...
i hav my understanding of it...my version of it ;)

-TkdWarrior-

[zen_tiger_claw]

i've read the book of five rings, the art of war and the "empty handed master" countless times. i also study ninjutsu strategy and eastern phillosophy.

[pgm316]

I'm reading the book of five rings. Interesting, in a weird way. I get something from it, not sure exactly what........

What is the main differences between that and sun tzu's art of war? Which would you regard as better? And is it worth reading both or would one cover much of the topic?

[YODA]

They are different - I would recommend reading both.

Go Rin No Sho is written for single combat and can be applied to multiples & general life management.

The Art of War is written for amry vs army and can be applied to single combat & general life management.

They compliment each other very well.

[pgm316]

Its taking me months to read book of five rings with being such heavy going. Each chapter you read is like an essay in itself taking a re-read or two for it to sink in.

How much do you/have you read?

I'll add Sun Tzu to my library, its getting embarrasing! If someone talks about a book on my bookshelf, I probably haven't even read it! ;)

[YODA]

I read a lot :D

My favourite Art Of War is a cartoon book I got - it's great and gives a refreshing look at what can be a rather heavy going subject.

At the moment I'm reading....

The Different Drum -- M.Scott Peck
People Watching -- Desmond Morris
TCP/IP Network Administration -- Craig Hunt
Coaching and Motivation: A Practical Guide to Maximum Athletic Performance -- William E. Warren

[Slownsteady]

Yoda,

"TCP/IP Network Administration" sounds heavier going than sun tzu!!

Glad u r reading that and not me ;)

Have read both, Have reread go rin no sho, am currently breaking it down and trying to interpret. The deeper you look, the deeper the message.

Also to go with art of war are the 36 stratagems.

http://www.pipeline.com/~tkd-pix/ma_index.htm

is a page with links to some of the docs.

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/8187/Gorinnosho.htm

or

http://www.samurai.com/5rings/

for go rin no sho

cheers

Mick

[Cain]

I am currently busy readin' the art of fighting without fighting, don't know the author 'cause it's a word document I got it off kazaa

The other books I have are The art of expressing the human body written by Bruce Lee edited by John Little and The tao of jeet kune do, it's actually notes rather than a 'book'

And the Bruce Lee fighting method series by Bruce Lee and M.Uyehara or something similar to that

Am now looking for books on Gung Fu

I don't reak non MA books except fiction ones like Robert Ludlum [my username is one of the character in his books] John Grisham and Mario Puzo

|Cain|

|Cain|

[Freeform]

Art of fighting without fighting could be by Geoff Thompson.

Col

[Cain]

Thanx, it's nice to know I have a book by a guy who's highly respected around here :D

|Cain|

[Tosh]

I agree with the reading and re-reading of Sun Tzu and 5rings.

Although my most worldy wise general life managment philosophies have come from the following tome's

"It's a wonderful life" and There's Treasure Everywhere"

Both by those most hugely popular philosophers Calvin & Hobbes

:D

[pgm316]

What I enjoyed most was Angry White pyjamas, is there any more books like that?

[YODA]

Calvin & Hobbes ROCK!

I have them all :D

[sfjohn]

I have read way too many books. I love The Art of War and he Book of Five Rings. I have learned muc from both. But I have also learned the importance of the books from Rome and Tibet, as well as the Middle East and the U.S. By far the best books I have read are the Tao Te Ching, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the book of rules ( I don't know what it is called, but it is the preachings of Confucious) There have been many other books that have contributed to the development I think I am at now, but the list is way too long to name here; so I am going to quit. Good night all.

[sfjohn]

I am fore going the martial arts reading now to read book 5 of harry potter. What can I say, i'm still a kid at heart.

[Jim]

sfjohn, do you wanna know how it ends? :D

[YODA]

Originally posted by Jim
sfjohn, do you wanna know how it ends? :D

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Marku]

im still reading Fighting power by L Christensen, before that i was reading the introduction to Hapkido. Next i wish to read the next Hapkido book which is like 1000 pages

[zen_tiger_claw]

'eastern warrior" and "spiritual warrior" are both excellent bvooks.

[sfjohn]

Found out how it ends thanks though. Now i'm reading the four agreements by Ruiz Toltec stuff, good book.
-John

[JediMasterChris]

Do any of you read the Tao Teh Ching? It isn't really having to do with martial arts, yet it does. I read it everynight until I get a headache.

[Tosh]

Originally posted by YODA
Calvin & Hobbes ROCK!


Ne'er a truer word said!

[JediMasterChris]

LOL! :D :D :D

[Brad Ellin]

Read Go Rin No Sho, Art of War, Te Tao Ching, I Ching, Tibetan Book of the Dead, The Art of Dying (HH Dalai Lama) and am currently re-reading "Understand? Good. Play!" by Masaaki Hatsumi. I highly recommend this book, even if you don't study ninjutsu.
"You are all moving too fast to understand this technique. Slow down and understand what you are doing first"
"It is very important to take the center. That way you are free to go in any direction." Masaaki Hatsumi

[Knight_Errant]

I have an electronic version of the art of war on my computer. I occasionally read it whenever I'm stuck for a devious ploy or two.

[ajacxxion]

The Art of War is rather innovative and refreashing despite the time it was written. Go Rin No Sho is quite deep, I have yet to meet someone who has understood most of it the first time. They are quite complementary, simply because of their differences. I thouoghly enjoy reading these as well as the Analects of Confucius and Tao Te Ching. If anyone knows links to other Confucian Texts, I would be more than grateful. Any recommendations for more reading?

[Tosh]

One book I would recommend to everybody is Michael Johnson - Slaying the Dragon.

Part guidance for goals, part auto-biography he say a lot of things that make sense yet hardly anybody does day to day.

Interesting to have a non-ma viewpoint on training for goals.

Not so much about slaying your opponent more about the opponent within!!