Books that helped you pick a martial art.

[Helena Handbask]

Did anyone ever read a book that either helped them decide to start up martial arts, or helped you pick a style? I'm starting to build a library and I'd love to hear about your favourites.

My top 5 martial art (related) books

1. Toa of Jeet Kune Do
2. Kung Fu; History , Philosophy, Technique
3. The Martial Artist's Way
4. Zen in the Martial Arts
5. Iron Shirt Chi Kung

:p

[Battle Man]

I don't think I have 5 but I guess I'd say,

1) Book of 5 Rings
2) Art of war
the rest I'd have to say are videos.

[Hobbitlauncher]

well I plan to take Silat form reading some Tom Clancy books, it just sounded right up my alleym, and the more I research it the more I like it. I also want to take Kali/Escrima but that's because I found out about it while digging for silat info

[Davey Bones]

I honestly have no idea where my interest in CMA came from, lol. I've just always been attracted to the more fluid Chinese styles. So no book has ever influenced me to do an art, but I have some good books that have become important to me since I started MA up again:

Book of 5 Rings
Tao Teh Ching

Those are the most important.

I have a couple of Kung Fu history books. One by Master Kew Kwon Kit (sp?). A bit patronizing, especially to women, but an excellent history, and very in-depth, even going into weapon history. I also have a KF history book by a couple of Western practitioners, and it was ok (they included some stuff I wouldn't have).

And because I'm European by ethnicity, "Combat Sports in Ancient Greece". It covers Boxing, Wrestling, Pankration, and Egyptian Stick Fighting. I also have a few Gladiator books floating around as well, which are usually fun reads as the MA are not just Asian.

[aikiMac]

The first section of "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere" (Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook) where the purpose behind aikido is discussed, plus, "The Secrets of Aikido" (John Stevens). Oh yeah, that's what I was looking for!

[Tribalweapon]

1. Tao of Jeet Kune Do
2. Savage strikes
3. Art of War
4. hagakure
5. Book of Five Rings

There are more but those are the five that I read most often

[Colin Linz]

The book that lead me to Shorinji Kempo was “Shorinji Kempo, its philosophies and techniques” by Doshin So. Other books I have liked are:

The way of the Warrior, by Reid / Croucher
The Warriors Path - Wisdom From Contemporary Martial Arts Masters, by James Sidney

[SwordOfDamocles]

When I was a kid, I saw a book on ninjutsu by Steven K. Hayes, and picked it up because we had the same surname. It definitely got me interested in ninjutsu/Bujinkan Taijutsu, although when I started studying MA, I started with jujutsu because it's what was available in my area. Then, as it turned out, my jujutsu sensei was also a high-ranking BBT instructor. Funny, the little coincidences.

[Rochambo83]

Zen and the Art of Street Fighting by Jack Sabat is a good one. Its about his hardcore traditional karate training. The Bruce Lee's fighting method: Advanced Techniques has helped me out. I also read that Stephen K. Hayes book awhile ago. Its about his training in Japan and is pretty interesting. His first ninjitsu lesson was taught to him by Tanemura who is now head of the Genbukan system. I was going to join this Genbukan dojo but had an opportunity for free TKD and have been doing that ever since.

[scottsummers]

indonesian fighting fundamentals got me interested in silat. I moved and then just happen to stumble upon one of the guys in the book, he is my teacher now.

[aikiMac]

Another one: The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido by William Gleason

[fullmoonbear]

Which translation of 5 rings? (since it has been mentioned several times)

(Tai Chi Chuan by Ceng Man Ching got me interested in MA many years ago)

looking for serious opinions . . . .

[Ular Sawa]

I remember that "Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts" by Donn Draeger and Robert W. Smith allowed me to see that there was more out there than just the arts from China, Japan, and Korea.

I followed that up with "The Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia" by Donn Draeger and the not entirely historically accurate "The Filipino Martial Arts" by Dan Inosanto. These helped interest me in the arts of Southeast Asia.

"Hsing I" by James W. McNeil was one I would count as influential as well and I ended up studying under one of his students for many years. James McNeil is also one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

For number five, I would put anything on Pencak Silat by William Sanders, another great guy.

[fullmoonbear]

I remember that "Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts" by Donn Draeger and Robert W. Smith allowed me to see that there was more out there than just the arts from China, Japan, and Korea.

I followed that up with "The Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia" by Donn Draeger and the not entirely historically accurate "The Filipino Martial Arts" by Dan Inosanto. These helped interest me in the arts of Southeast Asia.

"Hsing I" by James W. McNeil was one I would count as influential as well and I ended up studying under one of his students for many years. James McNeil is also one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

For number five, I would put anything on Pencak Silat by William Sanders, another great guy.
I also have the McNeil book, you can kind of tell he is a good guy by the way he has writen it and the information is good....

[old palden]

Many good recommendations here, hopefully I can add a couple more.
Moving Zen by CW Nicol
The Art of Peace by M. Ueshiba
Budo by M. Ueshiba
The Tao of Tai Chi Chuan by Jou, Tsung Hwa
The Power of the Internal Martial Arts by BK Frantzis
In Search of the Warrior Spirit by Richard Strozzi Heckler
My Journey in Karate by Joko Ninomiya
Karate Do: My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi

[ScottUK]

Which translation of 5 rings? (since it has been mentioned several times)Thomas Cleary or Kenji Tokitsu.

[harlan]

Yep. It was 'The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts' in the local library. A dog eared reference work, loaded with descriptions, history, pictures...and best of all...cost me nothing. After months of perusing it, comparing descriptions, pondering, exploring local options...it really helped me define my interests.

Of all things, I decided that I was interested in jodo. Didn't get it...but the book started the adventure.

[kmguy8]

http://www.amazon.com/Scholar-Warrior-Introduction-Everyday-Life/dp/0062502328/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210892857&sr=1-3

great book for helping one set focus and goals in a martial way

[Deadlytech]

1.tao of jeet kune do
2.book of five rings
3. art of war

[hapkidofighter]

When i was 15 my parents got me this book called The Masters Speak- its just a book that is filled with interviews with various masters from hee ll cho to dan inosanto. The first interview of the book was with Grandmaster Bong soo han. I really liked the interview and at the end it mentioned that he had been teaching in santa monica for 35 years and i was really excited. i went down there a few days later and checked it out and have been there ever since

[Yohan]

I've never completely read a martial arts book.