Best Martial Arts books

**DRD T-bone** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 4:09pm

Hey everyone,
Been trolling for a while and been trying to keep up with most of the discussions here, but I want to dive into more of the history and people associated with the sport/styles. Which books are good ones to get into? I'm more into Biographies than strictly how-to books, but here's the ones I'm looking at:

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee - Read it, I enjoyed the philosophy side of it although didn't entirely agree with everything (naturally)

Mind over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo by Jigoro Kano - Just bought it, pumped to get into it

Gracie Jiu Jitsu by Helio - Expensive ($70), haven't bought or touched yet, good?

Any suggestions are welcome, thanks

Tony

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 4:14pm

The Secrets of Judo by Jiichi Watanabe and Lindy Avakian. http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/750...sofjudo0cz.jpg

**Moleculo** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 4:21pm

Probably want to avoid this one.

**theraydiator** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 4:39pm

For BJJ history/evolution/context, I recommend

Mastering Jujutsu by Renzo Gracie and John Danaher

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 5:26pm

Originally Posted by THX-1138

Probably want to avoid this one.

Why? It's fucking hillarious!!!! That book is so bad, I always pick it up to read whenever I go to B&N. I've been tempted to buy it, just for the comedic value of it... almost tempted :)

**yodaman** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 5:28pm

Of the one's I have, I'd second the reccomendation of Mastering JiuJistu. And although it's older, and not as comprehensive as it used to be, Bas Rutten's Big Book of Combat is still one of the largest sources of fight info around.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 5:49pm

If you're looking for quality biographies, I'd recommend "The Tao of Bruce Lee" (not to be confused with "the Tao of Jeet Kune Do") and "the Tao of Muhammad Ali", both by noted sportswriter Davis Miller. He's a superb writer and both books go well beyond the average martial arts/boxing standard.

For literary quality, I'd also suggest C.W Nicol's "Moving Zen", a memoir of his training in Shotokan karate in Tokyo during the early 1960s; "Angry White Pajamas", a funny and insightful autobiographical account of Oxford poet Robert Twigger's "year of hell" at an old-school Yoshinkan Aikido dojo; and "Autumn Lightning", by senior American kenjutsu practitioner Dave Lowry, describing his kenjutsu apprenticeship.

**Matt Bernius** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 6:01pm

I'd also add on:

Salzman, Mark - Iron and Silk
Salzman, Mark - Lost in Place (a memoir of Bullshido)

Smith, Robert - Martial Musings - it's all over the place, but still an interesting read.

Don Drager's work is also worth looking into.

- Matt

**mrblackmagic** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 6:04pm

The bubishi was a great one. Karate-do by Funakoshi. There is a lot of grabbing of the nuts in both books, but still a good reads.

For laughs, but also a good information. The Shotokan Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 6/28/2006 6:12pm

Originally Posted by Matt Bernius

I'd also add on:

Salzman, Mark - Iron and Silk
Salzman, Mark - Lost in Place (a memoir of Bullshido)

Smith, Robert - Martial Musings - it's all over the place, but still an interesting read.

Don Drager's work is also worth looking into.

- Matt

Seconded, these are excellent books. "Lost in Place" should be required reading for every middle-class kid with a Bruce Lee fetish.