General Books - Page 4

Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Chi Gung for Lifelong Health (Tao of Energy Enhancement)

Bruce Frantzis

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Blue Snake Books Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $6.58

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Tai Chi & Qi Gong
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body explains the practice of chi gung (qigong), the 3000-year-old self-healing exercise system from China. Originally published in 1993, this book has become a classic that has inspired tens of thousands of Westerners to learn to activate their chi—life-force energy—to improve their health, reduce stress and reverse the effects of aging. This fully revised edition has more than 100 pages of new material, including Longevity Breathing methods; how cross-training in chi gung can enhance other exercises such as yoga, golf and weight training; and nei gung techniques for advanced practitioners.

Chi gung exercises utilize a system of energy channels in the body that are similar to an electrical circuit. Frantzis’ thorough knowledge of energy arts and the Chinese language allow him to peel away the secrecy and metaphors. He presents this 300-page edition in easy to understand terms to suit beginners, with enough meaty detail and depth for the advanced martial artist, healer or meditator.

Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body includes a comprehensive guide to chi gung theory and a systematic lesson plan with more than 100 illustrations. These low-impact exercises are suitable for almost any age or fitness level. They provide the foundation for learning any other chi practice, such as tai chi, martial arts, meditation or TAO Yoga. Frantzis explains not only how these inner aerobics are done, but why. Going beyond mere body movement, he teaches from the inside out, linking the biomechanics and anatomy of the physical body with the subtleties of chi. This book provides practical methods to help people become balanced, relaxed and joyful.

Frantzis trained for more than a decade in China, became a Taoist Lineage Master—quite a rare occurrence—and came back to the West to teach. “My hope is that chi gung and tai chi can become mainstream exercises in the West,” says Frantzis. “We have a major health crisis looming; practicing chi gung or tai chi is one of the most effective ways people can reclaim control of their health and well-being.”

The Art of Peace

Morihei Ueshiba

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Shambhala Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $2.93

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General AAS
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Ueshiba O'Sensei Art of Peace, Way of Life 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome read and instructional guide for those who may be considering embracing any serious traditional martial art as a way of living, not just for sport enthusiast or fighter "wannabe", but actually internalizing the philosophical applications of the Martial Way (Budo) on our daily doings. A guide to discover the esoteric meaning of self control, loyalty, honor, etiquette, but above all of love, the supreme Way to self respect, respect to others and to self-preservation, the preservation of those we love and nation. All these encompassed in the base of Aikido (the way of harmony), beyond the mere exoteric physical functions of pulling, grabbing, throwing and falling. Highly recommended for the martial way enthusiast. A very interesting path to understand the profound and compassionate mind of Ueshiba O'Sensei. Osu!

Adames Sensei,
Manila, Philippines

Editorial Review:

The real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. So taught the great Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido. Aikido is a disciple Ueshiba called the “Art of Peace.” It offers a nonviolent way to victory in the face of conflict, and he believed that Aikido principles could be applied to all the challenges we face in life—in personal and business relationships, as well as in our interactions with society. These succinct and pithy teachings are drawn from his talks and writings. The collection is compiled by the renowned modern Aikidoist John Stevens, a disciple of Ueshiba.

The Complete Guide to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)

Rodrigo Gracie, Kid Peligro

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Invisible Cities Press Llc Amazon Marketplace: 21 new & used starting at $19.27

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Sports -> Individual Sports -> Martial Arts -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Individual Sports -> Martial Arts -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Favorite of the series 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book is my new favorite of the series written about Gracie Jiu Jitsu from this publisher. Rather than a book of random techniques like some of the others, this one focuses on transitions from one technique to another and is arranged by position, i.e., techniques from the guard, techniques from the mount, etc. The focus is on flowing from one basic move to the next and developing a game rather than complex or the "newest" techniques.

Editorial Review:

The definitive roadmap for anyone who wants to excel in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, this comprehensive guidebook offers step-by-step instruction on every aspect of the world’s most extreme and most effective martial art. More than just a string of techniques, this essential guide contains a full curriculum that will benefit martial artists of all skill levels. The methods necessary to advance quickly in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu are discussed, as well as the mental aspects of the art. Helpful instruction on a broad variety of important techniques rounds out the text, following students from the beginner’s rank of white belt all the way up to the coveted black belt of a master.

Tai Chi Chuan: 24 & 48 Postures with Martial Applications

Liang Shou-Yu

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: YMAA Publication Center Amazon Marketplace: 57 new & used starting at $4.28

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General AAS
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Way better than most ... 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

No book can be everything to everyone. That said, this book is far more informative and useful than many of the 20 or 30 Tai Chi books I own. For the beginner or intermediate student, this will be very useful. For someone interested in the martial aspects of Tai Chi, this will be a good introduction. It is, after all, only a 150 page book ! It's not a 20 volume Tai Chi encyclopedia.

Great for Beginners 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is a concise introduction to Tai Chi Chuan. It details two Yang-style forms: 24 and 48 postures and includes martial art applications for the movements.

An impressive array of short biographies is presented at the beginning of this YMAA publication, providing the reader with a sense of well-founded authority.

An excellent summary of the written and oral histories of Tai Chi is given, including a chart showing the origins of the five major styles of Tai Chi.

The book is aimed at beginners and students with intermediate skills, so in the 2nd chapter guidelines for practicing are suggested. Warm-up techniques are clearly presented with sharp photographic images, a quality that is maintained throughout the book. Considerable space in

Chapter 3 is devoted to the details of stances, basic movements and postures.

Chapter 4, the core of the book, contains the 24 posture form which includes martial arts applications. The authors listed the movements and provided an excellently coded chart that shows the foot positions, the head positions, toe and heel positions, the direction of movement and the width of the stance. Each movement is described with text and images, including arrows showing the direction of movement and one or more examples of how the movement could be used against an attack Combined with an instructor, the movement description in this book would serve to help keep beginners from falling into bad habits.

Chapter 5 presents the 48 posture form in same manner as was used in the 24 posture form, except the movement diagram is omitted as are the martial arts applications.

At the back of the book, the authors include a list of the movement names in Chinese and English, a translation of the Chinese terms used in the book, a bibliography and an index.

I would have like to have seen captions for each photographic image and martial arts applications for the new movements included in the 48 posture form. There are a few places where additional images would help clarify the meaning of directional arrows.

The book is a good manual for beginners learning the 24 posture form, but it falls short of being a great manual

Editorial Review:

24 and 48 postures with martial applications.

The Art of Expressing the Human Body

Bruce Lee; John R. Little

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Charles E Tuttle Co Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $10.03

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General AAS
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 73 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Art of Expreeing the Human Body 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The first time I saw Bruce was at the now famous 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships. Were at the at the invitation of Ed Parker, A good friend of mine, I witness an extraordinary human being.
At this tournament Bruce demonstrated 2 finger push ups, one inch punch and fighting skills.

The second time I saw Bruce was at the 1967 Long Beach International Karate Championships. The last time I saw Bruce in person was a gathering of martial artist at a school in LA were he stood in front of about 25 students and taught and showed of his skills. I've seen Bruce ability close up and I would not fight Bruce Lee if he spat in my face. He was that good. If you fought Bruce lee he would probable overwhelm you with intense vigor trying to intentionally destroy you. This really doesn't matter unless you have the skill, he did. Now The Art of Expressing the Human Body is a compilation of Bruce lee's hand written work out routine from early sixties until his untimely death in 1973. This book is well organized and carefully compiled to preserve Bruce Lee's true intension. This covers all aspects of Bruce lees work out from nutrient to isometrics.

If you watch Bruce lee movies then you should know the lengths of Bruce lee's abilities. However there is a such thing as camera tricks that may make people want to dispute Bruce's unbelievable abilities .However this is not the case because if you look at him in demonstration on Honk Kong Television you will see some amazing feat of strength occurring. For example breaking 1 inch thick boards with a punch delivered from only a few cm's away. Or breaking 5 daggling 1 inch boards with a side kick. This, my friend, is very hard to do. This book shows you through Bruce's hand written work out routine how he accomplished it. Bruce lee started his martial arts training at the age of 13 first by his farther then by the now legendary Master Yip Man. This training lasted to the age of 18 when he moved to the United States. On his arrival in the states he drastically started looking into the development of the body for martial arts and not just the development of the skill for martial arts. His hungry for the knowledge of all things regarding to physical development lead him to amass a colossal library of over 3,500 (My listamania on books Bruce Lee read) . Over 140 of those books had to do with body building weight training, physiology and kinesiology ,wear he just absorb what he needed and dismissed what he did not. Over years of research Bruce had compiled from different resources a multitude of journals describing different exercises and workouts which increased his power, strength ,flexibility. Bruce lee was in tune with what exact muscle groups he wanted. and how he could do it. He soon realized that conventional exercise machine could not work all the muscle groups which he wanted to work. So he created several original designs of his own training equipment and had his friend George Lee build them to his specifications.

Editorial Review:

Beyond his martial arts and acting abilities, Bruce Lee's physical appearance and strength were truly astounding. He achieved this through an intensive and ever-evolving conditioning regime that is being revealed for the first time in this book. Drawing on Lee's own notes, letters, diaries and training logs, bodybuilding expert John Little presents the full extent of Lee's unique training methods including nutrition, aerobics, isometrics, stretching and weight training.

Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense

David Kahn

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: St. Martin's Griffin Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $6.25

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General AAS
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Master the moves of krav maga--the international self-defense and fitness sensation

Increasingly popular around the world, krav maga is the renowned hand-to-hand defense system designed by the Israeli military forces. Swift, powerful, and simple, it is an effective method for fending off any kind of attacker--and it is also an amazing workout.

Regardless of size, strength, and fitness level, anyone can master the essentials of krav maga--and reap the rewards of increased safety, confidence, and conditioning. With moves you can learn in as little as five minutes, or train and practice for long-term success, Krav Maga will show you how to:

*Protect your body's vulnerable targets
*Use an opponent's momentum to fuel your counterattack
*Escape all kinds of grips and holds
*Combine training punches, kicks, and other moves into a powerful conditioning workout---to lose weight, increase core strength, and improve muscle tone
*Use specially designed drills and a 12-week training program to become a kravist---a smart and prepared fighter

Written by one of America's foremost krav maga experts, this exciting new guide opens the door to an empowering and important set of skills that you or anyone can master.

Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero

E. Paul Zehr

Amazon Price: $17.79 List Price: $26.95 Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks By: The Johns Hopkins University Press Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $17.74

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Characters -> Batman
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Superheroes
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> General

Editorial Review:

Battling bad guys. High-tech hideouts. The gratitude of the masses. Who at some point in their life hasn't dreamed of being a superhero? Impossible, right? Or is it?

Possessing no supernatural powers, Batman is the most realistic of all the superheroes. His feats are achieved through rigorous training and mental discipline, and with the aid of fantastic gadgets. Drawing on his training as a neuroscientist, kinesiologist, and martial artist, E. Paul Zehr explores the question: Could a mortal ever become Batman?

Zehr discusses the physical training necessary to maintain bad-guy-fighting readiness while relating the science underlying this process, from strength conditioning to the cognitive changes a person would endure in undertaking such a regimen. In probing what a real-life Batman could achieve, Zehr considers the level of punishment a consummately fit and trained person could handle, how hard and fast such a person could punch and kick, and the number of adversaries that individual could dispatch. He also tells us what it would be like to fight while wearing a batsuit and the amount of food we'd need to consume each day to maintain vigilance as Gotham City's guardian.

A fun foray of escapism grounded in sound science, Becoming Batman provides the background for attaining the realizable -- though extreme -- level of human performance that would allow you to be a superhero.

Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior (Shambhala Pocket Classics)

Chogyam Trungpa

Amazon Price: $8.95 List Price: $8.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Shambhala Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $0.74

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( T ) -> Trungpa, Chogyam
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Buddhism -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Other Eastern Religions -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this practical guide to enlightened living, Chögyam Trungpa offers an inspiring vision for our time, based on the figure of the sacred warrior. In ancient times, the warrior learned to master the challenges of life, both on and off the battlefield. He acquired a sense of personal freedom and power—not through violence or aggression, but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge. The Japanese samurai, the warrior-kings of Tibet, the knights of medieval Europe, and the warriors of the Native American tribes are a few examples of this universal tradition of wisdom. With this book the warrior's path is opened to contemporary men and women in search of self-mastery and greater fulfillment. Interpreting the warrior's journey in modern terms, Trungpa discusses such skills as synchronizing mind and body, overcoming habitual behaviors, relaxing within discipline, facing the world with openness and fearlessness, and finding the sacred dimension of everyday life. Above all, Trungpa shows that in discovering the basic goodness or human life, the warrior learns to radiate that goodness out into the world for the peace and sanity of others. The Shambhala teachings—named for a legendary Himalayan kingdom where prosperity and happiness reign—thus point to the potential for enlightened conduct that exists within every human being. "The basic wisdom of Shambhala," Trungpa writes, "is that in this world, as it is, we can find a good and meaningful human life that will also serve others. That is our true richness."

The Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke

Yuzan Daidoji, Thomas Cleary

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Charles E Tuttle Co Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $4.05

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The author does a good job translating the text into modern day principles. Definitely a good read for those interested in Bushido and it's ideas.

Disappointing 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Cannot see any great spiritualism here.
Altogether a very disappointing experience.
A Karate Sensei has far more to offer.

An ancient book but still applicable to modern life 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Code of the Samurai is a nice peek into Japanese culture, in under a hundred pages. It's amazing to see how such an ancient book can still be of use today, and how some things we consider 'common courtesy' have fundamental roots, and an actual reason.

Editorial Review:

The Code of the Samurai is a four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese way of the warrior. Bushido has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping the modern martial arts within Japan and internationally. The Japanese original of this book has been one of the primary sources on the tenets of Bushido, a way of thought that remains fascinating to modern world, East and West.

Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way

Randy Couture; Erich Krauss; Glen Cordoza

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Victory Belt Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $12.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Instructional & How-To -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Instructional & How-To -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> Coaching -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

As the title suggests..... 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Randy Couture has been one of the poster boys for Mixed Martial Arts competition in recent years - and a good one at that. His words are well thought out, he's articulate, hard-working and talented. A lot is made of his age, as well. However, I don't think it means a great deal except to say he's an example of what hard work and good attitude can acheive.


Erich Krauss and Glen Cordoza do a great job of getting these qualities to shine through in this publication. The book's dedication speaks of work ethic and self-reliance, as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and influences. One can only say that this is as much a recipe for success as any. It's worked in Couture's case, anyway.


The book is - like most Victory Belt publications - a large format book. It's 11" x 9" and has 214 pages. It's a glossy book on high quality paper. It's also generous with photos and the photos are detailed and clearly show the techniques presented. I was critical of a couple of Victory Belt's publications in the past for proof-reading. This one does a lot better. It is very unfortunate that one of the very few errors that slipped through happened to be in a very noticeable place. Nonetheless, the writing is excellent and gets better with each publication. I'd be a real jerk if I said it took away from the book.


As seems to be the Victory Belt template, the book opens with an introduction which spends twelve pages chronicling Randy's career. Erich and Glen are getting better at this every time. It's the best written of the Victory Belt intros by far and the one I enjoyed the most, as well. Take note, though, it may be that I simply enjoyed Couture's story more than the others.


The technical portion of the book is broken up into three parts. The first talks wrestling, the second focusses on Greco-Roman wrestling and the third on adapting the wrestling game for Mixed Martial Arts. Each part is broken up into six to seven chapters concentrating on different aspects of Randy's game. As far as the techniques go, this is clearly the game of Randy Couture. The book also shares a lot of information with his earlier video series from Century. That makes this a great adjunct to the series, as well.


The wrestling section starts with a comprehensive chapter discussing wrestling basics. This is followed by a look at four basic takedowns. This is followed (quite naturally) by a chapter on finishing the single leg. Clearly this is and area Randy considers key. Following this is a long section on tie-ups. Here, you really start to make the connection between the Randy you see in the cage and the one n the book. There are two defensive chapters in the wrestling section - Sprawling and Defending the Single Leg.


The section on Greco is shorter, with a two page introduction followed by a chapter on pummelling and then basic takedowns. I enjoyed this section a lot as I picked up several of details that (as a Jiu Jitsu guy) I didn't know before. There are then chapters on armdrags and on more advanced takedowns. All are effective techniques, well photographed and captioned.


The last part of the book is called "Wrestling for Fighting" and is obviously the crux of the book as far as the authors are concerned. It starts with an introduction (as for all the book's parts) and then jumps into the relationship between strikes (especially the overhand) and the double-leg takedown. There is then a chapter on closing the distance. Following this, come the chapters on the most famous parts of Randy's game - The clinch and cage tactics.


The clinch chapter concentrates on Couture's much hallowed "Dirty Boxing" technique while the chapter on cage tactics provides invaluable pearls on how to use the fence to your advantage. I'm not sure Randy has given up all his secrets here, but the book certainly describes much of what I've seen the man do in the cage.


From here, there are chapters on ground tactics and submissions. The tactics here are simple. There is a good deal of time devoted to "Ground 'n' Pound" and two basic choke submissions. Both should be a big help for wrestlers looking to make the change.


All-in-all, I think there's something in here for everyone. Wrestlers making the jump to MMA will obviously benefit the most as it shows precisely how the wrestler's game translates. People like myself, who don't have a strong wrestling background will be able to add elements to their game they had previously not been exposed to. And, I don't think there's out there who couldn't benefit from the clinch and cage tactics chapters.


The book brings the good points of all Victory Belt's previous publications together. It's shorter, more basic and easier to navigate than the already excellent 'Book of Knowledge' from BJ Penn and more articulate and mature than 'Mastering the Rubber Guard'. This one takes pride of place on my bookshelf and will join the Best of the Best category on this site.

Editorial Review:

Randy "The Natural" Couture is the most respected and celebrated MMA combatant in the history of the UFC. A UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, and a UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture's reputation and fighting style are among the best in the world.

Now, with Wrestling for Fighting: The Sport of Mixed Martial Arts, Couture presents the techniques and strategies that allowed him to devastate the world s best strikers and grapplers time and time again. His unique fighting system, a mix of martial arts, wrestling, boxing and jiu-jitsu, is broken down clearly and concisely for amateurs and seasoned veterans alike. Couture also includes important information on creating fight game plans, and a variety of training tips you won t find anywhere else.