"An extraordinarily informative book. THE OVERLOOK MARTIAL ARTs READER is an excellent volume that belongs in the libraries of all serious students of the martial arts, regardless of their length of practice." -Yoga Journal
Literature in the field of martial arts is both impressive and wide ranging, but until now has been largely unavailable to the general reader. This remarkable collection brings together historical and philosophical works which range from dynastic Japan to present day
•America.
The writings are organized in sections of history, training and
*discipline, philosophy, and other aspects. Together for the first time are selections from such works as Eugen Herrigel's ZEN IN THE ART OF ARCHERY, Maxine Hong Kingston's THE WOMAN WARRIOR, Miyamoto Musashi's classic A Book OF FIVE RINGS, and ENTERING THE WAY by the father of modern karate, Gichin Funakoshi.
Writing about subjects as diverse as the training of women samurai and the contribution of jujitsu to education in 19th century Japan, acknowledged experts address such disciplines as aikido, jiujitsu, karate, kung-fu, sumo, tai chi chuan, tae kwondo, and weapons tech-niques. THE OVERLOOK MARTIAL ARTS READER emphasises the many common elements of the Asian fighting arts: the development of moral character, the art of defensive victory, and above all the mastery of certain skills and attitudes that allow one to achieve the transcendence accompanying all martial arts excellence.
RANDY F. NELSON is a student of tae kwondo and has a strong interest in the literature of the martial arts. He is the author of numerous books, including THE MARTIAL ARTS INDEX, and is currently Professor of English at Davidson College in North Carolina.