Showing titles in Martial Arts

Obscure documents, Korean-language books, and in-depth interviews with tae kwon do pioneers tell the tale of the origin of the most popular martial art. In 1938, tae kwon do began at the end of a poker game in a tiny village in a remote corner of what is now North Korea by Choi Hong-Hi, who began the martial art, and his nemesis, Kim Un-Yong, who developed the Olympic style and became one of the most powerful, controversial men in sports. The story follows Choi from the 1938 poker game where he fought for his life, through high-class geisha houses where the art was named, and into the Vietnam War where the martial art evolved into a killing art. The techniques cut across all realms – from the late 1960s when tae kwon do trained Korean CIA agents kidnapped people in the United States and Europe to the 1970s when Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and other Hollywood stars mastered the art’s new kicks. Tae kwon do is also a martial art for the 21st century, one of merciless techniques, indomitable men, and justice pumped on steroids.

On the Warrior’s Path connects the martial arts with this larger perspective, merging subtle philosophies with no-holds-barred competition, Nietzsche with Bruce Lee, radical Taoism and Buddhism with the Star Wars Trilogy, traditional martial arts with basketball and American Indian culture. At the center of all these phenomena is the warrior. Though this archetype seems to manifest contradictory values, author Daniele Bolelli describes the heart of this tension: how the training of martial technique leads to a renunciation of violence, and how overcoming fear leads to a unique freedom.

This is a collection of intimate and sometimes shocking conversations about motivation with 12 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts. The end result is 12 fascinating and unexpected stories about overcoming adversity and achieving success in life and Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu has often been used as a metaphor of life, but you can replace Jiu-Jitsu with any sport, business or ambitious pursuit - the lessons are universal. What drives ambitious people is often shaped by our subconscious mind. We are not always aware of the influences driving our behavior, but you will discover underlying themes.

Bruce Lee remains the gold standard that all martial artists are compared to. But could he actually fight? World Champions in karate competition have gone on record to point out that he never once competed in tournaments. Were his martial abilities merely a trick of the camera? For the first time ever, Bruce Lee authority and bestselling author John Little takes a hard look at Bruce Lee's real-life fights to definitively answer these questions with over thirty years of research that took him thousands of miles.

The goals of the budo - the martial arts and ways of Japan - lie in refining the body and spirit. These goals are not always the obvious ones - and are learned only through the guidance and direction of great teachers. The techniques, methods, and rituals of the sensei can serve as guides to a well-lived life - and provide invaluable lessons for today's martial artists.

When an older bully pushed the smaller Jorge Masvidal to the ground in second grade and tried to steal his bike, something snapped inside him. A “skinny kid with a big head,” Jorge grew up in a tough Miami neighborhood, raised by a single mom while his Cuban refugee father was in and out of jail. Jorge reacted in the only way he knew how: a flurry of punches and kicks fueled by red-hot rage that sent the bully to the ground.

In this compelling guide to fearless, creative living, Tae Yun Kim, a martial arts great grandmaster, shows that no matter what your age or background, culture or career, you don't have to settle for anything less than awesome in your life. Dr. Tae Yun Kim began her training at the age of seven, defying 5,000 years of tradition prohibiting girls from learning the martial arts in South Korea. Against all odds, she became the first female martial artist in South Korea and one of the highest-ranking martial artists in the world.

Persimmon Wind - part memoir, part martial arts history, and part travelogue - relates Dave Lowry's experiences as he travels to Japan to reunite with his sensei, visit the graves of others of his martial lineage, and explore a country and culture that profoundly influenced his life. Lowry's account reveals a Japan unlikely to be witnessed by the average Westerner. Drawing on his deep knowledge of the martial arts, Lowry acts as an interpreter of sorts, deftly describing for the listener the myriad ways in which Japan's subtle, yet rich customs and rituals inform and enrich the seemingly mundane practices of life.

For years, I was a violent sociopath as a direct result of my childhood and then experiences as a soldier. My adventures in the methamphetamine culture certainly exacerbated that. I am not proud of this. I'm just saying what it is; that being said, this book will articulate that experience in a series of amusing anecdotes and thoughts that explain the important lessons that I learned during that time.

One of the most popular Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan, is also one of the most effective stress relievers available. In China, it is also used extensively for the prevention and treatment of illnesses, and its beneficial effects for health and fitness are now widely recognized in the West. The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan is a comprehensive and fascinating guide to the practical application and potential benefits of Tai Chi Chuan.

Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids is a book about presenting the concepts of situational awareness to children (ages 5 to 12) in a way that will keep them engaged and help them take an active role in their own personal security. This book will show you how to use fun, interactive games to build situational awareness skills. Whether you're a parent, relative, or work in the childcare industry, the things you impart upon children will have a lasting impact on the way they live their lives. Nowhere is this more important than in the area of personal safety.

Becoming a master in a particular area is not tied solely to innate ability or talent nor to years of rote practice. As martial arts master and consciousness explorer Peter Ralston explains, the secret to mastery lies in accurate perceptive-awareness and effective interaction. In this detailed guide to what it takes to master something, Ralston examines the powerful dynamics behind the art of mastery. He explores the foundational skills and operating principles that empower mastery, including the principle of effective interaction, the mind-body alignment principle, and creative intelligence.

There may be many audiobooks in the market on this topic, but most of them are written by experts who assume you already have some background knowledge about Judo and martial arts. This audiobook is different because it’s written specifically for beginners who have no experience at all.

You may already know about the power of Sports Psychology to boost physical abilities, skyrocket motivation and banish nerves, the only problem is that most of these strategies are reserved for pro-athletes and coaches or found in thick technical books costing a fortune. So what is going to give you the edge, at home, at work or at your next big competition? You need more than just facts and figures. More than technical jargon. You need easy-to-use tips and techniques in plain English. You need an Invincible Mind.

Over 40 and training in BJJ? Zen now offers new concepts that will change the way you think and train instantly. This is the audiobook I wish I had when I began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. My age, I didn't think was a factor at the time and now after many years on the mats, I've found that certain strategies and concepts when applied save me from constantly being injured or de-motivated by plateaus.

The body’s innate capacity for feeling, intuition, and compassion can enable us to heal our physical and emotional wounds. In The Anatomy of Change, Richard Heckler draws on Aikido and Lomi Body Work to demonstrate how a set of practices can bring new awareness and choice into our daily life.

Are you looking for a new hobby, a great way to exercise, or perhaps a means of self-defense? Learn the ways behind the art of karate.

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is considered by many to be the most effective martial art, and its popularity has only been heightened by its dominance in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) arena. But one little-known aspect of this potent self-defense system is its deep spiritual roots and meditative practices. In The Essence of Muay Thai, Nuakai Aru, a Muay Thai master and longtime practitioner of various other martial arts, offers a fascinating historical and philosophical view of Muay Thai—along with his personal insights and experiences on the path.

From the secret training halls of ancient Sparta to the Arctic strength training methods of the Inuit to the magical underwater world of a tribe of aquatic superhumans in the Pacific, ‘A History of Physical Fitness’ will take you on a journey through history that will forever change the way you look at physical fitness.

Fight Like a Girl is a practical and empowering guide, arming you with the knowledge and confidence needed to keep yourself safe. Encouraging us to value ourselves and our safety, martial arts and self-defence expert Della O’Sullivan gives tips and tricks on how to fight to protect our bodies, by bringing the same energy and strength that we would summon to protect a loved one or child. Covering everything from how to adopt the mindset of a survivor to finding the confidence to fight back, it’s the guide every woman should own.