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Recommended Reading
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Recommended Reading: Sensei Richard Baier As martial artists we are always looking for ways to increase our knowledge and ability. One way to do this is by reading. But, what should we read? There are hundreds of books available on the martial arts. While I like to encourage reading as both a leisure activity and an exercise, I can’t recommend attempting to read every book you can find. Like movies, some are great, some are fair, and some are not worth the price of admission. Choosing a book can be made easier by following a few steps before purchase. Most of the information you need can be found in the title, on the back cover, or on the inside of the back cover. 1. Don’t bother with books that are style specific. If a book is a about Tae Kwon Do and you don’t have any reason to learn about Tae Kwon Do, then why spend hours reading it? This is not a hard and fast rule though. I have a book on Aiki-Jitsu that I enjoy. However, in GoJu we often use Aiki-Jitsu techniques in our self defense. 2. Don’t get books that attempt to teach kata: traditional katas are never taught this way. Trying to learn kata from a book is like trying to enjoy a gourmet meal over the phone. 3. Read the author’s biography. If the author has spent his career as a professional wrestler or an actor, then all his insights will be on how to fake things and make them look real. If their biography describes them as being a “Master” of many different arts, then they have not spent enough time on any one of them to be a “Master” of anything. While following these rules will not guarantee that every title you choose will make an exceptional addition to your “Karate Library,” It is a place to start. I do have a list of books I do recommend; the list below is a sample. Please see me if you would like more recommendations. Beginning Karate by: Master J. Kelljchian The Karate Dojo by: Master Peter Urban The Weaponless Warrior by: Master Richard Kim The Classical Man by: Master Richard Kim Karate, My way of Life by: Master Gichin Funakoshi Zen in the Martial Arts by: Joe Hyams The Martial Arts Overlook Dictionary The Code of the Samurai by: A.L. Sadler The Book of the Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi Any weapons books by Fumio Demura Any weapons books by Joe Hess [Editor’s addition] One Woman Every Minute by: Master J. Kelljchian [Editor’s addition] Classical Chokes by: Master J. Kelljchian [Editor’s addition] 365 Days of the Warrior by: Master J. Kelljchian |
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