10 Best Martial Arts Books

Bruce Lee ‘s daughter illuminates her father’s most powerful life philosophies―demonstrating how martial arts are a perfect metaphor for personal growth, and how we can practice those teachings every day. “Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless like water.” Bruce Lee is a cultural icon, renowned the world over for his martial arts and film legacy. But Lee was also a deeply philosophical thinker, learning at an early age that martial arts are more than just an exercise in physical discipline―they are an apt metaphor for living a fully realized life. Now, in Be Water, My Friend , Lee’s daughter Shannon shares the concepts at the core of his philosophies, showing how they can serve as tools of personal growth and self-actualization. Each chapter brings a lesson from Bruce Lee’s teachings, expanding on the foundation of his iconic “be water” philosophy. Over the course of the book, we discover how being like water allows us to embody fluidity and naturalness in life, bringing us closer to our essential flowing nature and our ability to be powerful, self-expressed, and free. Through previously untold stories from her father’s life and from her own journey in embodying these lessons, Shannon presents these philosophies in tangible, accessible ways. With Bruce Lee’s words as a guide, she encourages readers to pursue their essential selves and apply these ideas and practices to their everyday lives―whether in learning new things, overcoming obstacles, or ultimately finding their true path. Be Water, My Friend is an inspirational invitation to us all, a gentle call to action to consider our lives with new eyes. It is also a testament to how one man’s exploration and determination transcended time and place to ignite our imaginations―and to inspire many around the world to transform their lives.

When the undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi retreated to a cave in 1643 and wrote The Book of Five Rings , a manifesto on swordsmanship, strategy, and winning for his students and generations of samurai to come, he created one of the most perceptive and incisive texts on strategic thinking ever to come from Asia. Musashi gives timeless advice on defeating an adversary, throwing an opponent off-guard, creating confusion, and other techniques for overpowering an assailant that will resonate with both martial artists and everyone else interested in skillfully dealing with conflict. For Musashi, the way of the martial arts was a mastery of the mind rather than simply technical prowess– and it is this path to mastery that is the core teaching in The Book of Five Rings. William Scott Wilson’s translation is faithful to the original seventeenth- century Japanese text while being wonderfully clear and readable. His scholarship and insight into the deep meaning of this classic are evident in his introduction and notes to the text. This edition also includes a translation of one of Musashi’s earlier writings, “The Way of Walking Alone,” and calligraphy by Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura.

Saulo Ribeiro–six-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion–is world-renowned for his functional jiu-jitsu knowledge and flawless technique. In Jiu-Jitsu University , Ribeiro shares with the public for the first time his revolutionary system of grappling, mapping out more than 200 techniques that carry you from white to black belt. Illuminating common jiu-jitsu errors and then illustrating practical remedies, this book is a must for all who train in jiu-jitsu. Not your run-of-the-mill technique book, Jiu-Jitsu University is a detailed training manual that will ultimately change the way jiu-jitsu is taught around the globe.

This program is read by the author Bruce Lee ‘s daughter illuminates her father’s most powerful life philosophies – demonstrating how martial arts are a perfect metaphor for personal growth, and how we can practice those teachings every day. “Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless like water.” Bruce Lee is a cultural icon, renowned the world over for his martial arts and film legacy. But Lee was also a deeply philosophical thinker, learning at an early age that martial arts are more than just an exercise in physical discipline – they are an apt metaphor for living a fully realized life. Now, in Be Water, My Friend , Lee’s daughter Shannon shares the concepts at the core of his philosophies, showing how they can serve as tools of personal growth and self-actualization. Each chapter brings a lesson from Bruce Lee’s teachings, expanding on the foundation of his iconic “be water” philosophy. Over the course of the book, we discover how being like water allows us to embody fluidity and naturalness in life, bringing us closer to our essential flowing nature and our ability to be powerful, self-expressed, and free. Through previously untold stories from her father’s life and from her own journey in embodying these lessons, Shannon presents these philosophies in tangible, accessible ways. With Bruce Lee’s words as a guide, she encourages listeners to pursue their essential selves and apply these ideas and practices to their everyday lives – whether in learning new things, overcoming obstacles, or ultimately finding their true path. Be Water, My Friend is an inspirational invitation to us all, a gentle call to action to consider our lives with new eyes. It is also a testament to how one man’s exploration and determination transcended time and place to ignite our imaginations – and to inspire many around the world to transform their lives. Barnes & Noble Best New Books of the Year – 2020 A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

“A teacher is never a giver of truth –he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst.” –Bruce Lee Within the pages of Striking Thoughts , you will find the secrets of Bruce Lee’s incredible success– as an actor, martial artist, and inspiration to the world. Consisting of eight sections, Striking Thoughts covers 72 topics and 825 aphorisms–from spirituality to personal liberation and from family life to filmmaking–all of which Bruce lived by. His ideas helped energize his life and career and made it possible for him to live a happy and assured life, overcoming challenging obstacles with seeming ease. They also inspired his family, friends, students, and colleagues to achieve success in their own lives and this personal collection will help you in your journey too. Sections include: * On First Principles –including life, existence, time, and death * On Being Human –including the mind, happiness, fear, and dreams * On Matters of Existence –health, love, marriage, raising children, ethics, racism, and adversity * On Achievement –work, goals, faith, success, money, and fame * On Art and Artists –art, filmmaking, and acting * On Personal Liberation –conditioning, Zen Buddhism, meditation, and freedom * On the Process of Becoming –self-actualization, self-help, self-expression, and growth * On Ultimate (Final) Principles –Yin-yang, totality, Tao, and the truth This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also features: * Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon * Bruce Lee: The Tao of Gung Fu * Bruce Lee: Artist of Life * Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon * Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body * Bruce Lee: Jeet Kune Do

The official illustrated guide from the US Army on the best ways to fight and win when you are reduced to going toe to toe with an enemy: fundamentals, vulnerable points., holds, and escapes, and more. This manual was created to teach American solider hand-to-hand fighting techniques. It describes blows, holds, footwork, armwork, and other maneuvers that can be used to disable or kill an enemy. It explains how to us all available objects as weapons, and stresses aggressive tactics. You can subdue an opponent only through offensive measures. What will you do if you are attached by an enemy with a knife? What are your vulnerable points? How will you disarm him? United States soldiers have been involved in those kinds of fights for centuries. This is what they’ve learned. This is how to fight. This is how to win.