Publication Date:September 29, 2008 Shipping:Eligible for Super Saver Shipping Promotion:Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout.Terms and Conditions Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description Drawing on the vast body of styles practiced around the world, including ancient and obscure styles from every continent on the planet, The Way of the Warrior is an indispensable, one-stop reference work for anyone interested in the martial-arts canon. The Way of the Warrior is divided into seven sections, with each section focusing on the indigenous and imported styles synonymous with a particular geographical region. Styles are listed chronologically by the date of their founding or first documented evidence, and feature signature moves, biographies of founders and famous exponents, guiding principles, and spiritual influences.
Customer Reviews:
Visual Smorgasbord of Martial Arts from Around the WorldOctober 23, 2008 The first thing that stands out with Chris Crudelli's new book "The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles From Around the World" is the stunning photographs throughout the entire volume of this coffee table sized visual smorgasbord of martial arts from around the world. It is fascinating to browse and marvel at the wonderful pictures that fill almost every page of this oversized 360 page tomb of martial art information and splendor.
This magnificent visual guide to the martial arts is divided into seven sections, with each section focusing on the indigenous and imported styles synonymous with a particular geographical region. These sections include: India and South Asia; China and East Asia; Southeast Asia and Oceania; Japan and Okinawa; Europe; Africa, Middle East and Central Asia; and finally The Americas. In these seven sections there are descriptions of more than 300 fighting styles. Included are the obvious well known martial arts such as Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and Aikido. But also included are little know obscure arts like Aki Kiti, Ba Ji Quan, Mizongyi, Taekyon, Banshay, and many others. The book is truly a fascinating look at more martial art styles than most people ever realized existed. Pictures range from ancient drawings, old photographs, and modern photos of stunning displays of martial prowess with fascinating backdrops. There are action shots from competitions and martial art demonstrations as well as those from training sessions and ancient training halls and temples. I can't stress enough what a visual feast this book is for the martial art enthusiast.
The text includes descriptions of the various fighting styles as well as notes on key players in the arts history as well as modern masters. The book illustrates key weapons the various styles are known for and describes the main principles and theories behind the styles. Obviously, due to how the book is organized, the country and culture of each style is also provided. These descriptions are brief, but make for a very interesting overview of the arts to accompany the great photographs.
Scattered among the descriptions and colorful pictures are quotes that capture the spirit of the various arts and warriors who devised them and helped shape the styles into not only methods of fighting but for many a way of life. I was glad to see one of my favorite quotes from Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi, "The ultimate goal of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants."
This book is truly a work of art and a wealth of information. It could easily take a place on the coffee table of any martial artist, or a professional lobby or school front for anyone who practices the arts. And it is definitely a marvelous addition to any martial art library. I sincerely thank Chris Crudelli for putting such a book together. I highly recommend this for all martial artists and those who follow the warrior's path.
Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.
Very Good Reference Book On Martial Arts Around The WorldOctober 20, 2008 Although the information provided in this book is very brief, it does do a terrific job on giving you a really good yet basic overview on pretty much every martial art known to man throughout the world. Now I am quite sure that not every martial art was included in this book, I would be hard pressed not to agree with the statement that at least 90+% of them were included in this book.
The author provides you with some pretty amazing color and black and white photographs on glossy paper to really enhance their effect. Although this may not be a book that you can learn a particular technique from, it is definitely a book that you can learn something from.
Shawn Kovacich Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Good but not so very good, not my dream book!!October 19, 2008 This is a good book even when all the information there is found in Homepages like [...] I wish someday i can read a book about the roots, old styles of Martial Arts and how they was found and the culture, history, philosophy, culture and legends of the art or the Masters of these very old arts! Many of these old arts are not mentioned in this book! So still i had not a favorite book in English because still not one had done my wish yet! I recommend this book to libraries but for reading home, i rather recommend that you read all that information found in this book and even more in homepages like the one i said before or wikipedia etc! Lets just hope this book and books like this start to make people interesting in writing more about the old styles of martial arts yes the roots, of many of the modern Martial Arts today! So many modern Martial arts today are almost not different at all of the Martial Art that it came from and that Martial Art it came from a root, Chinese or Japanese or other country so please lets not waste time reading all that hundreds or maybe even thousands martial arts styles pout there, lets just look at the old roots that is a better idea i belive!!!!
An Excellent View of Martial Arts Around the worldOctober 4, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great book about other martial arts around the world the author does an excellent job displaying almost every fighting style known to man a must for any serious martal artist
