From Bruce Lee to James Bond, Jackie Chan to Jet Li, Enter the Dragon to Kung Fu Panda, kung fu films remain a thrilling part of movie-lovers' lives. Now the acknowledged pioneer in the genre presents his magnum opus on the subject, incorporating information and revelations never before seen in America. From the ancient Peking Opera origins to its superhero-powered future, Ric Meyers reveals the loony, the legendary, and everything in between. This vivid, action-packed book may delight, surprise, fascinate, and even enlighten you with a personal V.I.P. tour through the wondrous world of the most ridiculously exhilarating movies ever made.

Meyers offers an "up-to-date, authoritative kick-butt book" detailing the best movies and where to find them. Color photos.

As one of the biggest stars to burst into U.S. theaters, Jackie Chan has wowed audiences with death-defying stunts. But who really is this lightning-fast Charlie Chaplin of martial arts moviemaking? Now, in I Am Jackie Chan, he tells the fascinating, harrowing, ultimately triumphant story of his life: How the rebellious son of refugees in tumultuous 1950s Hong Kong became the disciplined disciple of a Chinese Opera Master. How the dying art of Chinese opera led Jackie to the movie business. And how he broke into Hollywood big time by breaking almost every bone in his body.

This is the first comprehensive, fully-researched account of the historical and contemporary development of the traditional martial arts genre in the Chinese cinema known as wuxia (literal translation: martial chivalry) - a genre which audiences around the world became familiar with through the phenomenal 'crossover' hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). The book unveils rich layers of the wuxia tradition as it developed in the early Shanghai cinema in the late 1920s, and from the 1950s onwards, in the Hong Kong and Taiwan film industries. Key attractions of the book are analyses of:*The history of the tradition as it began in the Shanghai cinema, its rise and popularity as a serialized form in the silent cinema of the late 1920s, and its eventual prohibition by the government in 1931.*The fantastic characteristics of the genre, their relationship with folklore, myth and religion, and their similarities and differences with the kung fu sub-genre of martial arts cinema.*The protagonists and heroes of the genre, in particular the figure of the female knight-errant.*The chief personalities and masterpieces of the genre - directors such as King Hu, Chu Yuan, Zhang Che, Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou, and films such as Come Drink With Me (1966), The One-Armed Swordsman (1967), A Touch of Zen (1970-71), Hero (2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004), and Curse of the Golden Flower (2006).

Modern Bartitsu is a a full training guide for Bartitsu covering boxing / pugilism, savate, Ju Jitsu, wrestling, stick and street weapons. All distilled for one of the world's first mixed martial arts designed for the mean streets of Victorian / Edwardian London. The book is designed to help showcase the core techniques of the art each section details signature moves alongside their application and training drills.This is a print on demand version. That does come with some global variances in quality. Please contact the author via Facebook for a higher spec iteration. I'm Tommy Moore, a lifelong martial artist and teacher of Bartitsu. I've been wanting to make a Bartitsu book for a very long time to help people get started. And lockdown has helped me do just that!The book is replete with full colour photography, professionally edited and photographed and designed by pro designer Andrew Porter.In short, it's the business. Photographs on pretty much every page. Detailed annotations. Top tips and practical executions. It's designed to be a "pick up and go" guide for Bartitsu, allowing beginners to experience how I teach the art and experienced martial artists set up or enhance what they do at their club. The book covers:PugilismSavateJu Jitsu Weapons (Cane, Street Weapons and Incidental)Integrated Bartitsu (bringing the above together) Get a flavour of what I do:https://www.facebook.com/TheBartitsuLabhttps://www.youtube.com/user/TommysdfBartitsu is the "Open Source" martial art, but right now, no useful modern guides exist. I want that to change! And this book is where I start!

Part of the Bruce Lee's Fighting Method series, this book teaches how to perform jeet kune do's devastating strikes and exploit an opponent's weaknesses with crafty counterattacks like finger jabs and spin kicks.

Filipino Combat Systems chronicles the creation, evolution and core concepts of one of the fastest growing martial arts in the world. It overcomes the shortcomings inherent in martial art instruction manuals by focusing not on technique, but on the strategy and philosophy of movement behind the technique. Written by a first generation student under the authority and supervision of the system’s Founder and Grand Master, this work is an excellent introduction to the system. FCS is one of the most practical combat oriented martial systems in existence, bridging the gap between the ancient fighting arts and the modern world.