“Pioneer” — as a noun is defined as “a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.” As a verb, it means “develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of knowledge, or activity).” This anthology gives the reader the experience of the explorers who went to foreign lands to discover and learn about a specific field of knowledge and skills:the Asian martial arts.The eight chapters included here share a common root in the pioneers' desire to travel far and wide in search for practical martial arts useful in the street as well as for commando units. The pioneers discussed in this anthology experienced lives submerged in foreign cultures, lives compounded by the difficulties of communicating in foreign languages, changing diets, and often being in hostile living conditions. Their lives are far from the associations we usually associate with martial arts now steeped in pure exercise for health, or tournament competitions. Becoming familiar with of some of the Western pioneers of Asian martial arts bring us back to understand many of the original reasons for learning these combatives. Their lives and experience show us how and why the more serious side of Asian fighting arts remain illusive for most who, in practice, need not confront the lethal aspects of these traditions.

A needle may draw a thread through printed pages to bind a book. In this little memoir, I feel like a needle that drew a common thread though a segment of martial art history. This book details three interrelated activities: (1) martial art studies, (2) involvement as founder of Via Media Publishing, producing a quarterly journal and books, and (3) teaching martial arts. Publishers, writers, researchers and serious martial art practitioners will benefit with the detailed overview of Via Media and its publications. Via Media produced the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, known for its high academic and aesthetic standards. Its contents reflect the history of two decades and provides rich information for practitioners and scholars, making The Best Fighta valuable reference work. In addition to reading, the primary way to learn a martial art is through instruction. In reading about my studies and teaching experience, readers can relate to their own involvement in martial arts. What is important here is the portrayal of my instructors, their teaching methods, and reasons for being involved in martial arts. Their accounts should offer insights and inspiration for others who study and practice any martial art.

China can easily boast of its great martial traditions, which many would say is the richest in the world. There are a variety of styles from the north to the south that encompass an extensive repertoire of open-hand and weapon techniques. The ten chapters in this anthology illustrated this wide spectrum. Mark Wiley’s interview with Hou Faxiang presents a fundamental healing modality famous in China — qigong, the nourishing and practical use of internal energy. Its theory and practice is entwined in many martial art styles.In chapters two and three, Robert W. Smith, introduces us to two Shaolin style masters whom he met during his stay in Taiwan. Since Han Qingtang was the top notch expert in joint-locking techniques, Smith managed to photograph seven of Han’s fundamental techniques. General Gao Fangxian was likewise a practical martial artist with an overwhelming presence, even when smiling. In a technical section he shows the might of Northern Shaolin.Southern Hung Gar is the topic for the next two chapters. Allan Ondash focuses on special kicking methods usually done simultaneously with hand usage, making the kicks difficult for a defender to notice being executed. His chapter is followed by Mark Jensen’s interview with Kwok Wing Lam detailing Iron Palm history and training. Yang Jwingming is known worldwide for his knowledge and personal skills in Chinese martial arts, primarily Long Fist and taijiquan. I conducted a lengthly two-part interview that provides information about Master Yang’s early years in Taiwan through his martial arts career in the United States. Stephen Berwick is well-known as one of the first Americans to become a highly respected practitioner and scholar of Chen Style Taijiquan. The interview conducted by Richard Florence shows the roadwork Berwick took to make his dreams come true—to be part of the longstanding Chen Family art. The ninth chapter by Dr. Donald Cheung presents the unique “cow herding stick” as taught by Xiao Mingkui, a Praying Mantis and Chen Taiji practitioner. The final chapter by Jake Burroughs looks at how the head is used in various striking techniques as found in many styles. We hope you will enjoy the material in this anthology, the personal stories of dedicated masters, and the rare photographs of their history and techniques.

Donn Draeger was the most influential martial artist/scholar of the 20th century. His more than twenty books and long list of accomplishments support this argument. For this reason, we are publishing this anthology of articles that focus on this outstanding person. Although short in length, this book is rich in content covering the inspiring life and contributions of a leading pioneer in the Asian martial traditions. The author of the first chapter, Robert W. Smith, was a close confidant of Draeger during his career. With Draeger, Smith co-authored the classic Asian Fighting Arts (later renamed as Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts). Smith was in a unique position to provide details about Draeger’s character, academic and martial skills. Donn Draeger wrote two letters to Smith (dated September 2, 1969 and June 29, 1981) that gave insight into Miyamoto Musashi. Smith was writing a book review and asked Draeger for his opinion on the historical swordsman. With the help of Joseph Svinth, Smith merged and edited these letters. This contains Draeger’s response in his typically ebullient tone of correspondence with Smith. Donn Draeger can easily be considered as the “father of Asian martial arts research” in the West since he conducted pioneering research in the field and was one of the highest ranking black belts in a number of Japanese combative arts. As a scholar, he became involved in a Japanese research society for martial arts, and built upon it. Author Hugh Davey writes on the founding and influence of the International Hoplology Society Draeger founded. Draeger shaped the lives of several generations of martial artists. It was unknown to most that he had died in a Wisconsin hospital following medical treatments for natural sicknesses and perhaps for poisoning. In the last chapter, Dr. Friman tells of his discovery of Donn Draeger’s gravesite. Finding his grave in 1998 brought proper respects from friends, including Kaminoda Tsunemori, master of jo and sword. Scholars of combative traditions and martial arts practioners—especially those participating in the Japanese arts—will benefit greatly by reading this short anthology. Draeger’s life is inspiring to both the scholar and practitioner.

This book, based on extensive original research, examines the practice by women in a university sport setting of kendo, the Japanese martial art which, using bamboo swords as well as protective armour, and descended from traditional swordsmanship, instils in its practitioners, besides physical skills, societal values of etiquette and resilience as well connecting them to a “traditional” outlook, which includes a gendered cultural identity. The book therefore illustrates an unexplored example of identity construction in Japan, one which legitimises women’s sport experiences within a male-centric physical culture, unpacks the notion of “tradition” in kendo and unravels its stultifying control over women’s kendo participation, and discusses the androgenicity of women’s participation to highlight its subversive potential to develop women as leaders in sport, politics, and other fields which continue to be very male dominated in Japan.

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