This book is an excellent student guide if you are just starting to learn Ryuhoryu, or if you are an experienced martial artist and are interested in expanding your horizons to incorporate a more traditional Okinawan system with heavy Chinese influence into your training. This book covers the bulk of the material that is required through the Black Belt level, as well as providing valuable insight into the lore of the system, history, key individuals in the lineage, and heritage which make Ryuhoryu a truly unique art.

A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism offers a comprehensive, nuanced, and chronological account of the evolution of Buddhist religion in Japan from the sixth century to the present day. Traces each period of Japanese history to reveal the complex and often controversial histories of Japanese Buddhists and their unfolding narratives Examines relevant social, political, and transcultural contexts, and places an emphasis on Japanese Buddhist discourses and material culture Addresses the increasing competition between Buddhist, Shinto, and Neo-Confucian world-views through to the mid-nineteenth century Informed by the most recent research, including the latest Japanese and Western scholarship Illustrates the richness and complexity of Japanese Buddhism as a lived religion, offering readers a glimpse into the development of this complex and often misunderstood tradition

Challenging timeworn conventions of karate training and revealing the original intent of classical kata—or forms—through detailed descriptions of self-defense applications known as bunkai, this is a crucial addition to any martial-arts library. Containing more than 265 photos, the book is divided into chapters that illuminate each of the ten classical kata of Goju-ryu. Drawing on more than forty years of experience in the martial arts, Giles Hopkins Sensei takes us on a journey into the Goju-ryu karate system, providing a principles-based method for analysis of kata practice. Arguing against the commonly held notion that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, he insists that a kata cannot simply mean what the user wants it to mean, but contains specific martial principles that must be followed for it to work effectively. The step-by-step descriptions of the receiving, controlling or bridging, and finishing techniques contain in-depth analysis of commonly misunderstood aspects of kata. Each chapter concludes with an engaging anecdote from the author’s time in Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju-ryu, connecting it with the kata under discussion. Equally useful for the novice and for more advanced karate practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of kata and bunkai.

From the author of "Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body" comes a book that introduces martial arts practitioners to three "internal" arts and their subtle powers. Inner martial arts rely on internal energy for power rather than on muscles or tension. 15 photos.

A translation of an early book on Okinawan Karate. Reprints the Japanese book with an English translation and notes on the opposite page. Also includes a translation of The Ten Articles of Karate by Anko Itosu as well as a poem on Karate by Funakoshi Gichin.

This is the first kungfu book by a Shaolin Grandmaster, Sifu Wong Kiew Kit, who has become a legend. It gives a comprehensive introduction to Shaolin Kungfu, including: - The philosophy and history of Shaolin Kungfu. - A basic Shaolin Kungfu set with many secrets revealed. - Combat application. - Internal force training. - Kungfu weapons. - General principles of kungfu. It is a book that any Shaolin Kungfu practitioner should have.