Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts

Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts

Author: Donn F. Draeger

Publisher: Kodansha International

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 9780870114366

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This guide to all of the main fighting arts of Asia introduces and comparesighting methods and techniques, ranging from the artful Chinese "t'ai chi"nd Japanese "jujutsu", to the lethal "pentjak-silat" of Indonesia.


Asian Fighting Arts

Asian Fighting Arts

Author: Donn F. Draeger

Publisher: Kodansha

Published: 1969

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13:

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Fighting arts are as old as man himself and as varied as his languages. In Asia they developed to a degree of effectiveness probably unsurpassed elsewhere in the world. This book explains the relationships between fighting arts, assesses their strengths and weaknesses, and presents new material about hitherto unknown fighting methods. Written by two of the best-known and most widely published authorities in the field, it covers fighting methods and techniques found in eleven Asian countries-fighting techniques that range from the artful Chinese tai-chi and Burmese bando to Japanese jujutsu and the lethal pentjak-silat of Indonesia. Documentation of these has been supplemented with a wealth of fascinating anecdotes. The reader learns of the daring exploits of the Japanese ninja, of Gama, perhaps the greatest of the great Indian wrestlers, of the Indonesian "trance" fighters-and hundreds of other tales that serve to illustrate some of the most deadly fighting systems that the world has known. The volume is illustrated with over two hundred photographs and drawings, many of them depicting combat styles and techniques that have never been seen in the West.


Samurai Fighting Arts

Samurai Fighting Arts

Author: Fumon Tanaka

Publisher: Kodansha International

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 9784770028983

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Introduces the 18 traditional Japanese martial arts and provides readers with a deeper understanding of the styles formulated in the samurai era - both those that are little known and those still being taught today.


Pa-kua

Pa-kua

Author: Robert W. Smith

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Published: 1990-07-15

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13: 1462906222

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This book outlines the history and techniques of Pa-kua—a style of boxing based on the eight (pa) trigrams (kua) of the I Ching. This martial arts guide gives a thorough account of the philosophy behind the art. It also presents to the West for the first the orthodox style of the last Chinese Pa-kua master Wang Shu-chin. Described in great detail and fully illustrated are the basic techniques, the eight palm shapes, and the eight traditional methods of "walking the circle." Guided by this easy-to-follow text, the student of Pa-kua can probe deeply into the hitherto hidden secrets of one of the most complete systems of self defense ever developed.


Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese Martial Arts

Author: Peter A. Lorge

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 0521878810

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In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practised for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they were a central feature of military practice in China and essential for the smooth functioning of society. This book, which opens with an intriguing account of the very first female martial artist, charts the history of combat and fighting techniques in China from the Bronze Age to the present. This broad panorama affords fascinating glimpses into the transformation of martial skills, techniques and weaponry against the background of Chinese history, the rise and fall of empires, their governments and their armies. Quotations from literature and poetry, and the stories of individual warriors, infuse the narrative, offering personal reflections on prowess in the battlefield and techniques of engagement. This is an engaging and readable introduction to the authentic history of Chinese martial arts.


Pa Kua

Pa Kua

Author: Robert W. Smith

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Published: 2002-12

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 9781556434396

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Pa Kua is a vigorous martial arts discipline that hones reflexes and cultivates the understanding of one’s body. One of the three orthodox “internal” styles of Chinese martial arts, Pa Kua makes use of the eight trigrams found in the I Ching. This text offers a history of Pa Kua, profiles of its great practitioners, and exercises that illustrate the practice. 50 black-and-white photos are included.


The Martial Arts of Indonesia

The Martial Arts of Indonesia

Author: Donn F. Draeger

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Published: 2021-04-06

Total Pages: 393

ISBN-13: 1462922023

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Preserved in music, dance, and art--as well as in ritual, tribal law, and mythology--the fighting arts of the Indonesian archipelago play a central role in Indonesian culture. The Martial Arts of Indonesia is a heavily illustrated and well-researched work from revered martial arts scholar and teacher Donn F. Draeger. Draeger offers an expert's perspective on the story of Indonesia's martial culture, providing a comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated forms of empty-hand combat. These acrobatic fighting styles like Pencak Silat--which was granted World Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO in 2019--and Kuntao are growing in popularity around the world. This book also has extensive information on traditional Indonesian weapons including: Keris: A dagger with a waved blade and pistol-grip handle Kujang: A sickle-shaped dagger with a distinctive curve Rencong: An L-shaped knife with a slightly curved blade Draeger shows how these unique Indonesian forms are related to their mainland cousins, provides a historical context for their development, and describes the various combat methods employed throughout Indonesia. This edition includes a new foreword by Gary Nathan Gartenberg, the world's leading expert on Indonesian martial arts, which explains the lasting importance of this classic study of an ancient martial tradition. With over 400 photos and illustrations of moves and weapons that showcase the intricacies of the Indonesian fighting forms, The Martial Arts of Indonesia is an indispensable addition to any martial artist's library.


Southeast Asian Martial Arts: Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam

Southeast Asian Martial Arts: Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam

Author: Michael DeMarco

Publisher: Via Media Publishing

Published: 2017-02-24

Total Pages: 145

ISBN-13: 1893765458

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What martial arts are associated with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar (Burma)? What makes them unique when compared with other Asian martial systems? This anthology is a convienent collection that focuses on the martial arts of these areas, such as the familiar art of Muay Thai, and lesser-known arts of Than Quyen of Vietnam, Burmese bando, and Cambodian leth wei. In chapter one, the David Allan brings readers inside the Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok to witness the fighters’ kickboxing skills and etiquette through text and photographs. He also records how musicians play and the locals participate in each event, with emotional exuberance of cheering, and betting. Jeremy Skaggs wanted to go to Thailand to train with some of the top Muay Thai fighters. His chapter allows readers to relive his experience through text and superb photography. He reports on his travel to Thailand, daily training routines, daily life there, and a night at the Lumphini Stadium. Chapter three by Jason Tran presents the origin and functions of That Son Than Quyen’s “spirit forms” as inspired by real and mythic animals. This is accomplished by contrasting Than Quyen with Chinese imitation styles, tracing the development of Vietnam religion and superstitions, and exploring the impact of geographic and cultural elements. In the next chapter Scott Mallon recounts excursions he made into Myanmar and Cambodia to learn about their indigenous martial arts firsthand. He reports on the Muay Thai-like systems and their similarities and difference, along with the special cultural atmospheres where these arts are found. Excellent photo coverage highlight the martial artists. Loh Han Loong’s chapter goes beyond the common views of Thai boxing by critically examining the way Muay Thai is portrayed in nonacademic sources, such as articles and websites. The manner in which Muay Thai is framed in popular culture is not simply the result of historical facts, but is a way of creating the Thai nation myth and the uniqueness of Thai culture. The lengthy final chapter by Dr. Winborne focuses on the bando system. His chapter explores ancient Burmese fighting traditions and their evolution to modern-day martial arts practices. Bando is a seamless amalgam of striking methods, grappling techniques, weapons approaches, and healing strategies from the Southeast Asian country currently known as Myanmar. This comprehensive self-defense system is reviewed and analyzed based on documented viewpoints of prominent masters and practitioners. The philosophy and principles that undergird the bando system are discussed as well. This anthology offers a concise overview of the history, cultures, and combative systems associated with the geographic areas of Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietman, and Thailand. Familiar or not with these martial traditions, readers will be find the chapters informative and photography delightful.


Weapons & Fighting Arts of Indonesia

Weapons & Fighting Arts of Indonesia

Author: Donn F. Draeger

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Published: 2012-03-06

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 1462905099

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The Indonesian talent for harmoniously blending indigenous styles with the arts of the Asian mainland has given rise to fighting arts that are among the most fascinating in the world. Preserved in music, dance, and art as—well as in ritual, tribal law, and mythology—the fighting arts of Indonesian archipelago play a central role in Indonesian culture. Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia — a profusely illustrated and well researched work from renowned scholar and martial arts teacher Donn F. Draeger — provides a comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated forms of empty-hand combat and myriad unique weapons that characterize Indonesian fighting styles like Pentjak-silat and Kuntao. Draeger shows how the forms are related to their mainland cousins, provides a historical context for their development, and describes the combat methods of Menangkabau warriors, Alefuru headhunters and the Celates pirates. With over 400 illustrations, Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia is an indispensable addition to any martial artist's library.


Armed Martial Arts of Japan

Armed Martial Arts of Japan

Author: G Hurst I

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 1998-07-11

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 9780300116748

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This unique history of Japanese armed martial arts--the only comprehensive treatment of the subject in English--focuses on traditions of swordsmanship and archery from ancient times to the present. G. Cameron Hurst III provides an overview of martial arts in Japanese history and culture, then closely examines the transformation of these fighting skills into sports. He discusses the influence of the Western athletic tradition on the armed martial arts as well as the ways the martial arts have remained distinctly Japanese. During the Tokugawa era (1600-1867), swordsmanship and archery developed from fighting systems into martial arts, transformed by the powerful social forces of peace, urbanization, literacy, and professionalized instruction in art forms. Hurst investigates the changes that occurred as military skills that were no longer necessary took on new purposes: physical fitness, spiritual composure, character development, and sport. He also considers Western misperceptions of Japanese traditional martial arts and argues that, contrary to common views in the West, Zen Buddhism is associated with the martial arts in only a limited way. The author concludes by exploring the modern organization, teaching, ritual, and philosophy of archery and swordsmanship; relating these martial arts to other art forms and placing them in the broader context of Japanese culture.