This is the only book that describes how to use Zen and other East Asian practices in order to improve the physical techniques of golf. Japanese martial artists, such as the samurai, trained in Zen in order to control the movements of their bodies. Through such training, they eliminated excess movement, resulting in greater speed and efficiency. Eliminating excess movement also served to increase their consistency. These same practices can be used to play better golf. Applying the concepts of Zen and the martial arts to the game of golf will help players to eliminate extraneous movements, resulting in greater consistency, increased confidence, and overall proficiency. The techniques found in Zen and the Japanese martial arts can also have a profound influence on the mental aspects of golf. If the Samurai Played Golf... combines the philosophical and spiritual teachings of samurai warriors and Zen monks, and interprets them for use by golfers and other athletes. It is the only book that presents East Asian philosophy as a tool that can be used to train both the body and the mind in golf.
Eternal Remains: World Mummification and the Beliefs that make it Necessary provides an overview of mummification, but it concentrates on the reasons behind the act. It investigates the justification for preserving dead bodies, and in so doing, probes the true nature of both life and death. Many think of these as two distinct concepts, like day and night, but they are not distinct. Day fades into night, and night then returns to day. There are realms in which night and day merge, such as dusk and dawn. Perhaps the relationship between life and death is similar. After explaining the natural processes of decay and how they are halted, various mummies in different parts of the world are introduced. In the Americas, these include snow- and ice-preserved bodies in Montana and Alaska, and some controversial finds in other states. The Guanajuato mummies in Mexico and the strangely-preserved bodies in San Bernardo, Columbia are also introduced, alongside new translations of modern reactions to such bodies. The mummification techniques of cultures in Central and South America are also delineated, including Incan sacrificial ceremonies and the preservation of Incan kings. Unusual preservations in South America include the Chancay practice of turning the deceased into drums, which were played during special ceremonies, and the Jívaro method of shrinking heads. In addition, Eternal Remains introduces to the English-speaking world the recently discovered world's smallest mummy, Ichiknuna. Chapters about European mummies cover the so-called Frankenstein mummies of Cladh Hallan and fantastically preserved bog bodies, which provide evidence of ancient murders and superstitious customs. The mummies in Ferentillo, a small town north of Rome in the region of Umbria, were strangely preserved by the soil's chemical composition. Eternal Remains contains many pictures of these mummies, which have not been previously published. It also provides new information about what happened to King Tutankhamen's body after it had been embalmed and placed into a sarcophagus, and it explains the amazing discovery of cocaine, nicotine, and hashish in nine different 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummies. Since mainstream historical understanding holds that these substances only existed in the Americas at the time, the discovery is forcing some scholars to consider the possibility of cross-oceanic trade, which would force a historical rewrite. Other controversial finds are likewise presented in this text, including the discovery of advanced, ancient Caucasian bodies in China. This book is one of few in English to cover Buddhist mummification in Tibet and China, and the amazingly self-mummified monks in Japan. Newly translated information about some of these monks, never before published in English, is included in this book, alongside pictures of the monks who engaged in this suicidal practice. Eternal Remains also explains modern methods of conservation. The reasons behind the worldwide desire to mummify are similar, and by investigating the techniques and the underlying beliefs that necessitated the practice, one can more clearly see just what makes us human. This study forces readers to reflect upon the true nature of life and death, and connections are made between the spiritual portion of each individual and other natural phenomena. They are led to ponder the ultimate significance of it all. The final conclusions formed are sure to inspire all, providing a new way to consider death and its relationship to life. Eternal Remains combines a study of mummification with comparative religions, and an analysis of worldwide beliefs about the nature of death. It will open one's eyes to new possibilities concerning human advancement, anomalous archaeological discoveries, and the greatest mysteries of both life and death.
This sequel to "The Junkyard Dog" takes place five years later. Brad Logan is now a homicide captain and must stop a gang of terrorists who have killed several prominent citizens. When Brad's wife is kidnapped by the gang, the hunt becomes more personal. When he becomes reckless in his investigation, he is suspended and must continue on his own. When he finally locates the terrorists he is involved in a life or death struggle with the man who thinks of himself as a Samurai.
Aikido Ground Fighting presents effective ground techniques that remain true to aikido founder Morehei Ueshiba's teachings while addressing a potential weakness in the system: while aikido is renowned for its submission and compliance techniques as well as grappling from a standing position, it is not known for its effectiveness when it comes to ground fighting. Aikido Ground Fighting is a unique look at the roots of aikido techniques (in particular, the kneeling practices of suwari-waza) and how they might be applied to defense on the ground. Written by a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba in collaboration with other aikido teachers, this book remains steadfastly true to the founder's teachings while presenting innovative and effective techniques. Containing never-before-published pictures of Ueshiba as well as step-by-step photographs clearly demonstrating techniques, Aikido Ground Fighting is designed for aikido students looking to become more well-rounded martial artists as well as practitioners of all martial arts seeking effective self-defense techniques. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Traces the author's year-long attempt to earn a competitor's spot at the PGA Tour Qualifying School, an endeavor marked by such challenges as crash diets, sports psychiatrists, and obscure tournaments.
Amid the carnage of a brutal civil war in May of 1968, a Biafran Red Cross doctor and his pregnant Swiss wife are separated while attempting to board the last ship to leave Port Harcourt, Biafra, before Nigerian troops arrive. In Sendai, Japan, in March of 2011, a Japanese businessman is trapped in his earthquake damaged boardroom. As tsunami sirens blare, his final thoughts focus on his family and a hidden son living half a world away. These two incidents, so far removed from each other, are brought together when a digital camera of dubious provenance is bought in a Vancouver pawnshop by a mining executive. It is January of 2013 when Darren Westover, still devastated over his wife's sudden death four years earlier, unwittingly buys the stolen camera. He takes a few sample photos and then plugs the camera into his computer to view the pictures. Once he realizes there are images on the memory card that are not his own, Westover starts a search for the camera's rightful owner, unaware that he will soon find himself on a perilous, trans-Pacific journey that brings events from war-torn Biafra and tsunami-ravaged Japan to a climax on the dark, wet streets of Coal Harbour, Vancouver. The Samurai's Son is the intriguing tale of one man's quest for answers as he attempts to piece together a complex puzzle that leads him not only to the truth, but also to a new beginning.
Film scholars and enthusiasts will welcome this new edition of Donald Richie's incomparable study, last updated in 1984. The Method section, filmography, and bibliography contain new information, and Richie has added chapters on Ran, Dreams, Rhapsody in August, and Madadayo. Kurosawa's films display an extraordinary breadth and an astonishing strength, from the philosophic and sexual complexity of Rashomon to the moral dedication of Ikiru, from the naked violence of Seven Samurai to the savage comedy of Yojimbo, from the terror-filled feudalism of Throne of Blood to the piercing wit of Sanjuro. Running through all Kurosawa's work is a tough, humane, and profoundly ethical concern for the painful, beautiful, frequently ridiculous ambiguities of human life.
An extended reflection on the pleasures and wisdom of golf, "Golf Beats Us All" will satisfy the philosopher lurking in every avid golfer and make the golfer smarter and wiser about himself and his game. Author Joe Amato has long been fascinated by the myriad of pleasures offered by golf. And like any player, he remains intrigued by the fact that golfers find such pleasure in a game that causes so much pain, wastes so much time, and whose outcome is of utter insignificance. He offers an intelligent and searching conversation that invites readers to think about their relation to a game that makes them angels and fools.
A (Philadelphia Magazine) Top Doc’s case for moderation in running, cycling, skiing, and other things we do because we think our bodies are invincible. When was it decided that exercise could only be good for you? Leading neurosurgeon Dr. Steve Barrer argues—based on his extensive career treating exercise-related injuries, a cornucopia of his own personal injuries from exercise over the years, and ample scientific data—that we ought to change the way we think about exercise. Instead of succumbing to what Barrer calls “the cult of exercise” that follows the mantra “no pain, no gain,” how about some common sense? In a clear, friendly, and compelling voice, Barrer surveys exercise and sports that are commonly practiced—yoga, soccer, skiing, running—and informs the reader knowledgeably and conscientiously about the injuries that can result. We’ve come to believe that the body can handle the abuse that comes with these sports, but it can’t. Before we get carried away with the culture of excess that has been assigned to exercise, let’s remember that exercise is not always good for you, and make sure we don’t get the wrong idea from the model that’s been set.
