Good Martial Arts Books?
My students have been begging me for titles of good martial arts books to read and I am loving it! I love to see kids truly interested in reading so I thought I would create a book club like 1 day after class a month I would bring in dounuts and the instructors and I would discuss the books that we read. I was thinking each instructor would take a book and then the kids could sign up for any book at their age/reading level or above it (asked parents on aproximate reading levels). That way could have some fun and keep everyone challenged.(I will also help people find the right book) All the books I have either read or have been recomended please share any books that you know to be good!
7-9
Everyday Warriors-Ruth Hunter
Black Belt- Matt Faulkner
Facing The Double-Edged Sword : Art Of Karate For Young People- Terrence Webster-Doyle
Fight for Honor (Karate Club, No 1)- Carin Greenberg Baker
Julie the Karate Kid -Molly Mia Stewart, Francine Pascal
Respect: The Martial Arts Code Of Conduct- Dr. Terence Webster-Doyle
10-11
Angels Don’t Know Karate?- Debbie Dadey, Marcia Thornton Jones, Marcia Thornton Jones, Steven Gurney (not sure but sound fun)
Legends of the Martial Arts Masters- Susan Lynn Peterson
The Next Karate Kid-B. B. Hiller
(NEED MORE)
12+
Dojo Wisdom- Jenifer Lawler
Time Line of Karate History- Hokama Tetsuhiro
Karate Chronicles- The History of Okinawan and Japanese Karate- Harry Cook
A Girl’s Guide to Martial Arts- A. Jablonsky
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text- Gichin Funakoshi, Tsutomu Ohshima
Black Belt Karate- Chris Thompson
Please I want even more books for the people to choose from- any sugestions would be wonderful!
I teach karate but I would be open to any books about other styles as well!
and of course the book club would be optional!
For the 12+ group I recommend Karate-do: My Way of Life and the 20 Guiding Principles of Karate by Gichin Funakoshi
the book of 5 ring, by mushashi
the weaponless warrior, richard kim
classical man, by richard kim
karate do nyuhon,
bubishi
Shotokan’s Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate’s Fighting Origins by Bruce D. Clayton
I looks like you have a great spead already, just 1 to add:
The Art of War. Sun-tzu
but make sure it has good commentary
99% of the martial arts books I’ve seen are not really good books. Like the internet anyone can write a book. that does not make it a good one or the material presented in it correct. There is one book that comes to mind that is a good book on the origins and lineage of karate. It is Okinawan Karate by Mark Bishop. The books list a number of styles of Okinawan karate. It details the history, techniques and important people as well as the kata used in the style. nice lineage charts of the past masters and who they taught. Very well written by someone that has done in depth research rather than to write what he thinks.
you’ve gotten a lot of great suggestions but I would add the following:
1. Essential Okinawan Karate-do, by shoshin Nagamine
2. tales of great Okinawan Masters, Shosin Nagamine
3. “in the Dojo” by Lowry
4. Anything by Patrick Macarthy
5. anything by Harry Cook
6. magazine: Classical fighing arts
7. Look at books translated William Scott Wilson such as the demons sermon on Martial arts, book of 5 rings (many translations his is the best avoid the author who’s last name starts with a K it is worthless)