Suggested Reading And Reference

Best Karate

by Masatoshi Nakayama

The Best Karate Series is the main reference book for executing correct Kata techniques. The Series includes 11 books. The fifth volume in the series covers all of the Heian and Tekki kata that a karateka will learn in the first few kyu ranks.

Vol. 1: Comprehensive

Vol.2: Fundamentals

Vol. 3: Kumite 1

Vol. 4: Kumite 2

Vol. 5: Heian, Tekki

Vol. 6: Bassai, Kanku

Vol. 7: Jitte, Hangetsu, Empi

Vol. 8: Gankaku, Jion

Vol. 9: Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Chinte

Vol. 10: Unsu, Sochin, Nijushiho

Vol. 11: Gojushiho Dai, Gojushiho Sho, Meikyo

Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

by Miyamoto Musashi, Victor Harris (Translator)

"Translated by V. Harris. Japan's answer to the Harvard MBA...Written over three centuries ago by a Samurai warrior, the book has been hailed as a limitless source of psychological insight for businessmen-or anyone who relies on strategy and tactics for outwitting the competition."

Essential Anatomy: For Healing and Martial Arts

by Marc Tedeschi

"The essential text on the human body, as defined by Eastern and Western medicine. Comprehensive, easy to understand, and lavishly illustrated in full color. Specially designed for students, healing professionals, and martial artists."

Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text

by Gichin Funakoshi, Tsutomu Ohshima (Translator)

"Nineteen kata ("forms") of karate-the art of self-defense without weapons-are presented here in complete detail. They are the ones selected by the great master and teacher, Gichin Funakoshi, to give comprehensive training in Karate-do, the way of karate."

Karate-Do: My Way of Life

by Gichin Funakoshi

"Linking the time when karate was a strictly Okinawan art of self-defense shrouded in the deepest secrecy and the present day, when it has become a martial art practiced throughout the world, is Gichin Funakoshi, the "Father of Karate-do.""

Karate Jutsu : The Original Teachings of Gichin Funakoshi

by Gichin Funakoshi, Tsutomu Ohshima, John Teramoto (Translator), Tsutomu Oshimal

"Gichin Funakoshi is considered the father of modern karate. In the 1920s, he wrote the first of several classic karate texts, culminating his career with the publication of Karate-do Kyohan, which remains among the most important and influential works on karate today."

Karate : The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting

by Hidetaka Nishiyama, Richard C. Brown (Contributor)

"Karate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting has inspired hundreds of thousands of karateka, and it remains one of the finest texts available on the technique, art, and spirit of karatedo."

Living the Martial Way: A Manual for the Way a Modern Warrior Should Think

by Forrest E. Morgan

"A step-by-step approach to applying the Japanese warrior's mind set to martial training and daily life."

Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training and Real World Violence

by Rory Miller

"Experienced martial artist and veteran correction officer Sgt. Rory Miller distills what he has learned from jailhouse brawls, tactical operations and ambushes to explore the differences between martial arts and the subject martial arts were designed to deal with: Violence."

Shotokan's Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins

by Bruce D. Clayton

"Beginning with a thorough historical analysis of its 19th-century origins, the lore behind the art of Shotokan karate is dissected in this revised handbook. Describing how this style was invented by the world’s only unarmed bodyguards in Okinawa, this account depicts the impossible odds these men endured in order to protect their king and avoid a costly bloodbath. Featuring five chapters of new material and a striking array of illustrations depicting the Heian katas, this overview demonstrates how each kata contains a precise lesson outlining the necessary skills to meet a specific threat."

The Anatomy of Martial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to the Muscles Used for Each Strike, Kick, and Throw

by Norman Link & Lily Chou

"With detailed anatomical drawings, this book precisely illustrates the inner workings of your body during key martial arts moves. Its color drawings, helpful photos and clear text make it easy to identify the specific muscles you need to train for maximum speed, power and accuracy. More than just an anatomy book, each section is accompanied by exercises and stretches to strengthen muscles, prevent injury and improve form."

The Art of War

by Sun Tzu, Samuel B. Griffith (Introduction)

"Like Machiavelli's The Prince and the Japanese Book of Five Rings, Sun Tzu's The Art of War is as timely for business people today as it was for military strategists in ancient China. Written in China more than 2,000 years ago, Sun Tzu's classic The Art of War is the first known study of the planning and conduct of military operations. These terse, aphoristic essays are unsurpassed in comprehensiveness and depth of understanding, examining not only battlefield maneuvers, but also relevant economic, political, and psychological factors. Indeed, the precepts outlined by Sun Tzu regularly applied outside the realm of military theory."

The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence

by Gavin de Becker

"Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers specific ways to protect yourself and those you love, including...how to act when approached by a stranger...when you should fear someone close to you...what to do if you are being stalked...how to uncover the source of anonymous threats or phone calls...the biggest mistake you can make with a threatening person...and more. Learn to spot the danger signals others miss. It might just save your life."