LEAD BY EXAMPLE - LIVE THE EXAMPLE 

  RECOMMENDED READING

"You are the same today that you are going to be five years from now except for two things: the people with which you associate and the books you read." by: Charles Jones

In this page I have listed some of the books that I highly recommend. Although there are a great deal of excellent martial arts books on the market today, there is also an even greater amount of junk out there that I would not recommend to "anyone" who is "seriously" studying the martial arts. A list such as the one below became necessary when I encouraged my students to read information on the martial arts and several of them came to me with books that, to put it bluntly, turned out to be a huge waste of their money. I could not stand by and allow my students to spend their hard earned money and then waste their precious time reading something that in my opinion was junk. I have given this list to many students and instructors over the years. Since I have personally read all of the books listed here, I can highly recommend them. Please understand that this list is only a partial list at best and the fact that a particular book is not listed here does not mean that I would not recommend the book. It is impossible to list all of the "good" martial arts books.

Reading good books implants good ideas in the mind, develops good aspirations, and leads to the cultivation of good friends. -Mas Oyama-

       To make it easier and more convenient for those interested, I have listed the books under three separate category. These three category are: Technical Information, History, Philosophy. Keep in mind that in most cases technical books may also include historical and philosophical information and visa-versa therefore, I have attempted to list the book in the category that I feel best describes the majority of it's contents. I have also listed the "approximate" cost of each book which will allow those interested to pick a good book within a particular price range. The prices are subject to change at anytime and although most books will increase in cost, some may actually decrease especially when a hardback book is reprinted in paperback form. I have also listed the author as well as a small bit of information about most book. This information will include whether the book is hard or soft bound as well as general description of the books contents. S.B. will be used to denote Soft Bound and H.B. will be used to denote Hard Bound.

Note: As you will find some of the books that I have listed will be out of print. I have listed these books for the simple fact that in many cases these "out of print books" will eventually be reprinted. Even in the cases when the books are not reprinted, with a little research many times it is possible to find out of print books still available for sale.

Updates: I will be updating this page from time to time with additional books that I highly recommend. I hope you enjoy.

Today a reader---tomorrow a leader.  - W. Fusselman

        Historical Information

1.    Kempo Karate. Author: Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose 10th Dan, Hanshi. Founder Chito-ryu Karate. This book is most likely the first book published on Chito-ryu karate. It is an example of old style karate and anyone interested in Chito-ryu or the old methods will find this book extremely informative.        Cost: $30.00 H.B.

2.    The Endless Quest.  Author: William Dometrich, 8th Dan, Hanshi. The book is approximately 2 inches thick and includes the account of Dometrich's initial training adventures in Japan while he served in the US Army. The book included many old photos and will take one back to the era before karate became popular world wide.  Informative Reading-Cost: $40.00 H.B.

3.    Aikido Shugyo. Author: Gozo Shioda, 10th Dan, Hanshi. Founder Yoshinkan Aikido          Cost: $30.00.

4.    Bubishi. Author: Unknown. Translated: Patrick McCarthy. Cost: $20.00

5.    Unante. Author: John Sells 8th Dan, Hanshi Shito-ryu karate. This book has many pages with many, many old photo. Many instructors considered this text to be the best book ever written on the history of karate. It is great for research and should be in the library of every serious karate student.  Cost: $40.00 S.B.

6.    Secrets of the Samurai (The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan).  Authors: Oscar Ratti & Adele Westbrook. This is an excellent book and a classic account of the many martial arts of Japan. It included detailed history as well as hard to find information on many martial arts subsystems such as Kiai-jutsu. These subsystems were required learning of all samurai.  Cost: $15.00 H.B.

7.    Okinawan Karate (Teachers, styles and secret techniques). Author: Mark Bishop. This is an excellent book and covers most of the Okinawan styles practiced today in Okinawa as well as some styles which are no longer in existance {That we know of}. This book covers historical and technical information as well as pictures of many of the old masters and their dojo.   Cost: $20.00 S.B.

        Technical Information

1.    Dynamic Karate. Author: Masatoshi Nakayama 9th Dan, ( The late Chief Instructor JKA-Shoto-kan.) This books is considered by many to be the best book ever published on the technical aspects of karate. This book also contains many pictures of young Shoto-kan instructors who are considered to be legends in the karate world today. This book should be present in the library of every serious karate student.  Cost: $30.00 S.B.

2.    Karate-Do Kyohan. (The Master Text) Author: Gichin Funakoshi (Father of Modern Day Karate) Translated by: Tsutomu Ohshima (The first man to bring Shoto-kan karate to the US) This book is a piece of history connecting the Shoto-kai with the Shoto-kan.)  Cost: $40.00 H.B.

3.    Textbook of Modern Karate. Authors: Teruyuki Okazaki & Milorad Stricevi, M.D.   This book is an excellent companion book to Dynamic Karate and  is a modern documentation of medical and clinical information in relation to the art of karate as it related to bio-mechanics. Okazaki and Stricevi have performed a great deal of research on use of muscle groups and other philosophical areas of study in relation to the delivery system of karate. Cost: $30.00 S.B.

4.     Karate the art of the "Empty Hand" Fighting.  Author: Hidetaka Nishiyama & Richard Brown. This is an excellent book on the basics of karate. The book also contains information such as how to train on the makiwara as well as how to construct a makiwara. This book also contains many pictures of young Shoto-kan instructors who are considered to be legends in the karate world today. Cost: $28.00 S.B.

5.    The Heart of Karate-Do. Author: Shigeru Egami (The late Chief Instructor of the Shoto-kai). This book (some will say) demonstrates what Gichin Funakoshi's karate looked like prior to the split between key members of Master Funakoshi's organization after his death in 1957. Cost: $30.00 S.B.

6.    Uechi-Ryu Karate Do. Author: George E. Mattson (Father of American Uechi-ryu Karate) This book is considered to be a classic amount karate books and demonstrates a style which many historians say represents what most karate or (Gung-Fu) may have looked like prior to it's arrival on Okinawa. This book was out of print for many years, but has just recently been reprinted.           Cost: $25.00 S.B.

7.    Best Karate Series. Author: M. Nakayama. (Late Chief Instructor of JKA) This series of books is an excellent representation of the Shoto-kan style and Japanese karate in general. Although all volumes are excellent, the following volumes are highly recommended. Vol. 1 Comprehensive.  Vol. 2 Fundamentals.  Vol. 3 Kumite-1  Vol. 4 Kumite-2.                        Cost: (per volume) $13.00 S.B.

8.    The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do. Author: Shoshin Nagamine (The late master of Matsubayashi-ryu  {Shorin-Ryu}. This is an excellent book and demonstrates Master Nagamine's interpretation of Okinawan karate. Cost: $25.00 S.B.

9.    The Spirit of Karate-Do & Spirit of the Sensei (2 Separate Books) Author: Andrew Bowerbank. These books represent the system of karate as taught by Masami Tsuruoka (Father of Canadian Karate) and known as "Tsuruoka Karate." Tsuruoka Sensei is one of the oldest students of Dr. Chitose receiving his Sho-dan in 1949.  Both of these volumes represent much research by Tsuruoka and include his interpretation of the many styles he has studied. The books include a great deal of information about the bio-mechanics of karate in which Tsuruoka Sensei is a master.       Cost: (Each book) $25.00 S.B.

        Philosophical Information

1.    Kodo. Author: