Bibles of the Martial Artist

The last few years in practicing the art of karate-jutsu-do, Isshinryu, has been the discovery of so many things that were just not right. Correcting them has and is exciting. None of this would have occurred if not for a lot of influence from others in the MA community.

My library alone got to be, to me, extensive. I data-mined a lot and kept the most valuable for continued review. I have come to the conclusion that there are three "bibles of the martial arts" that have provided me the references to continue to learn and understand the world in which I live, the story of me and that zone I wanted to enter.

If a perspective martial artists were to ask me where to begin I would say simply, "read these first." If they have an understanding as to what these mean and then understand what they are entering into, in this aspect of MA, then they can at least have a fundamental awareness and enter without being fundamentally dysfunctionally skewed.

Book One: "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" by Dr. Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D. This is a series of books and the one I find that encompasses what I feel is a primer for VSD is "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." The others can be even more helpful in many areas such as the written self-defense book and the VSD at work, etc.

Book Two: "Facing Violence" by Sgt Rory Miller. This is the one book of his that seems, for me, to really convey the fundamental principles of Violence in its various forms, i.e. social, anti-social or fighting and violence. If you wonder what I mean you will not wonder anymore when done reading and "studying" this book. He has others that contribute but this one is the first to read.

Book Three: "The Book of Martial Power" by Sensei Steven J. Pearlman. This one is the bible of the principles of martial systems. The title is a bit misleading and I would assume something the publisher required to help it in sales but to me the actual title could have been "The Book of Martial Principles." Splitting hairs but the end meaning here is this book provides a written form that helps MA's understand many principles that are taught, understood in application and not consciously identified adequately.

Again, this is my list of Bibles of the Martial Arts. I am going to be the first to tell you that this choice for me was difficult as many, many books have been of great influence in my studies. I suspect my writings and mindless meanderings over the past ten years are a blend of them all. It is just for me on a very personal level these three have a good deal of influence and meaning in my training.

Personally, I wish to express my sincerest appreciation and thanks for their willingness and efforts to bring this to the public and especially the the martial arts community!