What are the best books to read while in a martial arts program?

Question

What are the best books to read while in a martial arts program?

Answer 1

Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts

Hagakure

Bubishi

Bushido

Book of Five Rings

Art of War

I Chin Ching

Tao Te ching

The Essence of Shaolin White Crane

I'm sure there are many others. I also would agree with the Peaceful Warrior being a great read. I also have some of Bruce Lee's books.

Answer 2

Art Of War, and Book Of Three Rings (scrolls) are very interesting reads and in fact required reading through a large part of Asia. Not directly martial arts books, but rather they are in depth looks at tactics and strategy that can be applied to everything from business, competitive fighting or war. Very interesting if read in a serious state of mind. What I mean by that is that in both books you are told repeatedly to meditate or give serious consideration to many different points, the problem is the western mind doesn't do this, but rather just keeps reading and then wonders why they didn't get many of the major points of the books.

If you are looking for martial arts specific reading, Bruce Lee put out several good books relating directly to martial arts Tao Jeet Kune Do would probably be the best read, not meant as an instruction manual to learning Jeet Kune Do, but rather a guide to being a better martial artist and to opening your mind to techniques from many different arts. A not terribly well known martial artist from up in New York is Marco Lala, he has put out some of the best videos on training that I have ever seen and I have his Ultimate Weapon which is really good and I would imagine his others wouldn't be of any less quality.  

Answer 3

I won't say they're the best, but they were great books and useful in terms of my focus:

Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman (allegorical story of finding meaning and peace in your life)

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker (studies on what fear is, what it does to your body, and how to cultivate useful fear while disposing of worry)

On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (ever wonder why people who have actually had to kill others [military, police, etc.] never talk about it? Mostly second-hand research, but interesting view on the psychology of fighting and killing)

Those were really the ones I read that I recommend to everyone. I kind of like to read poetry while waiting for class, though... Gibran is a favorite of mine. To me, it's as much about balancing the calming and violent/ creative and destructive parts of my life as keeping a strong mind.

Good luck and enjoy training.

Answer 4

Some of the most interesting books I have read (relating to martial arts) are by Masaaki Hatsumi. He is the grandmaster of modern ninjutsu (bujinkan budo taijutsu) and has written books on just about every aspect of fighting.

Another good read is the Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee. This book shouldn't really be read as guide for learning Jeet Kune Do, but should be read as advice for becoming a more competent fighter.