5 comments about Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat.

1. I love Forrest as a fighter and an author. His humble down to earth personality is well reflected in this book. He has had his share of ups(having the light heavyweight title) and downs (being run out the the ring by Anderson Silva). This book deinitely represents these ups and downs very well. He shares his weaknesses with the reader which definitely makes them strengths. This book gives the reader the whole range of emotions. From his introductory test where I was laughing my balls off at his questions to the moment I began crying when I realized I had failed his test and should go home crying to my mother. If you are looking to become a better fighter or martial artist because of this book I think you should look elsewhere. While he does share some martial arts techniques in the pages of this book, it is his humor which creates the awesomeness of this book. His writing style is second to none. He kept me drawn in the entire time and I read the entire book in three days. If I wasn't such a slow reader I probably would have read it in just a few hours. I really hope that he writes another book. Please Forrest Please!



2. Knowing Forrest Griffin's personality from his Ultimate Fighter and UFC days, I was not expecting a serious book by any means. However, I felt that the antics and silliness of the book got in the way of the actual methods and techniques.



3. We got this for a Christmas present for my husband's brother. He loved it! My husband also loves this book and this is his favorite fighter.



4. I'm not normally a book reader. But when this book ended I was a little upset, and not in a bad way. I never thought that I would wish that a book was longer but I felt that way about GOT FIGHT. Usually I think all books are too long or written for some other person. I never once felt that way while reading this. It is not a book for those trying to learn about some magical technique to stop your opponent cold in its tracks. If that's what your looking for than I would suggest sticking with video games or the fantasies in your head. *Cough* LOSER *COUGH*. Instead though if you want something to read that speaks to the side of you that no one ever seems to understand. That side of you that you can never properly explain to anyone when they ask "why?" why do you fight, why do you put yourself through all the pain an sacrifice then this is for you.



5. Forrest Griffin is one of the few UFC fighters that will draw my attention to a UFC fight. More than dedicated MMA fans will enjoy this book.
   
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   Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat

4 comments about The Illustrated Book of Five Rings (Shambhala Pocket Classics).

1. The title led me to hope that the book would contain photographs of Musashi's fine art. It doesn't. It does contain photographs of works by other artists, some of which are quite well done. That fact, however, did not compensate for its complete lack of photographs of Musashi's works, which are at a level above those of all but a few of the most famous Japanese fine artists.



2. Book was a Gift for a friend that is into Japanese history. The book was packaged so no damage could occur and New & Unique as described. I definately recommend this seller.



3. The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.
   
   The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".
   
   Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."
   
   The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".
   
   Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."



4. It was a birthday present for my nephew and he loved it. It showed up in plenty of time for the birthday party.

5 comments about Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 230 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques.

1. For a beginner, this book is good for supplementing your existing training. They sell this book at my Krav training center and the moves match the tests so it is good for reviewing what you have learned also.



2. Many years ago I had the pleasure to train under Darren Levine in an intense 60 hour 6 day course held for defensive tactics instructors at the Illinois State Police Academy. This text provides an excellent guide to achieving belt ranks in this martial art system, if that is your goal. Though I can understand some of the critical reviews of this book; however, no matter how good or bad a book may be, it can never take the place of actual intense hands-on training under a competent instructor. The reason this book should be read by anyone interested in Krav Maga is because it is organized into specific skill levels that a student should master before moving on to the next section. In conclusion, the real value of this text cannot be appreciated without actual physical training under a krav maga instructor. Rating: 4 stars. Joseph J. Truncale, (Pro-Systems Combatives: Author: Monadnock Defensive Tactics System & Advanced PR-24 Baton Techniques)



3. If you are new into Krav Maga, this book will let you understand it's approach to personal defense and will introduce you to basics involving this great method. A must have!



4. This book is complete. I'm a krav maga pratictioner in Brazil, and the details of the book make it's very easy to learn. With photos that explaines step-by-step the punch, kicks and everything. Better than any book i ever seen.



5. I like Krav Maga and treat it with amazing respect. Honestly, the authors did a fine job trying to put Krav Maga into a book for us. Still, after reading it Twice, I think the problem is a basis on techniques and less on principles that make it work. I know there's even a part on the approach on principles, but they don't explain the physics or reactions to the degree I feel is needed. The focus should be on how to get a result, in this case the end of the attacker.
   
   Will the moves work, of course they will. If and only if everything goes as planned. Sadly, it never does.Get this book, but try to look below the surface techniques and go into why it worked with what happens to the target.
   
   Still a decent self defense book. By it used or glance at the first few techniques and see if you can do them when attacked.

1 comments about The Karate Mouse (Geronimo Stilton, No. 40).

1. The kids in our elementary school library love this series. They are so cleverly done with the fun and different fonts included in the text. I can't buy them fast enough.

5 comments about Jiu-Jitsu University.

1. This book is fantastic, reccomended for any brazilian jiu jitsu practicioner... Saulo's knowledge and love of this amazing gentle art really shine through. Buy it.



2. I'm very happy with the book. I'm a Judoka and sometimes train with (and admire) BJJ fighters and wanted an overview of the moves, nomenclature and strategy/philosophy. this booked seemed comprehensive and has lived up to my expecations. a well done publication and very effective format - using 2 photos of each step taken from different angles. I recommened it.



3. I have many good jiu-jitsu videos and books, but this and the Demian Maia videos are the best.
   
   In this book, the first two chapters (white and blue belts) deal with survival and escapes. I'm a white belt, and with this book in only three months of training I could put a very good defense against very good purple and brown belts. This book is very dense and requires repetitive reading to absorb all the knowledge, like all good books.
   
   It's worth every penny.



4. This is a great book for my experience level. I've been training for about 6 months and am at a level where I am submitting people fairly regularly, but still get caught quite a bit. This book has provided some sound techniques that have helped me transition out of tough spots.



5. This book provides an amazing framework with which to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
   
   Its best traits are:
   
   1) By teaching defense and escapes early, it helps remove the fear of ending up in a disadvantageous position and therefore allows you to experiment and explore unfamiliar techniques.
   2) It is not just a collection of techniques. It also corrects many common mistakes in each position.
   3) Saulo focuses on high percentage techniques to give the student a solid toolbox in each position.
   4) More than other books, he demonstrates how leverage and position determine grappling outcomes.
   5) It is full of small "tricks" that help you succeed with minimal effort.
   
   I think the Helio Gracie anecdote alone is worth the price of the book.

5 comments about The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game.

1. I just wanted to say, that review above from Publisher's Weekly is obviously from some disgruntled pencil-neck who doesn't like fighting.



2. The Fighter's Mind is an incredible look at the mental part of competition and life. Through the lens of combat sports, Sam Sheridan goes around the world in search of answers to various questions about how top personalities think about fighting. The book is laid out in the form of short sections about each of the people that Sam talks to. People like Dan Gable, Freddie Roach, Greg Jackson, Renzo Gracie, and Randy Couture answer Sheridan's excellent questions with thoughtful and insightful responses that are presented in such a way that you get a very good look at how they think about the fight game and what in their lives have made them reach that point.
   
   Sam also covers areas outside of fighting, but areas that are thematically related. He talks to David Horton about endurance running, and he talks to Josh Waitzkin about moving from chess to tai chi to jiu-jitsu. In each section, Sheridan lets the subject be as concise or explanatory as they need to be on the page. He interjects his own experience into the responses, always at the correct time and always with an astute bit to enhance what the passage is about.
   I'd say that this isn't just the best combat sports book I've read. This is the best sports book I've read. It's the best psychology book I've read. It is as thorough a meditation on the human passion for fighting and testing oneself as has ever been written. If you are at all interested in mixed martial arts, boxing, traditional martial arts, the human mind, or competition, you owe it to yourself to check this book out. As far as Sam Sheridan's catalogue of modern combat sports goes, I can definitely say that he is the A.J. Liebling of this generation.



3. Like with his first book, which I enjoyed immensely, Sam Sheridan comes across as very genuine and sincere, and he's a decent writer to boot. My only gripe with both of his books is the odd chapter I can only read as filler -- fighter dogs in his first book; distance runners in this one. What's the point?
   
   Other than that, solid insight. The Marcelo Garcia and Randy Couture chapters alone are worth the price of the book. And Sheridan talking about his own struggles as a writer regarding the distinction between nervousness and excitement was helpful to me, personally. And contrasting Dan Gable's superhuman but ultimately seemingly joyless grind with someone like Kenny Florian: nice.
   
   Looking forward to Sheridan's next one.



4. Although I liked his first book better, this is still a very interesting look into many famous fighters and what drives their competitive spirit. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because the subject matter is difficult to really pass on to someone. You either get it or you don't. A great read for people that fight, or compete in almost any sport, but probably not as interesting for a casual reader.



5. This is an apt companion to Sam Sheridan's earlier book, "The Fighter's Heart." Either book or both are treats to anyone who is a fan of MMA, the UFC or combative sports. Here, Sheridan tackles "the mental game." I think it was Yogi Berra who said that 50% of sports is 90% mental," or maybe vice versa.
   
   In any event, Sheridan devotes separate chapters to some of the luminaries in martial arts and combative sports, including but not limited to Pat Militech, Greg Jackson, Renzo Gracie and Frank Shamrock. Some may be off-put by Sheridan's inclusion of an ultra-distance runner, but I think it fit. Ultra-runners "fight" through fatigue and boredom to break through physical and mental barriers.
   
   View "The Fighter's Mind" as a buffet for the MMA set. You may not be crazy about all the dishes and offerings, but for me, there was enough here to be an entertaining feast. If you are a participant in MMA, martial arts or combative sports or a fan, you owe it to yourself to read "The Fighter's Mind." In fact, even if you do NOT fall into any of these categories, you can gain insights here to take your "game" - whether mental or physical - to the next, higher, level.
   
   Lessons here abound and transcend the ring, wrestling mat, dojo or Octagon.

5 comments about Mind Gym : An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence.

1. This book includes many of the basic mental concepts discussed in sports: staying positive, etc. Although there were some helpful tips, it was a task to sort through the excessive name dropping. As an athlete, I don't need to know the names of everyone the author has ever helped. I assume, since I am buying and reading the book, that I will at least somewhat trust what is being said and that I will be willing to try it myself. If you need the 150/224 pages of professional athlete anecdotes, then this book is for you. If, like most athletes, you don't have time to sit and read fluff, find another book.



2. I am an 1,90 and 120kg marathon runner. When I announced that I intend to run a marathon the reactions varied from amusement to worry that I will not survive. That might have been the case if I wouldn't have had THIS book. It made all the difference in the world. Maybe half of the training time was "mind gym".
   The result? Not only I have finished alive but I made quite a good time (3h44). This performance changed not my weight (I am still 120kg) but my self-image. I know now that the only limits are in my head. I changed. A lot. From the introvertit obese to the cocky, confident obese :) I fired my boss. Actually, the company fired him for mobbing. I got a fat settlement. I switched careers. I took one sabbatical year and focused on learning trading. Here, again, the "Mind gym" made a huge difference. I become profitable and then ... very profitable. I don't own a Porsche but I am free (of worries, schedules, bosses)
   
   If you intend to buy only one book for the next year: BUY THIS ONE !!



3. Pretty good book if you need some general motivation... The author knows the topic and gives some good examples, but doesn't really get into specific actions to help resolve issues. Also, alot of baseball and golf examples, I found it hard to relate it to the sports I am involved in. Tons of great quotes, etc to get you amped.



4. This book is tough to review because people have different expectations with sport psychology books. If you are looking for a neatly organized system of beliefs, principles, and exercises to begin applying to your game tomorrow this might not be the book for you. Maybe you should check out With Winning In Mind or 10-Minute Mental Toughness? With that said, I loved this book. Once you start it you might not be able to put it down. Its a motivational book that weaves sports psychology principles into stories to illustrate the importance of each principle. This book inspired me to write down an effective system of beliefs and checklists I can go through before a game. The important part is the system and beliefs are mine.



5. This book was recommended to me get over issues I had playing racquetball. I kept making mental mistakes and things got worse as the match progressed. This book has taught me how to stay focus and keep moving forward. My game has improved quite a bit and I have beaten players that I have never beaten before. When things go wrong I use the techniques in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to take the next step. This is one of those books that you will read more than once and make notes of certain chapters.

No comments about The Five Ancestors Book 7: Dragon.

5 comments about Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

1. this book is just very well written. you can tell when he is sad from when he is happy and you just fill good about your self after reading this book. i cant stand reading at all but after i watched this movie i had to buy this book after getting it in the mail i started reading it. and yes there are some very cheap stick figures drawing in it and some strang art but it still was an out standing book.



2. Good insight to Bruce Lee and how he looked at things pertaining to attack and defense. Easy to understand text and pictures.



3. I agree, this book is inspirational. You probably have to be ready for it, but if you are, it will enlighten you.



4. . . . book was in excellent condition with fast and expediate service . . . thanx . . .



5. This book is a great read, it's almost like a bible........A Martial Arts Bible! A must read!!

5 comments about The Book of Five Rings (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior).

1. I bought it for my boyfriend as a birthday gift. I ended up reading it too because he talk so great about it. I thought it was a great book and very well written. i enjoyed it very much and my boyfriend was very happy with it we plan on buying more books like this one.



2. Written in the 1600s by one of the great Samurais in history Musashi puts forth his ideas on sword fighting combat and life. I found this interesting. While the ideas are obviously geared toward sword fighting some with a slight alteration could apply to other martial arts/fighting sports. I'll leave the all the overly contemplative philosophical musings on this book to all the Zen Buddhists out there. There was also some good biographical stuff and artwork by him in this too.



3. I am a student of Zen for over 10 years now, recently getting interested and involved with Kendo. So, this was one of the first books I thought about reading that might combine the two interests. This is a very famous book from a very famous warrior/zen student/artist/eccentric. It is definitely worth a read, but I must say that it was short on both swordsmanship and Zen. It was too broad to be taken as a helpful guide for Kendo, although I'm sure it would be a great manual to supplement a student training with Miyamoto Musashi or one of his disciples. His thoughts on Zen are a little interesting and he seemed to have obviously been steeped in Zen and its teachings, but there are much better books on Buddhist/Zen thought. I am very interested in the seeming conflict in the Buddhist ideal of not killing and yet the practice of Zen was so attractive to many Samurai/warriors. In my humble opinion, The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun by Yagyu Munenori, goes into that subject a little deeper and does make sense. I found the "Life-Giving Sword" much more interesting in terms of both swordsmanship guide and Zen thought and the combination of the two, although still not much help as a guide to Kendo without an instructor to help actually teach and guide a student through the material. I'm sure Miyamoto Musashi was an amazing person and would have been an impressive person to meet in real life, if we had time machines. ;) Still respectful of the man and his ideas, but too bad his book he left behind was more bones than flesh.



4. I've read three translations of this book thus far. One was terrible, one was excellent and this one is a good translation and a very good quality production.
   
   Unfortunately nearly every page is littered with pictures of flowers and sickles (and what appear at times to be snowflakes) behind the print. For me these images are very distracting.
   
   I give it four stars despite the images.



5. I have read this book at least 20 times and every time I read I get something new from it. I'm a business man and I read it primarily for the business value that it gives through the deep insights that Musashi accumulated through his life. Even the initial pages about how a carpenter should treat different kinds of wood for construction is simply mind blowing and outlook enhancing. I strongly recommend that you buy this translation (not Cleary's as his translation misses the nuances and tries to present the book in simple english - that can't be done) and read it and then reread it to enhance your understanding of the world and the strategy you should employ to stay ahead in business, career and life.