This page features of reviews of books on martial arts and other related topics. These are all books that I personally recommend to students of martial arts no matter what their style. So if you're into books and you want your martial arts training to transfer over into the literary realm, check out this book list. They're arranged in alphabetical order.  If you want to buy them, click the links through to Amazon.ca and help support the dojo!

Weapons of Opportunity by Lori O'Connell This book is written by the head instructor of West Coast Jiu-jitsu.  With casual intimacy, her book tells her myriad training anecdotes, complete with bruises, backtalk, and beer. It details her experiences in different schools, different martial art styles, and different countries, including Japan where she struggles to find her place while simultaneously struggling to figure out her shower. O’Connell strips away the formality of the martial arts and shows it for what it is, no punches pulled, from the perspective of a student and teacher. To order this book, please visit WeaponsofOpportunity.com.

Angry White Pyjamas by Robert Twigger This book is written in the style of a novel, but represents the author’s personal experiences training in Aikido with the Tokyo riot police while he lived in Japan. The author has a fluid, unassuming style that is conversational in nature. This is the style with which I have been writing my own book. This book is great, light reading for martial artists.

Beyond the Known By Tri Thong Dang This book is written in a narrative style, but reads more like a fable. It’s a story about the relationship between student and master and the cycle of growth and development you experience in martial arts training. This book has a way of teaching many essential philosophical lessons of the martial arts without coming off too preachy.  It’s an enjoyable read that fits right in your pocket.

The Book of Five Rings By Miyamoto Musashi, Translator: Thomas Cleary Everyone in the martial arts should read this book! Written by a famous duelist and samurai in 1643, it analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict behind all levels of human interaction.  Cleary’s translation is smooth and readable, making this Japanese classic on the spiritual background of the warrior tradition accessible to all.

The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba Ueshiba is the founder of Aikido and has a legendary reputation in the martial arts. This book covers the philosophical foundations of his martial art. It reads like a bunch of haiku poems, beautifully capturing some of the more esoteric ideals of the martial arts.

Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts By Donn Draeger and Robert Smith This is the best book I’ve found that chronicles the history and principles of the all the various Asian martial arts. Because the martial arts are passed on through the oral tradition, there are often many discrepancies created in the transmission of the arts’ history.  This book helps to clarify the origins and lineages of the various martial arts. This can be heavy reading if you’re not into the topic, but it’s very interesting and informative.

Mastery By George Leonard The author of this book spent his life seeking to master Aikido, a martial art which demands a long term training commitment to develop proficiency. His book details the learning process in martial arts training, and how to get the most from yourself on your own path to development. He highlights common stumbling blocks and clearly demonstrates how the martial arts are not about instant gratification, but about long-term self-discovery.  While I think this book is great for martial artists, it’s also useful for anyone hoping to achieve mastery in personal disciplines of all kinds.

Myths and Legends of the Martial Arts By Peter Lewis This is an enjoyable mish-mash of short stories and fables related to martial arts. Some have an identifiable historical basis. Others are mythical in nature. They teach by example the philosophical ideals and principles of the martial arts. This is a good choice for people who only have enough time to sneak in a bit of reading here and there because each story stands alone.

The Science of Takedowns, Throws and Grappling for Self-Defense By Martina Sprague This book helps reinforce the mechanics of taking a person to the ground.  It covers all the basic principles, including centre of gravity, leverage, momentum, distraction, etc.  If you understand these principles thoroughly, you’ll better be able to analyze your own takedowns and throws and help improve them.

Tao of Jeet Kun Do By Bruce Lee While I was never a fan of Bruce Lee’s “macho proving ground” attitude toward the martial arts, the technical principles of Jeet Kun Do are quite sound and are quite similar to our own. This book contains a wealth of info that can be put into practice in any of the martial arts.

Zen and the Art of Archery By Eugen Herrigel It is pretty much impossible to understand Zen by studying it from an academic point of view. But this book offers a window into that world through Herrigel’s personal experiences with it through his study of Kyudo (Japanese Archery). Kyudo is not simply about technical mastery of the art. It is meant to train the mind and ultimately transcend technique, to become artless, with its practice growing out from the unconscious mind.  This is true of most martial arts (or at least it should be). You can’t learn Zen from a book, but this one can help put it in context.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones By Paul & Senzaki, Nyogen Reps This compilation of short stories and vignettes that come from classic works like The Gateless Gate and 101 Zen Stories to help readers connect with the concept of mindfulness. These are pieces that have been used to guide students of Zen for centuries. But remember, “It is not the moon itself. It is but the finger that points to the moon.”