Howard Reid

An extraordinarily enjoyable and illuminative history of Alexandria, albeit with some occasional jumping in the timeline that doesn't detract from the authors' enthusiasm at sharing the story of Alexandria. Who knew (well, probably most of you) how incredibly important Alexandria was as a center of philosophy, education, and culture during its heyday? It was not just the well-known library of Alexandria, but it was a crossroads and center of learning for much of its history. The destruction of the library didn't end the city's importance-- instead the long final demise took, with a ghostly echo of modern times, the narcissistic power-hungry machinations of St Cyril whose actions so weakened the city under the guise of spreading christianity that the remaining scholars and learned were forced to flee, taking the few remaining books with them. That weakened city, no longer a cultural or scholarly center, further decayed over the following decades and eventually fell to islamic expansion.… (more)

This is the ultimate guide to classic eastern exercise forms that cultivate mental, physical, and spiritual strength through gentle physical movement. Clear instructins and illustrations introduce the four main systems: Tai Chi chuan, Chi Kung, Hsing I, and Pa Kua, while specific exercises are shown, derived from these traditional systems, that can help alleviate headaches, hypertension, anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive problems, neck and back pain, rheumatism, and arthritis. Special exercises for expectant mothers and the elderly are introduced. Studies have shown that practicing these soft martial arts on a regular basis can help you:

Improve balance and flexibility
Prevent or alleviate common ailments
Lower blood pressure and the incidence of heart attacks
Improve grip and lower leg strength
Reduce stress and revitalize the spirit
Develop inner calm

Howard Reid, weriter and film-maker, has been a student of the martial arts since 1975. He created the BBC TV series on martial arts, The Way of the Warrior, and co-wrote the best-selling book on the series. For the present book he was assisted by specialist consultants Dann Connor, of the T'ai Chi Chuan Association, London; Nigel Sutton, a martial arts medalist and teacher; Robin rusher, and acupuncturist and Director of teh City Health Centre, London; and photographer Fausto Dorelli.

Contents

Introduction
Part One The soft arts
1 Chi Kung Breath power
2 Hsing I Ways to harmony
3 Pa Kua Eternal change
4 T'ai Chi Chuan The art of awareness
Part Two
5 Oriental paths to balance
6 Therapeutic uses
Index and bibliography… (more)

Same book as The Fighting Arts-The History, Great Masters, Technique and Practice of Marma-adi, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Kung fu, Karate, Hsing-i, Naginata-do, Kalaripayit, Eskrima, and T'ai-chi

From cover

Join the great Masters of India, China, Japan and the Philippines and gain fascinating insight into the martial arts of Kalaripayit, Marma-adi, Kung Fu, Hsing-I, Pa-Kua, T'ai-Chi, Bujutsu, Aiki-do, Kendo, Naginata-do, Eskrima and Shorinji Kempo.

Richly illustrated throughout, The Way of the Warrior is essential reading for the dedicated enthusiast but will prove equally fascinating to all those intrigued by the paradox of the martial arts-the notion that study of a lethal skill can lead to an increased spiritual enlightenment-a fighting way to peace.

Howard Reid PhD is an anthroopologist by training but has been a studend to the martial arts since 1976 when he first began to study Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate. He undertook most of the research for major television series on the martial arts, an experience which led to the writing of this book.

Michael Croucher is a higly respected television producer, specializing in plays and documentary programs. While working on the television series on martial arts with Howard Reid, he led the team that filmed the activities taking place in southern Indian 'battle houses,' Japanese 'dojos' and parks in China.

Contents

Foreword
1 The Art of Fighting
2 Myth to History: The Roots of the Martial Arts
The enigma of Bodhidharma
3 The Village Art of Kalaripayit
Vasudevan Gurrukal
Mathavan Asan
Panickar Gurrukal
4 The Shaolin Tradition
Master Chan
5 The Soft Arts of China
A family of martial artists
6 The Classic Weapons Schools of Japan
The Japanese Sword
7 Karate: Art of the Empty Hand
The philosophy of Higaonna Sensei
8 The Modern Martial Disciplines of Japan
9 The Next Steps
10 Martial Systems of the World
Glossary of Terms
Further Reading
Author's Acknowledgements
Index of Chinese Terms
Index… (more)

from cover

For more than five thousand years, the skilled personal-combat techniques of the martial arts of India and the Far east have been shrouded in mystery, their origins unknown and their practices protected by traditions of secrecy. Now, for the first time, the Great Masters-men who dedicate their lives to the purest expression of their art-reveal the truth behind the martial arts. Michael Croucher and Howard Reid traveled widely in the East interviewing many of the Great Masters and observing them at work. All these men, the leading exponents of most of the martial arts practiced in the West, spoke freely of their philosophy and way of life, of the traditions and techniques of their discipline,and allowed the authors to watch and photograph both private practice sessions and work with students. The result is the most comprehensive and important book ever on the martial arts.

-From India the authors provide the first detailed account of kalaripayit,an art widely practiced in that country but never before reported fully in the West. There are descriptions of the 'battle house' and the rituals-massage, breathing exercises, movement sequences-leading up to combat as well as a look at the unusual art of marma-adi, the secret and potentially deadly use of vital pressure points, which is employed in fightintg as well as healing.

-In China they examine the hard, or external, schools of the Shaoin tradition, now popularly known as kung fu, including a discussion with Master Chen, who has studied the art over fifty years and is one of its greatest living masters. Also covered are the soft, or internal, schools, which include hsing-i, pa-kua and the hypnotic, floating gestures of t'ai-chi, practiced at dawn in city parks by Chnese of all ages.

-In the oldest and most famous Japanese weapons school, they witness remarkable demonstrations of bujutsu combat skills given by possibly the finest swordsman in the world. They describe other weapons arts such as kyu-do, the art of archery, and trace the history of ju-jiitsu, which developed out of the soft school of the Shaolin tradition.

-Karate, the way of the open hand, originated in Okinawa, and the authors travel there to investitgate this powerful form of unarmed combat, describing techniques and the beautiful sequences of movement known as kata.

-The fighting arts flourish in diverse forms throughout the east, and in the Philippines the authors report on eskrima, the spectacular stick-fighting art. The martial arts continue to evolve, and the emergence of the modern Japanese arts of judo, aikido, Shorinji kempo and sport naginata-do, which is practiced by women, is described.

The Fighting Arts is richily illustrated throughout with color and black-and-white photographs taken on location and specially commissioned maps and drawings. In tracing the origins and history, describing the disciplines and practices, and revealing the philosophies and secrets of the Great Masters, the authors capture the essence of the fighting arts and their central paradox-the notion that the study of a lethal skill can lead to spiritual enlightenment. This book is essental reading for the dedicatied enthusiast but will prove equally fascinating to all those interested in the extraordinary world of the martial arts.

Howard Reid, Ph. D., studied anthropology at Cambridge and has been a student of the martial arts since 1976, when he first began to study Okinawan shorin-ryu karate. He undertook most of the research for the BBC television series The Fighting Arts on which this book is based.

Michael Croucher has been with the BBC for more than twenty-five years and is one of the corporation's most highly respected producers. He led the team that filmed the activities takng place in Indian 'battle houses', Japanese 'dojos' and parks in China for the television series The Fighting Arts.

Contents

Foreword
1 The Art of Fighting
2 Myth to History: The Roots of the Martial Arts
The enigma of Bodhidharma
3 The Village Art of Kalaripayit
Vasudevan Gurrukal
Mathavan Asan
Panickar Gurrukal
4 The Shaolin Tradition
Master Chan
5 The Soft Arts of China
A family of martial artists
6 The Classic Weapons Schools of Japan
The Japanese Sword
7 Karate: Art of the Empty Hand
The philosophy of Higaonna Sensei
8 The Modern Martial Disciplines of Japan
9 The Next Steps
10 Martial Systems of the World
Glossary of Terms
Further Reading
Author's Acknowledgements
Index of Chinese Terms
Index… (more)