Martial Arts America: A Western Approach to Eastern Arts - Softcover

Orlando, Bob

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1883319676 ISBN 13: 9781883319670

Publisher: North Atlantic Books,U.S., 1998

Synopsis

Whether you are seeking martial skills or are just curious about the fighting arts, Martial Arts America provides useful insights into a subject that has been too long shrouded in mystery, mysticism, and marketing hype. If you are already a practitioner, it will challenge you to think about what you are doing in your training, and if it is working.

About this title

From the Author:

Don't park your brains at the dojo (training hall) door.
I want to point out just three things. First, and most important, I must correct the listing of Mr. Dan Inosanto as co-author. He is not. If he were his name would surely appear before mine for his knowledge and skill are well beyond my own. However, Mr. Inosanto was gracious enough to write a foreword for my book (the foreword was eventually used as a "callout" on the back cover). Mr. Inosanto agreed to look at my manuscript at the request of my instructor, Willem de Thouars. He was under absolutely no obligation to say or write anything. Still, after reading the work, he graciously concented to write a foreword. For this, I am gratefully in his debt.

Second, The topic of this book is not new. More than 30 years ago, G.R. Gleeson--then coach of the British Judo team--said in his book Judo For the West (1967), "When a skill or sport is transferred to another country that country should replace the foreign training methods with methods reflecting and exploiting its own characteristics, needs, and virtues." Since Gleeson wrote that, much has changed, however, most of the change has not been positive. Martial Arts America asks the reader--skilled practitioner or curious observer--to do one thing: question everything. Americans have always done this. Ours is a culture that grew up asking "Why?" and "Can you prove it?" However, for some reason, we have uncharacteristically acquiesced when it comes to Asian martial arts and, basically, parked our brains at the dojo door.

Contrary to what you may think, Martial Arts America does NOT advocate the wholesale removal of Eastern training methods from our study and practice. Such an act would be as mindless and irresponsible as has been our heretofore blind acceptance. Positive character building traditions must remain a part of the martial art curriculum for without them weeds will rapidly move in to fill the void. However, what is advocated is the liberal application of some good old common sense to our training methods and practices. Finally, I do not expect agreement with everything I suggest in this book (it would be a pretty boring book if everyone agreed with it). That said, I will only entertain those objections that are at least based on reason.

About the Author:

Bob Orlando was introduced to the martial arts while on active duty with the U.S. Marines. He began serious study in Chinese kenpo-karate, later switching to kung fu, which he studied under Al Dacascos. He has studied aikido, iaido, eskrima, Chinese kuntao, and Indonesian pentjak silat. Orlando is the author of Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals: The Brutal Arts of the Archipelago, has produced a video on Indonesian fighting fundamentals, and owns and operates the Je-du-too School of Martial Arts in Denver, Colorado.

About this edition

• Publisher: North Atlantic Books,U.S.
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1883319676
• ISBN 13: 9781883319670
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200