Martial Arts of the Orient

The martial arts of Southeast Asia, China and Japan have as their ultimate aim mastery over self, complete awareness, and harmony with gravity and body structure. This book reveals and explains the essentials of unarmed and armed combat - karate, kung fu, ju jitsu, judo, aikido, taekwondo, iaido, kendo, kyudo, naginata, tai chi, kempo, ninjutsu, sumo wrestling, Thai boxing, krabi krabong, bando, and banshay. The explosion of Western interest in such forms of combat followed the return of American servicemen from the Korean War. The book begins with an introduction to the spirit and the letter of oriental combat, with a brief text and visuals.