What martial arts are associated with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar (Burma)? What makes them unique when compared with other Asian martial systems? This anthology is a convienent collection that focuses on the martial arts of these areas, such as the familiar art of Muay Thai, and lesser-known arts of Than Quyen of Vietnam, Burmese bando, and Cambodian leth wei.

Fed up with teenage life in the suburbs, Jaimal Yogis ran off to Hawaii with little more than a copy of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha and enough cash for a surfboard. His journey is a coming-of-age saga that takes him from communes to monasteries, from the warm Pacific to the icy New York shore. Equal parts spiritual memoir and surfer's tale, this is a chronicle of finding meditative focus in the barrel of a wave and eternal truth in the great salty blue.

To commemorate the life and spiritual teachings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.It has been 23 years since he departed this world.Buddhadasa Bhikku (1906-1993) is one of the most important Buddhist teachers of the twentieth century.As the meditation master of Suan Mokkh Meditation Center in Chaiya, southern Thailand, he propagatedBuddhist philosophy and meditation practice among tens of thousands of western visitors from NorthAmerica, Europe and Australia.Th...

The first-ever comprehensive introduction to traditional Filipino healing practices—featuring rare photographs and insights into the roots and modern-day rituals of this ancient shamanic and spiritual belief system.“. . . brilliantly blends the art and science of the sacred teachings of Filipino traditional healing to help people find their path toward health and happiness.” —Deepak ChopraWay of the Ancient Healer provides an overv...

For the first time after years of study and researches, it is possible to present to the western public a deep analysis of the most advanced and lethal fighting strategies of the Siamese tradition (Muay Thai): the Look MaiMuay Thai Boran. The Look Mai are the real “secret weapons” that every Bramajarn (Grand Master) of the past jealously kept, revealing them only to their most loyal students. If the Mae Mai (basic strategies) are for everyone, the Look Mai are for the elected; if the funda...

A classic text treasured by martial artists for over twenty years, Karate's History & Traditions was long recognized as the most authoritative source on martial arts history and technique. Now Bruce Haines, historian and martial artist, has updated this rich source to reflect changes that have taken place in the last two decades.This detailed but wellrounded martial arts guide covers the history of the Asian fighting arts from antiquity to modern times, answering...

Dan Docherty presents practical Tai Chi Chuan - the most common Tai Chi techniques - and explains them with reference to the Ming dynasty book The Classic of Boxing and to Chinese myth and legend.Beginners benefit from practising the postures, while advanced practitioners will gain greater insight into their regular practice. From his experience of teaching Chinese concepts to thousands of students throughout the world over a great many years, the author g...

Kobudo, the famous armed Okinawan fighting art that utilizes common farming implements in combat, and Te, the ancient Okinawan art of armed and unarmed combat, are two of the world's most widely practiced yet least-understood martial arts.This book studies the individual Kobudo and Te systems as they are practiced in Okinawa today and discusses their various histories and the lives of the masters who have most influenced them. Spiritualism in the Okinawan arts is a...

Widely practiced but not always understood, the Filipino martial arts have a rich history and distinctive character that have not fully been documented until now.Written in the context of Philippine history and culture, Filipino Martial Culture uncovers the esoteric components of the Filipino martial arts and the life histories of the men who perpetuate them. Included are: the history of turbulence and war in the Philippines from prehistoric times to the p...

The inspiring story of one of India’s greatest wrestling coaches.In 2000, after the Olympic Games closed with much fanfare in Sydney, legendary wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat watched, dejected, as the prize reserved by his state government for the winner of an Olympic gold medal went unclaimed. Determined to never see this instance repeated, Phogat decided to do the unthinkable. Much to his neighbours’ curiosity, he spent two days digging a pit in his courtyard and ...

Now available for the first time in English, Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters, the late Shoshin Nagamine's groundbreaking work, recounts the legacy and life histories of Okinawa's greatest martial artists.In addition to profiles of the legendary tegumi wrestlers, Nagamine-sensei features many of the world's great karate masters, including the founder of the core styles from which modern karate sprang.Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters correc...

Why does an idea that’s 2,500 years old seem more relevant today than ever before? How can the Buddha’s teachings help us solve many of the world’s problems? Journalist Perry Garfinkel circumnavigated the globe to discover the heart of Buddhism and the reasons for its growing popularity—and ended up discovering himself in the process.The assignment from National Geographic couldn’t have come at a better time for Garfinkel. Burned out, laid up with back problems, disillusio...