The ancient martial arts of Japan, China, and Korea are immensely popular in the West. Theri followers are passionate in their imvolvement. The Complete Book of Martial Arts informs and encourages anyone intersted in learning more about the martial arts as well as those already dedicated to a particular discipine.

There are many differeent schools of martial arts, stressing a wide variety of approaches. Do you know the difference between Thai Chi Chuan and Taekwondo? Can you tell which martial arts need suppleness and strength and which need the very minimum of bodily fitness? Which is the best self-defence system for you?

The author David Mitchell traces the history and developoment of the marital arts-so important in the culture of their country of origin. He describes the princiipal charactersitics, selecting key techniques and explaining how these are performed. All the major martial arts are coverd from aikido to kendo, kung fu to Thai boxing-including the best-known, now Olympic sports: judo and karate.

The book includes over 300 color and black and-white illsutrations, over 250 of which were specially commissioned, including many step-by-step sequences featureing leading exponents of each discipine. The Complete Book of Marital Arts is the most authoritative book available on the subject today, providing a fascinating source of knowledge and a multi-martial art training manual.

The author David Mitchell has been chairman of the Welsh Karate Board and the British Karate Control Commission and a member of the Directing Committee of the Eruopean and World Karate Organizations. He has written manybooks on the martial arts and is a regular contributor to martial arts magazines. He holds a black belt in karate.

Contents

Martial arts philosophy
Training
Developing force
Stances
Blocking
Aikido
budo and bujutsu
Full contact
Hapkido
Iai jutsu and iaido
Fighting arts of India and Pakistan
Judo and jiu jitsu
Karate
Kenjutsu and kendo
Kobujutsu and kobudo
Kung fu
Kkyudo
Ninjutsu
Shorinji kempo
Silat
Sumo
Taekwondo
Taiho jutsu
Tang soo do
Thai boxing
Glossary
Index