Godfrey Cave

The last 25 years have seen a spectacular growth in interest in the martial arts. Clubs have sprung up all over the world and certain martial arts are now taught in schools and colleges. Yet no other subject confronts the beginner with quite such a bewildering choice of disciplines. The Complete Martial Arts is designed to be the essential guide both for the novice and the more experienced martial arts enthusiast.

For the novice, the book describes the physical and mental qualities necessary for each art, whether or not competition plays a big part and which weapons are used. For the more experienced practitioner, it explains the history and tradition of each art so that the enthusiast can develop an all-round appreciation of his or her discipine.

All the main martial arts from around the world are covered in detail, including the popular karate and judo, the spectacular but lesser known kick boxing and kendo, and the gentler t'ai chi with its slow, controlled movements.

An essential feature of the book is its colour photography. Each art has been photographed to depict the key positions and movements with a vividness and clarity never seen before, as demonstrated by an acknowledged master. The Complete Martial Arts is the most complete and accessible book available on this subject.

Paul Crompton is extraordinarlily well qualified to write The Complete Martial Arts. In 1966 he founded the first martial arts magazine in Britain 'Karate and Oriental Arts.' This gave him an insight into most of the martial arts and indeed he has published some 70 specialist books and papers on the subject.

Paul Crompton also studied and practised a wide range of martial arts from judo and karate to t'ai chi chuan, Chinese chi gung and aikido. He is often used as a consultant by film and television production conmpanies. His practical and editorial experience in the martial arts gives him the authority required to understand the needs of the general and specialist reader alike.

Contents

Karate
Judo
Aikido
Jujutsu
Kendo
Iaido
Kyudo
Ryukyu kobujutsu
Ninjutsu and shuriken-do
Sumo
Shorinji kempo
Jodo
Chinese kung fu
T'ai chi chuan
Hsing-i chuan
Pakua
Wushu
Wing chun kung fu
Escrima
Pentjak silat
Taekwondo
Kick boxing
Savate
Hybrids
Indian martial arts
Index… (altro)