The aim of all eastern martial arts is not simply to defeat one's opponent, but to attain the intuitive sense of flow, complementarity and harmony that comes with the highest level of mastery. Systems and techniques range from those using deadly weapons to the 'breath throw' of Aikido, where an attacker finds himself flying through the air without the slightest touch from the master. Strength arises, not from muscular training, but from the balance of the three energy levels of Body, Breath and Mind. A true master will have a 'tranquil, unified spirit which is like the ocean, from which the surging waves of defence and attack can arise and into which they again dissolve.'

Contents

Introduction
1 Technical aspects
The prime importance of the body
Internal/external
External aspects: techniques
Strategy and tactics
2 The martial arts as spiritual and psychological disciplines
Warrior of the spirit
Creative destruction
Developing the will
3 Body, energy, mind and spirit
Body-breath-mind
The integration of the structure of breath and body
Rhythm, power and freedom
Body movement and awareness: the key to the psychophysical energy of ki
The ego structure and the body
Pates
Themes
Grounding
The up
Ki
Healing
Weapons
Spontaineity
No mind
Acknowledgments and further reading (bibliography)