The first book on Japanese calligraphy from the significant Momoyama and Edo periods (1568–1868), 77 Dances examines the art of writing at a time when it was undergoing a remarkable flowering, as illustrated by over one hundred sumptuous illustrations. Everything...

From Chapter 20
North-Central and Northwestern India: The Art of the Rajput Clans

Among the most notable monuments of the Solanki period are the Jain temples on Mount Abu in Rajasthan (Fig. 20.50). Although Abu, named after the sacred mountain in the Sirohi district,...

Most Westerners are familiar with Taiji Quan (often spelled T'ai Chi Ch'uan), the graceful, dancelike exercise movements practiced by the Chinese to promote health and longevity. However, many do not realize that Taiji is also a martial art, and that it includes practice with weapons, including...

This illuminating work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define the art of ground fighting in most martial arts. More than 1,200 outstanding photographs introduce over 195 practical techniques encompassing all types of ground skills: chokes, head locks, joint locks, pins, ground...

This illuminating work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define the art of holding in most martial arts. More than 1,300 outstanding photographs introduce over 155 practical techniques encompassing all types of holds: joint-lock holds, chokes, head locks, nerve holds, pressure...

This lively introduction to Japanese joinery not only delves lovingly into the unique history and development of Japanese carpentry, but also reveals many secrets of Japanese joinery. Presenting 48 joints, selected from among the several hundred known and used today, this visually exciting book...

The original purpose of iaido was to slay an opponent with one stroke of the sword upon unsheathing. This manual of Eishin-Ryu or "Pure Faith" iaido teaches the most widely practiced sword style, and is illustrated with step-by-step drawings to help students, from beginners...

The original purpose of iaido was to slay an opponent with one stroke of the sword upon unsheathing; today it is practiced as a martial art, one that improves concentration, develops strength and coordination, and cultivates awareness of an ancient culture and its traditions. This manual of Eishin-Ryu...

This illuminating work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define the art of striking in most martial arts. More than 1,400 outstanding photographs introduce over 400 practical techniques encompassing all types of strikes: hand strikes, elbow strikes, standing kicks, aerial kicks,...

This illuminating work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define the art of throwing in most martial arts. More than 1,200 outstanding photographs introduce over 130 practical techniques encompassing all types of throws: shoulder throws, hip throws, hand throws, leg throws, sacrifice...

This unique work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define armed and unarmed self-defense involving common weapons. More than 1,400 outstanding photographs introduce over 350 practical techniques spanning seven basic classes of weapons—knife, short-stick, staff, cane, rope,...

What is "Basic Japanese"?

This book presents some very basic words and phrases along with some that are not usually considered "basic" at all. In fact, some of the material in this book is not typically presented until the student is well into his or her study of the Japanese...

Basic Japanese Through Comics is not intended as a textbook, but rather as an entertaining supplement to a more structured study of Japanese. The 24 "lessons" in this book are a compilation of the Basic Japanese column from Mangajin magazine; they do not build on each other,...

Around the beginning of the common era, Indian Buddhists began to collect fables, or jataka tales, illuminating various human virtues and foibles—from kindness, cooperation, loyalty and self-discipline on the one hand to greed, pride, foolishness, and treachery on the other. Instead of populating...

Donn Draeger was one of the most famous and well-respected martial artists of the twentieth century, and he was a pioneer in bringing Asian martial arts study to the West. Here, he illuminates the compelling historical, political, and philosophical events that gave rise to the development of the...