Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals : The Brutal Arts Of The Archipelago

Rating:
Summary: Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals
Review: The techniques are good, but there are only a few in this book. A person would be better off to buy Larry Hartsell's 2 books on Jeet Kune Do. They contain the information in this book and about 10 times more and you'll have some change left over!

Rating:
Summary: The principles are essential
Review: The title is a little decieving. This book doesn't really profile silat or kuntao. Rather, it is one of the best books on concepts that I've ever read. I'd place it up there with "Tao of Jeet Kune Do". The concepts of gyroscopic rotation, shearing, adhesion, etc. can be applied to any art, given a little imagination. While the reader will learn something on the history of Indonesian martial arts, it is really the underlying principle that recieve the most attention. One won't really learn HOW to do silat or kuntao, but will gain an understanding of WHY the practitioners of such arts do the things they do. There is nothing on weapons, which I thought was strange, and nothing on Kali, which I thought was Indonesian, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is one of the best books on martial arts principles out there. No matter whether one is looking for asthetics, self-defence, understanding the "arts", or sporting aspects of martial arts, there is something in this book for everyone. I'd recomend it to anyone serious about the martial arts, but those with a more casual attitude towards the arts may not find anything useful here. If I could only have five martial arts books, this would be one of them.

Rating:
Summary: The principles are essential
Review: The title is a little decieving. This book doesn't really profile silat or kuntao. Rather, it is one of the best books on concepts that I've ever read. I'd place it up there with "Tao of Jeet Kune Do". The concepts of gyroscopic rotation, shearing, adhesion, etc. can be applied to any art, given a little imagination. While the reader will learn something on the history of Indonesian martial arts, it is really the underlying principle that recieve the most attention. One won't really learn HOW to do silat or kuntao, but will gain an understanding of WHY the practitioners of such arts do the things they do. There is nothing on weapons, which I thought was strange, and nothing on Kali, which I thought was Indonesian, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is one of the best books on martial arts principles out there. No matter whether one is looking for asthetics, self-defence, understanding the "arts", or sporting aspects of martial arts, there is something in this book for everyone. I'd recomend it to anyone serious about the martial arts, but those with a more casual attitude towards the arts may not find anything useful here. If I could only have five martial arts books, this would be one of them.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This is an excellent book on concepts of how to become a more proficient fighter. If you're looking for a book full of techniques, this in not the book for you. This book instead gives you the "ABC's of fighting." What I mean by the "ABC's of fighting" is that there are 26 letters in the alphabet, but the words that can be created from those 26 characters are endless. That is what this does by giving you a solid foundation to build upon.

Rating:
Summary: My copy is dog-eared.
Review: This is not a book that you read just once. It is a well of information that you will continue to return to again and again. Everytime I read it I come away with new understanding of the depths of martial arts. No matter what style you study, the principles here will help you better understand your own art. Marc Animal MacYoung

Rating:
Summary: One of the all time best
Review: Yes a bit pricey, but worth every cent. Have been through the tape that goes with the book, and the tapes on Reflex training drills. Mr. Orlando is on the cutting edge with only a hand full of other martial artists. I teach Aikido, after 911, I was not happy anymore with what and how I was teaching, so and I am trying to integrate some of the prinicples and techniques (yes you can see several if you watch the tapes long enough, oh and read the book) into what and how I teach. GREAT STUFF!!!! Larry Hartell's books (have 4 of them) are very very good also, but in a different context. VICTORY CORPS!

Rating:
Summary: One of the all time best
Review: Yes a bit pricey, but worth every cent. Have been through the tape that goes with the book, and the tapes on Reflex training drills. Mr. Orlando is on the cutting edge with only a hand full of other martial artists. I teach Aikido, after 911, I was not happy anymore with what and how I was teaching, so and I am trying to integrate some of the prinicples and techniques (yes you can see several if you watch the tapes long enough, oh and read the book) into what and how I teach. GREAT STUFF!!!! Larry Hartell's books (have 4 of them) are very very good also, but in a different context. VICTORY CORPS!