Arts Of Strength, Arts Of Serenity : Martial Arts Training For Mental, Physical, And Spiritual Health

Rating:
Summary: A great book for beginners!
Review: A clear and focused book discussing many different styles of Martial Arts, includes valuable insights into the appropriate mental and physical attitudes necessary to successfully study martial arts. Inspired me to start studying judo.

Rating:
Summary: A great book for beginners!
Review: I really thought this book helped me deciding what martial art to study. It discussed the different martial arts, then went on to explain the training and thinking methods used in the martial arts. I read it after reading Mr. Suino's first book, The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, which is also great. I'm hoping Mr. Suino will come out with some books about martial arts other than Iaido.

Rating:
Summary: If you know nothing about budo and want an overview...
Review: Mr. Suino gives a surface take on martial arts from a "Japanese is it" perspective. He gets his history wrong. Funakoshi changed the ideogram from "China hand" to "empty hand" just as Chan Buddhism comes from China to become Zen. His take on Zen, after reading Three Pillars of Zen and Suzuki is just as bad. He seems commited to rank as a social and training tool without realizing or admitting the ego elements, not to mention the financial. After a decade, I received Shodan and decided B. Lee was right. A belt is for holding up your pants. It what you can do that is important. There is no discussion of specific training methods only general comments about practicing your punches. Among the other comments that struck a false note was the author's promoting of boxing and kick boxing as self-defense instruction. There were a few nice quotes from other martial artists and Zen monks and some good books are mentioned at the end. This text is not for a serious martial artist with any knowledge or background.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book.
Review: This book gives an excellent overview of traditional japanese martial arts. Mr. Suino describes the various arts and gives an overview of the philosophy behind them. The book is a great choice for the beginner as well as the advanced student.

Rating:
Summary: Eye opening
Review: This book is very in depth gives you a diffenrt view of every day life. At first it is a hard book to understand, However i have read it 3 times thus far an have benefited from 3 times over. You will learn something new each time you read it. if you are into martial arts like i am then i recommed it by all means. If you are not into the arts then i still would consider this good reading.

Rating:
Summary: A must own!
Review: This book should be a part of every martial artist's book collection, like Bushido, Book of Five Rings, and The Art of War. The philosophy of martial arts is set out in clear, concise explanations, without a lot of hocus-pocus. This book is hard to find, but worth the trouble.