The Father of Judo

Book Review: The Father of Judo

June 26, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 0

Title: The Father of Judo: A Biography of Jigoro Kano Author: Brian N. Watson Publisher: Kodansha International Publication Date: October 16, 2000 Format: Hardcover Pages: 212, 6.2 in x 8.8 in Cover Price: $28 ISBN: 4770025300 Content Brian Watson is a long time judo practitioner, ranked as a 4th dan at the time of writing The Father [Read More]

Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kano

Book Review: Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kano

June 25, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 0

Title: Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kano Author: Brian N. Watson Publisher: Trafford Publication Date: October 3, 2008 Format: Hardcover / Paperback / Kindle Pages: 218, 6 in x 9 in Cover Price: $29 / $26 / $8.99 ISBN: 978-1425163495 Content Brian Watson is a long time judo practitioner, ranked as [Read More]

Saving Japans Martial Arts

Book Review: Saving Japan’s Martial Arts

June 24, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 0

Title: Saving Japan’s Martial Arts Author: Christopher M. Clarke Publisher: Clarke’s Canyon Press Publication Date: 2011 Format: Hardcover Pages: 284, 5 ½ in by 8 ½ in Cover Price: print-on-demand for $16.95 ISBN: 9781466211728 Content Dr. Christopher M. Clarke is a prolific author, having written or edited three dozen books on the martial arts — some of which [Read More]

Mind Over Muscle

Book Review: Mind Over Muscle

June 23, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 0

Title: Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo Author: Jigoro Kano; Compiled by Naoki Murata; Translated by Nancy H. Ross Publisher: Kodansha International Publication Date: May 6 2013; First edition 2005 Format: Hardcover Pages: 160, 5.5 in x 7.7 in Cover Price: $19.95 ISBN: 978-1568364971 Content Professor Jigoro [Read More]

A History of Judo

Book Review: A History of Judo

June 22, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 1

Title: A History of Judo Author: Syd Hoare Publisher: Yamagi Books Publication Date: 2009 Format: Paperback Pages: 208, 6 in x 9 in Cover Price: none ISBN: 9780956049803 Content The late Sydney (Syd) Hoare was a British judoka who competed for Great Britain in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He was [Read More]

Combat Sports in the Ancient World

Book Review: Combat Sports in the Ancient World

June 2, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 0

Title: Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence, and Culture Author: Michael B. Poliakoff Publisher: Yale University Press Publication Date: 1987 Format: Paperback Pages: 202, 6 in x 9 in Cover Price: $24 ISBN: 9780300063127 Content In an earlier review I described a book titled The Martial Arts of [Read More]

Jet Li’s Unleashed Movie Review

May 29, 2020 Tristan Glover 1

How to watch: Hulu (with Starz add-on), $3.99 on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Youtube. Starring: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon Director: Louis Leterrier Writer: Luc Besson Run time: 1 hour 43 minutes Rating: R Release date: May 13, 2005 Style: Kung Fu, Crime, Violent More information on this film can be found on [Read More]

Cover of The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece

Book Review: The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece

May 20, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 0

Title: The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece: Modern Fighting Techniques from the Age of Alexander Author: Kostas Dervenis and Nektarios Lykiardopoulos Publisher: Destiny Books, an imprint of Inner Traditions • Bear & Company Publication Date: October 22, 2007 Format: Paperback Pages: 8 in x 10 in Cover Price: $19.95 ISBN: [Read More]

Book Cover

Book Review: The Legacy of Kano Jigoro

May 18, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 1

Note: I would like to thank the publisher, and their point of contact Adam, for sending me a review copy from Japan. Title: The Legacy of Kano Jigoro: Judo and Education Author: The Committee for the Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Jigoro Kano; Translated by Tom [Read More]

Ninja: Unmasking the Myth

Book Review: Ninja: Unmasking the Myth

May 12, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 1

  Title: Ninja: Unmasking the Myth Author: Stephen Turnbull Publisher: Frontline Books Publication Date: 02/26/2018 Format: Hardcover Pages: 230, 6.1″ x 9.8″ Cover Price: £25.00   Content Author Dr. Stephen Turnbull took his first degree at Cambridge and has two MAs (in Theology and Military History) from Leeds University. In [Read More]

Inventing the Way of the Samurai

Book Review: Inventing the Way of the Samurai: Nationalism, Internationalism, and Bushidō in Modern Japan

April 27, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 1

Title: Inventing the Way of the Samurai: Nationalism, Internationalism, and Bushidō in Modern Japan Author: Oleg Benesch Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication Date: 11/11/2014 Format: Hardcover Pages: 304, 6.1″ x 9.2″ Cover Price: $105.00 Content Dr. Oleg Benesch is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in East Asian History in the [Read More]

Ninja Assassin Movie Review

April 1, 2020 Tristan Glover 3

‘ How to watch: Available on Netflix Starring: Rain, Rick Yune, Naomie Harris, Sho Kosugi Director: James Mctigue Writers: Matthew Sand, J. Michael Straczynski Run Time: 1 hour 39 minutes Rating: R Release Date: November 25, 2009 Style: Action, Gore, Martial Arts, Hollywood More information on this film can be found on its IMDB page.   [Read More]

Bushido Explained Cover

Book Review: Bushido Explained

March 19, 2020 Richard Bejtlich 1

Title: Bushido Explained Author: Alexander Bennett; Illustrations: Baptiste Tavernier Publisher: Tuttle Publishing Publication Date: 3/10/2020 Format: Hardcover Pages: 160, 6″ x 9″ Cover Price: $16.99     Content Dr. Alexander Bennett is a Professor at Kansai University’s Division of International Affairs, teaching Japanese history and society. He is also an [Read More]

Shaolin Kung Fu

Book Review: Shaolin Kung Fu

March 15, 2020 Justin Lee Ford 9

Title: Shaolin Kung Fu: The Original Training Techniques of the Shaolin Lohan Masters Author: Donn F. Draeger, P’ng Chye Khim, Alexander Bennet (Foreward) Publisher: Tuttle Publishing Publish Date: 3/31/2020 Format: Paperback Pages: 168 Cover Price: $15.99 Content The style of Shaolin Kung Fu can mean many, many different things nowadays. [Read More]

Review of “Authentic Iron Palm”

March 6, 2020 Jaredd Wilson 0

Title: Authentic Iron Palm: The Complete Training Manual Author: Phillip Start Publisher: Blue Snake Books Publish Date: 2020 Format: Soft Cover Pages: 97 Cover Price: $18.95 (US Iron Palm is one of those “techniques” that you hear a lot about from old Kung Fu movies. Its name is mentioned almost [Read More]

Ip Man 4: The Finale Movie Review

January 24, 2020 Tristan Glover 2

How to watch: Currently in select theaters. Starring: Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Chris Collins, Meng Lo, Vanness Wu, Kwok-Kwan Chan, Kent Cheng, Yue Wu Director: Wilson Yip, (Action director Yuen Woo-Ping) Writers: Tai-lee Chan, Hiroshi Fukazawa, Lai-Yin Leung, Edmond Wong Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes Rating: PG-13 Release Date: December 25, 2019 (USA) Style: Chinese, Kung [Read More]

Ninja Fighting Techniques

Book Review: Ninja Fighting Techniques

January 13, 2020 Justin Lee Ford 0

Title: Ninja Fighting Techniques Author: Stephen K. Hayes Publisher: Tuttle Publishing Publish Date: 03/24/2020 Format: Hardback, Jacketed Pages: 160 Cover Price: $16.99     Content The subtitle under Stephen K. Hayes’ latest book Ninja Fighting Techniques couldn’t have summed up the entirety of its contents in words more precise: “A [Read More]

Seis Manos TV Review

How to watch: Netflix Starring: Vic Chao, Mike Colter, Jonny Cruz, Aislinn Derbez, Angélica Vale, Danny Drejo Runtime: 8 episodes Language: English Creators: Brad Graeber, Álvaro Rodriguez Director: Willis Bulliner Writers: Álvaro Rodríguez, Daniel Dominguez Rating: 16+ Release date: October 3, 2019 Style:  Anime, Fantasy, Action, Martial Arts For more details, you [Read More]

36th Chamber

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Movie Review

December 17, 2019 Tristan Glover 0

How to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, $3.99 on iTunes, $1.99 on Google Play Starring: Gordon Liu, Lieh Lo, Wilson Tong, John Cheung, Norman Chu Director: Lau Kar Leung Writers: Kuang Ni Run Time: 115 Minutes Rating: R Release Date: February 2, 1978 (Hong Kong) Style: Kung Fu, Hung Gar, Hong Kong, Martial Arts More information on this film [Read More]