Martial Meditation: Philosophy and the Essence of the Martial Arts.

Martial Meditation: Philosophy and the Essence of the Martial Arts examines the essence, distinctions, and dynamic interaction between art, sport, martial arts, and martial art sports giving the reader both historical and philosophical perspectives. Topics examined in this book are:

What is art?
What

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is sport?
Who should be interested in martial arts training as opposed to sports like boxing or football?
What is the historical basis for martial arts?
Should martial art become sport?
Do the martial arts have meaning for modern man?
What is the role of meditation and mental activity in martial arts?

The reader will find a thoughtful examination of these questions and more based upon the deep experience of the authors in several martial arts. It is extremely imformative to the intermediate to advanced student and will prove to be thought provoking for the insturctior to master, regardless of the style practiced.

Contents

Introduction
Methodological considerations
East versus west
Talk versus action
faith versus reason
I The nature of martial arts
Chapter 1
A short history of the eastern martial arts
Origins
Development of different styles
Chapter 2
The martial arts today
Contemporary practice in the martial arts
The current variety of the martial arts
Rank systems
Chapter 3
What is a martial art
Do and jutsu
Martial art and sport
Martial art and art
The nature of martial artsa
Application
Chapter 4
Forms
A survey of formal exercises and drills
What is form
The purpose of forms
Evaluation of forms
Breaking
Chapter 5 Sparring
Types of sparring
The goals of sparring
Deficiencies of sparring
Sparring well
Ritual
II The spirit of the martial arts
Chapter 6 The martial arts and moral character
Experimental evidence
A model for character development in the martial arts
Developing moral character through martial arts training
Virtuous progress in the martial arts
Chapter 7
Violence and the martial arts
Fighting and violence
Mushin and moral responsibility
Pacifism and the martial arts
A martial art as a moral calling
Chapter 8
Force
Experimental results
Magical results
Poetry
The decisive moment: Kairos
Chapter 9
Zen Buddhism and the martial arts
An escape from Descartes?
Intuitive knowledge
Practical wisdom
Stages of development in the martial arts
Tao
Chapter 10
The simplicity of the martial arts
The concept of simplicity
Simplicity and the martial arts
The worth of a single martial arts
A do without forms
Practical applications
Chapter 11
Mastery of a martial art
The levels of martial art
The master
Becoming a master of a martial art
Particular activity and general insight
Justification of a way of life
Chapter 12
The future of the Eastern martial arts
Current trends in the martial arts
The individuation of the martial arts
Eclecticism and the unity of a martial art
From jutsu to do sport
Drawbacks of martial art sport
What should the martial arts become?
The way of the martial artist and progress in the martial art
Appendix
Bibliography

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