Martial Arts America-A Western Approach to Eastern Arts

Whether you are seeking martial skills or are just curious about the fighting arts, Martial Arts America provides useful insights into a subject that has been too long shrouded in mystery, mysticism, and marketing hype. If you are already a practitioner, it will challenge you, again and again, to

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think about what you are doing in your training and if it is working.

'It gives me great pleasure to speak for Bob Orlando's book Martial Arts America. I found Martial Arts America, like his first book, Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals, easy to read and highly informative. His knoweldge and teaching ability is evident in the way in which he breaks down and explains the historical and cultural aspects of the martial arts. Every chapter is thought-provoking, causing the reader to explore his or her own philosophy, internally and externally.'-Dan Insosanto, Author of Jeet Kune Do: The Art and Philosophy of Bruce Lee

'Martial Arts America observes that many Asian martial arts taught today in the West carry with them cultural baggage which is irrelevant to the martial art itself and inconsistent with Western culture...This book challenges martial artists to think about what they are doing, teaching, and learning, rather than simply repeating uncritically an instruction passed on by another. It is an extraordinarily challenging work which should be given detailed attention by all serious martial artists.'-Bob McKenna, Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, Denver

Bob Orlando was introduced to the martial arts while on active duty with the U.S. Marines (1961-1964). He began serious study in Chinese kenpo-karate, later switching to kung-fu, which he studied under Al Dacascos. He has studied aikido, iaido, eskrima, Chinese kuntao, and Indonesian pentjak silat. Orlando is the author of Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals: The Brutal Arts of the Archipelago (Paladin), has produced a video on indonesian fighting fundamentals, and owns and operates the Je-du-too School of Martial arts in Denver, Colorado. He is also a founding member and past director of the Colorado Karate Association.

Contents

Foreword Rob Pickett
Acknowledgments
Introduction-Bruce Lee; Ed Parker; The central truth
Chapter One-Why study martial arts?
Martial sports
Martial art philosophies
Martial arts as art
Martial arts for self-defense
Why martial arts?
Chapter Two The evolutinary cycle of combat arts
Evolution-Fighting methods to fighting arts; Fighting arts to martial arts; Social interaction
Devolution
Breaking the cycle-Rediscovery
Modern advantages
Recycling
Chapter Three-Preserving ancient arts
Preservation: A universal need-Where preservation makes sense; When preservation destroys; Preserving adaptability-an oxymoron
Sabres and samurai
Chapter Four Lethal skill at a Friday night party
Combat effectiveness as the standard-Changing combat techniques
What's good for the goose...-Cultural differences; Objectives
Rough riders forever?
Chapter Five The value of tradition
Weeds
Training versus teaching-The instructor's duty
Training versus study-The student's responsibility
Cultural understanding
Questionable traditions-Language studies; Bowing
Abandon them all?
Chapter Six From philosophical to practical
QWERTY
Punching and blocking theory-Classical punching; Classical blocking
Hands skills-Karate vs. boxing-Another option; serious fun; A basic drill; the obvious observed; Against a boxer
Barefoot training-Why train in bare feet?; Origins
A practical, shoes-on appraock-Simulaton of reality
Sparring anyone?
Changing paradigm
Updated training methods
Chapter Seven Kata (Forms training)
Is it still a useful training tool?-Classical mess; Contemporary mess
Understanding forms training-Training forms; Demonstration forms
Change or sacrilege?
Necessary and natural change
Chapter Eight Sport karate
The games marital artists play-Is sport karate real fighting?; Water polo anyone?
The value of games-Free-fighting benefits; Tournament play
To play or not to play
Chapter Nine The yin connection: Women and the martial arts
Realities
Destructive mind-sets-Wimps; Feminists
All things being equal-Making the art fit the individual; Equal contribution
Equality training
Chapter Ten Metaphysical practice
Dvisible by (at least) three-External and internal systems
Holy grail of the martial arts-Magic
Electromagnetic force?-The real thing?
Chi descriptions-from allegorical to literal-Syinergy; External and internal application
Some key points-The danger is in chi
Chapter Eleven The spiritual dimension
Spiritual trainng as part of martial art stydy
Avoiinding religiouis and spiritual elements-Most heterogeneous nation; focus on physical excellence; Adjunctive instruction?
Martial art spiritual training-Adding value?-Meditation and visualization; Morality and spiritual need
Replacing form with function
Chapter Twelve Yellow pages master
How much is that black belt is in the window?-Excess baggage
How much is pride worth?
Epilogue
Chapter Thirteen Quality instruction-Where to find it?
Questions consumers should ask-Visitors welcome?; Schol size: bigger or smaller? Organizational affiliation; tution, et. al.; Contracts; Tacher motivation
Quality from many sources
Conclusion
Sharing cultural traditions
Some problems of our own
A personal note
Notes
References (bibliography)
About the autho

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