Those who know me well know that I love to read. I've had some critics suggest that I must have got my training from books. I suppose they're jealous that I can read. But it's true, I won't hesitate to get a hint here or a hint there from some book or magazine. In fact, I tell people if they want to learn how to fight, watch YouTube then do everything opposite of what they saw. But in all seriousness, I think there's value in keeping your eyes and ears open. I don't think a person can truly learn the martial arts from books, but for those who already know what they're doing, books can be great guides in the fine-tuning of one's strategies. That said, I want to suggest a few books and phrases of interest. These have kept me on point in my search for martial excellence.
The Book of Five Rings, by Miyamoto Musashi. This is the book I read when I was seven years old, and the book which started it all for me. (Try the recently released William Scott Wilson translation).
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. The strategies in this book, if read with an alert mind, will open up a whole new world of thought for you.
Anything by Dave Lowry, a writer for Black Belt Magazine. I have a few magazines from as early as 1975 and 1976 when he began for them, and I have always enjoyed reading his insights. I don't agree with everything, of course, but he makes me think. Go to the bookstore and you'll find a few compilation books with his articles.
Read, read, read. Even if the knuckleheads accuse you of being book-smart but street-dumb. Anyone who imitates his instructor, without keeping himself open to other ideas found in books, is never going to learn to his fullest potential. And to close, here are a few random quotes I really like:
Some make excuses. Others make victories. - Yupon
An exchange of strikes is foolishness. It proves nothing. The best fighter doesn't give his opponent an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. - Miyamoto Musashi
A master will never allow himself to be called one. - Aristotle
With all of the so-called masters around here, where are all the masterpieces? - Dave Lowry
Conditioning is the best submission hold. - Karl Gotch
Fatigue makes cowards of us all. - Vince Lombardi
In other words, think. And how can you think if all you're doing is parroting your instructor's views? Books, magazines, and all other types of media will help you grow. And isn't this the true purpose of martial arts?
