Martial Arts Books

The martial arts business is booming right now, and with each passing year, martial arts only grow more popular. Which is why books and e-books on the subject are becoming increasingly hot items on the market, and sites like Amazon and eBay are filled to the brim with titles that are always flying off of the Internet shelves. Books on martial arts are so popular, in fact, that many seem as eager to collect the latest and greatest title as they are to get their martial arts belts.

But with so many different authors, titles, and subjects to choose from, it can be hard to decide on what to read first, which is why reader reviews are so very important on deciding what is worth reading, and what should be left in the store. Here are suggestions of the most popular martial arts books, as chosen by fans.

• Living the Martial Way: A Manual for the Way a Modern Warrior Should Think by Forrest E. Morgan

The title is a mouthful, but this is a fantastic book, written for beginners to the martial arts, aimed at white to orange belts. I have never heard a bad word spoken about Living the Martial Way, and in fact frequently hear it suggested to those who are thinking of joining the field.

• Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

Written in an attempt to introduce the martial arts practitioner to the more spiritual side of Asian combat, Joe Hyams delves into the importance of Zen in various martial art forms. Another great book for white to orange belts.

• The Ronin: A Novel Based on a Zen Myth by William Dale Jennings

While not an instructional book, this novel gives a clear feel for what it means to be a warrior, and what martial arts are really about. Written from a fictional perspective, it takes one of the most well known Zen myths, and turns it into a gripping story.

• The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

One of the more controversial writings on martial arts, this book has caused quite a bit of debate within the community. Based off of a theory of power outside of morality, it gives a brutally honest review of the necessities of power, as seen through Robert Greene, and can cause some discomfort from those who see martial arts as a form of morality and dedication. Whether you agree with it or not, this is still a fascinating book.

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