Martial Meditation: Philosophy and the Essence of the Martial Arts Revised First Edition

Martial Meditation is a serious study of philosophical issues in the Eastern martial arts. Such issues include the relation of the martial arts to sport and art, the goals of the martial arts, the development of moral character in the martial arts, and the influence of Zen Buddhism in the martial arts. Again, there are many books that touch on these issues; and some of them offer valuable insights and interesting perspectives on the martial arts. It does not hesitate to refer to these. But what is usually lacking in them is a detailed and rigorous analysis of the issues involved. The insights may be present, but explication of those insights usually is not. This book concentrates on explicating those insights. Readers should not expect to absorb this book quickly, any more than you should expect to become proficient in the techniques of a martial art quickly. This book is for the serious student, one who is willing to work at understanding. The authors have tried to write for someone who has at least a partial grasp on the issues involved, be that grasp acquired through some martial arts training or through the academic study of sport or philosophy. In the first two chapters, the authors offer some background information on the martial arts, and in the rest of the book they quoted widely and extensively from various sources. This book is recommended for martial artists past the novice stage and for college students studying martial arts and combat sports.