Are you new to the martial arts? Or are you a veteran student who is looking for that extra edge or curious about other styles and new techniques? No matter where you train, at what level or in which style, the Ultimate Martial Arts Encyclopedia offers in-depth insight into the most critical aspects of our martial arts experience.

Inside, you'll find dozens of chapters covering an impressive array of topics, from histories and traditions to techniques and more. Every chapter is written by an expert, and photographs thoughout the book ensure that you'll learn the techniques properly and be able to integrate them into your practice. Topics include:

An introduction to all the major martial arts styles, from aikido to wing chun
Advice and instruction on getting the most out of every block, strike, and kick you execute
Clear, illustrated explanations of highly effective techques from lesser-known arts
Insight into developing a fighting stategy, conquering fear and pain, and improving our mental game for strong practice in the classroom and in competition

Weighing in at more than 250 pages, with 46 chapters full of hard-hitting advice, the Ultimate Martial arts Encyclopedia is required reading for all martial arts students, from beginners to black blets.

About the editors:

John R. Little is the author of The Warrior Within, Bruce Lee: Words from a Master, and other books on Bruce Lee. He is also the author of numerous published articles on martial arts philosophy and practice.

Curtis F. Wong is the publisher of Inside Kung-Fu and other highy respected martial arts magazines.

Contents

Part One: Histories and traditions
1 Dan Insosanto remembers the history of jeet kune do by Alan Sutton
2 The five major styles of tai chi chuan by Dr. Paul Lam
3 Aikido: The way of harmony by John Stevens
4 The other aikido by Dr. William Durbin
5 Kempo: The source by Dr. William Durbin
6 Classical jujitsu and its modern forms by Dr. Tom Corizzi
7 Pankaration: The ancient Greek martial art of 'All-powers' combat by Norm Leff
8 The grapplers of ancient Rome by Norm Leff
9 Savate: Forerunner of modern French martial arts by William Durbin
10 Boxe Francaise Savate in the feminine by Salemn Assli
11 Capoeria: The forbidden sport by Debora Martins
12 The fighting animals of Korean martial arts by Jane Hallander
13 Imperial palace Paqua: China's royal martial art comes to America by Jane Hallander
14 Original Hung Gar: The tangled roots of a powerful kung fu by Gene Ching
15 Da Mo's secret Shaolin temple Chi kung by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
16 Baguazhang: The art of the Chinese bodyguard by Jerry Payne
Part II: Techniques
17 How to develop a fighting strategy: A lesson plan for becoming a world champion by Roger Haines
18 Transmutation: A lock is a block is a blow is a throw by Tony Annesi
19 Winning wing chun fighting stances by Alan Lamb
20 Combat wing chun techniques: A direct approach to close-range fighting by Gavin Blackburn
21 Shotokan's fancy footwork by Keith Boggess
22 Finally! Pressure-point techniques for women by Chris Thomas
23 Trankadas: The key to the hand-trapping and hand-locking techniques of lapunti arnis de abanico by Dr. Jopet R. Laraya
24 Creating the complete full-contact fighter by Ralph Mitchell
25 The jeet kune do lead punch by Ted Wong
26 Backfist blitz by Mike Soohey
27 The power of the palm by Jane Hallander
28 Buddha hand: Wing chun's guiding light by Santo Barbalace
29 Read the future i your pigua palms by Adam Hsu
30 The many faces of shaolin crane by Jane Hallander
31 Kicking form anoher angle: Tang soo do's arsenal of angular kicks by Hector Vega and Jim Stroud
32 Kicking okinawan style by Dr. William Durbin
33 The ax kick's crushing power by Art Michaels
34 Fantastic flips and kicks: The double-barreled approach to winning wushu by Bruce Fontaine
35 Kata: The soul of karate by John Van Weenen
36 The dos and don'ts of forms! by Chris Casamassa
Part Three: Beyond the fist
37 Exploring the myths and misconceptions of the martial arts by John Maberry
38 Conquering fear and pain through the martial arts by Dr. Tom Corizzi
39 You can win the game of life by Robert Dreeben
40 Signposts on the road to mastery by Tony Annesi
41 The Tao of yin and yang in taijiquan by Dr. John P. Painter
42 The tao of yin and yang in taijiquan: Part 2 by Dr. John P. Painter
43 The secret to middle-aged martial arts by Lloyd Firdenburg
44 Train the external, ask for trouble! by Adam Wallace
45 The art of breating correctly by Dr. John P. Painger, Ph.D., wth Dave Cater
46 Martial arts and African dance: The hidden connection by Earl White