Immortal Combat gives a complete overview of all aspects of combat, form the primitive to the cutting-edge, examining the crucial differences between the soldier and the warrior, and the martial artist and martial sportsperson.

Author Bruce Thomas argues that the path of the true martial artist is that of self-knowledge and self-mastery, while the lesser ambition of the martial sportsperson sets him-or herself above and apart from others. Thomas explores the fundamental questions, What is martial art? What are its origins? And what is its greatest potential? He look at both internal and external martial arts, using martial art icon Bruce Lee, spiritual master Morihei Ueshiba, karate champion Joe Lewis, and others, as examples of these different paths.

With this book, you'll see how the developing skills of the martial artist can lead from ordinary phyiscal abilities into extraordinary ones--skill that point both to the most advanaced combat technology and, at the same time, to its deepest origins with the warriors of the past. You'll learn how a renewed relationship with the forces of the natural world goes hand-in-hand with a renewed awareness of the 'super-natural,' helping any practitioner, from beginner to master, to deepen self-understanding and access hidden potential.

Author of Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit, and Bruce Lee: Fighting Words, Bruce Thomas has done numerous interviews and articles on Bruce Lee for national newspapers, martial arts and music magazines, as well as radio and television. He initially trained for several years with Master Derek Jones, founder of Body Mind and Spirit (part of the wing chun lineage shared by Bruce Lee), but has more recenty become interested in the approach of Morihei Ueshiba.

Thomas is also known for his work in popular music, as a session musician on both sides of the Atalantic, and as the bass player with Elvis Costello and the Attractions. As a former member of this band he was inducted into the U.S.Rock'n'Roll Hall Fame in 2003.

Contents

Introduction
Part 1 Contenders
Chapter 1 The legend: Bruce Lee
Chapter 2 Ultimate Fighter: Joe Lewis
Chapter 3 Spiritual warrior: Morihei Ueshiba
Part 2 Martial art vs. Martial sport
Chapter 4 Extreme martial art
Chapter 5 Swinging with it
Chapter 6 Playing with the mind
chapter 7 Armed to the teeth
Chapter 8 The energy body
Part 3 The way of the warrior
Chapter 9 The art of war
Chapter 10 Psychic warrior
Chapter 11 Shadow boxing
Chapter 12 The new warrior
Part 4 Immortal combat
Chapter 13 Going the distance
Chapter 14 The art of self-defense
Acknowledgement
Bibliography