The Fighting Arts Their Evolution from Secret Societies to Modern Times [Paperback]

Michael Rosenbaum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 25, 2002

The Fighting Arts with its 118 pages is an awesome read if you are interested in the evolution of the arts from secret societies to Modern times. Written by a true scholar Michael Rosenbaum you will see what these mysterious arts are all about for the first time in a way that makes total sense.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An impressively sourced book examining mankind's relationship with the fighting arts. --Fightingspirit.com

Very interesting! --Risingsunproductions.net

Very interesting! --Risingsunproductions.net

About the Author

Michael J. Rosenbaum was born on May 12, 1961 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He started his martial arts training at the age of five when his father instructed him in both Judo and Boxing. At the age of fifteen, he began studying Isshin Ryu Karate and by the time of his seventeenth birthday he had been introduced to the Burmese fighting art of Bando. At the age of eighteen Michael enlisted in the U.S. Army. Michael Rosenbuam is now a 3rd degree black belt, has over 24 years of Karate training, is a veteran of the elite 82nd Airborne Division (US Army), and has extensive Infantry and Jungle Warfare training. He currently resides in Knoxville, TN.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: YMAA Publication Center (December 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886969213
• ISBN-13: 978-1886969216
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read, February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fighting Arts Their Evolution from Secret Societies to Modern Times (Paperback)

Rosenbaum's approach is far from a how to or how to do martial arts..Instead he explains in a very easy to understand manner just how the fighting arts evolved due to our cultural moors and traditions, not just Asian but other counties as well. From thisfoundation he then clear points out the differences between oldworld battlefield martial arts and their evolution and our modern quasi martial arts that consist of many things most not of a martial nature. It is well sourced and historically correct. He uses various systems and styles as examples of to explain his points, from Tae Kwon Do to JKD, UFC and others well known today. His views are at times blunt in their ascessments of todays fighting arts especially when compared to those practiced 100-200 years ago. All in all I really enjoyed it, found it refreshing,educational and even at times challenging compared to what I have been led to believe about the marital arts.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh, January 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fighting Arts Their Evolution from Secret Societies to Modern Times (Paperback)

Imagine reading a freshman English 101 paper on the "fighting arts". Only it's 100 pages long (about [...] per page of main text). That's "The Fighting Arts". Utterly devoid of interesting insights, grasp of history or even enthusiasm for its subject, it reads like the contractually required 5th book in a 5 book deal. Would it interest you to know that Western knightly martial arts included systems of hand-to-hand combat and knowledge of a variety of joint locks? Me too. And now you know just about all this book has to say on the topic, because that's the level of detail offered. Are you vaguely aware that different cultures affect each other over time? If so, you may be over-qualified for this book already. Go to a Borders store, stand in the Martial Arts section and read any 15 page introduction to just about any martial arts book. You'll learn just about all this book has to say.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind, November 25, 2002

By 

tom - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fighting Arts Their Evolution from Secret Societies to Modern Times (Paperback)

First off this is the only martial arts book that I've ever seen that has it's forward written by a pulitzer nominee. The approach the author takes is very unique in that he focuses on the development of the fighting arts from cultural perspectives, religon, ethics,warfare, geography, etc and points out how these played key roles in the development of martial arts both of Asian and European heritage. He breaks the book down into two major areas, classical systems and modern ones and then compares the two. If you think that your a fighter on par with the knights of old or the ancient samurai this book will bust your bubble and fast. Likewise if you think that just because you do karate you hold the same mindset as the military elites, Seals, Green Berets, Rangers you will also be in store for some shocks. The book is well sourced, over 100 footenotes and it covers not only civilian fighting arts but those of our modern day military as well giving insights into the differences between them and how they are used. The chapter on Terrorism and its relationship to martial arts was well put and his view of how the fighting arts fit into todays modern world is one well worth considering. At the price you can't beat it. No matter who you are or what you pracitce this book will stir your thoughts. But beware if you think Hollywood has the greatest martial artists that have ever lived, Bruce Lee included, then this book will be a cold slap in the face for you.