Martial Arts America: A Western Approach to Eastern Arts [Paperback]

Bob Orlando (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 1997

Whether you are seeking martial skills or are just curious about the fighting arts, Martial Arts America provides useful insights into a subject that has been too long shrouded in mystery, mysticism, and marketing hype. If you are already a practitioner, it will challenge you to think about what you are doing in your training, and if it is working.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Orlando was introduced to the martial arts while on active duty with the U.S. Marines. He began serious study in Chinese kenpo-karate, later switching to kung fu, which he studied under Al Dacascos. He has studied aikido, iaido, eskrima, Chinese kuntao, and Indonesian pentjak silat. Orlando is the author of Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals: The Brutal Arts of the Archipelago, has produced a video on Indonesian fighting fundamentals, and owns and operates the Je-du-too School of Martial Arts in Denver, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Frog Books (December 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883319676
• ISBN-13: 978-1883319670
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,472,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thoughtful Analysis of Martial Arts in America, July 17, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Martial Arts America: A Western Approach to Eastern Arts (Paperback)

This book discusses a variety of topics that most martial artists find that they need to address at some point in their martial arts careers. It begins by discussing motivations for training and then covers such topics as the "evolutionary cycle of combat arts", kata, the metaphysical, selecting a school, modern training methods/techniques and women in the martial arts. It is well written and provides the reader with the insights and conclusions that Mr. Orlando has arrived at after 30+ years in the martial arts. There are helpful pictures and interesting or amusing illustrations.

I think that the person who will benefit the most from this book, in general, is relatively new to the martial arts. This book would be invaluable for giving the newer martial artist food for thought as well as some very practical advice that could be immediately applied. I also think that some classically trained martial artists may find the ideas in the book a bit intriguing and perhaps challenge their ways of thinking. There is a lot of good stuff in this book.

However, I think that the more experienced martial artist, who has already spent considerable time exploring various martial arts, and himself, may not find a lot of new ideas in the book. I bought this book based on a post that was done on a martial art mailing list and the various positive reviews on Amazon. While the book is very well done, I simply did not find it that interesting because I had already personally dealt with most of the issues that he discusses (and come to many of the same conclusions). The book is relatively short and easy reading so I did read the entire book; however for me personally it was a bit of a let down (after reading all of the great reviews) because there was not much I could take out of it. For example, I already train with shoes on, I switched from "classic" blocking/striking motions to more "modern" applications, I have studied internal & external arts and I know what to look for in a good training hall - therefore these (and other) sections did not tell me a lot that I did not already know.

I am not saying to rule out the book simply because you have a lot of experience in the arts. My advice is that you try to look through the book before purchasing to determine if there is something in it for you. I can certainly see where this book might change the way you think about martial arts (also evidenced by the reviews here), but it is not for everyone.

One other item that I think worth commenting on is that the book reads a bit a like a compilation of short articles with a common theme. Nothing wrong with that - just something to be aware of. In fact, making this point reminds of a book that I enjoyed, called Moving Toward Stillness (which actually is a collection of articles by Dave Lowry). This book takes nearly an opposite theme from Mr. Orlando's - ie. Mr. Lowry is a proponent of the preservation of ancient Japanese arts in their original forms. Although I lean more toward Mr. Orlando's way of thinking about martial arts in America, Mr. Lowry's book gave me a new appreciation for preserving certain things that I previously would have thought silly to preserve. Therefore, I highly recommend that you consider Mr. Lowry's book in addition to this volume for a more balanced view of preservation versus innovation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Emperor's New Clothes, August 17, 1999

By 

Dustin Laurence ([e-mail]) (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martial Arts America: A Western Approach to Eastern Arts (Paperback)

This book is not the best book on my shelf--it would be if it were ever on my shelf, but I loan it out every chance I get.

I particularly appreciated Bob's willingness to state the "obvious" (in hindsight) in print without regard to who will take exception. Like the boy in "The Emperor's New Clothes," he has the rare wisdom of being willing to look foolish by asking the obvious, forbidden, necessary questions. The discussion of punching and blocking in Karate and similar arts is only the most obvious example.

Instead of telling you what is in the book, let me tell what it has done for me as someone of no great skill who has trained in several arts and been satisfied with none of them. (A lot of us, unfortunately, fall in this category.) More than anything else I have ever seen or read, this book helped me to:

(1) Analyze and understand what I do and do not want from a martial art, and who might offer it. Anyone who has studied several arts here and there, as I have, knows the frustration of not being able to be an "intelligent consumer." This alone is worth far more than the cost of the book (probably less than half the cost of a month of lessons anywhere). I agree with another reviewer; if you are thinking of taking lessons but don't know exactly what you want already, BUY THIS BOOK NOW. It takes time and experience to discover the right art and teacher. It is a great help to borrow some of Bob's time and experience before you start spending your own.

(2) Maintain motivation to train. You can't wait to train until you find the ideal art. I find it encouraging to know that even if my best local opportunity to train is not what I would prefer, there are other things out there if I have patience. Perspective is a valuable thing, particularly if it helps you take advantage of the opportunities you have rather than waiting for ones that you don't.

(3) Appreciate arts that are not necessarily for me. Once you know what you want personally, you can stop trying to make other arts something they are not but instead enjoy what they are. As well as being a generally humane attitude, this also helps with point (2). And, after all, I may discover I like them more than I thought.

I have minor criticisms, but what they are does not matter. What does matter is that you read it for yourself and find your own. That's ultimately the point of the book; rational inquiry and debate in the best Western tradition. Bob asks "why?" and "can you prove it?" constantly and encourages us to do the same. It is a shame that we need the encouragement so much.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid, insightful, "user friendly" presentation, August 11, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martial Arts America: A Western Approach to Eastern Arts (Paperback)

Martial Arts America: A Western Approach To Eastern Arts by Bob Orlando (martial arts expert and founder of the Je-du-to School of Martial Arts, Denver Colorado) is a solid, insightful, "user friendly" presentation of how martial arts are taught in America today ranging from self-defense, to sport, to the different challenges in training male and female students, to what a black belt really means. A superbly presented background book and very highly recommended reading for anyone contemplating a martial arts program, Martial Arts America warns seekers of self-defense about what to search for and what to look out for when seeking a suitable school. If you are contemplating learning the martial arts in a formal program of instruction, begin your search with a careful reading of Bob Orlando's Martial Arts America.