Martial Arts For Dummies [Paperback]

Jennifer Lawler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2002

There’s plenty of good reasons that millions of people around the world study martial arts.  Besides the fact  you can get a great workout when you study a martial art, you may also experience a rewarding balance between your mind, body, and spirit that you just won’t  find anywhere else.  Plus, it can be a lot of fun!

No matter what shape you’re in, martial arts is a great way to drop extra pounds, learn to defend yourself, and develop personal and physical discipline. Whether you’re already studying a style of fighting or you’re just considering it, you’ll find everything you need to know in this helpful, friendly guide (including which movies to check out!).

The book breaks down the differences and presents the basics of each style of fighting, so you can make an informed choice about which style you want to study. You’ll also find out what makes for a good instructor, so you can be sure that you’re learning from the best. And there’s much more.  You’ll find out:

• What martial arts is and is not
• Five resolutions you must accept
• Understanding the role of the instructor
• How to set goals for yourself
• All about the proper clothes, shoes, and equipment
• How to prevent injuries
• The philosophy of self defense
• All about competing in tournaments
• About Meditation and breathing techniques
• The lowdown on weapons

There’s also a helpful glossary of foreign-language terminology that you’ll frequently encounter in the dojo –  that’s the training hall – so you’ll always be prepared. Whether you’re looking for a new way to get in shape, or a new way to sharpen your mind, Martial Arts For Dummies is all you need to get started in Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, or any other style!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Essential in helping the reader get started in martial arts."
—Grandmaster Woo Jin Jung, Tae Kwon Do Academy

Improve your physical fitness, reduce stress, and build character

"Offers useful information for both the martial artist wannabe and the black belt."
—Carol Davis Hart, Managing Editor, Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine

Do you dream of earning a black belt? This high-kicking guide is chock-full of tips to help you get started in martial arts and brush up on techniques in Karate, Kung-Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, T’ai Chi, and more! You’ll discover how to find the right school, condition your body, and develop focus and discipline.

Praise for Martial Arts For Dummies

"Martial Arts For Dummies is an entertaining, informative, and inspiring book that will build your confidence before entering the training hall."
– Martina Sprague, author of Fighting Science

About the Author

Jennifer Lawler has been a Tae Kwon Do tournament competitor for almost ten years and a judge and referee since 1994. She is a member of the Author's Guild and the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (November 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764553585
• ISBN-13: 978-0764553585
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #504,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Lawler, a writer and black belt martial artist, is the author or co-author of more than 25 non-fiction books in the how-to and self-help genres, including the popular and award-winning Dojo Wisdom series (Penguin). She is also the author of several novels.

The former editor of ATA World magazine, she has written for Family Circle, Oxygen and Cooking Light, mostly about issues related to martial arts, self defense, and personal growth. She has also written about writers' concerns for The Writer, Writer's Digest, American Writer, and others.

For the past several years, she has coached and mentored writers at various stages in their careers. She has taught many writing workshops throughout the United States, and teaches online classes for the University of California, San Diego and other organizations.

She earned a Ph.D in medieval literature from the University of Kansas and can still translate Old English if she thinks hard enough.

Her website is at www.jenniferlawler.com and her blog, Finding Your Voice, can be found at http://jenniferlawler.com/wordpress/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and educational, December 17, 2002

By 

Martina Sprague (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martial Arts For Dummies (Paperback)

Martial Arts for Dummies is a delightful and educational book that dispels many of the myths the uninitiated may have heard about the martial arts. The book includes examples of common situations you may run into when first entering the training hall. For example, how to choose a school or art that is right for you, what to look for in a good martial arts instructor, and the meaning of the belt, uniform, and rituals.

The easy, conversational tone of the text makes it difficult to put this book down. After fifteen years of everyday training in the martial arts, I read this book cover to cover and found myself thinking "yes, that's how it is." The chapters on "The Part of Tens" toward the end of the book provide an excellent quick reference whenever you need that energy boost for tonight's class. I would enthusiastically recommend this book to both beginners and advanced students of the martial arts.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great place to start, January 5, 2005

By 

L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Martial Arts For Dummies (Paperback)

Better than I expected. This book is a cogent and pithy overview of martial arts, what they, what they are not, how to get involved with them, and how to succeed if you choose to do so. It covers the basics of a good cross-section of styles including karate, kung fu, tae kwon do, judo, akido, escrima, hapkido, hapkido, muay thai, jeet kune do, and tai chi, all the major players. The author briefly discusses the martial culture, uniforms, and ranking systems so that you know what to expect. Further, she helps you understand how to pick a style and instructor, make the most of your training, know when/where you should use your martial knowledge, and how to avoid injuries during the process. It is comprehensive, well-written, and generally entertaining.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

5.0 out of 5 stars For those unsure..., November 20, 2011

By 

Adam (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Martial Arts For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book to learn about as many martial arts as I could to decide which was best suited for me. This book is extremely informative and showed me to make sure I am choosing an art I enjoy. Being 33 and completely new to martial arts, there was a lot I didn't know and this book guided me through it (visiting classes, talking to instructors and other students, etc.) and helped me know what I was getting in to. I have since chosen my art (Wing Chun) and can honestly say I'm loving the class! Had it not been for this book, I think I would still be talking about taking a martial arts class instead of being enrolled in one. You get a broad overview of so many different arts, their origins, what to look for in an art/a school/classmates/the instructor. Ultimately you must decide which art is for you, but man did this book help! Buy it!