Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't bother, it's not worth your time or money., October 18, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Zen and the Art of Stickfighting (Paperback)
This is an extremely superficial book on how to use a stick. It's not even worth the time to read it. If you're really bored, go to [a bookstore], browse through it over a cup of coffee, and then put it back on the shelf. The first 40 pages are completely wasted, except maybe as indicators as to how bad the book is. The next 90 pages on the various attacks, including attacking to the rear and multiple attacks, are just [poor] in quality. The techniques are laughable, and the combative distance between the practioner's makes everything pretty much just confusing.
The author ends with a "kata" for using the stick, which is pretty much what I'd expect from a karate guy winging it. The movements and stances strongly indicate a lack of expertise in using the stick as a weapon. Overall it just stinks. If you're going to learn stickfighing, learn from a specialist like an escrimador, not some karate guy who figures since he can do one thing he must be an expert on another. I can only figure the previous positive review was from someone without any more experience than the author. If you want a good book on stickfighting technique, try Stickfighting: techniques of self-defense by Hatsumi and Chambers. While no substitute for a qualified teacher, it can provide a great source for study.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
The Art of Stick Fighting, December 14, 2011
This review is from: Zen and the Art of Stickfighting (Paperback)
Mr. Kaufman's book "Zen and the Art of Stick Fighting" published by Contemporary Books has been re-released by Paladin Press as " The Art of Stick Fighting". The original being in 8.5" x 11" format; I also found the "Zen" version to be laid out much better with crisper photo reproduction then the Paladin Press release. In an early review by "Warriorwriter" on the Paladin Press version, he states that it has more techniques and variation then the original. I have looked at both versions and can not tell if the new version does or not. I can tell you the new version is edited slightly differently to compensate for its 5.5" x 8.5" format and has been trimmed of some text found in the original release. But I feel for the most part that this does not distract from this version. Overall the book is an excellent primer and supplement to other stick fighting books and an excellent introduction to the novice stick fighter practitioner. I found the format easy to understand in both editions, but personally prefer the "Zen" release. My only concern is the Karate default mind-set in the positioning of the "live" hand; again referencing back to "Warriorwriter" in his review, I also agree with him on the position of the "live" hand reverting back to the "loaded" position at the hip. In conclusion I do recommend this book to anyone interested in wielding a stick for hobby or defense.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A good basic guide to using the stick for self-defense., July 23, 2009
This review is from: Zen and the Art of Stickfighting (Paperback)
Many times reviewers tend to view a book from their own expertise. This is natural; however, in order to be objective we need to consider the audience the book may be aimed at are not necessarily experts in a particular field. This is especially true in the martial arts and weapon fields. Here is a perfect example. This book, in my opinion, was not written with the expert in mind, but rather for anyone who may be interested in learning how to basically use the stick for self-defense. This text does not go into great detail on the philosophical aspects of Zen. It does have a Zen statement every few pages to give students something to think about when practicing the techniques. One of the things I liked about this book is that it does not focus on the many formal martial art stick fighting systems, but rather views the stick as a practical self-defense tool. I do agree with one reviewer who observed that the author is using karate movements in teaching the stick. My biggest complaint is the author showing an obvious karate movement by pulling his opposite hand back to his hip. In my view this is a wasted and worthless action when teaching stick fighting techniques. I have never taught club and stick fighting in that way.
In conclusion, this book has numerous large and very clear photographs demonstrating the techniques. The stick techniques are very basic, which makes it a good beginner's text on the use of the stick for self-defense.
Rating: 4 stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Cane and Walking Stick Self-Defense Techniques Manual)
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