Mythologies of Martial Arts is an introduction to the key myths and ideologies around martial arts in contemporary popular culture internationally. It is the first book to draw together practical experience and seminal texts across a multitude of disciplines to offer original insights into the complex, contradictory world of martial arts. It is an accessible but theoretically sophisticated book aimed at student, scholars and anyone interested in martial arts practice.

Like any other philosophy, religion or culture, each martial art has its founding myths and heroes; stories that tell of the art's origins and makes sense of its underlying philosophic principles. This book is a collection of these myths and legends.

Presents and refutes various myths about the martial arts and gives detailed information about the various disciplines for martial arts teachers, students, and enthusiasts.

The phrase “martial arts studies” is increasingly circulating as a term to describe a new field of interest. But many academic fields including history, philosophy, anthropology, and Area studies already engage with martial arts in their own particular way. Therefore, is there really such a thing as a unique field of martial arts studies? Martial Arts Studies is the first book to engage directly with these questions. It assesses the multiplicity and heterogeneity of possible approaches to martial arts studies, exploring orientations and limitations of existing approaches. It makes a case for constructing the field of martial arts studies in terms of key coordinates from post-structuralism, cultural studies, media studies, and post-colonialism. By using these anti-disciplinary approaches to disrupt the approaches of other disciplines, Martial Arts Studies proposes a field that both emerges out of and differs from its many disciplinary locations.

Throughout the ages, cunning and brave heroes have reached deep inside themselves to find the strength to triumph over long odds. Aspiring black belts will love this action-packed collection of twenty-six stories about the great heroes of the martial arts and their many paths to victory. The stories include the tales of: The legendary Bruce Lee--Kung Fu master and greatest martial artist of his time Miyamoto Musashi--the "greatest swordsman in history" and the author of the Book of Five Rings Jackie Chan--a dyslexic boy, abandoned at age seven who grew up to be a martial arts film star Mu-lan--the brave daughter who went to battle for the good of her family These exciting tales of thrilling fights and wily strategies span the wide world of martial arts--from Aikido, Karate, Kung Fu, Sumo, and Jujitsu to Brazilian Capoeira, Israeli Krav Maga, Korean Tae-kwon-do, Japanese Kyudo, and Thailand's Muay Thai, even the Zen-focused tea ceremony which teaches the discipline martial artists require to succeed. Filled with incredible action and amazing feats of daring and skill, Legends of the Martial Arts Masters will inspire readers of all ages with stories of courage, endurance and self-discovery.

Detailing the evolution of the Hellenic combat arts, this handbook chronicles the history behind the art of pankration. Beginning with the myths and traditions behind the art’s development, this examination also touches on pankration's modern methodology and techniques, fully explained in illustrative photographs and easy-to-follow captions. Revealing and informative, this exploration is a must-have for mixed martial arts and pankration practitioners as well as Ultimate Fighting Championship fans.