Publications by

Beisho President Christopher M. Clarke


 
◊   Shades of Heroes: Tales of Courage, Honor, Fortitude, and Strategy
◊   Budo Meijin: Three Great Little-known 20th Century Japanese Martial Masters
◊   Kimura: The Triumphs and Tragedy of One of Judo's Greatest and Most Controversial Judo Champions
◊   Sugino Yoshio: The Little Giant of Modern Japan's Martial Arts
◊   Empty Handed I Entered the World: Great Okinawan Karate Masters Lost in 2012-2014
◊   Modern-day Samurai: Kotaka Sukesaburo Minamoto-no Sadayasu Sadao - An Appreciation and History of his Kenjutsu Style
◊   Through Japan's Narrowest Gate: The Test For Kendo Hachidan
◊   Okinawan Kobudo: A History of Weaponry Styles and Masters
◊   Ramblings from a Ten Foot Square Hut
◊   Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters, Volume 2: Fujian Antecedents, Naha-te, Goju-ryu and Other Styles
◊   Father Frog: A Charming Collection of Asian Folk Stories and Tales for Youngsters from Five to Fifteen
◊   Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters: Volume 1: Shuri-te and Shorin-ryu
◊   Saving Japan's Martial Arts
◊   Climbing the Mountain - In Search of the Soul of Karate
◊   Kamikaze! The Divine Wind and the Spirit of the Martial Arts
◊   Samurai, Scoundrels and Saints - Stories from the Martial Arts
◊   Warriors and Wisemen: More Stories from the Martial Arts
◊   Honorary Samurai: Tales of Courage, Honor, Fortitude, and Strategy
◊   Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters
◊   Fledgling Sparrows: An Activity Book for Young Students. Volume 1
◊   Chasing Dragonflies: An Activity Book for Young Students. Volume 2
◊   I Remember When
◊   I Remember When II



Publication Purchase Information:

To purchase any of the publications on this page, you can order through Paypal using your own Credit Card or if you prefer you may use your PayPal account (PayPal Account is NOT required) . Simply add the book or books to your shopping cart using the "Add to Cart" button. When you are through shopping you can "Proceed to checkout". At checkout, you can select your payment preference.

If you prefer to order through US Mail, please send a personal check or money order along with a list of the books you would like to order and your shipping address to:

SKKAA Publications
60 Buick Street
Watertown, MA 02472


All prices include shipping and handling charges (except purchases through Amazon.com)



Shades of Heroes: Tales of Courage, Honor, Fortitude, and Strategy

Beisho is pleased to announce the latest publication by Papa Chris Clarke, "Shades of Heroes: Tales of Courage, Honor, Fortitude, and Strategy" Heroes come in all shades, genders, time-frames, locations, and ages. This book is composed of inspirational stories of heroism, courage, fortitude, compassion, strategy, and honor from a wide range of times and places. They include a range of incidents spanning from ancient Rome to modern military chaplains, from Scots patriots to Tibetan freedom fighters, from mountain men and explorers of the Old West to Native Americans, from both sides of the U.S. Civil war, and from those involved in war to those merely attempting to survive. They include tales of heroic men and equally heroic women. These, of course, represent only a small sampling of the wonderful stories of heroic actions and individuals from around the globe and since the beginning of recorded history. The author hopes that in sharing a few of them, this book demonstrates that our human similarities outweigh our differences and that duty, honor, and compassion are not concepts which are unique to any country or culture, and further, that a greater understanding of our common human strengths and virtues will lead to greater respect and tolerance for our differenceszzz This book is available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Heroes-Courage-Fortitude-Strategy/dp/1517178606/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444329649&sr=1-4&keywords=shades+of+heroes. (256 pages, $13.75).




Budo Meijin: Three Great Little-known 20th Century Japanese Martial Masters.

Beisho is pleased to announce the publication of the latest book on martial arts history by Papa Chris, "Budo Meijin: Three Great Little-known 20th Century Japanese Martial Masters." "Budo Meijin" tells the stories of three fascinating and important, but less-well-known masters of Japanese martial arts. Between them, they span the late 19th to the end of the 20th centuries. Yoshida Kotaro (1883-1966) first learned martial arts from various dispossessed samurai after the Meiji Restoration. He went on to study under the famous Takeda Sokaku (1859-1943) and introduced Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido, to Takeda, who became Ueshiba's main teacher. Yoshida likely would be completely unknown if not for the seemingly inflated stories told of him by the late Richard Kim. This book attempts to get at the facts behind the legend. The second "martial genius" covered in "Budo Meijin" is Konishi Yasuhiro (1893-1983), a master of jujutsu and kendo and a student of Funakoshi Gichin, Motobu Choki, Mabuni Kenwa, Ueshiba Morihei, and other great masters. It was Konishi who brought karate into the Japanese mainstream and arranged for official recognition of his teachers and many other karate masters. Mochizuki Minoru (1907-2003) was almost certainly the last student of modern Japan's "big three" founders of empty-hand martial arts: Funakoshi, Kano Jigoro (founder of Judo), and Ueshiba (founder of Aikido). Mochizuki was one of a handful of people promoted to 10th dan in Aikido. He also held very high ranks in kendo, kenjutsu, judo, jujutsu, and Japanese kobudo and was the founder of his own "sogo budo" (comprehensive martial arts system), "Yoseikan Aikijujutsu." Mochizuki is not as well known as he should be, partially because his school was not in the Tokyo area and because he focused his overseas attention on Europe. These three were true martial arts geniuses ("budo meijin") whose like will not be seen again. Read about their fascinating lives and activities in this heavily illustrated and extensively documented book, which also contains numerous text boxes of fascinating information relating to their lives and times. (http://www.amazon.com/Budo-Meijin-Little-known-Century-Japanese/dp/1508580081/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427570168&sr=1-1&keywords=budo+meijin) Available at Amazon.com, 196 pages, $17.95.






Sugino Yoshio: The Little Giant of Modern Japan's Martial Arts.

Beisho is pleased to announce the latest publication by Papa Chris Clarke, "Sugino Yoshio: The Little Giant of Modern Japan's Martial Arts." Sugino (December 12, 1904-June 13, 1998) was one of - if not the - most accomplished, widely and deeply trained martial artists of the 20th century. A top student of kenjutsu, judo, aikido and numerous classical weapons, he was also one of the most beloved and respected budo masters in Japan. Yet his story is barely known in the West. He quickly became a judo champion, opening a dojo with Master Kano Jigoro's approval at the age of only 22, undoubtedly one of the youngest people Kano ever sanctioned to teach on his own. At Kano's suggestion, Sugino took up studying one of the few remaining classical jujutsu styles, eventually reaching kyoshi level. At about the same time, and also at Kano's recommendation, he began training in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, one of the few surviving truly ancient styles of hyogo (the arts of war), which included a huge curriculum of weapons, unarmed combat, military strategy and other subjects. Not yet content that he had plumbed the depths of Japanese budo, at the age of 27, he enrolled as a student of Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido and a well-known and widely respected martial artist. For the next 60 years, Sugino was a fixture on the Japanese martial arts stage, teaching in a number of locations, training uchi deshi (live-in pupils), and often being called on to demonstrate his art at major national venues. He may best be remembered, however, for having choreographed the weaponry fighting scenes for several of the classic movie collaborations between Director Akira Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune, including the famous duel against seven opponents in the 1956 movie, The Seven Samurai. Sugino lived during a unique time, at the tail-end of the old, traditional, and secretive era of martial arts and the beginning of a new, modern, popularized era. Somehow, through the nature of his personality, his dedication, and his skill, he was able to straddle these two eras and help bring the old koryu into modern times. Such an era will never come again; no one else will have the opportunity he and a handful of other martial artists had to span these epochs. Nor are we likely again soon to see the combination of skill, dedication, versatility, and personality represented by Hanshi Sugino Yoshio (1904-1998). This booklet is available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Sugino-Yoshio-Little-Modern-Martial/dp/1502418029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411904694&sr=1-1&keywords=Sugino+Yoshio. (78 pages, $6.29).






Kimura: The Triumphs and Tragedy of One of Judo's Greatest and Most Controversial Judo Champions

We are happy to announce Papa Chris's latest book:
Kimura: The Triumphs and Tragedy of One of Judo's Greatest and Most Controversial Judo Champions

Everyone who has watched a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) match or tournament has heard of "the kimura," a specialized arm lock that many people try to use, but few are successful in applying. Few, even among jujutsu and MMA aficionados, however, know what the lock called a "kimura" was derived from an early link to karate as well as judo and jujutsu. The story is at once fascinating, inspiring, and tragic. The "kimura" is named after perhaps the best judo competitor who ever lived, Kimura Masahiko (1917-1993). In an age before weight lifting became an integral part of judo practice, Kimura was an avid weight lifter and body builder. He was, and remained, one of the strongest judo competitors throughout the 1930s and 1940s - strongest in both its senses. A judo prodigy in high school, he reportedly lost only four formal judo matches in his entire career, all during his freshman year in college. In 1935, shortly after entering college, he defeated eight fourth-dan opponents in a row, losing only to the ninth man he faced. For this performance he became the youngest fifth dan in Japan. Through the late 1930s and early 1940s, Kimura dominated the judo competition circuit, repeatedly winning the All-Japan championship; he resumed his winning ways after judo was reinstated in 1947. Financially stretched trying to pay for his wife's medical care on a teacher's salary, in 1951, Kimura accepted an invitation to travel to Brazil to teach and compete with the increasingly famous Helio Gracie in Brazilian-rules competition. His bout became legendary: after exhausting minutes of scuffling for position and successful throws, Kimura finally downed Gracie and followed up with an attempt to smother him into submission. He saw the opportunity to apply his favorite ude-garami ("kimura" lock. Refusing to surrender, Gracie suffered a broken arm, and Kimura was declared the winner. Paradoxically, the loss made Gracie even more famous. Kimura's return to Japan was not greeted with acclaim and plaudits, however. Because he had awarded judo promotions without the permission of the Kodokan Headquarters, his promotions were frozen, and he watched as his juniors and inferiors surpassed his 7th dan for the next 40 years. Sadder yet, Kimura entered the shadow world of professional wrestling, largely to make money, where he was betrayed and humiliated. Despite these setbacks, Kimura's spirit never wavered. He taught judo at his alma mater, Takushoku University, from 1960 until his death in 1993, training Olympic bronze and silver medalists and an All-Japan Champion. Although his rank was frozen at 7th dan from the age of 30 until his death at 75 by the petty vindictiveness of the Kodokan authorities, Kimura never lost his spirit. A life-long smoker, Kimura was diagnosed with lung cancer. Hospitalized after surgery, and in his 70s, Kimura started doing push-ups in his room. He died on April 18, 1993 at the age of 75, arguably the best judo competitor ever-and one of the most important judo figures ever to be mistreated by the leaders of his art. You can find the book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Kimura-Triumphs-Greatest-Controversial-Champions/dp/1506196217/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423164685&sr=1-5&keywords=kimura+masahiko or by searching by title or author's name. (100 page, $9.95)

Sugino Yoshio: The Little Giant of Modern Japan's Martial Arts.

Beisho is pleased to announce the latest publication by Papa Chris Clarke, "Sugino Yoshio: The Little Giant of Modern Japan's Martial Arts." Sugino (December 12, 1904-June 13, 1998) was one of - if not the - most accomplished, widely and deeply trained martial artists of the 20th century. A top student of kenjutsu, judo, aikido and numerous classical weapons, he was also one of the most beloved and respected budo masters in Japan. Yet his story is barely known in the West. He quickly became a judo champion, opening a dojo with Master Kano Jigoro's approval at the age of only 22, undoubtedly one of the youngest people Kano ever sanctioned to teach on his own. At Kano's suggestion, Sugino took up studying one of the few remaining classical jujutsu styles, eventually reaching kyoshi level. At about the same time, and also at Kano's recommendation, he began training in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, one of the few surviving truly ancient styles of hyogo (the arts of war), which included a huge curriculum of weapons, unarmed combat, military strategy and other subjects. Not yet content that he had plumbed the depths of Japanese budo, at the age of 27, he enrolled as a student of Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido and a well-known and widely respected martial artist. For the next 60 years, Sugino was a fixture on the Japanese martial arts stage, teaching in a number of locations, training uchi deshi (live-in pupils), and often being called on to demonstrate his art at major national venues. He may best be remembered, however, for having choreographed the weaponry fighting scenes for several of the classic movie collaborations between Director Akira Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune, including the famous duel against seven opponents in the 1956 movie, The Seven Samurai. Sugino lived during a unique time, at the tail-end of the old, traditional, and secretive era of martial arts and the beginning of a new, modern, popularized era. Somehow, through the nature of his personality, his dedication, and his skill, he was able to straddle these two eras and help bring the old koryu into modern times. Such an era will never come again; no one else will have the opportunity he and a handful of other martial artists had to span these epochs. Nor are we likely again soon to see the combination of skill, dedication, versatility, and personality represented by Hanshi Sugino Yoshio (1904-1998). This booklet is available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Sugino-Yoshio-Little-Modern-Martial/dp/1502418029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411904694&sr=1-1&keywords=Sugino+Yoshio. (78 pages, $6.29).





Empty Handed I Entered the World: Great Okinawan Karate Masters Lost in 2012-2014

"Beisho is pleased to announce the publication of a new book by Papa Chris entitled "Empty Handed I Entered the World: Great Okinawan Karate Masters Lost in 2012- 2014." Updating Papa Chris's highly popular two-volume series on "Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters," "Empty-handed I Entered the World" consists of brief biographies of more than a dozen senior Okinawan karate masters who have died between mid-2012 and mid-2014. Those who have recently passed from the scene run the gamut of styles and former teachers, including masters of various branches of Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Kempo, and Motobu-ryu. Within the next few years, this entire cohort will be gone. As these pre-War-trained masters die off, we are losing not only vital links to the past but a vast storehouse of knowledge. The challenge in the future for serious foreign martial artists training under top-notch instructors in their home countries will be to identify the best of the best in Okinawa and to make the trade-offs in cost, time, devotion and loyalty, and conflicting instruction to break through the natural barriers that prevent many Asian instructors from teaching the best they have to offer. Fortunately, in the globalized world of the early 21st century, there are organizations that help non-Okinawan karateka make connections and arrange training periods with some of the best masters on the island. In the current information age, there is also an abundant flow of information about available training opportunities and assessments of various instructors and schools. In addition, many foreign instructors (and a few Okinawans and Japanese) are not only working hard to preserve "traditional" karate, but to advance our knowledge of how to apply its time-honored wisdom in the modern age. All this suggests that despite the popularity of MMA and the pessimism of some that the days of "traditional" karate are numbered, the future is actually bright. For those willing to dedicate the time and effort, the opportunities to learn are better than they have ever been." Available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Empty-Handed-Entered-World-2012-2014/dp/1500837547/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409159843&sr=1-1&keywords=Empty+Handed+I+Entered+the+World. 104 pages, $8.50.




Modern-day Samurai: Kotaka Sukesaburo Minamoto-no Sadayasu Sadao - An Appreciation and History of his Kenjutsu Style

Beisho is proud to announce publication of Papa Chris Clarke's newest book, "Modern-day Samurai: Kotaka Sukesaburo Minamoto-no Sadayasu Sadao - An Appreciation and History of his Kenjutsu Style." It tells the story of a modern sword master, Dr. Kotaka Sadao (1933-2013), who learned from one of the last true samurai, a member of the famous Shinsengumi of the 1860s. The book relates the life of Dr. Kotaka, his numerous and remarkable exploits as a swordsman, the history of his style going back for hundreds of years, and story of the turbulent times during which his teacher learned and actually utilized this style of swordsmanship. Full of wit and wisdom, the book is heavily illustrated with maps, charts, and many never-before-published photos. Extensively documented, it also provides a complete bibliography for those wanting to learn more about Kendo or Japanese history. A must read for anyone interested in the Japanese martial arts, the Meiji Restoration, or the history of the Shinsengumi or the samurai. It is available on Amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Modern-day-Samurai-Sukesaburo-Minamoto-no-Appreciation/dp/1499715919/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406660095&sr=1-1&keywords=clarke+kotaka ) for $11.35 (plus p&h).

One reviewer commented on the book: "As one of the last-surviving senior students who studied directly under Kotaka Sukesaburo Minamoto-no Sadayasu Sadao, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Clarke for his detailed and meticulous research. Indeed, the description above does not do justice to the author's success at piecing together historical documents, collecting personal letters and photographs from Dr. Kotaka's wife as well as from many of his former students, and placing all of this information into historical context. Although the details about Kotaka-sensei per se will probably be of interest to only a small group of followers, Mr. Clarke's memorial volume is a storehouse of information about the development of kendo and the Itto-ryu, about the Shinsengumi, and--even more important--about how all of "that" was transplanted to the New World by way of a particular person (Kotaka-sensei) who gives a face to a story that would otherwise get bogged down in information overload. (Where else would one be able to find the names of the 343 samurai-members of the Shinsengumi?) Martial artists are well familiar with the many writings of Dave Lowry, to whom we owe a great debt for taking the time to explain, to both the layman and the novice practitioner, what we do and why we do it. Mr. Lowry's Autumn Lightning (2001), likewise available on Amazon, is a tale about his relationship with his own Japanese kendo instructor; it is a personal account of both how a first-generation American student viewed the process and how that student was viewed by a kendo sensei who was, truly, from a different time and place. While Mr. Clarke's work might be less accessible to the novice practitioner than Mr. Lowry's works, seniors in the discipline will easily be able to "connect the dots"--both historically and in remembering their own training with their Japanese instructors. Although we may have trained in different styles of swordsmanship, you'll see that there was a particular (universal?) mindset in this post-war generation of Japanese instructors, that our own sometimes-brutal training wasn't so different from that which others were enduring, and that we were indeed fortunate to have been graced with the patience (although probably never with the understanding) of a generation of not-yet-Americanized and not-yet-commercialized kendo sensei."






Through Japan's Narrowest Gate: The Test For Kendo Hachidan

The test for 8th degree black belt (hachidan) in Japanese swordsmanship is reputedly the most difficult test in the world, with a passing rate of around one percent. This short monograph discusses the evolution of ranks and titles in kendo as it emerged from the middle ages and explains the difficulty of the 8th dan test. It contains numerous photos, charts, and source citations and will be of interest to any martial artist, especially those involved in kendo or those interested in the evolution of Japan's martial arts ranking system."

The manuscript "Through Japan's Narrowest Gate: The Test For Kendo Hachidan" is available on Amazon.com in Kindle version (only) for $3.99 at http://www.amazon.com/Through-Japans-Narrowest-Christopher-Clarke-ebook/dp/B00LYZEF6K/ref=la_B001K7TFJE_1_18?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406660466&sr=1-18. "




Okinawan Kobudo: A History of Weaponry Styles and Masters

Now available. Papa Chris's latest books. "Okinawan Kobudo: A History of Weaponry Styles and Masters" is a comprehensive and complete book on the origins of the Okinawan kobudo (weaponry). It contains a description of the early history of weaponry in the Ryukyus; the relationship of kobudo to karate; and several myths and misunderstandings about Okinawan weaponry. In addition to profiles of nearly a dozen ancient kobudo masters, this book includes detailed histories and analysis of the major lineages/styles of Kobudo, including the Yabiku-Taira, Yamane, Matayoshi, Ufuchiku, and Motobu Udundi (Gotente) schools of kobudo. In each case, the book provides a history of the masters--from the founders to today's masters--analytical assessments of the style's characteristics, descriptions of their curricula, and lineage charts. It contains chapters on each of the weapons of Ryukyu kobudo, including extensive bibliographies on where to find more information about each. The book is lavishly illustrated with photos, art work, maps, tables and charts, including a detailed table of all the major recognized kata for each weapon in Ryukyu kobudo. Its footnotes provide access to a wide array of sources in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese--including available videos on the styles and masters--for those who wish to learn more. As the companion to the author's two volume, five-star rated "Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters," this book is an absolute "must-have" for all serious martial arts students. 392 pages. Amazon price $17.60. Available on Amazon.com (Beisho members, please note. Some of this material was included in the earlier "Beisho Members Only" book "Kobudo," but there are lots of new information and new illustrations in this edition.)
Click here to order through Amazon.com $17.60
http://www.amazon.com/Okinawan-Kobudo-History-Weaponry-Masters/dp/1480264369/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373483489&sr=1-13



Ramblings from a Ten Foot Square Hut: Reflections After 50 Years in the Martial Arts

Available to the public for the first time. "Ramblings from a Ten Foot Square Hut: Reflections After 50 Years in the Martial Arts." What is a "martial art"? Are we practicing an "art", which by definition is a means of self-expression without the need for any practical application or self-justification? Or are we practicing a "martial" discipline, something that requires effective training in combative technique, that prepares us to defend ourselves, perhaps even to take another person's life or lose our own in self-defense or in the effort to defend our loved ones or our principles? What relationship does our "modern" "martial art" bear to the old samurai way of life, the way of Bushido, the way of the warrior? What should we expect of our "martial arts"--and of ourselves? Related to this, how did we get from the highly practical original Okinawan "te" to the often stylized, unrealistic, and competitive "karatedo" we practice today? Does our modern karatedo provide realistic methods for confronting the kinds of self-defense and combative situations we face in the 21st century? If not, did something get lost in the transmission from the 17th and 18th century to the 21st? The popularization of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) since the 1990s has reinforced this dilemma for practitioners of such "classical" martial arts as karatedo. Why do our traditional methods not prepare us for grappling or fighting from the floor? Why did classical karate practitioners keep losing to grapplers? Do we need to drop our traditional karatedo and take up MMA to find an effective self-defense or fighting system for the 21st century? These questions bedevil those of us who love and cling to our "traditional" martial arts. This books carefully examines how we arrived at this situation, how various experts have thought about it and attempted to find answers to our dilemma, and provides a sensible, workable set of principles that show that traditional martial arts are not obsolete, that they contain a wide range of effective combative strategies, tactics, and techniques that are just as usable today as they were when they were assembled into "kata", or forms for helping the student remember and practice realistic self-defense and combat while alone. For those wrestling with how to make their karate "work," this is a must-have book. Don't flounder or lose faith. And don't ignore the problem. Buy this book and start to discover your own answers to how to make your karate effective. 208 pages.
Click here to order through Amazon.com $14.20
http://www.amazon.com/Ramblings-Ten-Foot-Square-Hut/dp/1490535853/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373483489&sr=1-14



Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters, Volume 2: Fujian Antecedents, Naha-te, Goju-ryu and Other Styles

The most comprehensive and complete book available on the origins of the Okinawan karate styles that emerged from the Fujian Southern Shaolin boxing styles. It contains a thorough historical description of the Ryukyu kingdom's relations with both China and Japan; the background of the Fujian Southern Shaolin Temple and the various styles of Chinese martial arts that emerged from that lineage; the influence of Fujian boxing on the two great Naha-te styles of Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu as well as the history of those styles and their major branches and masters; and the histories of Isshin-ryu, Kojo-ryu, Ryuei-ryu, and Motobu Udundi (Gotente). In each case, the book provides analytical assessments of the style's characteristics, descriptions of their curricula, and critical assessments of the accomplishments and controversies surrounding some of their great masters. This book is lavishly illustrated with photos, art work, maps, tables and charts, including a detailed description of the social and court ranks of the Ryukyu kingdom. Its footnotes provide access to a wide array of sources in English, Chinese, and Japanese--including available videos on the styles and masters, where available--for those who wish to learn more. As the companion to Volume One on Shuri-te and Shorin-ryu, this book is a "must-have" for all serious martial arts students." 390 pages, $19.95.
Click here to order through Amazon.com $19.95
http://www.amazon.com/Okinawan-Karate-History-Antecedents-Goju-ryu/dp/147838316X/ref=sr_1_36?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352828672&sr=1-36&keywords=Christopher+M+Clarke



Father Frog: A Charming Collection of Asian Folk Stories and Tales for Youngsters from Five to Fifteen
Click here to order through Amazon.com $12.95

Father Frog, a charming collection of Asian folk stories and tales for youngsters from five to fifteen, each with a moral about good behavior and character. The book is lavishly illustrated with classical Japanese art, original brush paintings by the author, and other delightful illustrations. It contains numerous activities for children ranging from "word find" and "word scramble" puzzles to mazes, coloring, image matching, "find the difference," origami, and other crafts that will appeal to children of all ages from five and up. Available through Amazon.com









Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters: Volume 1: Shuri-te and Shorin-ryu

Click here to order through Amazon.com
$19.95
     

"Okinawan Karate: A History of Styles and Masters, Volume 1: Shuri-te and Shorin-ryu" is the most comprehensive and complete book available on the origins of Okinawan Shuri-te and Shorin-ryu karate, with descriptions of the various branches, detailed biographies of the major Okinawan Shuri-te/Shorin-ryu masters from ancient times to today, analytical assessments of some of their accomplishments, and numerous photos and illustrations. This book is a must-have for all serious martial arts students.
http://www.amazon.com/Okinawan-Karate-History-Shuri-te-Shorin-ryu/dp/1478188634/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346033171&sr=1-1&keywords=okinawan+karate



Saving Japan's Martial Arts

Click here to order through Amazon.com
$16.95
     

Saving Japan's Martial Arts is the story of how a young Japanese school teacher helped spark a martial arts revolution in Japan, rescue Japans ancient martial arts from the brink of oblivion, built Japans Olympic Movement, and became a driving force behind modern education in Japan. It is the only comprehensive biography in English of the remarkable Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), founder of Kodokan Judo. Saving Japan's Martial Arts also contains biographical sketches of more than a dozen top Judo students including Maeda Mitsyo, who taught Judo and Jujutsu to the Gracies in Brazil; Yamashita Yoshiaki, who taught President Theodore Roosevelt Judo in the White House; Shoriki Matsutaro, Judo master, founder of the Yomiuri media empire, creator of professional baseball in Japan, and Japan's first nuclear energy commissioner; and many others. Saving Japan's Martial Arts contains a detailed history of the bloody end of the Tokugawa shogunate, including the political struggles, assassinations and duels, and battles portrayed in the blockbuster 2003 Tom Cruise movie, The Last Samurai. Saving Japan's Martial Arts is chock-full of rare, vintage pictures and descriptions of the training and masters of the ancient Japanese martial arts. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the development of the Asian martial arts and for those who want to understand how those arts survived one of the most tumultuous centuries in Japanese history, a century that saw Japan emerge from an isolated and backward feudal autocracy to a modernized, industrialized major power."

http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Japans-Martial-Christopher-Clarke/dp/1466211725/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317995531&sr=1-1



Climbing the Mountain - In Search of the Soul of Karate (42 pages). $7.50
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
      Climbing the Mountain includes a biographical sketch of the great Japanese karate master, Masutatsu Oyama and reproductions of four letters Oyama personally wrote to the author between 1966 and 1970. These have never before been published. The book contains dozens of haiku poems and illustrations linked to the kata practiced in the SKKAA, including a number of original Japanese brush drawings by the author. It has a beautiful full-color cover.










Now Available, exclusively through Amazon.com!!

Kamikaze! The Divine Wind and the Spirit of the Martial Arts (Second Edition - April 11, 2011, 74 pages, $12.95)
Kamikaze! is the story of two wars. During the Mongol invasion of Japan in the late 1200's, the badly out-matched Japanese were saved from defeat by a fortuitous typhoon which wrecked the Mongol fleet and caused them to with draw. The grateful Japanese called this storm the kamikaze, or divine wind. Japanese soldiers were to revive that name during the waning days of World War II, when they embarked on a last-ditch effort to use suicide attacks to stave off defeat. In addition to historical narratives of both wars, Kamikaze! includes numerous illustrations from both the 13th and 20th centuries, several maps, photos of the suicide vehicles used by the Japanese, and actual combat photos of American ships under attack by kamikaze suicide pilots. It contains excerpts from letters sent home by kamikaze pilots just before they embarked on their final missions and an extensive list for further reading.
http://www.amazon.com/Kamikaze-Japans-Divine-Spirit-Martial/dp/1461045754/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306687740&sr=1-4

First Edition still available, while supplies last...(available through this website only)
Kamikaze! The Divine Wind and the Spirit of the Martial Arts (68 pages). $6.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
     Kamikaze is the story of two wars: during the Mongol invasion of Japan in the late 1200's, the badly out-matched Japanese were saved from defeat by a fortuitous typhoon which wrecked the Mongol fleet and caused them to with draw. The grateful Japanese called this storm the kamikaze, or divine wind. Japanese soldiers were to revive that name during the waning days of World War II, when they embarked on a last-ditch effort to use suicide attacks to stave off defeat. In addition to historical narratives of both wars, Kamikaze includes rare Japanese woodblock prints of samurai, several maps, and actual combat photos of American ships under attack by kamikaze suicide pilots. It contains excerpts from letters sent home by kamikaze pilots just before they embarked on their final missions and an extensive list for further reading.








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Samurai, Scoundrels, and Saints: Stories From the Martial Arts (Second Edition - April 23, 2011, 214 pages, $19.95)
Asian history is replete with stories of combat, heroism, self-sacrifice, valor, strategy, and compassion. Samurai, Scoundrels, and Saints includes more than three dozen such stories, ranging from the famous woman warrior, Tomoe Gozen, to how the renowned samurai, Miyamoto Musashi was almost killed in the bath tub and from the monk who defied the Mongols, to the supernatural creatures that reputedly taught the famous warrior Yoshitsune how to fight. It includes tales of daring rescues, narrow escapes, treachery, and Zen enlightenment. The final tale tells the story of "The Last Samurai" who remained in the jungle of Guam from the time of the Japanese surrender in 1945 until he was finally convinced the war was over and he could surrender in 1972. This new, second edition of Samurai, Scoundrels and Saints is heavily illustrated and has a beautiful full-color cover. It is sure to appeal to martial artists, arm-chair enthusiasts, those interested in Asian history, and people just looking for a "good read." (April 23, 2011, 214 pages, $19.95)
http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Scoundrels-Saints-Stories-Martial/dp/1461014859/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306687740&sr=1-9

First Edition still available, while supplies last...(available through this website only)
Samurai, Scoundrels and Saints - Stories from the Martial Arts (165 pages) $9.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
     Asian history is replete with stories of combat, heroism, self-sacrifice, valor, strategy, and compassion. This book includes more than three dozen such stories, ranging from the famous woman warrior, Tomoe Gozen, to how the renowned samurai, Miyamoto Musashi was almost killed in the bath tub, from the monk who defied the Mongols, to the supernatural creatures that reputedly taught the famous warrior Yoshitsune how to fight. It includes tales of daring rescues, narrow escapes, treachery, and Zen enlightenment. The final tale tells the story of "The Last Samurai" who remained in the jungle of Guam from the time of the Japanese surrender in 1945 until he was finally convinced the war was over and he could surrender in 1972. Samurai, Scoundrels and Saints is illustrated with a number of rare Japanese woodblock prints and has a beautiful full-color cover.









Now Available, exclusively through Amazon.com!!

Warriors and Wisemen: More Stories From the Martial Arts (Second Edition - May 19, 2011, 242 pages, $19.95)
The sequel to Samurai, Scoundrels, and Saints, Warriors and Wisemen tells dozens of stories from the rich martial lore of Asia ranging from the historical to the mythical, interspersed with "Zen Interludes." Lavishly illustrated, this new second edition of Warriors and Wisemen contains several new stories, numerous charts and maps to make it easier to follow the action, and extensive notes and bibliography. Enjoy such wonderful tales as the transmission of the light of Buddha-hood to the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, an illiterate woodcutter; the first major rebellion against the Japanese emperor; samurai who later became spirits who continue to haunt Japan today; one-on-one combat between some of Japan's most famous martial artists; the life and legends of Taiji founder Yang Luchan's sons; the fearless warrior who tried to assassinate China's first emperor; the legendary samurai archer, Tametomo, who may have founded the royal house of Okinawa after losing a war and being banished; and much more. If you like rollicking stories of warriors' daring-do told within an accurate historical context, tales of great Zen masters, and legends of samurai who never die, you'll love this book. (May 19, 2011, 242 pages, $19.95)
http://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Wisemen-More-Stories-Martial/dp/1461119936/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306687740&sr=1-5

First Edition still available, while supplies last...(available through this website only)
Warriors and Wisemen: More Stories from the Martial Arts (121 pages). $9.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
      A second volume of entertaining and inspirational stories from the Asian martial arts, includes several dozen more stories of heroism and cowardice, honor and treachery, victory and defeat, and the search for meaning in life. It includes charts and a beautiful full-color cover.










Honorary Samurai: Tales of Courage, Honor, Fortitude, and Strategy (216 pages). $12.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
       The Asians have no monopoly on either good stories or the characteristics of courage, fortitude, compassion, strategy, honor or the other traits that inspire us. After exploring "what is a samurai?" and why we would want to make someone an "honorary" one, Honorary Samurai tells 15 inspirational stories of such qualities from times and places as varied as ancient Rome, medieval Scotland, the US Civil War, Tibet's struggle for freedom in the 1950s, World War I, the American expansion westward, and World War II. The final chapter tells the story of a modern American hero, Lt. Cdr. Otis Kight, who during his three decades in the US Navy survived everything from his ship sinking to being shot down in an airplane, to fighting the two worst fires in modern US Navy history. His full story has never been told before. Honorary Samurai is chock full of photos and other illustrations and has a beautiful full-color cover.










Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters. $16.45
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
      More stories for the martial artist! Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters is the third in the SKKAA's series of publications of inspiring stories of courage, strategy, honor, and resourcefulness in the long history of the warrior cultures of East Asia. In this book you will find:

  • Tales of courage in the face of death and tales of treachery
  • Stories of honor and stories of greed
  • Accounts of chivalry and accounts of brutality among warriors
  • Stories of heroic women from ancient times until the present day
  • Tales of kings and the tale of a wastrel who became the most famous martial arts master of his day
  • And the tale of the Mad Monk of medieval Japan and the Japanese "Little John"
In addition to the book's beautiful full-color front and back cover, Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters is packed with hard-to-find illustrations that relate directly to the stories. As an added bonus, Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters has two extra, full-color pages, beautiful plates of Japanese warrior art.









Fledgling Sparrows: An Activity Book for Young SKKAA Students. Volume 1. $6.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
      This beautiful 8 1/2 x 11 activity book is chock full of such activities as coloring, matching, mazes, and other age-appropriate and fun activities for children 3 years old or older. The activities all relate to the martial arts and/or the Asian cultures from which they came. Full of karateka, samurai, sumo wrestlers, animals, and Asian art, the kids are sure to learn from as well as enjoy this book. It features both male and female figures, including karate students of both genders. Fledgling Sparrows has a beautiful, full-color front and back cover. The center pages, on extra-heavy stock, pull out. On one side is a mask that the children can cut out, color, and wear. On the other side are memory cards with the faces of many of the SKKAA's top instructors.










Chasing Dragonflies: An Activity Book for Young SKKAA Students. Volume 2. $9.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
       The is the second volume in Dr. Clarke's series of activity books for youth students. Between the beautiful full-color covers of Chasing Dragonflies are dozens of activities such as coloring, mazes, secret codes, word scrambles, word finds, matching, drawing, crossword puzzles, and other fun activities. It contains three hands-on projects and a large set of recognition and matching cards. The activities range from simple to more complex and are appropriate for boys or girls of all ageseven teens. Activities all relate to the martial arts and/or the Asian cultures from which the arts came. In addition to activities involving samurai and other Japanese and Chinese people of all sorts, animals, flowers, and Asian art, the book is packed with information on Asian culture packaged in ways sure to be fun as well as educational.










I Remember When (124 pages). $12.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
       The SKKAA is proud to make available to its member this unique book of reminiscences by a number of the Association's most senior instructors on what training was like in the "old days." I Remember When includes Papa Chris Clarke's recollections of training with his brother before he ever entered a dojo. Shihan Dai Jim True's reminiscences. Dai Sempai Jayne Butram's account of what training was like for women in the 1970s. Sensei Jo McCulty's memories of training at Ohio State University. Accounts by Sensei Fran Heidlage and Sensei Sue Theise on why they left other styles to join the SKKAA. Dai Sempai Mike Pepe's story of his growing involvement in grappling. Papa Chris's recollections of his 1972 trip to Okinawa and his encounter with Hanshi Nakazato Shugoro, 10th dan. And much more, including numerous old and rare photographs of the authors and a full color cover. Available to SKKAA Members Only!










I Remember When II (124 pages). $12.95
(click on book title to read book excerpt on our Articles, Essays & Videos page)
       We are pleased to offer this volume of reminiscences of training by nearly 30 karateka of all ranks and ages. Stories range from experiences at camps and clinics to preparing for and taking rank evaluation tests, from the effects of karate training on the adjustment to college life to returning to training after many years' absence. Perspectives range from the recollections of what it was like to train as a youngster of 6 or 7 to what it was like to begin training in middle age. Don't miss stories about being mugged and mugging for the camera in a pink bikini. I Remember II is generously illustrated with photos of your colleagues and maybe even you. Available to SKKAA Members Only!











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