Martial History Team

Introduction Martial History Team member Dr. Jonathan Clements is the author of today's book review. For more posts featuring Dr. Clements' work, please see this label . The Abrupt Appearance of Martial Arts True to the historical record, Lu Zhouxiang’s A History of Shaolin: Buddhism, Kung Fu and Identity (Routledge, 2019) has relatively little to say about the Shaolin monastery’s connection to the martial arts before the 16th century. His early chapters are thick with detail on the various ebbs and flows of Buddhist traditions at the temples, and come with meticulous genealogies of the various leading monks. Shaolin, after all, is a prime site in the history of Chan (i.e. Zen) Buddhism, but Lu points out that it was also an important and respected institution in several other sects, which co-existed peacefully with the one that made it famous. Then, suddenly, we see the temple’s public image radically transform. Lu quotes Cheng Shao, who wrote in 1620: “ Taking a rest at Sha...

What is the true story behind Bruce Lee's "Definite Chief Aim" letter? Introduction I (Richard) was tracking down another bogus Bruce Lee quote, as part of the Sourcing Bruce Lee project. Along the way I encountered an article titled  Bruce Lee’s Never-Before-Seen Writings on Willpower, Emotion, Reason, Memory, Imagination, and Confidence , published by Maria Popova for Brain Pickings on August 1, 2016. I looked quickly at the contents and realized I had already seen at least some of it in the Bruce Lee Library and more .  This line caught my eye, however: "[H]ere is an exclusive look at several pages from his 1968 pocketbook, penned shortly before Lee’s twenty-eighth birthday, each transcribed below, beginning with Napoleon Hill’s “Daily Success Creed,” which Lee copied into his notebooks." It is rare to see an author recognize when Bruce Lee copied material into his notebooks. (It happens, as noted in my writings, but not as frequently as it should.)  I had a...

My (Richard's) reading theme for July 2021 was books on budo and associated topics. This was an extension of my reading theme for June 2021 .  Introduction When I started this reading project in May 2020, I prioritized books on martial arts history. I read 34 books from May - November 2020 and reviewed several for Martial Journal . In December 2020 I started my current project, which involves reading 6-12 books per month and writing these monthly survey posts. These titles are numbered 122-132 in my reading spreadsheet. That list extends to number 435, ending in June 2024. Beginning in July 2024, my remaining unread martial arts books all carry the label "technique." My library currently lists 225 print books and 563 digital books with the "technique" label. Some time in 2024 I will create a reading plan for those titles as well. The goal of Martial History Team is to "promote martial arts history based on sound evidence and sourced research." I read t...

My (Richard's) reading theme for June 2021 was books on budo and associated topics.  Introduction I have other books on budo that I did not include in this group, and some of the books may not strictly fit someone else's definition. Nevertheless, what follows are my thoughts on 13 (and maybe more) titles related to Japanese martial arts. Classical Bujutsu, Classical Budo, and Modern Bujutsu and Budo by Donn F. Draeger, 1973, 1973, 1974 Classial Bujutsu , Classical Budo , and Modern Bujutsu and Budo , Donn F. Draeger, 1973, 1973, 1974 Classical Bujutsu , Classical Budo , and Modern Bujutsu and Budo  are three books that deserve the "not bad for the early 1970s, but avoid now" award, along with  Secrets of the Samurai by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, addressed in Survey of Books on Japan's Samurai, Zen, and War .  The first two "Classical" titles are still in print at reasonable prices, probably because they are not as insulting as the third title. All...