The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

I've not read this edition, 05 Oct 2008
I have three copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, one fairly expensive by Cleary, and two cheaper translations, I like the expensive one least of the three for it's pushing of a pacifist Taoism that isn't in the others.

Victor Harris's translation of the book of five rings is fine.

review and non-review, 11 Oct 2007
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second.

Two Books for the Price of One!! - Musashi & Munenori together in one place!!, 01 Jul 2007
Unlike the dozens of other translations of "The Book of Five Rings", this one also contains "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori (A contemporary of Musashi). How's that for value for money?!

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a GREAT book! If you take time to properly absorb and understand ALL of its teachings. It's not a very long book and so would be easy to read a few times over so that you get a proper flavour of the important message being presented. Thomas Cleary is a prolific writer and well qualified to produce such a translation.

A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is "Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets" by Boye De Lafayette Mente, who very cleverly summarises this book into 42 easy to digest and understand and apply chapters.

The ideas in this book are NOT dangerous to anyone in the least, IF you balance and apply ALL of the lessons within it - that's the idea that the great undefeated warrior Musashi was trying to put across. The life saving principles he expounds here are designed to help us all have a better, easier and more fulfilled life, Martial Artist or not. His strategies can be applied and used by anyone.

"A knife is dangerous for anyone - you just have to learn how to use is safely & intelligently"

We are all so lucky & truly blessed that, nearly 400 years ago, someone called Lord Hosokawa had the foresight to ask the ageing Musashi to write down his secrets of success. Musashi himself was not only extremely talented but must have been a very intelligent man for his time to write such a treatise.

The comment (else ware) about this book not being for beginners is misleading I think, it isn't that hard to understand and extrapolate the true meaning and intentions that Musashi was trying to put across.

Don't be put off by ANY of the negative criticisms (in other reviews), it's only because they've missed the point or just quickly scanned & glossed over the book.

Although we are not entirely certain of Musashi's religious bent, Musashi bases his book [loosely] on the Zen Buddhist philosophies of the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind & Emptiness. One of his close associates was Takuan Soho, author of "The Unfettered Mind".

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

I've not read this edition, 05 Oct 2008
I have three copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, one fairly expensive by Cleary, and two cheaper translations, I like the expensive one least of the three for it's pushing of a pacifist Taoism that isn't in the others.

Victor Harris's translation of the book of five rings is fine.

review and non-review, 11 Oct 2007
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second.

Two Books for the Price of One!! - Musashi & Munenori together in one place!!, 01 Jul 2007
Unlike the dozens of other translations of "The Book of Five Rings", this one also contains "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori (A contemporary of Musashi). How's that for value for money?!

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a GREAT book! If you take time to properly absorb and understand ALL of its teachings. It's not a very long book and so would be easy to read a few times over so that you get a proper flavour of the important message being presented. Thomas Cleary is a prolific writer and well qualified to produce such a translation.

A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is "Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets" by Boye De Lafayette Mente, who very cleverly summarises this book into 42 easy to digest and understand and apply chapters.

The ideas in this book are NOT dangerous to anyone in the least, IF you balance and apply ALL of the lessons within it - that's the idea that the great undefeated warrior Musashi was trying to put across. The life saving principles he expounds here are designed to help us all have a better, easier and more fulfilled life, Martial Artist or not. His strategies can be applied and used by anyone.

"A knife is dangerous for anyone - you just have to learn how to use is safely & intelligently"

We are all so lucky & truly blessed that, nearly 400 years ago, someone called Lord Hosokawa had the foresight to ask the ageing Musashi to write down his secrets of success. Musashi himself was not only extremely talented but must have been a very intelligent man for his time to write such a treatise.

The comment (else ware) about this book not being for beginners is misleading I think, it isn't that hard to understand and extrapolate the true meaning and intentions that Musashi was trying to put across.

Don't be put off by ANY of the negative criticisms (in other reviews), it's only because they've missed the point or just quickly scanned & glossed over the book.

Although we are not entirely certain of Musashi's religious bent, Musashi bases his book [loosely] on the Zen Buddhist philosophies of the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind & Emptiness. One of his close associates was Takuan Soho, author of "The Unfettered Mind".

FAB BOOK!!!, 29 Feb 2008
The book is great, far more detailed then the other martial arts books i have purchased. It explains all exercises in detail concerning kicks, punches and other drills you can do to improve strength and speed, if you already dont have this title on your bookshelf then get it, you wont regret it!

EXCELLENT BOOK!!, 08 Oct 2007
Loren Christensen is a great author who presents lots of different ways in which a martial artist can train at home. His writing suggests that he has a high knowledge in the martial arts which should give readers a comforting feeling when considering this book. Solo training will always be a part (but not a whole) for every martial artist and this book gives a lot of inspiring content.

Perfect for the home trainer!, 02 Feb 2004
This book is a must for any martial artist training at home either exclusively or to supplement dojo training. The drills are excellent for the solo practioner and new and interesting techniques are also found within it. Unlike other works on the subject the book does not focus overly on expensive equipment and offers a huge variety of training ideas. Also, Christenson's writing style is light-hearted and you feel you are being taught by someone who knows what they are talking about - he is not pretentious or arrogant (a trap many MA authors fall into) and points out clearly problems which you may find with your technique and solutions to them. Trying to train without a partner? You wont find a better manual.

Good, simple advice, if you use it, 18 Jun 2003
This is the kind of book that mostly has you say "Well... I knew that. And that too...", there's very little in here you haven't heard before or couldn't just figure out yourself. But most of us don't bother to do these kinds of things. The best thing about this book is that it gives a concice list of stuff to do, so if you grasp it and start training, you will benefit a lot. A nice bonus is the fact that L.C. is a good writer and has a lot of martial arts experience both in and out of the dojo. Very recommended book for one who is serious about his training.

a good book, 27 May 2003
Yep, this a good book ,fun to read ,good information and some good humour i was in danger of reading the whole thing in the first day !!!!.(apart from the section on kicks mostley ,as i hurt my back a while ago and dont kick much plus dont like the karate style of chambering and then kicking but well! and even then i found some of it useful so!
A good read and one you will want to come back to and referance again and again.

Lenny McLean: the Guv'nor, Dirty Len, a human timebomb waiting to go off, one of the old school--however he was known, Len McLean was--until his high-profile death through cancer in 1998-a living legend and the truth behind a dozen urban myths (all of them extremely violent no doubt); as well as a byword for toughness and street smarts. You didn't mess with Len. Stories of his exploits abound, his name being known far beyond his native manor of Hoxton, with a fearsome reputation built on the back of being a gentleman and one of the best fighters I have ever seen, according to the late Ron Kray. The turn out of minor celebrities and gangland notables at his funeral is a testimony to the (for him) all-important respect this larger- than-life character earned in his chequered life. But who was the great pugilist-turned-actor (see his impressive performance playing, not surprisingly, an East End enforcer in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), and what does it take to be the so-called Guv'nor?

In The Guv'nor, Len takes us, in what largely seems to be his own words (those offended by coarse language beware, he is no honey-tongued rhetorician), through his reminiscences. He evokes a compelling picture of times past, of a tough childhood growing up in the impoverished East End under the auspices of a brutally violent and unforgiving stepfather. He lived his early life in violence, and from that point, through a career of petty crime, minding, bouncing and unlicensed prize fighting (in fact anything that required muscle--his weapons were his fists, and he never used a shooter) it never ended. Because violence came so naturally to Len, his blasé attitude to hospitalising several slags ("no good bastards", so the helpful glossary of colourful terms informs us) can be bluntly shocking. But although violence was a feature of his life, this is not what the man (nor the book) was about. Len was essentially a man of simple values, but with a temper and the tools to make those who crossed or challenged him regret it--badly. A man of strong principles, (by his own account but also by the account of many others), a loving husband and father, not to mention brother, uncle, friend and, perhaps most poignantly, son of a cherished mother. Like many other hard men, he had a particular soft spot for his mother, who herself lived a cruelly tough life of sacrifice and subjugation.

When I met Len, he was courteous and charming, but the air of menace was unmistakable when he had to straighten a fellow bouncer for disrespecting a lady (I cannot remember what the guy actually did, but he definitely wouldn't do it again in Len's presence). Once the message was received, he happily returned to chatting, enlightening me with his words of wisdom. And what wisdom, you may ask, did I take from him? Son, treat kindness with kindness, he pronounced in that gravelly, stentorian tone--an admirable sentiment I thought--and violence with EXTREME violence! he trumpeted. Thankfully, few, if any, can do it quite like Lenny.--Alisdair Bowles

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

I've not read this edition, 05 Oct 2008
I have three copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, one fairly expensive by Cleary, and two cheaper translations, I like the expensive one least of the three for it's pushing of a pacifist Taoism that isn't in the others.

Victor Harris's translation of the book of five rings is fine.

review and non-review, 11 Oct 2007
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second.

Two Books for the Price of One!! - Musashi & Munenori together in one place!!, 01 Jul 2007
Unlike the dozens of other translations of "The Book of Five Rings", this one also contains "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori (A contemporary of Musashi). How's that for value for money?!

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a GREAT book! If you take time to properly absorb and understand ALL of its teachings. It's not a very long book and so would be easy to read a few times over so that you get a proper flavour of the important message being presented. Thomas Cleary is a prolific writer and well qualified to produce such a translation.

A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is "Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets" by Boye De Lafayette Mente, who very cleverly summarises this book into 42 easy to digest and understand and apply chapters.

The ideas in this book are NOT dangerous to anyone in the least, IF you balance and apply ALL of the lessons within it - that's the idea that the great undefeated warrior Musashi was trying to put across. The life saving principles he expounds here are designed to help us all have a better, easier and more fulfilled life, Martial Artist or not. His strategies can be applied and used by anyone.

"A knife is dangerous for anyone - you just have to learn how to use is safely & intelligently"

We are all so lucky & truly blessed that, nearly 400 years ago, someone called Lord Hosokawa had the foresight to ask the ageing Musashi to write down his secrets of success. Musashi himself was not only extremely talented but must have been a very intelligent man for his time to write such a treatise.

The comment (else ware) about this book not being for beginners is misleading I think, it isn't that hard to understand and extrapolate the true meaning and intentions that Musashi was trying to put across.

Don't be put off by ANY of the negative criticisms (in other reviews), it's only because they've missed the point or just quickly scanned & glossed over the book.

Although we are not entirely certain of Musashi's religious bent, Musashi bases his book [loosely] on the Zen Buddhist philosophies of the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind & Emptiness. One of his close associates was Takuan Soho, author of "The Unfettered Mind".

FAB BOOK!!!, 29 Feb 2008
The book is great, far more detailed then the other martial arts books i have purchased. It explains all exercises in detail concerning kicks, punches and other drills you can do to improve strength and speed, if you already dont have this title on your bookshelf then get it, you wont regret it!

EXCELLENT BOOK!!, 08 Oct 2007
Loren Christensen is a great author who presents lots of different ways in which a martial artist can train at home. His writing suggests that he has a high knowledge in the martial arts which should give readers a comforting feeling when considering this book. Solo training will always be a part (but not a whole) for every martial artist and this book gives a lot of inspiring content.

Perfect for the home trainer!, 02 Feb 2004
This book is a must for any martial artist training at home either exclusively or to supplement dojo training. The drills are excellent for the solo practioner and new and interesting techniques are also found within it. Unlike other works on the subject the book does not focus overly on expensive equipment and offers a huge variety of training ideas. Also, Christenson's writing style is light-hearted and you feel you are being taught by someone who knows what they are talking about - he is not pretentious or arrogant (a trap many MA authors fall into) and points out clearly problems which you may find with your technique and solutions to them. Trying to train without a partner? You wont find a better manual.

Good, simple advice, if you use it, 18 Jun 2003
This is the kind of book that mostly has you say "Well... I knew that. And that too...", there's very little in here you haven't heard before or couldn't just figure out yourself. But most of us don't bother to do these kinds of things. The best thing about this book is that it gives a concice list of stuff to do, so if you grasp it and start training, you will benefit a lot. A nice bonus is the fact that L.C. is a good writer and has a lot of martial arts experience both in and out of the dojo. Very recommended book for one who is serious about his training.

a good book, 27 May 2003
Yep, this a good book ,fun to read ,good information and some good humour i was in danger of reading the whole thing in the first day !!!!.(apart from the section on kicks mostley ,as i hurt my back a while ago and dont kick much plus dont like the karate style of chambering and then kicking but well! and even then i found some of it useful so!
A good read and one you will want to come back to and referance again and again.

What a Guy,What a book, 12 Sep 2008
This is the best book i ever read, i could not put it down, and gutted when i finshed it, Brill everybody should read it.

Review, 05 Aug 2007
I was genuinely shocked by how moved I was after reading this book. Yes, the fights make hugely entertaining reading, but for me the tragedy of Lenny's early life experience shone through; growing up in a very tough neighbourhood, losing loving parents prematurely and suffering and witnessing unimaginable physical violence and abuse as a child. I am left feeling that Lenny was at heart a very emotional man, clearly affected by a past that forged every aspect of his character, emotionally, psychologically and physically.

When I finished the book I searched the internet for video clips. Again, I found two extremes. Fights showing Lenny truly punishing other fighters along with TV show interviews showing a much more self-effacing, mild, humorous and altogether more gentle man. The book reminded me of "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, possibly because of the contrast between extreme violence and family life and the reasons why "violent" people are conditioned into violence by their upbringing.

Deeply entertaining, deeply tragic and a premature end to a very interesting man. I would have loved to have met him.


Myth or Legend, 19 Jun 2007
I have long been interested in Lenny Mcleans life and without turning this review into a Lenny mclean forum I would like to clear a few things up. Lenny Did fight Roy Shaw 3 times and in the first fight he was beaten by shaw. The two other fights he had with Shaw are on film and now widely availible on the internet.These recordings are proof for everyone to see that clearly Lenny Mclean was the better man.In that 2nd fight Lenny Knocks Roy Shaw clean through the ropes and in the 3rd, Lenny almost punches roys head off until roy crashes to the canvas.
Lenny's boast that he had 3000 fights has always raised eyebrows but taking into acount all the fighting over twenty five years he probably was not far wrong.On the doors it was sometimes four a night at different clubs all over London.And then the bareknuckle challenges and unlicensed bouts plus the street fights as a youngster.
Sure we all know he lost some boxing matches but these were against very good boxers who understood ring craft.With gloves off Lenny was a nightmare. To all those who say Len was a bully. Read "the Guv'nor through the eyes of others" by Anthony Thomas and its plain to see through eyewitness accounts that len was a very big hearted man. Okay in his early youth he was arrogant and may have come across to be a bully but as he got older he changed his attitude and only unleashed his awesome temper on those who crossed or challenged him.
A very famous fight promoter who promoted Lenny in the seventies who I wont name, described him as a bully. But could this be sour grapes because Lenny threw a fight over the money and changed his promoter.
If it hadnt been for the fact that Lenny was this mans star fighter on the unlicensed circuit he may never have been as great a promoter as he is now.
"The Guv'nor" will go down in history as being the definitive hard man book wether you believe some of Lennys accounts or not, its still a great read about a man who is truly a legend.This word Legend is banded about too much these days but I think Lenny truly deserves it.


Who's the Guv'nor?, 03 Jun 2007
After reading Roy Shaws biography 'Pretty Boy' I was very keen to read more about the violent underworld these characters lived in. Lenny McLean was Shaws arch rival and the two men hated each other. The Guv'nor tells a very similar tale of a boy raised in London who would become a villain and feared hardman.

McLean obviously had a tough upbringing, mostly at the hands of his mothers violent boyfriend Jim Irwin. Lennys grew into a tough teenage crook and after a spell in borstal took up boxing. McLean was a ferocious fighter and a mountain of a man. He travelled the country fighting in gyspy fairs and made a small fortune whilst at the same time building a terrifying reputation.

Whereas Shaws book appears to be brutally honest, McLeans appears exaggerated and self indulgent. McLean tells of how he 'looked after' pubs and clubs for their owners as if he was doing them a great favour when in actual fact he was running a protection racket. If anything McLean attracted trouble as he was often a target for people looking to make a name for themselves and was shot and stabbed working as a doorman. McLean boasts of his successes in the ring but glosses over the first fight with Roy Shaw in which Shaw beat him hands down. He also claims to have beaten Shaw twice whereas Shaw claims McLean refused a second return fight after defeating him in the first return. McLean sees himself as a gentleman but actually sounds to be nothing more than a thug (especially when he describes smashing a mates jaw into pieces). That said, this is still a fascinating book and McLean has led quite a remarkable life. His ego aside, there are more than enough thrilling tales to fill a book here such as the time he was flown by the mafia to New York to fight their champion (McLean decked him) and the time he acted as security on a deal with the IRA.

Like this? Try: Pretty Boy by Roy Shaw

Guv'nor, 20 Dec 2006
This was a larger than life read about a larger than life man. Being of keen interest in these kinds of biographies, I love to try and get a feel for the subject and in this case it was easy because I had met Lenny on several occasions.

Lenny Mclean's life was not easy nor soft, he was a very frightening and dangerous man when angered which this book enforces but when cross referenced with other biographies of the same genre you feel that some of the exploits told need to be taken with a grain of salt.

All in all this is a good read that you will be eager to read repeatedly but curious to follow up on those mentioned in their own books.

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

I've not read this edition, 05 Oct 2008
I have three copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, one fairly expensive by Cleary, and two cheaper translations, I like the expensive one least of the three for it's pushing of a pacifist Taoism that isn't in the others.

Victor Harris's translation of the book of five rings is fine.

review and non-review, 11 Oct 2007
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second.

Two Books for the Price of One!! - Musashi & Munenori together in one place!!, 01 Jul 2007
Unlike the dozens of other translations of "The Book of Five Rings", this one also contains "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori (A contemporary of Musashi). How's that for value for money?!

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a GREAT book! If you take time to properly absorb and understand ALL of its teachings. It's not a very long book and so would be easy to read a few times over so that you get a proper flavour of the important message being presented. Thomas Cleary is a prolific writer and well qualified to produce such a translation.

A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is "Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets" by Boye De Lafayette Mente, who very cleverly summarises this book into 42 easy to digest and understand and apply chapters.

The ideas in this book are NOT dangerous to anyone in the least, IF you balance and apply ALL of the lessons within it - that's the idea that the great undefeated warrior Musashi was trying to put across. The life saving principles he expounds here are designed to help us all have a better, easier and more fulfilled life, Martial Artist or not. His strategies can be applied and used by anyone.

"A knife is dangerous for anyone - you just have to learn how to use is safely & intelligently"

We are all so lucky & truly blessed that, nearly 400 years ago, someone called Lord Hosokawa had the foresight to ask the ageing Musashi to write down his secrets of success. Musashi himself was not only extremely talented but must have been a very intelligent man for his time to write such a treatise.

The comment (else ware) about this book not being for beginners is misleading I think, it isn't that hard to understand and extrapolate the true meaning and intentions that Musashi was trying to put across.

Don't be put off by ANY of the negative criticisms (in other reviews), it's only because they've missed the point or just quickly scanned & glossed over the book.

Although we are not entirely certain of Musashi's religious bent, Musashi bases his book [loosely] on the Zen Buddhist philosophies of the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind & Emptiness. One of his close associates was Takuan Soho, author of "The Unfettered Mind".

FAB BOOK!!!, 29 Feb 2008
The book is great, far more detailed then the other martial arts books i have purchased. It explains all exercises in detail concerning kicks, punches and other drills you can do to improve strength and speed, if you already dont have this title on your bookshelf then get it, you wont regret it!

EXCELLENT BOOK!!, 08 Oct 2007
Loren Christensen is a great author who presents lots of different ways in which a martial artist can train at home. His writing suggests that he has a high knowledge in the martial arts which should give readers a comforting feeling when considering this book. Solo training will always be a part (but not a whole) for every martial artist and this book gives a lot of inspiring content.

Perfect for the home trainer!, 02 Feb 2004
This book is a must for any martial artist training at home either exclusively or to supplement dojo training. The drills are excellent for the solo practioner and new and interesting techniques are also found within it. Unlike other works on the subject the book does not focus overly on expensive equipment and offers a huge variety of training ideas. Also, Christenson's writing style is light-hearted and you feel you are being taught by someone who knows what they are talking about - he is not pretentious or arrogant (a trap many MA authors fall into) and points out clearly problems which you may find with your technique and solutions to them. Trying to train without a partner? You wont find a better manual.

Good, simple advice, if you use it, 18 Jun 2003
This is the kind of book that mostly has you say "Well... I knew that. And that too...", there's very little in here you haven't heard before or couldn't just figure out yourself. But most of us don't bother to do these kinds of things. The best thing about this book is that it gives a concice list of stuff to do, so if you grasp it and start training, you will benefit a lot. A nice bonus is the fact that L.C. is a good writer and has a lot of martial arts experience both in and out of the dojo. Very recommended book for one who is serious about his training.

a good book, 27 May 2003
Yep, this a good book ,fun to read ,good information and some good humour i was in danger of reading the whole thing in the first day !!!!.(apart from the section on kicks mostley ,as i hurt my back a while ago and dont kick much plus dont like the karate style of chambering and then kicking but well! and even then i found some of it useful so!
A good read and one you will want to come back to and referance again and again.

What a Guy,What a book, 12 Sep 2008
This is the best book i ever read, i could not put it down, and gutted when i finshed it, Brill everybody should read it.

Review, 05 Aug 2007
I was genuinely shocked by how moved I was after reading this book. Yes, the fights make hugely entertaining reading, but for me the tragedy of Lenny's early life experience shone through; growing up in a very tough neighbourhood, losing loving parents prematurely and suffering and witnessing unimaginable physical violence and abuse as a child. I am left feeling that Lenny was at heart a very emotional man, clearly affected by a past that forged every aspect of his character, emotionally, psychologically and physically.

When I finished the book I searched the internet for video clips. Again, I found two extremes. Fights showing Lenny truly punishing other fighters along with TV show interviews showing a much more self-effacing, mild, humorous and altogether more gentle man. The book reminded me of "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, possibly because of the contrast between extreme violence and family life and the reasons why "violent" people are conditioned into violence by their upbringing.

Deeply entertaining, deeply tragic and a premature end to a very interesting man. I would have loved to have met him.


Myth or Legend, 19 Jun 2007
I have long been interested in Lenny Mcleans life and without turning this review into a Lenny mclean forum I would like to clear a few things up. Lenny Did fight Roy Shaw 3 times and in the first fight he was beaten by shaw. The two other fights he had with Shaw are on film and now widely availible on the internet.These recordings are proof for everyone to see that clearly Lenny Mclean was the better man.In that 2nd fight Lenny Knocks Roy Shaw clean through the ropes and in the 3rd, Lenny almost punches roys head off until roy crashes to the canvas.
Lenny's boast that he had 3000 fights has always raised eyebrows but taking into acount all the fighting over twenty five years he probably was not far wrong.On the doors it was sometimes four a night at different clubs all over London.And then the bareknuckle challenges and unlicensed bouts plus the street fights as a youngster.
Sure we all know he lost some boxing matches but these were against very good boxers who understood ring craft.With gloves off Lenny was a nightmare. To all those who say Len was a bully. Read "the Guv'nor through the eyes of others" by Anthony Thomas and its plain to see through eyewitness accounts that len was a very big hearted man. Okay in his early youth he was arrogant and may have come across to be a bully but as he got older he changed his attitude and only unleashed his awesome temper on those who crossed or challenged him.
A very famous fight promoter who promoted Lenny in the seventies who I wont name, described him as a bully. But could this be sour grapes because Lenny threw a fight over the money and changed his promoter.
If it hadnt been for the fact that Lenny was this mans star fighter on the unlicensed circuit he may never have been as great a promoter as he is now.
"The Guv'nor" will go down in history as being the definitive hard man book wether you believe some of Lennys accounts or not, its still a great read about a man who is truly a legend.This word Legend is banded about too much these days but I think Lenny truly deserves it.


Who's the Guv'nor?, 03 Jun 2007
After reading Roy Shaws biography 'Pretty Boy' I was very keen to read more about the violent underworld these characters lived in. Lenny McLean was Shaws arch rival and the two men hated each other. The Guv'nor tells a very similar tale of a boy raised in London who would become a villain and feared hardman.

McLean obviously had a tough upbringing, mostly at the hands of his mothers violent boyfriend Jim Irwin. Lennys grew into a tough teenage crook and after a spell in borstal took up boxing. McLean was a ferocious fighter and a mountain of a man. He travelled the country fighting in gyspy fairs and made a small fortune whilst at the same time building a terrifying reputation.

Whereas Shaws book appears to be brutally honest, McLeans appears exaggerated and self indulgent. McLean tells of how he 'looked after' pubs and clubs for their owners as if he was doing them a great favour when in actual fact he was running a protection racket. If anything McLean attracted trouble as he was often a target for people looking to make a name for themselves and was shot and stabbed working as a doorman. McLean boasts of his successes in the ring but glosses over the first fight with Roy Shaw in which Shaw beat him hands down. He also claims to have beaten Shaw twice whereas Shaw claims McLean refused a second return fight after defeating him in the first return. McLean sees himself as a gentleman but actually sounds to be nothing more than a thug (especially when he describes smashing a mates jaw into pieces). That said, this is still a fascinating book and McLean has led quite a remarkable life. His ego aside, there are more than enough thrilling tales to fill a book here such as the time he was flown by the mafia to New York to fight their champion (McLean decked him) and the time he acted as security on a deal with the IRA.

Like this? Try: Pretty Boy by Roy Shaw

Guv'nor, 20 Dec 2006
This was a larger than life read about a larger than life man. Being of keen interest in these kinds of biographies, I love to try and get a feel for the subject and in this case it was easy because I had met Lenny on several occasions.

Lenny Mclean's life was not easy nor soft, he was a very frightening and dangerous man when angered which this book enforces but when cross referenced with other biographies of the same genre you feel that some of the exploits told need to be taken with a grain of salt.

All in all this is a good read that you will be eager to read repeatedly but curious to follow up on those mentioned in their own books.

Excellent guide to MMA fitness training, 11 Jul 2008
This chunky guide looks great. It's large format with lots of quality colour photos of the techniques.

The focus is purely on conditioning, so there are no instructions on punching or kicking for instance but it includes lots of stuff general gym manuals would ignore, like neck exercises which are important for wrestling/MMA but not much use to other athletes.

Over all, this is great value just because it's so clear and comprehensive.

Superb! Real World Resource for Effective Fight Conditioning, 22 Jun 2008
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Martin Rooney has effectively given us the conditioning road map. The book is of the highest quality, the photographs are excellent, the editorial succint and clear. For anyone who want the conditioning edge, this is the book.

Fighter or not TFW provides a broad range of excercises and drills. The book follows a logical path giving an overview of MMA and then gets into Warrior Anatomy covering warm-ups, training by bodypart (don't confuse this with traditional body split training) and then goes on to cover specific programs, nutrition and injuries. You can follwo the programs or mix it up and simply focus on the areas that you need to work.

As for the weight training aspect, I'm a RKC Kettlebell instructor and consequently the Kettlebell is my tool of choice. I simpy us kettlebell drill and lifts to replace the conventional weighted drills.

The most valuable aspect of TFW is the way it translates many conventional drills into a MA context.

Most important, once you've read the text, looked at the pics...Go Train!

Look elsewhere, 21 Jun 2008
I didnt think much of this book tbh, its good in the sense that it lists dozens of exercises for different body parts, but besides that, it doesnt offer much more and you need a lot of equipment to follow this book, ie machines and loads of different free weights, plyo boxes, medicine balls, treadmills etc. The nutrition chapter was okay, but besides that, you can find exercises for different body parts using the internet and erxx.net and bodybuilding.com. The programme outlined isnt too brilliant either, the strength programme has a lot of holes in it. if your into MMA/Boxing or just want top notch fitness, i would highly recommend Ross Enamait's stuff; they are fantastic.

Get ready to rumble!, 13 May 2008
This is a very well put together fitness manual. Regardless of your martial arts discipline there will be something you haven't tried in here. Even if your not a combat athelete this book will get you into top shape. Its a complete overview of the physical training for the fastest growing sport on the planet. I have been very impressed with the completeness of this book from the range of excersises to tips on cutting weight and as a humble boxer have found it very informative and beneficial to my conditioning.

Highly Recommended, 13 May 2008
This review is care of double World Champion ju jutsu fighter Braulio Estima who owns and uses this book

Braulio's first language is Portuguese.

"... This book was very well set up for fighters who want to have a good
quality on the strength and conditioning specific for fighting. I used
and still using most of the workouts. For the Abu Dhabi 2007 I did
loads of it on the last case of my training and I found that helped a
lot on my results. Hurricane workout is awesome. Well done Martin
this book is 10 out of 10, I do recommend for everyone who wants to be a
warrior.

Braulio Estima

..."

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

I've not read this edition, 05 Oct 2008
I have three copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, one fairly expensive by Cleary, and two cheaper translations, I like the expensive one least of the three for it's pushing of a pacifist Taoism that isn't in the others.

Victor Harris's translation of the book of five rings is fine.

review and non-review, 11 Oct 2007
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second.

Two Books for the Price of One!! - Musashi & Munenori together in one place!!, 01 Jul 2007
Unlike the dozens of other translations of "The Book of Five Rings", this one also contains "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori (A contemporary of Musashi). How's that for value for money?!

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a GREAT book! If you take time to properly absorb and understand ALL of its teachings. It's not a very long book and so would be easy to read a few times over so that you get a proper flavour of the important message being presented. Thomas Cleary is a prolific writer and well qualified to produce such a translation.

A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is "Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets" by Boye De Lafayette Mente, who very cleverly summarises this book into 42 easy to digest and understand and apply chapters.

The ideas in this book are NOT dangerous to anyone in the least, IF you balance and apply ALL of the lessons within it - that's the idea that the great undefeated warrior Musashi was trying to put across. The life saving principles he expounds here are designed to help us all have a better, easier and more fulfilled life, Martial Artist or not. His strategies can be applied and used by anyone.

"A knife is dangerous for anyone - you just have to learn how to use is safely & intelligently"

We are all so lucky & truly blessed that, nearly 400 years ago, someone called Lord Hosokawa had the foresight to ask the ageing Musashi to write down his secrets of success. Musashi himself was not only extremely talented but must have been a very intelligent man for his time to write such a treatise.

The comment (else ware) about this book not being for beginners is misleading I think, it isn't that hard to understand and extrapolate the true meaning and intentions that Musashi was trying to put across.

Don't be put off by ANY of the negative criticisms (in other reviews), it's only because they've missed the point or just quickly scanned & glossed over the book.

Although we are not entirely certain of Musashi's religious bent, Musashi bases his book [loosely] on the Zen Buddhist philosophies of the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind & Emptiness. One of his close associates was Takuan Soho, author of "The Unfettered Mind".

FAB BOOK!!!, 29 Feb 2008
The book is great, far more detailed then the other martial arts books i have purchased. It explains all exercises in detail concerning kicks, punches and other drills you can do to improve strength and speed, if you already dont have this title on your bookshelf then get it, you wont regret it!

EXCELLENT BOOK!!, 08 Oct 2007
Loren Christensen is a great author who presents lots of different ways in which a martial artist can train at home. His writing suggests that he has a high knowledge in the martial arts which should give readers a comforting feeling when considering this book. Solo training will always be a part (but not a whole) for every martial artist and this book gives a lot of inspiring content.

Perfect for the home trainer!, 02 Feb 2004
This book is a must for any martial artist training at home either exclusively or to supplement dojo training. The drills are excellent for the solo practioner and new and interesting techniques are also found within it. Unlike other works on the subject the book does not focus overly on expensive equipment and offers a huge variety of training ideas. Also, Christenson's writing style is light-hearted and you feel you are being taught by someone who knows what they are talking about - he is not pretentious or arrogant (a trap many MA authors fall into) and points out clearly problems which you may find with your technique and solutions to them. Trying to train without a partner? You wont find a better manual.

Good, simple advice, if you use it, 18 Jun 2003
This is the kind of book that mostly has you say "Well... I knew that. And that too...", there's very little in here you haven't heard before or couldn't just figure out yourself. But most of us don't bother to do these kinds of things. The best thing about this book is that it gives a concice list of stuff to do, so if you grasp it and start training, you will benefit a lot. A nice bonus is the fact that L.C. is a good writer and has a lot of martial arts experience both in and out of the dojo. Very recommended book for one who is serious about his training.

a good book, 27 May 2003
Yep, this a good book ,fun to read ,good information and some good humour i was in danger of reading the whole thing in the first day !!!!.(apart from the section on kicks mostley ,as i hurt my back a while ago and dont kick much plus dont like the karate style of chambering and then kicking but well! and even then i found some of it useful so!
A good read and one you will want to come back to and referance again and again.

What a Guy,What a book, 12 Sep 2008
This is the best book i ever read, i could not put it down, and gutted when i finshed it, Brill everybody should read it.

Review, 05 Aug 2007
I was genuinely shocked by how moved I was after reading this book. Yes, the fights make hugely entertaining reading, but for me the tragedy of Lenny's early life experience shone through; growing up in a very tough neighbourhood, losing loving parents prematurely and suffering and witnessing unimaginable physical violence and abuse as a child. I am left feeling that Lenny was at heart a very emotional man, clearly affected by a past that forged every aspect of his character, emotionally, psychologically and physically.

When I finished the book I searched the internet for video clips. Again, I found two extremes. Fights showing Lenny truly punishing other fighters along with TV show interviews showing a much more self-effacing, mild, humorous and altogether more gentle man. The book reminded me of "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, possibly because of the contrast between extreme violence and family life and the reasons why "violent" people are conditioned into violence by their upbringing.

Deeply entertaining, deeply tragic and a premature end to a very interesting man. I would have loved to have met him.


Myth or Legend, 19 Jun 2007
I have long been interested in Lenny Mcleans life and without turning this review into a Lenny mclean forum I would like to clear a few things up. Lenny Did fight Roy Shaw 3 times and in the first fight he was beaten by shaw. The two other fights he had with Shaw are on film and now widely availible on the internet.These recordings are proof for everyone to see that clearly Lenny Mclean was the better man.In that 2nd fight Lenny Knocks Roy Shaw clean through the ropes and in the 3rd, Lenny almost punches roys head off until roy crashes to the canvas.
Lenny's boast that he had 3000 fights has always raised eyebrows but taking into acount all the fighting over twenty five years he probably was not far wrong.On the doors it was sometimes four a night at different clubs all over London.And then the bareknuckle challenges and unlicensed bouts plus the street fights as a youngster.
Sure we all know he lost some boxing matches but these were against very good boxers who understood ring craft.With gloves off Lenny was a nightmare. To all those who say Len was a bully. Read "the Guv'nor through the eyes of others" by Anthony Thomas and its plain to see through eyewitness accounts that len was a very big hearted man. Okay in his early youth he was arrogant and may have come across to be a bully but as he got older he changed his attitude and only unleashed his awesome temper on those who crossed or challenged him.
A very famous fight promoter who promoted Lenny in the seventies who I wont name, described him as a bully. But could this be sour grapes because Lenny threw a fight over the money and changed his promoter.
If it hadnt been for the fact that Lenny was this mans star fighter on the unlicensed circuit he may never have been as great a promoter as he is now.
"The Guv'nor" will go down in history as being the definitive hard man book wether you believe some of Lennys accounts or not, its still a great read about a man who is truly a legend.This word Legend is banded about too much these days but I think Lenny truly deserves it.


Who's the Guv'nor?, 03 Jun 2007
After reading Roy Shaws biography 'Pretty Boy' I was very keen to read more about the violent underworld these characters lived in. Lenny McLean was Shaws arch rival and the two men hated each other. The Guv'nor tells a very similar tale of a boy raised in London who would become a villain and feared hardman.

McLean obviously had a tough upbringing, mostly at the hands of his mothers violent boyfriend Jim Irwin. Lennys grew into a tough teenage crook and after a spell in borstal took up boxing. McLean was a ferocious fighter and a mountain of a man. He travelled the country fighting in gyspy fairs and made a small fortune whilst at the same time building a terrifying reputation.

Whereas Shaws book appears to be brutally honest, McLeans appears exaggerated and self indulgent. McLean tells of how he 'looked after' pubs and clubs for their owners as if he was doing them a great favour when in actual fact he was running a protection racket. If anything McLean attracted trouble as he was often a target for people looking to make a name for themselves and was shot and stabbed working as a doorman. McLean boasts of his successes in the ring but glosses over the first fight with Roy Shaw in which Shaw beat him hands down. He also claims to have beaten Shaw twice whereas Shaw claims McLean refused a second return fight after defeating him in the first return. McLean sees himself as a gentleman but actually sounds to be nothing more than a thug (especially when he describes smashing a mates jaw into pieces). That said, this is still a fascinating book and McLean has led quite a remarkable life. His ego aside, there are more than enough thrilling tales to fill a book here such as the time he was flown by the mafia to New York to fight their champion (McLean decked him) and the time he acted as security on a deal with the IRA.

Like this? Try: Pretty Boy by Roy Shaw

Guv'nor, 20 Dec 2006
This was a larger than life read about a larger than life man. Being of keen interest in these kinds of biographies, I love to try and get a feel for the subject and in this case it was easy because I had met Lenny on several occasions.

Lenny Mclean's life was not easy nor soft, he was a very frightening and dangerous man when angered which this book enforces but when cross referenced with other biographies of the same genre you feel that some of the exploits told need to be taken with a grain of salt.

All in all this is a good read that you will be eager to read repeatedly but curious to follow up on those mentioned in their own books.

Excellent guide to MMA fitness training, 11 Jul 2008
This chunky guide looks great. It's large format with lots of quality colour photos of the techniques.

The focus is purely on conditioning, so there are no instructions on punching or kicking for instance but it includes lots of stuff general gym manuals would ignore, like neck exercises which are important for wrestling/MMA but not much use to other athletes.

Over all, this is great value just because it's so clear and comprehensive.

Superb! Real World Resource for Effective Fight Conditioning, 22 Jun 2008
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Martin Rooney has effectively given us the conditioning road map. The book is of the highest quality, the photographs are excellent, the editorial succint and clear. For anyone who want the conditioning edge, this is the book.

Fighter or not TFW provides a broad range of excercises and drills. The book follows a logical path giving an overview of MMA and then gets into Warrior Anatomy covering warm-ups, training by bodypart (don't confuse this with traditional body split training) and then goes on to cover specific programs, nutrition and injuries. You can follwo the programs or mix it up and simply focus on the areas that you need to work.

As for the weight training aspect, I'm a RKC Kettlebell instructor and consequently the Kettlebell is my tool of choice. I simpy us kettlebell drill and lifts to replace the conventional weighted drills.

The most valuable aspect of TFW is the way it translates many conventional drills into a MA context.

Most important, once you've read the text, looked at the pics...Go Train!

Look elsewhere, 21 Jun 2008
I didnt think much of this book tbh, its good in the sense that it lists dozens of exercises for different body parts, but besides that, it doesnt offer much more and you need a lot of equipment to follow this book, ie machines and loads of different free weights, plyo boxes, medicine balls, treadmills etc. The nutrition chapter was okay, but besides that, you can find exercises for different body parts using the internet and erxx.net and bodybuilding.com. The programme outlined isnt too brilliant either, the strength programme has a lot of holes in it. if your into MMA/Boxing or just want top notch fitness, i would highly recommend Ross Enamait's stuff; they are fantastic.

Get ready to rumble!, 13 May 2008
This is a very well put together fitness manual. Regardless of your martial arts discipline there will be something you haven't tried in here. Even if your not a combat athelete this book will get you into top shape. Its a complete overview of the physical training for the fastest growing sport on the planet. I have been very impressed with the completeness of this book from the range of excersises to tips on cutting weight and as a humble boxer have found it very informative and beneficial to my conditioning.

Highly Recommended, 13 May 2008
This review is care of double World Champion ju jutsu fighter Braulio Estima who owns and uses this book

Braulio's first language is Portuguese.

"... This book was very well set up for fighters who want to have a good
quality on the strength and conditioning specific for fighting. I used
and still using most of the workouts. For the Abu Dhabi 2007 I did
loads of it on the last case of my training and I found that helped a
lot on my results. Hurricane workout is awesome. Well done Martin
this book is 10 out of 10, I do recommend for everyone who wants to be a
warrior.

Braulio Estima

..."

No surprises, 11 Jul 2008
Iceman is a nicely-presented, easy-to-read life story of Chuck Liddell. There are lots of colour and black and photos and it looks good. Unfortunately it doesn't tell you anything you couldn't pretty much guess for yourself about the guy.

For instance (these are all captions from the book),

I always push myself to the limit when training.

Victor Belfort took me off guard with a nice pop but in the end I nailed him some major blows and won by unaanimous decision.

I was proud to become a part of John's team of Pit monsters.

Is there any UFC fighter who doesn't give 100%? Or who doesn't respect his trainer? Liddell's comments tend either to be either fatuous or utterly unsurprising.

You can only conclude the sole reason for writing this book is to jump on the current bandwagon for biographies of MMA stars.

the iceman came, 12 Jun 2008
Being a long time UFC fan I was looking forward to this book but felt after reading it that too much was missed out for PC reasons. A average read not on the scale of little evil but better than matts?

hmm i was expecting better..., 09 May 2008
this book could have been a whole lot better...it doesn't tell any stories of streetfights...or famous excess...in fact theres hardly any funny stories in there either...
i want to read about incidents on the street...arguements...details...humour...other famous people...parties...etc...

its a bit pg...

Quality book, 05 Apr 2008
I bought Chuck's book last weekend and it took me just 3 days to read it. It's very interesting and easy to read. Chuck is one of my favourite MMA fighters and I was glad to see his autobiography coming on the market.

Chuck describes his childhood at the beginning, later on he describes how he started with martial arts and then he talks about his fights in the ring and cage. Talks about UFC and also his personal life and life style.

Very interesting, have a go. You won't be dissapointed.

Cool as ice, 31 Mar 2008

This was one of the best biographies I have read this year. I was really surprised at how well the book is written. If anyone thinks the UFC athletes are just jobless brawlers PLEASE read this book.

In the book itself you find out how serious Chuck is about martial arts, not just fighting (even though he makes not secret that is his favourite part), but the discipline and dedication you need to be a serious martial artist.

One of the amazing thing about this book, is Chuck's ability to talk about his many accomplishments (and there are a hell of a lot of them) with out bragging. He gives his personal opinion on all the people he has met, from Dana White, to Tito, and everyone he has met and fought. This is a must read for all serious martial artists.

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Crudelli, 04 Oct 2008
I bought "The Way of the Warrior" because of a fascination and deep interest in martial arts and their history. What you actually get with "The Way of the Warrior" is one of the most in depth and informative encyclopaedia on any subject written. The sheer effort, energy and visually stunning nature of this book are evident from your first inevitable flick through as you try to comprehend the wealth of martial arts that exist. It is actually when you sit down and start to really read "The Way of the Warrior" that you realise that you have made a purchase that is going to both inform and entertain you as a martial arts fan or knowledge fanatic. Gone are the days of "this martial art is better" or "this is more deadly than that." Chris Crudelli (author) presents you with informed, unbiased truths about the codified fight systems that have existed for centuries. The history of martial arts is presented as a journey through the world not just the precious domain of the Far East. For the first time the passage of fighting systems and how countries pooled from each other is truly exposed giving the reader a genuine perspective into how we as humans have always learnt from each other regardless of colour or creed. The writing is clear, always informative and will appeal to martial artists and casual readers alike.
For me, what really takes this book to the highest level is the fact that every page is a visual feast. The photography is stunning. The book and its information leaps off the page because you are presented with such exciting imagery so descriptive in its nature you would be excused for thinking this book was a work of art. Every page is soaked in bold and artistic yet completely functional images. Not the standard martial arts photography you have seen before but new perspectives and specifically commissioned photography giving this book a completely unique feel.
I would recommend this book to martial artists. I would recommend this book to fans of photography. I would recommend this book to anyone that reads. "The Way of the Warrior" does not polarise its potential buyer base. I do not own anything like this book and it is going to take a lot of effort to find any encyclopaedia that comes close.



Good title, good reference material, 15 Jul 2008
What strikes me these days is there are no true showmen in the ring anymore, gone are the days when you watched a fight to see a boxer truly batter someone about the ring, getting their fist in at every opportunity - it's more stand back and protect your head. Sure it's never nice to see someone taking a good fist and to see their eye bleeding, but that is the reality. For me, no class is more appealing to watch than around the middle weight - speed, deftness, agility - all great attributes associated with the best boxers. The author has chosen (in my mind) the best and most colourful boxers in history, from the untouchable Sugar Ray to the gritty Hearns and the awesome Marvelous Marvin. If there is one gripe I have that is there should be a conclusion as to which one the author deems to be the real king as, never mind going by four kings, I think he'd be better off by one king.

I'd say a good bit of reference material, but nothing quite beats seeing someone getting a good pounding in the ring and for that, I have my video collection.

I've not read this edition, 05 Oct 2008
I have three copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, one fairly expensive by Cleary, and two cheaper translations, I like the expensive one least of the three for it's pushing of a pacifist Taoism that isn't in the others.

Victor Harris's translation of the book of five rings is fine.

review and non-review, 11 Oct 2007
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the