Myths and Legends of the Martial Arts - Softcover

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

These colorful tales trace the origins and illuminate the philosophies of each of the martial arts. Karate, kung fu, judo, aikido, sumo--each discipline of the martial arts is, at its most developed point, as much a philosophy as a code of war. Like any culture, each martial art has its founding myths, which reveal its origins and make sense of its underlying principles. These vivid parables of cowardice and valor, pride and humility, foolishness and wisdom, and heroes and villains, are gems of poetic wisdom culled from the fierce history of the East. A unique collection offering enlightenment and enchantment to students of the martial arts and Eastern philosophy. Peter Lewis, a renowned authority on the martial arts, is the author of many books on the subject, including "Martial Arts: Origins, Philosophy, Practice" and "Secret Art of the Ninja."