I'm actually quite fond of Musashi by Yoshikawa Eiji, but I think it might be a bit difficult for people to grasp some concepts in it if they aren't that familiar with historical Japanese culture. I don't think I've spoken to anyone who has had a bad impression of Musashi but I tend to surround myself with kenjutsu practitioners (who are generally fans of this heroic character), and full contact karate guys with some connection to Kyokushin (whose founder was a big Muasahi fan).
One interesting point is that the popularity of Musashi as a character may have been drummed up for promotion of an Olympic games. The name for the Olympic symbol in Japanese is 五輪 (Go rin). A samurai philosopher who happened to have a book called the 五輪書 (Gorin no sho) was too good an opportunity to pass up when promoting the Olympics (by the Yomiuri Shinbun anyway). World War II stopped that Olympics from happening, but it seems like those were the thoughts at the time.
I might have to take another look at the Yoshikawa book, it was quite a while ago when I gave it a go and just gave up. In the conversation with the elderly Japanese Sensei I asked him exactly who were the best examples (in his opinion) he mentioned the '3 Shu's'.
I am really enjoying Musashi. I have the audiobook version and listen as I run. The audiobook is over 50 hours long so it would be a slog to read. The very first book is more setting the scene than anything else. In my article on the lonely road to greatness I give a 3 paragraph explanation of the whole first book. After that it becomes more of a story of Musashi becoming a 修行者 (shugyousha), where he roams the country learning how to improve and become a better person through martial arts. He is a bit underhanded at times, which is why some people may see him as having a bad reputation, but that's all part of the journey. In the end, all is fair in love and war.
Side note: Sakamoto Ryōma is someone who I saw openly celebrated a lot when I lived in Kyushu.
This is quite possible the best martial arts fiction I have read. It's extremely well grounded historically and technically, and the writing is excellent.
Hi Tim. I enjoyed the piece very much. Look for The Last Shadow, coming in March 2024. While it's not a "martial arts book" per se, the framework is Daoism/Buddhism and there are martial arts scenes throughout.
I'm not sure about books, but I really enjoyed "Kill Bill", and in particular the way it was sort of meta-martial arts. They were pointing to a wide variety of customs and traditions, and probably poking a little fun at some of the more mythical stuff (touch of death, EG) while also doing a nice tribute to older martial arts films.
Martial arts in movies is a tough one, too. If you know much about your art and see someone doing it on the screen, they'll almost definitely use flashy, low-percentage stuff you know doesn't really work. It's annoying and tough to sit through, but at least things are getting better, at least for the grappling arts. I can't adequately explain how awful grappling was during the late 90s and on into the early 2000s in movies.
I think there is space for poking fun at the martial arts, popping the bubble, a bit like Master Ken. Maybe there's a niche for lightweight comedy, social commentary fiction with a martial arts background?
I think it'll be in the realm of cinema, most likely, although I agree that literature is a tough nut to crack. As niche martial arts grow in absolute numbers, and as the world continues to become smaller, I strongly suspect we'll see more of these smaller arts making their way into films.
If you havent already Sun Wukong (Monkey King) by Wu Cheng'en! Monkey demi god aids Buddhist Monk Tripitaka on pilgrimage West to acquire some Buddhist scrolls as penance for causing chaos and waging war on all of heaven half a millennium previously. Kind of like the Canterbury Tales or Don Quixote in structure. Lots of good fights scenes.
I'm actually quite fond of Musashi by Yoshikawa Eiji, but I think it might be a bit difficult for people to grasp some concepts in it if they aren't that familiar with historical Japanese culture. I don't think I've spoken to anyone who has had a bad impression of Musashi but I tend to surround myself with kenjutsu practitioners (who are generally fans of this heroic character), and full contact karate guys with some connection to Kyokushin (whose founder was a big Muasahi fan).
One interesting point is that the popularity of Musashi as a character may have been drummed up for promotion of an Olympic games. The name for the Olympic symbol in Japanese is 五輪 (Go rin). A samurai philosopher who happened to have a book called the 五輪書 (Gorin no sho) was too good an opportunity to pass up when promoting the Olympics (by the Yomiuri Shinbun anyway). World War II stopped that Olympics from happening, but it seems like those were the thoughts at the time.
I might have to take another look at the Yoshikawa book, it was quite a while ago when I gave it a go and just gave up. In the conversation with the elderly Japanese Sensei I asked him exactly who were the best examples (in his opinion) he mentioned the '3 Shu's'.
I am really enjoying Musashi. I have the audiobook version and listen as I run. The audiobook is over 50 hours long so it would be a slog to read. The very first book is more setting the scene than anything else. In my article on the lonely road to greatness I give a 3 paragraph explanation of the whole first book. After that it becomes more of a story of Musashi becoming a 修行者 (shugyousha), where he roams the country learning how to improve and become a better person through martial arts. He is a bit underhanded at times, which is why some people may see him as having a bad reputation, but that's all part of the journey. In the end, all is fair in love and war.
Side note: Sakamoto Ryōma is someone who I saw openly celebrated a lot when I lived in Kyushu.
Have you tried Ellis Amdur's https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bird-Tiger-Ellis-Amdur-ebook/dp/B0BZ276873
This is quite possible the best martial arts fiction I have read. It's extremely well grounded historically and technically, and the writing is excellent.
Thank you Peter. I have Ellis Amdur's non-fiction, must have a look at this one.
Hi Tim. I enjoyed the piece very much. Look for The Last Shadow, coming in March 2024. While it's not a "martial arts book" per se, the framework is Daoism/Buddhism and there are martial arts scenes throughout.
IG: thelastshadow504
More information please; a link? The author, platform?
https://instagram.com/thelastshadow504
I will give that a go. Many decades ago I spent some time in New Orleans, training in 3 different Dojo.
Here's a suggestion for a book I recently picked up--"The Eleventh Son" by Gu Long.
Thank you.
I'm not sure about books, but I really enjoyed "Kill Bill", and in particular the way it was sort of meta-martial arts. They were pointing to a wide variety of customs and traditions, and probably poking a little fun at some of the more mythical stuff (touch of death, EG) while also doing a nice tribute to older martial arts films.
Martial arts in movies is a tough one, too. If you know much about your art and see someone doing it on the screen, they'll almost definitely use flashy, low-percentage stuff you know doesn't really work. It's annoying and tough to sit through, but at least things are getting better, at least for the grappling arts. I can't adequately explain how awful grappling was during the late 90s and on into the early 2000s in movies.
I think there is space for poking fun at the martial arts, popping the bubble, a bit like Master Ken. Maybe there's a niche for lightweight comedy, social commentary fiction with a martial arts background?
I think it'll be in the realm of cinema, most likely, although I agree that literature is a tough nut to crack. As niche martial arts grow in absolute numbers, and as the world continues to become smaller, I strongly suspect we'll see more of these smaller arts making their way into films.
If you havent already Sun Wukong (Monkey King) by Wu Cheng'en! Monkey demi god aids Buddhist Monk Tripitaka on pilgrimage West to acquire some Buddhist scrolls as penance for causing chaos and waging war on all of heaven half a millennium previously. Kind of like the Canterbury Tales or Don Quixote in structure. Lots of good fights scenes.
Thanks Jay, I'd forgotten about the Monkey King.