The Martial Artist's Book of Yoga: Improve Flexibility, Balance and Strength for Higher Kicks, Faster Strikes, Smoother Throws, Safer Falls, and Stronger Stances

by Lily Chou

Book Overview

The perfect training supplement for martial artists, The Martial Artist's Book of Yoga shows how the ancient practice of yoga was the genesis of all martial arts. It clearly illustrates how specific... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569754721
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Ulysses Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 0.4" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Yoga Book

The Martial Artist Book of Yoga is one of the best books on yoga that I have found. It is a great way to really learn some of the yoga terms and how to perform them without an instructor. I've used it for a couple of weeks and have noticed vast improvement in my balance and I do not feel as tight when I exercise. The book does a great job of explaining each pose, what it stands for in yoga terms, and it helps in conditioning for Martial Arts. An excellent book for anyone looking to get into yoga or trained Martial artist trying to get an edge.

Written by a martial artist for martial artists

Lily Chou is uniquely qualified to give us a guide to yoga specifically for martial arts. Her ten years of experience include cross training in Yongmudo, Taekwondo and over four years in Hatha yoga, coupled with her skills in editing numerous health and fitness books and participation in the UC Martial Arts Program is an exceptional combination for an author. Lily has divided her book not by the typical yoga poses, but by their application to specific martial arts skills. Thus, we find chapters on grappling and throws with the poses she and her co-author Kathe Rothacher (a yoga practitioner for over 30 years) see as most appropriate. The book is well illustrated with photographs of every position (including martial arts examples) and cross-referenced to other pertinent sections so that the reader may quickly move back and forth from the benefits of yoga to the details of each pose. While hardcore yoga practitioners may find the book too elementary, this is exactly the kind of guide practicing martial artists need to get them motivated to attempt something that is both beneficial and out of our comfort zone.

A creative blending of concepts

While I'm not convinced by these materials that yoga was the genesis of all martial arts, the author does make a compelling case that yoga techniques can complement martial training. The routines described herein can help improve body control, balance, flexibility, and strength. Not surprising since many of these techniques are already found in most traditional martial arts training. There's really nothing earth shattering in here, but there is some good stuff that can help you become a better martial artist if you add it to your daily routine. It's pretty well written and easy to follow, an interesting and creative blending of concepts not generally associated with each other. On the other hand, I certainly would not consider it a "must read" by any means. Lawrence Kane Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction