A brief history of the martial arts : East Asian fighting styles, from kung fu to ninjutsu
Clements, Jonathan, 1971-2016
Books, Manuscripts
Folk tales of the Shaolin Temple depict warrior monks with superhuman abilities. Today, dozens of East Asian fighting styles trace their roots back to the Buddhist brawlers of Shaolin, although any quest for the true story soon wanders into a labyrinth of forgeries, secret texts and modern retellings. This study approaches the martial arts from their origins in military exercises and callisthenics. It examines a rich folklore from old wuxia tales of crime-fighting heroes to modern kung fu movies.
Main title:
Author:
Clements, Jonathan, 1971-, author
Imprint:
London : Robinson, 2016.
Collation:
xii, 292 pages ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
9781472136466 (pbk)
Dewey class:
796.8
LC class:
GV1101
Local class:
796.809
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
1667765