The Complete Idiot's Guide to Martial Arts

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

This book, by 8th-degree karate black belt Cezar Borkowski and
5th-degree black belt Marion Manzo, combines humor, plain speaking, lots
of sidebars, and illustrations to take the mystery out of the martial
arts.

Although the authors are dedicated karate stylists, they manage to
accurately and respectfully explore a huge spectrum of martial arts
genres. Full are chapters devoted to kung fu, tae kwon do, judo,
jiu-jitsu, aikido, tai chi, and Thai kick boxing. Other chapters deal
with marital arts that use weapons, including kendo (Japanese sword
fighting), kyudo (archery), and escrima (Filipino stick fighting).

As with most martial arts books, the illustrations leave something to
be desired. Most of the guide’s still photos fail to capture the power
and grace that make each martial art unique. On the other hand, the
sidebars contain plenty of useful tips as well as fascinating tidbits of
history. For example, in 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
Magellan was killed by a Filipino martial artist, even though Magellan
was armed with a sword and dagger and the Filipino had only with a short
hardwood stick. Another sidebar, “Martial Smarts,” is rife with
witty ditties such as “Good judgement comes from experience, which
comes from poor judgement.”

There is something for everyone in this book. In general, it outlines
what to expect if one decides to study a martial art; it gives novices
useful advice on how to further enhance their training; and it provides
experienced martial artists with a ready-made arsenal of martial arts
trivia and goofy one-liners, which can be especially useful for those
who suddenly find themselves teaching a class.