Martial Musings: A Portrayal of Martial Arts in the 20th Century - Hardcover

Smith, Robert W.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1893765008 ISBN 13: 9781893765009

Publisher: Via Media Pub Co, 1999

Synopsis

In every century there are unique individuals whose fate makes them standing symbols of unique merit and accomplishment. Robert W. Smiths Martial Musings stands out as the sole literary work which offers readers a special perspective of martial arts as they evolved during the 20th century.

Smith personally escorts the reader on a martial arts tour. He starts with his own initial involvement in the arts, then launches outward, across the nation, over to Asia, and eventually home again.

Some of the topics covered in the book include martial arts theory and practice, portrayals of leading Asian instructors, profiles of Westerners who studied the arts and brought them back to their respective countries and an historical record of the evolution of fighting arts in the West.

Martial Musings represents the fourteenth book Smith has written on the subject and is a broader, somewhat historical, semi-autobiographical commentary on martial arts in the 20th century.

But, what makes this book such a joy to devour is the literary relish Smith stir-fries in with the books basic ingredients. He astutely couples combatives with literary panache, and a ready wit.

In short, Martial Musings introduces the reader to the individuals who shaped martial arts in the 20th century. The hardbound book has 400 pages and over 300 illustrations with a full-color cover and two-color text pages.

About this title

About the Author

Robert W. Smith may be known as a worlds leading authority on Asian martial arts, but this book shows he is much more than that. His pioneering work in the field has inspired others to follow, but perhaps none have brought such drive, stamina, and scholarly skills to such a monumental task.

Smith has practiced, taught, and written on the Asian martial arts for more than fifty years. From his late teens he trained under eminent Western boxing and wrestling coaches and later immersed himself in judo and finally the Chinese martial arts under celebrated masters. He taught many students in the latter arts in the Washington D.C. area where he worked as an intelligence officer for the CIA.

Martial Musings represents the fourteenth book Smith has written on the subject.

From the Back Cover

Comments from Readers

"Who is the real Robert Smith? . . . What comes across strongly is his candour and honesty, traits which are increasingly rare in the world of the martial arts, and his willingness to protest against unethical behaviour and injustices. It is fascinating to peer into another life - providing one can learn something - and one can do so from his largely autobiographical Martial Musings. Read it! It will be to your advantage." ~ Richard Bowen, Vice-President, The Budokwai

"Without doubt a rara avis in the budo world, where glamour and a fast buck appear to be in the ascendancy and reasonableness and quiet passion are practically non-existent." ~ Paul Nurse, judoka

"I heartily endorse R. W. Smith's new book . . . a big informative book on these arts, telling the stories of those men and women populating them." ~ Henri Ple, 10th-dan karate, 5th-dan judo

No doubt, you will find Martial Musings insightful and enjoyable reading. Robert W. Smith, a pioneer in Asian martial arts research in America with thirteen previously published books, shares more than fifty years experience in martial arts practice and research. Based on reflections on the people and places that shaped martial arts in the 20th century, the book's topics include:

- an array of martial art styles
- profiles of leading personalities
- geographic hotbeds of martial arts
- and more!

Smith has practiced, taught, and written on the Asian martial arts for more than fifty years. From his late teens he trained under eminent Western boxing and wrestling coaches and later immersed himself in judo and finally the Chinese martial arts under celebrated masters. He taught many students in the latter arts in the Washington D.C. area where he worked as an intelligence officer for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Martial Musings records insightful details associated with Smith's years of involvement with combatives in the U.S. and overseas. But, what makes this book such a joy to devour is the literary relish Smith stir-fries in with the book's basic ingredients. He astutely couples combatives with literary panache, and a ready wit.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Out to Asia

While assigned to the station in Taiwan (1959-1962), I took a few weeks off in 1961 and went to Tokyo to test for 3rd-dan. While there, I lived with Donn Draeger and his bonny crew for six weeks. To prepare for the test - I had been doing Chinese martial arts almost exclusively for the past two years - I worked out at both the Kodokan and Morihei Ueshiba's hombu dojo. My first day at the Kodokan, I had a morning audience with Risei Kano, son of judo founder Jigoro Kano, and his successor as President. We had a pleasant talk about judo. Not a judo man himself, Risei Kano was an able administrator with a cool, dignified bearing.

In the early afternoon, I also met Jon Bluming for the first time. We hit it off from the beginning - he had the spontaneity and humor of a youngster - but he tested me as he did everyone he met. In the corridor outside the foreign dojo we got to chatting about Chinese boxing. He "innocently" asked me what the Chinese would do against a frontal kick, and there that big right foot came, happily controlled. I said I'd attempt to deflect it with my left arm, secure it, and then cut his left leg out from under him (o-uchi, big inner cut. Okay, so it's a judo technique - but any old port in that storm)! This took him down, but en route, he said that he could get an armlock, and did. This put me athwart his lower regions. While entangled there, I pointed out that, if I was fast enough, his privates were accessible. I grabbed his gi pants in simulation.

That was the tableau: two silly kids sprawled in a hallway, one with an armlock, the other, a groin gouge. So who should come down the hallway just then but Risei Kano and an entourage of ten or so foreign guests led by interpreter Donn Draeger. By then, I'm sure Kano knew Bluming and his errant ways. Bluming, the Dutchman, was always in Dutch with the Kodokan. (An official memo was posted on the bulletin board once saying that Bluming must stop touching women on the elevator or he'd lose his privileges. Bluming, seeing this, posted his own memo agreeing to comply if the Japanese sensei stopped doing the same thing to women.) Fearing that he'd recognize me, too, I turned my head away. As I did, I glimpsed Kano's face. No recognition, just Vermont granite. Donn's face I also glimpsed in that moment. It was a battlefield where disgusted dignity and laughter fought it out to a draw.

Edition details

• Publisher: Via Media Pub Co
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1893765008
• ISBN 13: 9781893765009
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 390