10 Worst

[Joseph Svinth]

Everybody always talks about the ten best. Okay, so let's turn that around. What are the ten WORST, and why?

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Joe
http://ejmas.com

[kenkyusha]

Do magazines count?

If so, for those of us of a certain age (late 20's early 30's), the Ninja mags. <u>Original Ninja</u> and <u>Ninja Combat Tactics</u>. Looking over the shelf, they have too much sentimental value to get rid of but (with the exception a handfull of articles) they are both little more than calculated attempts to ride the 80's Ninja-boom.

Be well,
Jigme

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Jigme Chobang
Kenkyusha@bigfoot.com
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Amateurs worry about Strategy. Dilettantes worry about Tactics. Professionals worry about Logistics--
Unknown

[Kolschey]

If weapons are a valid source of material, then I would be able to give you plenty! Century, AWMA and Tiger Claw have a wonderful assortment of clumsy, poorly crafted weapons. Anybody remember Century's attempt to create a naginata? I also enjoy looking through some of the old 1983 issues of Black Belt and Inside Karate, where they had a whole plethora of various "ninja" weapons, including some ridiculous shuriken designs.

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Krzysztof M. Mathews
" For I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me"
-Rudyard Kipling

[John Lindsey]

I think we are talking about books, and not weapons http://216.10.1.92/ubb/wink.gif.

I can't name 10 really bad books, but one I really thought that was bad was a recent Iaido/sword/zen book by some guy named Scott I think. His background is in Korean arts and he is also a low budget film actor too I think.

Darrel Craig's Iaido book is low on my list, partly due to his writing style, poor drawings, and stealing graphics from another Japanese sword book and never giving them credit. Guy Powers can give you more details about this!

Oh, and any book by Ashi Kim should not be considered by anyone over the age of 12...

http://216.10.1.92/ubb/smile.gif



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John Lindsey

[Kolschey]

If books are the subject, then how about a book on weapons http://216.10.1.92/ubb/wink.gif Theodore Gambordella( sp?) had a book on Karate weapons that was a real howler. He goes out of his way to include plenty of pictures of his bare, heavily bodybuilt torso. This is contrasted by his ukes, who look as if they have trained exclusively in 12oz curls http://216.10.1.92/ubb/smile.gif .
As for the information..well, let's just say that this book inspired me to find authors who were willing to actually research their topic with some attention given to the culture of origin from whence their fighting art is descended. It seems that in his case, it was quite a long fall!

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Krzysztof M. Mathews
" For I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me"
-Rudyard Kipling

[Onikusari]

Well, here is my ten best and worst list for anything related to the martial arts. I'll start with the best and then the worst.


Ten Best:

Ninpo: Wisdom for Life by Masaaki Hatsumi
Ninpo: Living and Thinking Like a Warrior by Jack Hoban
Masaaki Hatsumi's Kihon video
E-Budo.Com
Sanmyaku (Bujinkan quartley journal)
Kill or Get Killed by Col. Rex Applegate
Ninja Legos http://216.10.1.92/ubb/wink.gif
Seven Samurai
Bugei Trading Company
Karate Kid (first movie)


Ten Worst

Ashida Kim's books
Ashida Kim's website
Ninjitsu.com
Robert Bussey's videos
Nine Deaths of The Ninja (movie)
Ninja Magazine
Asian World of Martial Arts
Taebo (and anything else similar)
Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu - Introduction to the Modern Art of Perseverance by Carlos Febres
Zen Intergalactic Ninja comic book


Rob K.


[This message has been edited by Onikusari (edited 06-03-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Onikusari (edited 06-04-2000).]

[Onikusari]

I forgot to add the Brisk tea clay animation commercial with Bruce Lee vs Karate Kid to my 10 best list. Opps, that makes 11!! http://216.10.1.92/ubb/wink.gif

Rob K.

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"In truth, lies. In lies, truth."

[DJM]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by John Lindsey:
I think we are talking about books, and not weapons http://216.10.1.92/ubb/wink.gif.
I can't name 10 really bad books, but one I really thought that was bad was a recent Iaido/sword/zen book by some guy named Scott I think. His background is in Korean arts and he is also a low budget film actor too I think.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

John,
I think you might be talking about Samurai Zen, by Scott Shaw
I have that on my bookshelf, and that's where it's staying. Can't comment on the Iaido, except to say he doesn't really do it justice. It's not a thick book, and to try and fit in everything from breathing, meditation and zanshin to Iaido and Zen is just a trifle over-ambitious, and probably doomed to failure whatever his background or talents..
My 2p worth..
David


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Poetry of Birds,
A Thousand Voice Melody,
Dancing on the Waves
-- David Marshall

[Paul Mathews]

Krzysztof:

Just so no one will think that Ted Gambordella is a one trick pony, his book, "100 Deadliest Karate Moves" is another one of his attempts to impress us all with his martial arts acumen (and pick up chicks at the same time). It also sucks.

Paul

[Jason Chambers]

You guys forgot The Ninja Training Manual from Yukishiro Sanada a.k.a. Toshishiro Obata as being on the low end.

Obata seems to have had his hand in "every pot of gumbo put on da' table".

Speaking of gumbo; PAUL!!! What's up? Need more of us Loozeeana Boyz 'round here! http://216.10.1.92/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Jason Chambers (http://www.homestead.com/Louisiana_Genbukan/)
Member,
Genbukan World Ninpo Bugei/Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei
"Looks Like I Am Louisiana's Lone Representative. C'Mon You Cajuns!!!"

[kenkyusha]

Here are a couple of books:

<u>Jiu-jitsu Complete</u>
byKiyose Nakae
Although Nakae sensei may have been a talented instructor, the Judo waza look mighty contrived in these line drawings, and the old-fashioned penchant for calling techniques 'tricks' really annoys (me at least).

The list of Bruce Tegner books (they might be good primers, but for waza... nope!).

(Gonna get flamed for this, but here goes)
<u>Bushido</u>
by Inazo Nitobe
Okay, given the fact that this was among the first English language texts on the subject, it is hard to be as critical as one might want, but the whole Neo-confucianist bent has launched literally hundreds of misconceptions (that linger to this day) about the Bushi. http://216.10.1.92/ubb/biggrin.gif

Be well,
Jigme



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Jigme Chobang
Kenkyusha@bigfoot.com

[Victor]

The absolute worst book I've ever read was a novel "Karate is a Thing of the Spirit".

The presentation of karate was so cheesy that I shudder to even recall I read it 20 years ago.

I keep a copy around simply as a threat if somebody ever bugs me enough I'll make it a present to them.



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Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinry

Okay, check this article by my favorite bujutsu freak, Frederick Lovret:
http://www.koryubudo.com/articles/general-2.htm

I especially like the part about how martial arts practitioners should buy tiny funnels for refilling their perfume sample bottles that they should carry in their dojo bag.

A close runner up would be the article by Lynn Reafsnyder about how those that complain about the legitimacy of any group are all wrong. By the way, the only one's really doing koryu right are Lovret's gang:
http://www.koryubudo.com/articles/phil-4.htm

As a matter of fact, just about any article on this website would qualify for one of the 10 worst.

Sincerely,

Don Cunningham

[MarkF]

Lovret is correct about one thing. An overdose of advil (Ibuprofen) is hardon the kidneys, as well as, the liver, stomach, small and large intestine, and a host of other body parts. What I coudn't figure out, was why he would need to limit the number he carries to one dose. If he all ready knows...?

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Mark F. Feigenbaum

[Ken Allgeier]

One of the worst books on Karate is "Modern Shotokan Karate" by Cezar Borkowski.

It is so bad, it is at junior high school level( as if someone did the book for a class project).It is good for a laugh though.


Ken Allgeier

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Ruswolfhound, "Once dipped in dark oblivion the soul has peace,inward and lovely peace" D.H. Lawrence

[Paul Steadman]

Hello,

I know this thread is old, but I couldn't resist. The worst published item I ever had the missfortune to read, had to have been an article by in Sarchanoski's Jukokai newsletter. It was an article on how to give yourself a "Coffee Enema," I kid you not.

Regards,

[Brian Owens]

...The worst published item I ever had the missfortune to read, had to have been an article by in Sarchanoski's Jukokai newsletter. It was an article on how to give yourself a "Coffee Enema," I kid you not.
I can't speak for that particular article, but as for coffee enemas, they are a standard treatment regimen in natural medicine, herbalism, etc.

Used to detoxify the lower gastrointestinal tract, some also believe them to be beneficial as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of some forms of cancer.

Among the first to popularize them to the general public was Doctor Max Gerson.

A Web search will yield volumes of information on the topic.

[Joseph Svinth]

The key word for this search is "insufflation." In the old days, it wasn't just politicians who blew smoke up your a**...