An Illustrated History Of Martial Arts In America

271 pages filled with hundreds and hundreds rare photos of everyone who has made an impact on American martial arts since it started in 1905 with Judo lessons being taught in the White House to Teddy Roosevelt. Names like Bruce Lee, Ed Parker, Peter Urban, Richard Kim, HIdetaka Nishiyama, Funakoshi, Kano, Wallace, Lewis, Urquidez, Smith Jackson Blanks and so many more. Each photo has a short description beside it written by America's historian Emil Farkas.

The history and philosophy of the various martial arts and how they have evolved to today's practice.

Why do so many Americans practice martial arts? How did kung fu get its own movie genre? What makes mixed martial arts so popular? This book answers these questions for the first time with historical research. At the turn of the 20th century, the United States enjoyed a time of prosperity but feared that men were becoming soft. At the same time, the Japanese government sponsored research to develop the best fighting techniques for its new empire. Before World War II, American men boxed and Japanese men practiced judo and karate. Postwar Americans began adopting Chinese, Brazilian, Filipino and other fighting styles, in the process establishing a masculine subculture based on physical and social power. The rise of Asian martial arts in America is a fascinating untold story of modern history, from the origin of karate uniforms to the first martial arts themed birthday party. The cast of characters includes circus strongmen, professional cage fighters, an award winning comic book artist, the inventors of judo, aikido and Cornflakes, and Count Juan Raphael Dante, a Chicago hairdresser and used car salesman with the “Deadliest Hands in the World.” Readers will never look at taekwondo class the same way again.

In the spring of 1959, eighteen-year-old Bruce Lee returned to San Francisco, the city of his birth. Although the martial arts were widely unknown in America, Bruce encountered a robust fight culture in the Bay Area, populated with talented and trailblazing practitioners such as Lau Bun, Chinatown’s aging kung fu patriarch; Wally Jay, the innovative Hawaiian jujitsu master; and James Lee, the Oakland street fighter. Regarded by some as a brash loudmouth and by others as a dynamic visionary, Bruce spent his first few years back in America advocating for a modern approach to the martial arts, and showing little regard for the damaged egos left in his wake. The year of 1964 would be an eventful one for Bruce, in which he would broadcast his dissenting worldview before the first great international martial arts gathering, and then defend it by facing down Wong Jack Man—Chinatown’s young kung fu ace—in a legendary behind-closed-doors showdown. These events were a catalyst to the dawn of martial arts in America and a prelude to an icon. Based on over one hundred original interviews, Striking Distance chronicles Bruce Lee’s formative days amid the heated martial arts proving ground that thrived on San Francisco Bay in the early 1960s.

This informative two-volume set provides readers with an understanding of the fads and crazes that have taken America by storm from colonial times to the present. Entries cover a range of topics, including food, entertainment, fashion, music, and language. Why could hula hoops and TV westerns only have been found in every household in the 1950s? What murdered Russian princess can be seen in one of the first documented selfies, taken in 1914? This book answers those questions and more in its documentation of all of the most captivating trends that have defined American popular culture since before the country began. Entries are well-researched and alphabetized by decade. At the start of every section is an insightful historical overview of the decade, and the set uniquely illustrates what today's readers have in common with the past. It also contains a Glossary of Slang for each decade as well as a bibliography, plus suggestions for further reading for each entry. Students and readers interested in history will enjoy discovering trends through the years in such areas as fashion, movies, music, and sports.

Mr. Williamson is a talented man. He excelled on the football fi eld and then became one of the fi rst Black, action heroes on fi lm. The Hammer: An American Hero details his rise from obscurity to one of the most talented football players in History. Williamson grew up on the tough streets of Chicago. He excelled in school and graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in architectural engineering. He went on to become a successful football player creating the controversial bump and run technique. He then went on to become a very successful writer, director and star of many exciting, action films. He also starred on several hit television shows. He played a major part in the explosion of Black, action films in the seventies and he continues to make fi lms today. Williamson has successfully brought powerful, intelligent images of African American men to the silver screen for years. He wanted to present positive, strong heroic images of Black men to the world. He is an American icon, a hero to many of his fans. What motivated Williamson to excel? How did he get bullies to leave him alone in high school? How did he get the name The Hammer? Why did he study martial arts? Why did he write, produce and direct his own films? Why does he prefer to make independent films? Why did he create hisown film production company? Why does he make fi lms overseas? What three rules did he give to fi lm producers who wanted to hire him? Read The Hammer: An American Hero to fi nd the answers to these questions. If you are a fan of Mr. Williamson or Black cinema youll enjoy reading The Hammer: An American Hero.

This a compendium of the world's greatest council of Grandmasters. These Grandmasters both past and present represent an amazing history of the martial arts. It contains their bios told as they want it heard and seen along with pictures past and present of these Grandmasters. The WHFSC World Head of Family Sokeship Council brings together Grandmasters and Sokes from every style of martial arts to a yearly meeting, with an awards dinner, Hall of Fame and seminars sessions given by the Grandmasters themselves. Included in the book are some of the upcoming masters in the martial arts.