This handbook is written for martial artists. The goal is to provide a succinct, accessible work that explains fundamental ideas, concepts, and principles about martial arts training, combat, and tactics. The author has attempted to use words with some precision as having the right term to describe things in part determines how we think about them and affects how we perform. Although this handbook is devoted to martial artists, these concepts can be applied to a number of different activities, especially skill development of any kind. Some ideas, particularly the tactical principles, can be applied in many situations, as tactics in essence deal with conflict and problem-solving, two things with which life is full. The great Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi wrote, "When you have attained the Way of Strategy (tactics) there will not be one thing you cannot understand" and "You will see the Way in everything." He did see the Way in everything and after becoming an accomplished swordsman, became a master of arts and crafts as well. This is a handbook meant to help you think about martial arts fitness, nutrition, training, combat, and tactics in a different or deeper way than before. However, if you are looking for a book that provides specific physical fitness and nutrition regimes, has detailed information about training programs, illustrates techniques, is full of biographies about martial artists, covers current fads in the martial arts world, or exclusively addresses philosophy, then you should look elsewhere. The ideas in this handbook are not meant to be definitive, the only way, or the final word. They are meant to be evocative - to make you think. There are other ideas and concepts that could be addressed, or these ideas could be expressed differently, and every topic covered could be covered in more detail or perhaps more ably by another author. That said, in reading this, you are likely to acquire some intellectual tools you did not have before. You might find a term for something you have noticed but did not know what to call; you may be able to better reflect on and design more effective training; and you will likely broaden your understanding about the nature of combat and what you know about tactics. Last, although there are some opinions and many observations in this handbook, more of the content actually reflects something about the nature of the reality of the human body and mind, martial arts, and violent conflict itself. The concepts in this handbook aim to accurately reflect reality because we are all bounded by the laws of physics, the human body only works in certain ways, and human nature is a constant. What is said about the nature of combat and the principles of tactics are also a reflection of reality, of universal principles. The author did not make them up, but rather recognized them and hopefully expressed them accurately. All of us can choose to recognize reality and adapt ourselves accordingly or ignore it, which is the most dangerous thing you can do in a violent conflict.
About the Author: The author of this book is a United States Marine Officer and Iraq veteran, a lifelong martial artist experienced in a variety of Asian and European styles, and who now works for the U.S. government in a capacity that allows some validation of the ideas, concepts, and principles that follow. The author holds a B.A. in History, a M.T.S. in Anglican studies, and a M.S. in Criminal Justice. This is his third book.