A Brief History of the Martial Arts East Asian Fighting Styles from Kung Fu to Ninjutsu

When it comes to general martial arts history books in English, Dr. Jonathan Clements' A Brief History of the Martial Arts is the top recommendation by Richard Beitlich of the Martial History Team blog. This book explores the evolution of East Asian styles of unarmed combat, from the Shaolin warrior monks to Bruce Lee's movies.

The book acknowledges the folklore of the Shaolin Temple, where warrior monks with extraordinary abilities have been depicted. However, the search for the true story soon leads to a maze of forgeries, secret texts, and modern retellings. This study focuses on the origins of martial arts in military exercises and callisthenics. It delves into the rich folklore from old wuxia tales of crime-fighting heroes to modern kung fu movies.

The book highlights the stories that martial artists tell themselves about their history, including factual and fictional accounts of famous practitioners such as China's Yim Wing-chun, Wong Fei-hong, and Ip Man, as well as Japanese counterparts like Kano Jigoro, Itosu Anko, and So Doshin.

Moreover, it sheds light on the secret societies and religious rebels that influenced the history of martial arts in China, Korea, and Japan. The book also explores the migration of martial arts to the United States and beyond, giving special attention to the cross-cultural influence of Japanese colonies in Asia and the rise of martial arts in sports and entertainment after World War II. This includes the legacy of Bruce Lee, the dilemma of the ninja, and the global audience for martial arts in fiction.