Martial Arts & Related Resources for Fight Directors
This page contains selected sources of information on martial arts, self-defense, combat sports, and military history that I have found relevant to my work in stage combat. They are presented here with the hope that they might be useful as background/"fightaturgy" resources for others involved in stage combat (as opposed to those who might be looking specifically for martial arts resources).
That said, none of these materials should be taken as instructional material for stage combat. I wrote a blog post about the place of such materials in stage combat in February 2012. I also recommend checking out my article, "Nine Pieces of Advice for Martial Artists Beginning Stage Combat Training" in The Theatre Times if you are a martial artist yourself.
I am still deciding on how to structure the presentation of this information, and therefore may be listing websites alongside printed resources and documentaries. Some contemporary authors also maintain excellent websites, and I am currently grouping those together. The structure of this list will surely change as I continue to add to it. Please let me know if there is anything especially important or useful that you think I'm missing.
Click here to go back to Stage Combat Resources.
Click here to read the abstract of my dissertation, Impossible Bodies in Motion: The Representation of Martial Arts on the American Stage.
That said, none of these materials should be taken as instructional material for stage combat. I wrote a blog post about the place of such materials in stage combat in February 2012. I also recommend checking out my article, "Nine Pieces of Advice for Martial Artists Beginning Stage Combat Training" in The Theatre Times if you are a martial artist yourself.
I am still deciding on how to structure the presentation of this information, and therefore may be listing websites alongside printed resources and documentaries. Some contemporary authors also maintain excellent websites, and I am currently grouping those together. The structure of this list will surely change as I continue to add to it. Please let me know if there is anything especially important or useful that you think I'm missing.
Click here to go back to Stage Combat Resources.
Click here to read the abstract of my dissertation, Impossible Bodies in Motion: The Representation of Martial Arts on the American Stage.
Workshop: Advanced Stage Combat Workshop: Miming the Martial Arts at the Region I KC/ACTF
www.umass.edu/renaissance/lordwww.umass.edu/renaissance/lord
PERIODICALS AND GENERAL RESOURCES ON MARTIAL ARTS
This is a list of resources that cover a wide range of fighting systems. Some are good reference books, others offer a general introduction to martial arts of numerous regions, still others provide a survey of writings on numerous aspects of martial arts.
Crudelli, Chris. The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World
Donohue, John (ed). The Overlook Martial Arts Reader, Volume 2 - Professor Donohue is a novelist as well as a scholar, and I highly recommend his creative work for examples of martial arts in fiction
EJMAS: The Electronic Journals of Martial Arts & Sciences
Green, Thomas and Joseph Svinth. Martial Arts in the Modern World - As if to illustrate the futility of strict catagorization, this book includes a chapter on fight choreography by Tony Wolf
IHS: International Hoplology Society
The Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Modern Warriors: The Martial Way (Documentary Film)
Martial Arts Studies Journal, Cardiff University Press
Nelson, Randy (ed). The Overlook Martial Arts Reader: Classic Writings on Philosophy and Techniques
Reid, Howard and Michael Croucher. The Fighting Arts
Wiley, Carol (ed). Women in the Martial Arts
Wiley, Mark. Martial Arts Talk: Conversations with Leading Authorities on the Martial Arts
WESTERN SWORDPLAY & DUELING
An exhaustive list on this topic would take pages, so I am just listing a few that I particularly like. I'm including early manuals on sport fencing here as I believe that we have a lot to gain from looking at the continuum of the form as opposed to focusing on specific periods. I also believe that we should choreograph the sword on the stage, not the one in the museum, but that's another discussion. I am listing European swordplay separately from other martial forms because of its specific place in the study and practice of stage combat.
ARMA: The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
Baldick, Robert. The Duel: A History - A very interesting book, though it should be taken with a grain of salt
Barbasetti, Luigi. The Art of the Foil
Burton, Richard F.. The Book of the Sword
Castle, Edgarton. Schools and Masters of Fencing: From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century
The Secret History of the Sword Fencing Classics from the Secret Archives of Fencing and Dueling -
J. Christoph Amberger's blog and website
Elema, Ariella, Trial by Battle in France and England. Doctoral Dissertation. University of Toronto. 2012
Hutton, Alfred. Cold Steel: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre
______________. Old Sword Play: Techniques of the Great Masters
Kellerstedt, Burton. Swords and Sabers of the Armory at Springfield - Aside from being a resource on the weapons themselves this volume includes reproductions of US military sabre manuals
Kirby, Jared (ed.). Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferrp's 'Gran Simulacro'
National Fencing Museum, UK
The Raymond J. Lord Collection of Historical Combat Treatises and Fencing Manuals - A really amazing online archive.
Talhoffer, Hans (translated by Mark Rector). Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat
Wise, Arthur. The History and Art of Personal Combat
Wiktenauer: A HEMA Alliance Project
USA Fencing Website
MODERN SELF DEFENSE/VIOLENCE
This section is largely dedicated to those who write and teach on the realities of violence outside of the context of sport, entertainment, or military action. They make for great fightaturgy in that they discuss the moments preceding violence and pre-attack indicators. They tend to take a pretty holsistic view of the subject, though much of their writing may not sit well with some martial artists.
IMPACT Boston - Boston chapter of an international non-profit violence prevention and self-defense training organization that primarily uses adrenal stress operant conditioning. (I was an instructor for this organization for several years and wrote an article on the experience.)
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Langsner, Meron: "Simulated Assault: My Life as a Self-Defense Instructor" - My article on The Good Men Project about working for IMPACT.
Rory Miller: Chiron Training - His website and blog. I highly recommend this man's writing. Miller (along with Marc MacYoung (also on this list)) is among the best writers dealing with violence today.
Some books by Rory Miller:
Miller, Rory. Meditations On Violence. YMAA
___________. Facing Violence. YMAA
___________. Force Decisions - A Citizen's Guide: Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force. YMAA
Click here for my blog post about taking part in Mr. Miller's seminars.
Marc "Animal" MacYoung: No Nonsense Self Defense - His website, which links to many of his books - Mr. MacYoung has done more writing on the subject of violence than is reasonable to list here. All of which is potentially very useful for a fight director.
Massad F. Ayoob: Among the most respected authorities on modern firearms training. Hyperlink is to his Amazon author page.
Silveira, Luciano. The Moment of Truth: How to Physically, Mentally, and Legally Survive a Street Fight. (DVD) - One of the better videos out there on the reality of street violence.
MARTIAL ARTS & COMBAT SPORTS OF VARIOUS REGIONS
I expect to expand this section quite a bit.
Here I'm presenting books, websites, and articles dedicated to a single system, or an aspect of one. I have yet to decide how to categorize them (whether by type, region, or otherwise). The idea here is to provide a starting place for fight directors (or dramaturgs) intending to research a specific form.
Websites are to headquarter schools and/or organizations of specific systems.
Aikikai Foundation Website (Aikido)
Capoeira, Nestor. The Little Capoeira Book
Clarke, Michael. Shin Gi Tai: Karate Training for Body, Mind, and Spirit - There is an in-depth review of this book on my blog
Craig, Darrell. Iai: The Art of Drawing the Sword
Draeger, Donn F. - This man wrote or co-wrote fairly good books on several martial arts. The hyperlink is to a WorldCat author listing.
FightLand - VICE Magazine's MMA site.
Funakoshi, Gichin. Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Website (Brazilian Jujitsu)
Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts (Primarily Filipino Martial Arts & Jeet Kune Do)
International Kendo Federation Website
JKA: Japan Karate Association Website (Shotokan Karate)
Kano, Jigoro, Kodokan Judo
Kodokan Judo Institute Website
Koryu.com: The Classical Martial Arts Resource - Martial arts of Japan
Langsner, Meron. "A Performance Theory Analysis of the Practice of Kata in Karate-Do: Self Resolving Contradictions of Ritual, Spontaneity, Violence, and Morality." EJMAS
Lee, Bruce. Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Nagamine, Shoshin. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do.
Okinawan Prefecture Karate & Kobudo Website
The Shaolin Temple - Official Website (Kung Fu)
` Ueshiba, Kisshomaru, Aikido
UFC: The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (MMA: Mixed Martial Arts)
World Boxing Association Website
WTF: World TKD Fedaration (South Korea)
Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming - More great books and DVDs on Chinese Martial Arts than I can reasonably hope to list. Also check out the webpage for his organization, YMAA.
Zarrrilli, Philip. When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses, and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art
MILITARY HISTORY & RELATED MATERIAL
This is another section that has quite a ways to expand.
These may be of as much use to designers and dramaturgs as they are to fight directors.
Bradbury, Jim. The Medieval Archer
Boot, Max. War Made New: Weapons, Warriors, and the Making of the Modern World
Grossman, David, Lt. Col. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
Dougherty, Martin. The Ancient Warrior: 3000 BCE- 500 CE
Keegan, John. The Face of Battle
_____________. A History of Warfare
Metropolitan Art Museum Arms & Armor Department - Placing this link here though this collection is rather expansive and covers many subjects in the field.
McNeill, William Hardy, Keeping Together in Time: Dance and Drill in Human History
Snodgrass, A.M.. Arms & Armor of the Greeks
Warry, John. Warfare in the Classical World
OTHER
These are books, articles, and websites that are potentially very useful in fightaturgy but do not fit into any of the above categories. I also expect to add much more to this section as time goes on (and perhaps have other sections grow out of it).
Auguet, Roland. Cruelty and Civilization: The Game of Death in Ancient Rome
Armour in Art: Database & Resource Collection
Balisong.net - Website on butterfly knives Technically this might fit in with Filipino Martial Arts, but the advanced manipulation of butterfly knives has evolved into a skill more akin to juggling than fighting.
CorrectionsOne.com - Website catering to correctional officers and administrators. There are several articles on improvised weapons that can be useful. For example:
https://www.correctionsone.com/contraband/articles/2030082-8-real-and-lethal-prisoner-made-shivs/
Fetter, Jeffery. MD. "Diagnosing and Managing Violence." NCBI: National Center for Biotechnology Information
Free Firearm Sound Library - Please give credit where it's due if you use this resource
Grant, Michael. Gladiators
Article Jujutsu on the British Stage circa 1911
Kung Fu Cinema - A website about martial arts movies.
McCaughey, Martha. Real Knockouts: The Physical Feminism of Women's Self Defense - A Sociology/Women's Studies professor's ethnography of women's self-defense in the late 1990s.
Rowland & Bailey. The Law Enforcement Handbook
Professional Wrestling
There are those who would be offended that I am including pro wrestling on this page. If this were strictly about martial arts, they would be right. But as this page is about systematized violence that may be useful for those involved in stage combat, this is the best place to include these resources. An academic colleague of mine argues rather convincingly that professional wrestling is in fact a genre of theatre in and of itself. I know of two dissertations in progress on pro wrestling and look forward to including them on this page when they're completed and available to the public.
"How Pro Wrestling Works" from HowStuffWorks
NECW: New England Championship Wrestling - I recently saw one of their shows. Highly entertaining.
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
ProWrestling.com
ROH (Ring Of Honor) Wrestling
World Wrestling Entertainment Official Website
Chris Maverick's Wrestling Page - An old friend of mine who happens to be a part-time professional wrestler.
PERIODICALS AND GENERAL RESOURCES ON MARTIAL ARTS
This is a list of resources that cover a wide range of fighting systems. Some are good reference books, others offer a general introduction to martial arts of numerous regions, still others provide a survey of writings on numerous aspects of martial arts.
Crudelli, Chris. The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World
Donohue, John (ed). The Overlook Martial Arts Reader, Volume 2 - Professor Donohue is a novelist as well as a scholar, and I highly recommend his creative work for examples of martial arts in fiction
EJMAS: The Electronic Journals of Martial Arts & Sciences
Green, Thomas and Joseph Svinth. Martial Arts in the Modern World - As if to illustrate the futility of strict catagorization, this book includes a chapter on fight choreography by Tony Wolf
IHS: International Hoplology Society
The Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Modern Warriors: The Martial Way (Documentary Film)
Martial Arts Studies Journal, Cardiff University Press
Nelson, Randy (ed). The Overlook Martial Arts Reader: Classic Writings on Philosophy and Techniques
Reid, Howard and Michael Croucher. The Fighting Arts
Wiley, Carol (ed). Women in the Martial Arts
Wiley, Mark. Martial Arts Talk: Conversations with Leading Authorities on the Martial Arts
WESTERN SWORDPLAY & DUELING
An exhaustive list on this topic would take pages, so I am just listing a few that I particularly like. I'm including early manuals on sport fencing here as I believe that we have a lot to gain from looking at the continuum of the form as opposed to focusing on specific periods. I also believe that we should choreograph the sword on the stage, not the one in the museum, but that's another discussion. I am listing European swordplay separately from other martial forms because of its specific place in the study and practice of stage combat.
ARMA: The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
Baldick, Robert. The Duel: A History - A very interesting book, though it should be taken with a grain of salt
Barbasetti, Luigi. The Art of the Foil
Burton, Richard F.. The Book of the Sword
Castle, Edgarton. Schools and Masters of Fencing: From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century
The Secret History of the Sword Fencing Classics from the Secret Archives of Fencing and Dueling -
J. Christoph Amberger's blog and website
Elema, Ariella, Trial by Battle in France and England. Doctoral Dissertation. University of Toronto. 2012
Hutton, Alfred. Cold Steel: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre
______________. Old Sword Play: Techniques of the Great Masters
Kellerstedt, Burton. Swords and Sabers of the Armory at Springfield - Aside from being a resource on the weapons themselves this volume includes reproductions of US military sabre manuals
Kirby, Jared (ed.). Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferrp's 'Gran Simulacro'
National Fencing Museum, UK
The Raymond J. Lord Collection of Historical Combat Treatises and Fencing Manuals - A really amazing online archive.
Talhoffer, Hans (translated by Mark Rector). Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat
Wise, Arthur. The History and Art of Personal Combat
Wiktenauer: A HEMA Alliance Project
USA Fencing Website
MODERN SELF DEFENSE/VIOLENCE
This section is largely dedicated to those who write and teach on the realities of violence outside of the context of sport, entertainment, or military action. They make for great fightaturgy in that they discuss the moments preceding violence and pre-attack indicators. They tend to take a pretty holsistic view of the subject, though much of their writing may not sit well with some martial artists.
IMPACT Boston - Boston chapter of an international non-profit violence prevention and self-defense training organization that primarily uses adrenal stress operant conditioning. (I was an instructor for this organization for several years and wrote an article on the experience.)
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Langsner, Meron: "Simulated Assault: My Life as a Self-Defense Instructor" - My article on The Good Men Project about working for IMPACT.
Rory Miller: Chiron Training - His website and blog. I highly recommend this man's writing. Miller (along with Marc MacYoung (also on this list)) is among the best writers dealing with violence today.
Some books by Rory Miller:
Miller, Rory. Meditations On Violence. YMAA
___________. Facing Violence. YMAA
___________. Force Decisions - A Citizen's Guide: Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force. YMAA
Click here for my blog post about taking part in Mr. Miller's seminars.
Marc "Animal" MacYoung: No Nonsense Self Defense - His website, which links to many of his books - Mr. MacYoung has done more writing on the subject of violence than is reasonable to list here. All of which is potentially very useful for a fight director.
Massad F. Ayoob: Among the most respected authorities on modern firearms training. Hyperlink is to his Amazon author page.
Silveira, Luciano. The Moment of Truth: How to Physically, Mentally, and Legally Survive a Street Fight. (DVD) - One of the better videos out there on the reality of street violence.
MARTIAL ARTS & COMBAT SPORTS OF VARIOUS REGIONS
I expect to expand this section quite a bit.
Here I'm presenting books, websites, and articles dedicated to a single system, or an aspect of one. I have yet to decide how to categorize them (whether by type, region, or otherwise). The idea here is to provide a starting place for fight directors (or dramaturgs) intending to research a specific form.
Websites are to headquarter schools and/or organizations of specific systems.
Aikikai Foundation Website (Aikido)
Capoeira, Nestor. The Little Capoeira Book
Clarke, Michael. Shin Gi Tai: Karate Training for Body, Mind, and Spirit - There is an in-depth review of this book on my blog
Craig, Darrell. Iai: The Art of Drawing the Sword
Draeger, Donn F. - This man wrote or co-wrote fairly good books on several martial arts. The hyperlink is to a WorldCat author listing.
FightLand - VICE Magazine's MMA site.
Funakoshi, Gichin. Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Website (Brazilian Jujitsu)
Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts (Primarily Filipino Martial Arts & Jeet Kune Do)
International Kendo Federation Website
JKA: Japan Karate Association Website (Shotokan Karate)
Kano, Jigoro, Kodokan Judo
Kodokan Judo Institute Website
Koryu.com: The Classical Martial Arts Resource - Martial arts of Japan
Langsner, Meron. "A Performance Theory Analysis of the Practice of Kata in Karate-Do: Self Resolving Contradictions of Ritual, Spontaneity, Violence, and Morality." EJMAS
Lee, Bruce. Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Nagamine, Shoshin. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do.
Okinawan Prefecture Karate & Kobudo Website
The Shaolin Temple - Official Website (Kung Fu)
` Ueshiba, Kisshomaru, Aikido
UFC: The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (MMA: Mixed Martial Arts)
World Boxing Association Website
WTF: World TKD Fedaration (South Korea)
Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming - More great books and DVDs on Chinese Martial Arts than I can reasonably hope to list. Also check out the webpage for his organization, YMAA.
Zarrrilli, Philip. When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses, and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art
MILITARY HISTORY & RELATED MATERIAL
This is another section that has quite a ways to expand.
These may be of as much use to designers and dramaturgs as they are to fight directors.
Bradbury, Jim. The Medieval Archer
Boot, Max. War Made New: Weapons, Warriors, and the Making of the Modern World
Grossman, David, Lt. Col. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
Dougherty, Martin. The Ancient Warrior: 3000 BCE- 500 CE
Keegan, John. The Face of Battle
_____________. A History of Warfare
Metropolitan Art Museum Arms & Armor Department - Placing this link here though this collection is rather expansive and covers many subjects in the field.
McNeill, William Hardy, Keeping Together in Time: Dance and Drill in Human History
Snodgrass, A.M.. Arms & Armor of the Greeks
Warry, John. Warfare in the Classical World
OTHER
These are books, articles, and websites that are potentially very useful in fightaturgy but do not fit into any of the above categories. I also expect to add much more to this section as time goes on (and perhaps have other sections grow out of it).
Auguet, Roland. Cruelty and Civilization: The Game of Death in Ancient Rome
Armour in Art: Database & Resource Collection
Balisong.net - Website on butterfly knives Technically this might fit in with Filipino Martial Arts, but the advanced manipulation of butterfly knives has evolved into a skill more akin to juggling than fighting.
CorrectionsOne.com - Website catering to correctional officers and administrators. There are several articles on improvised weapons that can be useful. For example:
https://www.correctionsone.com/contraband/articles/2030082-8-real-and-lethal-prisoner-made-shivs/
Fetter, Jeffery. MD. "Diagnosing and Managing Violence." NCBI: National Center for Biotechnology Information
Free Firearm Sound Library - Please give credit where it's due if you use this resource
Grant, Michael. Gladiators
Article Jujutsu on the British Stage circa 1911
Kung Fu Cinema - A website about martial arts movies.
McCaughey, Martha. Real Knockouts: The Physical Feminism of Women's Self Defense - A Sociology/Women's Studies professor's ethnography of women's self-defense in the late 1990s.
Rowland & Bailey. The Law Enforcement Handbook
Professional Wrestling
There are those who would be offended that I am including pro wrestling on this page. If this were strictly about martial arts, they would be right. But as this page is about systematized violence that may be useful for those involved in stage combat, this is the best place to include these resources. An academic colleague of mine argues rather convincingly that professional wrestling is in fact a genre of theatre in and of itself. I know of two dissertations in progress on pro wrestling and look forward to including them on this page when they're completed and available to the public.
"How Pro Wrestling Works" from HowStuffWorks
NECW: New England Championship Wrestling - I recently saw one of their shows. Highly entertaining.
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
ProWrestling.com
ROH (Ring Of Honor) Wrestling
World Wrestling Entertainment Official Website
Chris Maverick's Wrestling Page - An old friend of mine who happens to be a part-time professional wrestler.
Students Rehearsing a "Martial Arts" Scene at Tufts University
SOME PLAYS THAT INCLUDE MARTIAL ARTS SCENES
There are far more than I am listing here, but this should give you some idea of what's out there. Please let me know if you feel I'm missing anything important here (published plays only please).
Briggs, John. Shogun Macbeth. (Primarily Japanese Sword Arts)
Haidle, Noah. Mr Marmalade. (Brazilian Jujitsu)
Loughran, Keira. Little Dragon. (Aikido & Jeet Kune Do)
Mamet, David. Revenge of the Space Pandas. (Karate). A David Mamet children's play. Really.
Nguyen, Qui. The vast majority of his work. Especially with the Vampire Cowboys. Some of his plays include Soul Samurai, Living Dead In Denmark, and Aliens Vs. Cheerleaders. (You name the martial art, it's in there somewhere)
Sondheim, Steven. Company. ("Karate")
_________________. Pacific Overtures. (Japanese Sword Arts)
Wilson, Lanford. Burn This. (Aikido & Karate)
A small handful of my own plays contain martial arts. Please browse my Plays Available page for details.
Briggs, John. Shogun Macbeth. (Primarily Japanese Sword Arts)
Haidle, Noah. Mr Marmalade. (Brazilian Jujitsu)
Loughran, Keira. Little Dragon. (Aikido & Jeet Kune Do)
Mamet, David. Revenge of the Space Pandas. (Karate). A David Mamet children's play. Really.
Nguyen, Qui. The vast majority of his work. Especially with the Vampire Cowboys. Some of his plays include Soul Samurai, Living Dead In Denmark, and Aliens Vs. Cheerleaders. (You name the martial art, it's in there somewhere)
Sondheim, Steven. Company. ("Karate")
_________________. Pacific Overtures. (Japanese Sword Arts)
Wilson, Lanford. Burn This. (Aikido & Karate)
A small handful of my own plays contain martial arts. Please browse my Plays Available page for details.