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You're the Umpire: 152 Scenarios to Test Your Baseball Knowledge
by Wayne Stewart Ron BlombergDo you think you have what it takes to be a Major League umpire? Well, now you can test your knowledge of the game with Wayne Stewart’s You’re the Umpire.Divided into three sections, this unusual handbook, now in its second edition, offers "Routine Calls," which deal with scenarios and rules that typically come up in games and deal with clear cut rules-fair and foul, strike zone questions, and the like. The next section, "Basic Situations," deals with umpiring matters and rules that are just a bit more unusual or, for the casual fan, obscure. Interference and obstruction calls, for example, don’t come up too often, but they remain standard stuff involving rules that umps and many fans know quite well. In the final section, "Obscure Rules and Situations," you will be presented with what many baseball people call "knotty” problems. Here, you will be asked questions involving the complex infield fly rule and other arcane matters. This section, then, is the ultimate test of your umpiring skills and knowledge.Most of the situations in You’re the Umpire come from real games, but some scenarios are made up to illustrate specific points or rules. Test yourself against your friends or against the famously iconic baseball rulebook. It’s a challenge and it’s fun.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports-books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
You're Welcome, Cleveland: How I Helped Lebron James Win a Championship and Save a City
by Scott Raab"If I had a chance to return to Cleveland, and those fans welcomed me back, that’d be a great story." —LeBron James in 2010, days after "The Decision"You're Welcome, Cleveland is Scott Raab's big-hearted companion to his darkly comic "sports-jeremiad-slash-memoir" The Whore of Akron and follows the first two years of LeBron James’s return to Cleveland. Everybody just loves a good story of forgiveness—especially when you fulfill your promise and bring home an NBA Championship, the first major title for a Cleveland team since 1964.In 2010, when LeBron James announced to the world that he was leaving for Miami, he broke the collective heart of his native city and destroyed the hopes of an entire tortured generation.As LeBron headed south, unofficial spokesman Scott Raab sent him off with a middle-finger salute of his own—a deliciously obscene aria of sports fandom, Jewishness, and weight gain that became infamous as The Whore of Akron. Four years—and two NBA championships later—LeBron came home to the Rust Belt faithful who had vilified him mercilessly, none more so than Raab. You’re Welcome, Cleveland is the story of both LeBron’s and Scott’s redemption as they pursue the one thing they crave more than anything in life—an NBA title for the city that made them men.LeBron is back. So is Scott Raab. It’s a great story.You’re Welcome, Cleveland.
Yours Till Niagara Falls, Abby
by Jane O'ConnorAbby does everything she can to get her parents to let her go to sleepaway camp with her best friend, and at the last minute, her friend has to stay home! How will Abby survive this huge new adventure by herself? [From the back cover:] Dear Merle, Don't feel too guilty, but so far I'm miserable ... And who wouldn't be? After all, it took months for Abby Kimmel to convince her parents to let her go to camp with her best friend. But Merle breaks her ankle and can't go at all! If that isn't bad enough, Abby shares a bunk with the Camp Pinecrest goody-goody, two other bunkmates gang up on her, she gets poison ivy, and she can't learn to dive! Before it's over, though, Abby discovers the secret fun of camp, and her funny letters to Merle and her family reveal that it all turns out better than she'd expected.
Youth and Sport for Development
by Holly CollisonProcesses of development concerning reconciliation,rehabilitation and peace-building have become a central theme for globalorganizations tasked with intervening in broken and divided societies afterviolent conflicts. What can reunite populations divided by war and violencewhilst attempting to build a peaceful civil society? This book considers theimpact and value of sport, notably football, towards achieving this goal. Using extensive fieldworkfrom Liberia, Collison highlights the multiple and diverse stakeholders andactors aligning themselves with 'Sport for Development and Peace'interventions. By unpacking and conceptualising the ambiguous terminology,complex social effects and the lived experience of SDP, this book draw uponparticipant voices and the author's own lived experience within SDP to gainsymbolic understandings of culture, identity and the formal and informal socialstructures in which participants and interventionsoperate. Collison identifies that SDP has become fashionable withindevelopment agendas but it remains an aspirational image, a notion ofseduction, rather than a tested method of reintegration and youth developmentin post-conflict environments. Youth and Sport for Development questionsthe assumptions of SDP rhetoric and programs, and traces the effects offootball - the favoured vehicle of SDP- on youth in post-conflict Liberia. Examining three core themes: post-conflict development, youth and community,this book centralises the narratives of young football players in Liberia andwill appeal to scholars across Anthropology, Sociology, Sports Studies,Politics and Development.
Youth Culture and Sport: Identity, Power, and Politics (Critical Youth Studies)
by Michael D. Giardina Michele K. DonnellyYouth Culture and Sport critically interrogates and challenges contemporary articulations of race, class, gender, and sexual relations circulating throughout popular iterations of youth sporting culture in late-capitalism. Written against the backdrop of important changes in social, cultural, political, and economic dynamics taking place in corporate culture’s war on kids, this exciting new volume marks the first anthology to critically examine the intersection of youth culture and sport in an age of global uncertainty. Bringing together leading scholars from cultural studies, gender studies, sociology, sport studies, and related fields, chapters range in scope from 'action' sport subcultures and community redevelopment programs to the cultural politics of white masculinity and Nike advertising. It is a must read for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of the role sport plays in the construction of experiences, identities, practices, and social differences of contemporary youth culture.
Youth Development in Football: Lessons from the world’s best academies
by Mark Nesti Chris SulleyThe identification and development of talented young players has become a central concern of football clubs at all levels of the professional game, as well as for national and international governing bodies. This is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey and assessment of youth development programmes in football around the world, to highlight best practice, and to offer clear recommendations for improvement. The book draws on original, in-depth research at eight elite professional football clubs, including Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich, as well as the French national football academy at Clairefontaine. It adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, including psychology, coaching and management studies, and covers every key topic from organisational structures, talent recruitment and performance analysis to player education and welfare. Written by two authors with extensive experience in English professional football, including five Premiership clubs, this book is important reading for any student, researcher, coach, administrator or academy director with an interest in football, youth sport, sports development, sports coaching or sport management.
The Youth Olympic Games (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)
by Barrie Houlihan Milena M. Parent Dag Vidar HanstadThe first summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) were held in Singapore in 2010 and the first winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012. The IOC hopes that the YOG will encourage young people to be more active and that they will bring the Olympic movement closer to its original founding values. This is the first book to be published on the Youth Olympic Games. It critically examines the origins of the Games and the motives of the Games organisers, as well as the organisation and management of the Games and their wider impact and significance. The first part of the book discusses the relationship between the YOG and the ideology of Olympism, in the context of broader developments in youth sport competitions. The second part investigates a wide range of managerial aspects including the bidding process, finance, the prominent role of young people on the organising committees and as volunteers, the role of media and sponsors, and the distinctive competition structure. The final part of the book assesses the current and likely future impact of the YOG on the host cities and countries, the IOC and on national youth sport policies. The Youth Olympic Games is essential reading for any researcher, advanced student or policy maker with an interest in Olympic Studies, sports development, sport policy, youth sport or event management.
Youth Rugby (Routledge Research in Paediatric Sport and Exercise Science)
by Kevin TillYouth Rugby provides a summary of the latest and most up-to-date research evidence in relation to developing the youth rugby player. The book provides an overview of the latest scientific research for key topics related to the youth rugby player across the codes of rugby (union, league and 7’s; mainly league and union in youth players) whilst also summarising the quality of the evidence available and the limitations of this research and highlighting key future research directions. The book covers a range of fundamental scientific topics relating to paediatric exercise science, human physiology, youth athletic development and high-performance sport. Each author is an experienced researcher within their respective discipline related to the youth rugby player. The book includes chapters on: • Long-term athletic development, growth and maturation, talent identification and the physical demands of youth rugby training and match-play. • Physical characteristics and the current evidence behind training methods to promote desired physical qualities. • Fatigue and recovery, the tackle, psychosocial development, nutrition and injury prevalence and prevention. This text is essential reading for all scientists, students and applied researchers wanting to develop world-class, evidence-based programmes for their youth athletes.
Youth Soccer: From Science to Performance
by Thomas Reilly Dave Richardson Gareth Stratton A. Mark WilliamsAs the adult game has increased in popularity, youth soccer has also seen significant expansion in recent years. The popularity of the youth game is set to continue. Young boy and girl players wish to emulate professional soccer stars and the professional game, often with long-term financial rewards in mind, is increasingly keen to develop young talent. Applied sports science is now a well-established feature of the adult game but the sports science that supports modern football does not translate directly into the youth game. The coaches of young players need specific information about children. Themes explored in this text include: growth of physiological systems development of motor and perceptive skills paediatric environmental physiology prevention of injury diet and nutrition youth fitness and skills training effective teaching and coaching of juniors the role of football academies. Youth Soccer: From Science to Performance blends current child-focused sports science theory with youth-specific coaching practice to help create soccer development strategies for children. It promotes knowledge and understanding in all these areas and will further professional expertise amongst coaches who wish to develop the all year round potential of youth soccer players and train the stars of the future.
Youth Soccer For Parents For Dummies
by Tom DunmoreUnderstand the sport of soccer and encourage your kids to have fun Youth Soccer For Parents For Dummies explains how you can prepare your children to play and enjoy the sport of soccer, whether they play recreationally or at the elite youth level. Get up to speed on the basic rules, and learn to keep kids interested and motivated in a sport that's great for their physical and mental health. This ultimate parents' guide covers the rules, player positions, and strategies, including what gear your kids need to start playing. You'll learn coaching and refereeing basics, too, so you'll be ready to get involved. Plus, this book has tips on deciding which program and level makes sense for your child, evaluating travel soccer programs and specialized training camps, dealing with coaches (good and bad), and supporting your kid from the sidelines. Discover the basics of soccer and learn how to get kids started at any age Learn basic soccer drills to help your kids practice on their own Keep your kids motivated, even when they're injured or disappointed Help kids prevent injuries and participate in coaching and team management Navigate the competitive landscape of soccer at the teen level Parents with children of all ages will find tips, advice, support, and encouragement in Youth Soccer For Parents For Dummies. Part soccer book, part parenting book, this guide can help you get your kids started and support them all the way through college.
Youth Sport, Migration and Culture: Two Football Teams and the Changing Face of Ireland (Routledge Critical Perspectives on Equality and Social Justice in Sport and Leisure)
by Max MauroHow do migrant youth negotiate their role in society through sport and leisure practices? How can political theory and qualitative critical research work together to make sense of these processes? These are among the questions that led to a long-term investigation of young males’ sport practices in Ireland, possibly the most fertile contemporary setting for the analysis of questions of sport and identity. Youth Sport, Migration and Culture emphasises the epistemological and ethical urgency of doing research with rather than on young people. Engaging with the social changes in Irish society through the eyes of children of immigrants growing up in Ireland, the book looks closely at young people’s leisure practices in multi-ethnic contexts, and at issues of inclusion in relation to public discourses around ‘national identity’ and immigration. Offering compelling analysis of how ideas of race and racism are elaborated through sport, this book is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the sociology of sport, sport development or youth culture.
Youth Sport, Physical Activity and Play: Policy, Intervention and Participation (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)
by Andrew Parker Don VinsonSport, physical activity and play are key constituents of social life, impacting such diverse fields as healthcare, education and criminal justice. Over the past decade, governments around the world have begun to place physical activity at the heart of social policy, providing increased opportunities for participation for young people. This groundbreaking text explores the various ways in which young people experience sport, physical activity and play as part of their everyday lives, and the interventions and outcomes that shape and define those experiences. The book covers a range of different sporting and physical activities across an array of social contexts, providing insight into the way in which sport, physical activity and play are interpreted by young people and how these interpretations relate to broader policy objectives set by governments, sporting organisations and other NGOs. In the process, it attempts to answer a series of key questions including: How has sport policy developed over the last decade? How do such policy developments reflect changes at the broader political level? How have young people experienced these changes in and through their sporting lives? By firmly locating sport, physical activity and play within the context of recent policy developments, and exploring the moral and ethical dimensions of sports participation, the book fills a significant gap in the sport studies literature. It is an important reference for students and scholars from a wide-range of sub-disciplines, including sports pedagogy, sports development, sport and leisure management, sports coaching, physical education, play and playwork, and health studies.
The Yucks: Two Years in Tampa with the Losingest Team in NFL History
by Jason VuicFriday Night Lights meets The Bad News Bears in this uproarious account of the first two seasons with the worst team in NFL history: the hapless, hilarious, and hopelessly winless 1976-1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Long before their first Super Bowl victory in 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did something no NFL team had ever done before and that none will ever likely do again: They lost twenty-six games in a row. It started in 1976, in their first season as an expansion team, and it lasted until the penultimate game of the 1977 season, when they defeated Archie Manning and the New Orleans Saints on the road. After the game, Saints coach Hank Stram was fired and said, "We are all very ashamed of what happened. Ashamed for our people, our fans, the organization, everybody." When the Bucs arrived back in Tampa, they were mobbed, and eight thousand people came to a victory party. It was the beginning of a new streak for a team that had come to be called "The Yucks." They won their final game at home, and the fans tore down the goalposts. This was no ordinary streak. It was an existential curse that unfolded week after week, with Johnny Carson leading the charge on The Tonight Show. Along with their ridiculous mascot and uniforms, which were known as "the Creamsicles," the Yucks were a national punch line and personnel purgatory. Owned by the miserly and bulbous-nosed Hugh Culverhouse, who charged players for sodas in the locker room, the team was the end of the line for Heisman Trophy winner and University of Florida hero Steve Spurrier, and a banishment for former Cowboy defensive end Pat Toomay after he wrote a tell-all book about his time on "America's Team." Many players on the Bucs had been out of football for years, and it wasn't uncommon for them to have to introduce themselves in the huddle. They were coached by the ever-quotable college great John McKay, whose press conferences were infamous. "We can't win at home and we can't win on the road," he said. "What we need is a neutral site." But the Bucs were a part of something bigger, too. They were a gambit by promoters, journalists, and civic boosters to create a shared identity for a region that didn't exist--Tampa Bay. Before the Yucks, "the Bay" was a body of water, and even the worst team in memory transformed Florida's Gulf communities into a single region with a common cause. The Yucks is an unforgettable and hilarious account of athletic futility and despair. But the players worked their way into the fans' hearts and were a team that, by losing, did more to generate attention than they ever could have otherwise.
Yukon Alone: The World's Toughest Adventure Race
by John BalzarIn the tradition of Into the Wild, John Balzar's Yukon Alone is a story of daring and determination in one of nature's harshest, loneliest, and most beautiful places.The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race is among the most challenging and dangerous of all the organized sporting events in the world. Every February, a handful of hardy souls sps over two weeks racing sleds pulled by fourteen dogs over 1,023 miles of frozen rivers, icy mountain passes, and spruce forests as big as entire states. It's not unusual for the temperature to drop to 40-below or for the night to be seventeen hours long.Why would anyone want to run this race? To find out, John Balzar moved to Alaska months before The Quest began and he spent time in the homes of many of the mushers. Balzar then spent many days and nights on the trail, and the result is a book that not only treats us to a vivid day-by-day account of the grueling race itself but also offers an insightful look at the men and women who have moved to this rugged and beautiful place, often leaving behind comfortable houses and jobs in the lower forty-eight states for the sense of exhilaration they find in their new lives. Readers will also be fascinated by Balzar's account of what goes into the training and care of the majestic dogs who pull the sleds and whose courage, strength, and devotion make them the true heroes of this story. For anyone captivated by the wild north country, this riveting tale of courage and adventure will inspire and entertain.
The Z-Boys and Skateboarding (Inventions and Discovery)
by Jameson AndersonDescribes the birth of the Z-Boys skateboarding team and how they influenced modern skateboarding. Written in graphic-novel format.
Zack: A Cold Fury Hockey Novel (Carolina Cold Fury Hockey #3)
by Sawyer BennettNew York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett goes for a hat trick with the latest romance in a sexy series about cool-as-ice hockey players and the women heating up their lives. Warning: The following contains spoilers from a cliffhanger in Garrett. Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in a downward spiral of grief that has put his career on hold. Back on the road with the Carolina Cold Fury, still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a single dad, he's in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy new nanny wins his son's heart, Zack isn't sure he's ready for a woman's touch--even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she's hiding under those baggy clothes. Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at a distance. Though his athlete's body is honed to perfection, he refuses to move on with his life--and besides, he's her boss. Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack's wounded heart, Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight.
Zack Files 12: Now You See Me....Now You Don't
by Dan GreenburgA hypnotist's show turns out to be way more than Zack bargains for when he is pulled out of the audience, put into a trance, and his body is "taken over" by the spirit of someone from the past. And that's only the beginning, because the stubborn spirit won't go away when the show's over! It's hard enough having just one self to worry about. What will Zack do with two?
Zac's Game Plan
by Ewan FowlesThis book dives into the challenges young people may have with disabilities. No matter what you face in life or the challenges it brings you, stay strong and never give up on your dreams. Some people are born with disabilities and other times it can come later on in life, either way, it should never stop you from chasing what you believe in. This book also focus’s on the effects of bullying and showing you the benefits of not letting bullies bring you down. Zac is a strong willed young man who loves football and dreams to play for the AFL but not without some struggles along the way
Zahngesundheit und Leistungsfähigkeit: Ein Ratgeber für Ärzte, chronisch Kranke und Spitzensportler
by Meinhard VintlerUnser Gebiss kann bei schlechter Versorgung schnell zur Mülldeponie im Körper werden. Fremdmaterialien, beherdete Zähne und problematische zahnmedizinische und kieferorthopädische Behandlungen setzen dem Körper zu und sind mitverantwortlich für die Entstehung von chronischen Erkrankungen und Leistungsschwächen. Das Buch setzt sich fundiert mit dem Zusammenhang von Zahngesundheit und Leistungsfähigkeit auseinander und erläutert auch für Laien verständlich, wie die neueste labor- und systemmedizinische Forschung zu einer Verbesserung in der Diagnose und Behandlung sowohl von chronischen als auch von Sport-Erkrankungen beiträgt. Beide Patientengruppen verbindet das gleiche Problem: Bislang unentdeckte Stressoren, die sich zwar individuell unterscheiden, aber in ihren Auswirkungen sehr ähnlich sind, blockieren die Regenerationsprozesse im Körper. Die neuen Therapieansätze sind für Profisportler von großem Interesse, da sich Leistungssteigerungen erzielen lassen, die bereits im Promillebereich entscheidend sein können. Chronisch Kranke erfahren durch eine systemische Behandlung, die die Zähne wesentlich einbezieht, eine ungeahnte Besserung ihrer Beschwerden.Wie tiefgreifend die jüngsten Erkenntnisse die medizinische Praxis verändern können, soll dieses Buch deutlich machen. Es richtet sich an Mediziner aus allen Fachbereichen, die ihr Bewusstsein für Zusammenhänge im Organismus erweitern wollen. Aber auch Sportler und deren Betreuende in Training, Management und Physiotherapie werden ebenso wie Eltern von Sporttalenten angesprochen und nicht zuletzt alle, die an einer chronischen Erkrankung leiden und für die alternativmedizinische Ansätze oft der einzige Hoffnungsschimmer sind.
Zathura
by Chris Van AllsburgOn the last page of the Caldecott Medal-winning book Jumanji, young Danny Budwing is seen running home with a game tucked under his arm. Now, after twenty years, Chris Van Allsburg is ready to reveal what happens when Danny and his brother roll the dice. This time the name of the game is Zathura and Walter and Danny Budwing are in for the ride of their lives. Only the mind and hand of Chris Van Allsburg could create such a fantastic world where shifts in time and space and perspective take the reader on an extraordinary journey.
Zen and the Art of Running: The Path to Making Peace with Your Pace
by Larry ShapiroAll that I am, I am because of my mind. --Paavo Nurmi, Olympic runner with nine gold medals in track & fieldAll runners strive to get in the "zone," but here they'll learn to enter the ZEN "zone"! By adopting Buddha's mindful approach, you will discover you can run longer, faster, and harder. This book shows how to align body and mind for success on - and off - the track! Iron Man triathlete and philosophy professor Larry Shapiro coaches you to:Walk the talk: Get out and runPractice mindfulness: Train harderVisualize success: Race the Zen wayAccept and let go: Cope peacefully with injuries and agingComplete with case studies, testimonials, and training techniques, this guide inspires seasoned runners and first timers alike to pound the path to enlightenment—one stride at a time!
Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game
by Joseph ParentThe best players know that golf is a game of confidence, and most important, concentration-the ability to focus and block out distraction. The goal of achieving clear thought is also at the heart of Buddhist teachings. In his highly original and groundbreaking book, noted PGA coach and Buddhist instructor, Dr. Joseph Parent, draws on this natural connection and teaches golfers how to clear their minds, achieve ultimate focus, and play in the moment for each shot.Zen Golf presents a simple system for building "mental game mastery." Dr Parent's unique PAR Approach (focusing on Preparation, Action, and Response to Results) guides golfers with specific techniques for each aspect of their games. In chapters such as "How to Get From the Practice Tee to the First Tee", "You Produce What You Fear", and "How to Enjoy a Bad Round of Golf", the author shares a personal teaching regimen that has helped improve the games of professionals and amateurs alike. By combining classic insights and stories from Zen tradition, Zen Golf helps eliminate the mental distractions that routinely cause poor shots and loss of concentration, allowing golfers to feel in "the zone" that professionals have learned to master.Clear, concise, and enlightening, Zen Golf shows golfers how to prepare for, execute, and equally important, respond the results of any golf shot. A different approach to golf instruction, this book shapes ancient philosophies into new teachings.From the Hardcover edition.
Zen in the Art of Archery
by Eugen HerrigelSince its original publication in 1953, Zen in the Art of Archery has become one of the classic works on Eastern philosophy, the first book to delve deeply into the role of Zen in philosophy, development, and practice of Eastern martial arts. Wise, deeply personal, and frequently charming, it is the story of one man's penetration of the theory and practice of Zen Buddhism. Eugen Herrigel, a German professor who taught philosophy in Tokyo, took up the study of archery as a step toward the understanding of Zen. Zen in the Art of Archery is the account of the six years he spent as the student of one of Japan's great Zen masters, and the process by which he overcame his initial inhibitions and began to look toward new ways of seeing and understanding. As one of the first Westerners to delve deeply into Zen Buddhism, Herrigel was a key figure in the popularization of Eastern thought in the West, as well as being a captivating and illuminating writer.
Zen Kobudo
by Mark BishopKobudo, the famous armed Okinawan fighting art that utilizes common farming implements in combat, and Te, the ancient Okinawan art of armed and unarmed combat, are two of the world's most widely practiced yet least-understood martial arts. This book studies the individual Kobudo and Te systems as they are practiced in Okinawa today and discusses their various histories and the lives of the masters who have most influenced them. Spiritualism in the Okinawan arts is also covered in detail, as the author masterfully describes the mix of Zen and native beliefs that are vital to these arts, yet a component that has been all but ignored by previous researchers. In addition, this is the first work to discuss anthropological theories on Okinawa and the development of fighting arts there from the Stone Age. This complete and wide-ranging study of Okinawan weaponry, history, and training is the ultimate guide to these important fighting arts.
Zen Kobudo
by Mark BishopKobudo, the famous armed Okinawan fighting art that utilizes common farming implements in combat, and Te, the ancient Okinawan art of armed and unarmed combat, are two of the world's most widely practiced yet least-understood martial arts. This book studies the individual Kobudo and Te systems as they are practiced in Okinawa today and discusses their various histories and the lives of the masters who have most influenced them. Spiritualism in the Okinawan arts is also covered in detail, as the author masterfully describes the mix of Zen and native beliefs that are vital to these arts, yet a component that has been all but ignored by previous researchers. In addition, this is the first work to discuss anthropological theories on Okinawa and the development of fighting arts there from the Stone Age. This complete and wide-ranging study of Okinawan weaponry, history, and training is the ultimate guide to these important fighting arts.