Book Review: The Filipino Martial Arts

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Smoke

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by Dan Inosanto. Out of print, reprinted twice by Know Now Publications with B&W illustrations.

This is book and Presas' Modern Arnis set the standard for FMA books in the US
A conceptual and technical book that shows the basics for FMA from stick to empty hand.

The breakdown
History and the Masters of FMA
Techniques (blocks, strikes, disarms, environmental training, footwork, zoning, hand to stick relation, weapon characteristics, flow drills)
Table of Styles, history of the Philippines, and philosophy of the FMA.

It should also be said that there is a bit of the JKD influence in the book, the idea of conceptual training and crosstraining in other arts to experience what works and what is good for you. There are blank captions for you to draw out your own moves with those markers and chalk used for sparring (that's a joke).

This is a must have if you can get it, it gives a good breakdown of the fluidity of FMA techniques. A compliment and baseline for any FMA book, video, or that RARE Inosanto FMA poster. The only weakness is that knife techniques aren't shown due to the wishes of Inosanto and the masters. Rope moves aren't there either.

For you newbies, this book and books by Presas, Sulite, and Janich are a good start. From there you get more specialized (knife, stick, sword/stick & dagger, rope) and can branch out to books by Hochheim and Marinas.

Will the book make you a master or historical scholar? No but it's one of the best references on the planet.

I liked the book more than the video series which is reviewed here. http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum34/HTML/000003.html

 
I have big concerns with this site: Guro Dan let the book lapse..no more copies..He has stated hes working on a new one and this is no longer states /teaches what he wants to say..Now no matter what I personally feel ( that the book should still be in print) he obviously doesn't. As a writer and artist the fact that someone took the time to scan the book for others to have is misguided goodness.
Guro Dan gets nothing from this,..Kow Now gets nothing. Johnson gets nothing...so unless someone shows me that the authors are getting something, that copyright laws are not being abused..and that Guro Dan has OKed this..I would think that NO MATTER how much someone wanted the book they WOULD REFRAIN from downloading it and tell others who respect Guro Dan to do the same..
IS ANYONE PAYING GURO DAN???
If theres proof that its OK to do this FROM Guro Dan..could someone plaese scan it and post it>>>
My post of this was deleted from ED...
I feel strongly about this...
Chad..I've seen you post ALOT on ED...
could you check it out?
thanks.



[This message has been edited by BRAM (edited 08-09-2000).]
 
Professor Presas has a book from Ohara Press ,as well as one of his own reprinted from the old days and I've heard that he is working to reprint another old book he did in the old days.. ( prior to comuing to the USA)
GM Ernesto Presas has two books on Arnis, the late PunuongGuro Edgar Sulite has two books, ( still available...)
Gm Mat Marinas has several books that come and go out of print and one is still available from Paladin...
The Canentes have several books on Eskrima..
Rene Latosa has books on Eskrima..
Of course Mark Wiley...
My book on Conceptual Modern Arnis is being finished as we speak..last photos being shot..
Hopefully Guro Dan will grace us with a new book soon!


 
My feelings on this are, Guro Inosanto has to know this thing is online and available for downloading...and the website clearly states that if there is a complaint from the parties involved, it would be taken down. No complaints apparently have been registered.

This was, apparently, a labor of love and a desire to share a volume of FMA that many cannot find and those that find it cannot afford the Kingly Ransom it fetches with Out of Print Booksellers and on Online Auctions. I have been hunting for another copy for a certain someone for awhile now. I have my copy and I cherish it. This book goes for $70.00-$225.00 regularly. Amazing huh? Perhaps it is a good thing that it is being passed along like this. Perhaps someone can fire off an E-Mail of this very Thread to Guro Inosanto and he can see for himself the interest and desire people have for this book regardless of what he is publishing now.

I don't know all the answers, but this book is prolific and I find it hard to believe that Dan Inosanto does not know the Online version exists.

There are issues of Copyright here, I understand that as well. There is also a desire to see that body of work that he put together, that it not die and I believe that to be a Noble Act indeed. I also think that this is the reason this act was done. Are they, the Online folks, making any money off of it? I doubt it.

So...instead of guessing, someone out there has to have Guro Inosanto's E-Mail address...make him aware of it and let the chips fall where they may. I think it is a shame, regardless of his present book in the making, that this book die. It is a Classic, but hey, what do I know? I'm just another ignorant savage, a mere seeker on the path...

 
As an afterthought, Dan Inosanto's The Filipino Martial Arts transcends being a mere tome of martial technique and contains historical information that may or may not be present in any new work. I think this is one of the reasons this work is considered so valuable by so many.
 
There is no reason to assume that he knows..Its like Napster.technology be damned..it copyright infringement....
And unless someone shows me that they have it IN STONE from Guro Dan, that he knows there are FREE copies of his book being distributed then assuming he knows makes asses of everyone..and if its too expensive to own TOO BAD...
make it worth Guro Dans while....
I have avoided the site because of that.
Respect for Guro Dan...stops me
Do I have this wrong? someone pays him? theres a release signed by him?
Theres an agreement by him?
Show me I'm wrong and I'll happily tell people to download the book..
otherwise its theft...

 
Whoa...hostility. Chill.

You are correct, I am approaching it more from a historical point of view. However, I would say that since the book is so sought after that it fetches prices at times slightly over $200.00, then Dan Inosanto is setting on a potential goldmine if he re-released it, even if he has a new book coming out.

Oh well, I notice no fervor over Mr. Vic Hurley's "Swish of the Kris" on the Bakbakan site, do they have permission as well.

As for technology being damned, yes, sometimes it gets out of hand, yet, we have to find our way through the mess of ethics and legalities and everything is not so cut and dry as of yet.

As for Napster, hmmm...I have been listening to Metallica since about 1984, a long time indeed, and they used to encourage the trading of tapes, etc., when they wanted the presence of Metallica to be known and "catch on." Now almost the same thing being done digitally is a no-no. Is it right? No, probably not.

I'm not sparring on this. I think someone should contact Guro Inosanto and tell him about it. And you know what? I wish he would register here and speak his mind about it...guess what? If he did not like it, I bet the people that put it up would take it down, simple enough. Yet, he might like the idea as well as it appears he has no interest in re-releasing it and therefore I guess he cares not that no monies are being made from it.

All conjecture on everyone's behalf...the Inosanto Academy is in Southern California.
 
Ok..its COPYRIGHT infringement PERIOD...
As for Guro Dan knowing? maybe hes not aware of it nor internet savy...
BUt I emailed Steve Grody and Ron Balicki since I don't know where to contact Guro Dan..
And NO Don, I doubt he wants it up there cause its historical..He let it die for whatever personal reason he has..money be damned..which is VERY diffrent than he doesn;t care if no moneys are made on it..
I have PERSONALLY paid him for tapes books etc..I guess if HE DIDN'T CARE He wouldn't have charged money in the first place..
People who buy tapes and exchange bought tapes for personal use STILL violoate the intent of copyright..
Nothing you or anyone can say will change my views on copyright and infringement..too much time defending copyrights against others.
If I see it posted BY the Inosanto Academy, Dan or his legal rep, Know Nows Rep, that its Ok..then its OK..otherwise its theft.
 
Originally posted by BRAM:
"People who buy tapes and exchange bought tapes for personal use STILL violoate the intent of copyright.."

You mean copy them or trade them Bram? I'm not nitpicking, just trying to be clear. If you loan someone a tape, that is not illegal. Exchange sounds like "trade," and that is not illegal. I don't know...seems way out of hand to me one way or the other...
Click to expand...
 
Guro Dan is apparently not very net-savvy, according to my vague memories of eskrima-digest posts in the past by his students.

However, since he DOES have several students on E-D, and the online location has been posted there a few times, I have to think he knows about it. I did a search for a post of his comments (I seem to remember him not caring, but I wanted a quote), and couldn't find one. I will post the question, and post the results here. I'm attending a seminar in September, (Cortland, NY - any forumites there, I'd love to meet you!) and if I don't have an answer by then, I'll ask him.

About my perspective: I own the book in question, AND DL'd the online version.
 
I'll have to agree with Bram, a writers words are his own, unless he wishes to allow them to be used, and for his work he should be compensated. Now, for all you that wish to get a copy of Guro Inosanto's Book, there are a few of them available through an online used book store, price ranges from $90 to a couple of hundred.
www.addall.com/used/
 
hello,

i read from ED that SWISH OF THE KRIS' copyright expired, hence Babakan's online version.

FYI, 2 years ago, knowing full well what Dan I's book fetches, I found 2 copies in NY Chinatown and sold it cover price to 2 friends. they were still mint. that has given me hope that it's still possible to find them. it may be hard, but still possible. i also found 2 copies of Dan I's training with equipment book.

there was a post to ED about putting online Jack Dempsey's CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTING if the copyright expired.
 
This is a great discussion about the posting of Guro I's book online and for download. Many good points on both sides of the issue.

The site http://www.geocities.com/kalipages is mine.

As stated on the page about Guro I's book, I took someone else's scanned images and made a simple reader program for them. I was leary of posting this download version and agreed with the original scanner that the postings would be an experiment. Neither of us had any luck contacting the original publisher or Guro I regarding the postings.

As an observant poster to this thread already noticed, my email address is clearly on that page with the comment that the resource will be removed should there be any request by the appropriate party to do so. There has been no such request.

If Guro I's book were still available commercially, the text would not be online. If it were still available commercially, such posting would be taking money from him. But the book is out of print and will not be put back into print. I have conversed with some of Guro I's students via email about this at length and was told that Guro I felt the book had too many inaccuracies. The posting of the book is robbing Guro I of nothing.

Which raises an interesting question. If the book is selling at book shops for upwards of $100, and fellow forum members are scrambling to find their copies so to get rich quick on Ebay, where is Guro I's cut of the sales? Who is making money off of the sale of Guro I's book now that it is out of commercial print? Does Powells send Guro I a check every time it sells a copy? Do the Ebay people send Guro I a check when their copy sells?

Is it possible then that, out of respect for Guro I, no one should *buy* these copies?

Now that the book can no longer be obtained by commercial means, is it respectful to Guro I for me to sell my copy on Ebay for $100, making a $90 profit of which Guro I get's nothing? Or is it respectful to Guro I for me to offer the book for free in the spirit of sharing a valuable resource? I say, the latter.

As far as copyright infringement is concerned, I'll risk it. By the strict letter of the law, I'm wrong. But then again, as a teacher I'm also "wrong" to hug a 2nd grader when s/he is upset. I'm not taking Guro I's work and saying it's mine. *I'm* not making any money off his book. Guro I is not losing revenue by the posting of this book. No one is getting hurt. Except maybe for you Ebay-ers :-)

ashley bass

 
Downloading Guro Dans book robs nobody? If an author chooses to no longer disseminate the material that he or she once wrote is their personal business and does nothing to the copyright nor to the misguided statement that causual copying harms no one... If Guro Dan gets no compensation for his work, or Johnson or Foon or Know Now,that HARMS them..If Guro Dan says it no longer has relevance and he wants it not reprinted..again that has no bearing on compensation.
I have emailed Steve Grody and Ron balicki to have them check with Guro Dan..As an anal retentive moderater I checked with an Attorney about the legalities of the situation..
If there is no written statement by all cpyright holders that FREE printing ( read that downloading) is Ok then its illegal... and compensation can run to three times the punitive damage JUST for copyright infringement.
In the act of posting that it is available without the above permission can be ILLEGAL as well.
Gads..We live in shades of grey..I'd love a new copy of Guro Dans book. I 'd love new copies of Prof Remy's old books..BUT if I get them without playing by the rules I screw them and show disrespect and if I let it slide here I have to let it slide if someone steals my copyrighted material..
The internet is NOT one on one small time cheating by copying stuff between friends..wHICH is still illegal...its an open venue that invites a large anmount of people to get something for nothing..hmm I guess if hundreds of copies are downloadeed Guro Dan and his family couldn't have used the royalites and payments...LOL..
I'm sure this willl be settled VERY soon..either he and Foon and Johnson OK's it ot they don't ..( its a multipul yes/OK thats needed here..)
I'm sorry if I seem to have been trying to insult anyone..
I'm just looking out for Guro Dan..
 
As I said before, Bram, good points. Some may call me a thief, some may call me something else. I sleep smiling regardless.
If we've not heard from your sources or others by Nov, I'll be taking a seminar with Guro I and will ask him myself.

Thanks for the brainfood.

ashley
 
notes from 2 of Guro I's students:

from Crafty Dog:
I have not spoken with Guro about this, but I do know that his wife Simo
Paula is pretty ticked off.

from Steve Reiter:
i spoke to him about the book about 6 months ago, he said there were some
non-orthorized changes made in the book - and so he didnt really like the
book anyway - he did say he wanted to write another book but time and money
prohibited him - he didnt say either way if he cared it was d/l'd - however
since he said he wouldnt care to republish the book in it's current form,
and
since there is no any finanical gain from that book (paula's main concern) i
dont think he'd have a problem with it being d/l'd (however i could be
wrong)
 
Ok..two of my posts refused to be accepted..they dissappeared as I posted.
Guro Dan et al lose every time someone downloads the book. PERIOD. On the point of commercially sold books, well if they resell later for more, then its moot for Guro Dan et al have already recieved their just dues and compensation.Just as with art or collectables any where....
As for the comment you sleep well knowing no one is hurt by your site allowing downloading..it shows lack of integrity..Unless I personally had PERMISSION from the parties involved I would NEVER assume that Guro Dan or others by their SILENCE condoned what I do..Guro Dan is famous for letting things be EVEN if they hurt him for he's too noble to get involved.
He has shown that and an unshakeable faith in the good of others in all his years of preserving JKD...contrary to others interpretation of the situations or their personal gain at his expense.
I could say OH by the way Steve Grody says this, Ron says that..Steve will be here shortly with his own post!
If by some chance he can't get it to work ( hes a newbee at this forum stuff-net stuff)I have his permission to post his response for him..
as for no financial gain therefore no loss..well by not compensating Guro Dan et al theres lots of financial loss..even if the misguided thought behind that is that the site and its owner make no financial gain themselves..
WHO PAID GURO DAN ET AL FOR THEIR MATERIAL?


[This message has been edited by BRAM (edited 08-24-2000).]
 
I have a simple solution for anyone that has mixed feelings about downloading Dan's book;
send him a check, and why not make it, say, at least $15-$25. I know that there are some folks out there that are laboring under the myth that Dan is filthy rich, owns property, and so on, so why should they shell out any dough...but the fact is, for as well known as he is, Dan lives a pretty humble life. If he hasn't gone legal in this matter, it's probably because he's not interested in wasting his time with lawsuits, and unfortunately may be resigned to people not acting with respect and integrity as has often been the case in the past.
 
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