This list is not complete. I will add good stuff whenever I read more about martial arts that I consider worth reading. The links below are amazon affiliate links.

For the sake of this blog, I will categorize the books into the following:

1. Technique
2. Mindset and Philosophy
3. Science
4. Fiction

Books about martial arts techniques

The books in this section explain techniques and deliver knowledge directly related to applying a martial art or a self-defence system.

• Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques.
• Atemi Waza: Kodokan Judo.
• Art and Science of Staff Fighting.
• Art and Science of Stick Fighting.
• Art and Science of Self Defense.
• Karate: The Art of Empty Hand Fighting.

Books about mindset and philosophy

Below you’ll find books from philosophers and great martial artists that primarily talk about backgrounds and philosophy.

• The Art of War.
• Hagakure: The Art of the Samurai.
• The Books of Five Rings.

Books about the science behind the arts

Understand the science behind your craft. Many traditional martial arts don’t explain the mechanics and principles behind the techniques. These books can provide the missing puzzle part if you are interested in it.

• Karate Science. Swanson.
• The Judo Advantage. Scott.
• Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments. Chukrow.
• Fight Like A Physicist. Thalken.

Fiction from the martial arts world

For those who enjoy a good story from worlds where fighting is part of daily life.

• A Hero Born. Legend of the Condor Heroes I.
• A Bond Undone. Legend of the Condor Heroes II.
• A Snake Lies Waiting. Legend of the Condor Heroes III.
• A Heart Divided. Legend of the Condor Heroes IV.

Der Beitrag Collect the Best Martial Arts books in 2023 erschien zuerst auf FraGue Moser-Kindler - Dancer, Artist & Qi Gong Teacher based in Salzburg, Austria.

1. Workshops and classes

Martial artists care for their personal skill development. So naturally, working on those comes first. If you totally run out of ideas, you can always pay for their regular classes or book them a workshop with their favourite sifu or sensei.

A gift certificate or voucher is the easiest way to package a workshop or class. Many schools offer these, especially around Christmas. If they don’t you can create one on your own when you are design-savvy or simply use a template.

2. Workout gear or tools

An essential part of being prepared to fight (be it in a cage, harder sparring or in self-defense situations) is to keep your body in shape. Some martial artists only rely on their practice, but most of the work out too.

A jump rope (better a speed jump rope) is essential for boxing and kickboxing but will be helpful with most modern fighting sports. Even though traditional martial arts rarely use them, the strength, coordination and stamina they build are helpful for all martial arts practitioners.

A new contender in the ring is the Octomoves Flow Rope, which feels like a jump rope without jumping. It works the core, the back, the arms and the shoulders and has some similar techniques to traditional weapons like the rope dart or meteor hammer. If your friends are into flow exercises with any martial arts weapon, they will love this thing.

Almost all fighters can apply rubber bands in their training. Common ones are Resistance Bands or a Deuserband, which support numerous higher kicks and stretching exercises. The resistance bands can be used to work on your punches as well.

A kettlebell, which is simply a big weight with a handle, is also a very versatile tool. There are tons of exercises you can do with them, and there are hundreds of tutorials on Youtube to get started.

Got a friend who suffers from unnecessary body tension? Grab a Blackroll or another tool for fascia relief.

3. Books

A plethora of books would make a good gift for your fighter friends. This can be books about their preferred fighting style, about some fighting-related philosophy or about known martial artists.

Here are some recommendations:

• Musashi’s Dokkodo
• The Art of War
• Hagakure
• The Little Black Book of Violence or The Bloody Big Book of Violence
• The Anatomy of Martial Arts
• The Evolution of Martial Arts in Combat Sports
• The Ultimate Guide to Martial Arts Movies of the 1970s

4. Weapons or Fighting Gear

Many traditional martial arts use weapons like the staff, sticks or knives. There are also fancier ones like the chain whip, three-section staff or nunchucks. Find out which ones they want, before buying.

Boxing Gloves, Pads or a Heavy Bag might also be the right thing.

Also, if you have a specialised store in town where you can get good customer service, prefer this one over ordering from the internet.

5. Wall art

If nothing else seems to fit, you might want to consider some kind of poster. It can be a fantastic fighting image, a motivational quote or a combination of both.

Many options are available for the seeker of presents. Depending on your budget, you can go for a digital download to print at home, a framed museum-quality print or anything in between.

If you have additional ideas, meaning more Christmas presents for fighters, let us know in the comments.

The links in this article are affiliate links which take you to Amazon or Etsy.

Der Beitrag Amazing Christmas Gifts and Presents for Martial Artists and Fighters erschien zuerst auf FraGue Moser-Kindler - Dancer, Artist & Qi Gong Teacher based in Salzburg, Austria.