Now with Kung Fu Grip!

How Bodybuilders, Soldiers and a Hairdresser Reinvented Martial Arts for America

Why do so many Americans practice martial arts? How did kung fu get its own movie genre? What makes mixed martial arts so popular? This book answers these questions for the first time with historical research.

“Scholarly yet accessible.... This volume deserves a spot of the shelf of any serious student of martial arts...engaging.... This book is mandatory and quite enjoyable reading for anyone interested in martial arts history”—Chinese Martial Studies

$29.95Add to cart

More details →

Book Categories

Martial Arts on Screen

We're going to let you in on a company secret: our sales staff can't stop thinking about ninjas. We plan ahead for surprise attacks. One of us is a certified "Cooler," and the Olympics only make us reminisce about Gymkata. Lucky for us, McFarland offers a number of books about real and fictional martial arts, and we're putting them all on sale. Through the end of January, get 20% off all martial arts titles with the coupon code KUMITE!

Browse Catalog

Editors' Picks

Website Bestsellers

Newly Added to Our Site