book cover of The Art of Striking: Principles and Techniques. By Marc Tedeschi.
One in a series of remarkable books
that provide an in-depth look at the
core concepts and techniques shared by
a broad range of martial arts styles.

This illuminating work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define the art of striking in most martial arts. More than 1400 outstanding photographs introduce over 400 practical techniques encompassing all types of strikes: hand strikes, elbow strikes, standing kicks, aerial kicks, ground kicks, head butts and body strikes, advanced combinations, avoiding and blocking skills, defenses against punches and kicks, and pressure point attacks. Comprehensive introductory chapters provide an authoritative overview of important technical principles, East Asian energetic concepts, and 109 fundamental skills encompassing hitting surfaces, stances, footwork, and basic methods of falling. Precise anatomical illustrations and descriptions of 106 common Oriental pressure points, and a visual comparison of different martial arts, make this an invaluable resource for all martial styles.

Expertly written and designed by the author of the 1136‑page Hapkido—widely acclaimed the most comprehensive book ever written on a single martial art—this exceptional work is designed to stand alone, or function as a companion text with the author’s other works on martial techniques and anatomy. Regardless of the style you practice, these books will enrich your training, improve your technique, and deepen your understanding of the unique qualities embodied in your own martial art.

Other Books in the Series
The Art of Striking is part of a remarkable series of books that provide an in‑depth look at the core concepts and techniques shared by a broad range of martial arts. Each of these stand‑alone books is dedicated to a specific technical area, such as strikes, holds, or throws. Other titles include: The Art of Holding, The Art of Throwing, The Art of Ground Fighting, and The Art of Weapons.

 SPECIFICATIONS

The Art of Striking: Principles & Techniques
Author: Marc Tedeschi
Language: English
First Edition, March 2002
Published by Weatherhill,
an imprint of Shambhala Publications
Softcover Edition, May 2015
Published by Floating World Editions
208 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches
Over 1400 monochrome photos,
56 illustrations, bibliography
Foreign-language editions available
in French, Italian, and Russian
Hardcover: ISBN 978-0834804951
Softcover: ISBN 978-1891640773

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. OVERVIEW

Introduction
Types of Strikes
Strike Mechanics
Strike Variables
Methods of Execution
Feinting
Traditional vs Modern Execution
Strike Selection
Strikes to Pressure Points
Training and Conditioning
Responsible Use of Force
Comparing Martial Arts

2. FUNDAMENTALS

Introduction
Energetic Concepts
Attack Points
Stances
Footwork
Breakfalls
Pressure Point Targets
Pressure Point Locations
Strike Summary

3. ARM STRIKES

Introduction
Hand Strikes
Lower Arm Strikes
Elbow Strikes

4. LEG STRIKES

Introduction
Overview
Types of Kicks
Stylistic Qualities
Generating Power
Attack Point Selection
Footwork
Standing Kicks
Knee Strikes
Ground Kicks
Jump Kicks

5. HEAD + BODY STRIKES

Introduction
Head Strikes
Body Strikes

6. COMBINATIONS

Introduction
Arm Strike Combinations
Kick Combinations
Mixed Combinations

7. AVOIDING + BLOCKING

Introduction
Overview
Types of Blocks
Avoiding
Soft Blocks
Hard Blocks
Shielding Blocks
Blocks Against Kicks

8. DEFENSE AGAINST PUNCHES

Introduction
Basic Concepts
Block + Strike
Block + Kick
Avoid + Strike

9. DEFENSE AGAINST KICKS

Introduction
Basic Concepts
Block + Strike

10. DEFENSE AGAINST HOLDS

Introduction
Defense Against Holds

11. REFERENCE

Further Reading
Acknowledgements
 REVIEWS

“Without a doubt the best works on martial arts today are those written by Marc Tedeschi . . . great reference for anyone who is serious about learning or teaching the martial arts.”
– Professor Willy Cahill,
Two-time Olympic Judo Coach, Jujitsu Grandmaster,
Inductee Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame

5stars
“I am an accomplished martial artist and I enjoy learning from any source that deepens my understanding of this wonderful art. To me, this book [The Art of Striking], like the others by this author, offers a wealth of knowledge. This book is a nice addition to my martial arts library.”
– Amazon.com (USA)

5starsExcellent
“Although the author is primarily writing about Hapkido, he has ensured that this book, and the others in the series (The Art of Throwing, The Art of Ground Fighting, The Art of Striking) are all readable and informative for students of any martial art. The pictures and descriptions are of good quality, there’s sufficient background text to get started, some information on weak points in the human body, a comparison of some simple techniques across various martial arts, and then a compendium of examples from Hapkido. Well worth adding to any martial artist’s library.”
– Amazon.co.uk (England)

5starsA Quality Text
“In addition to The Art of Throwing, I have bought other books by Mr. Tedeschi: The Art of Holding, The Art of Striking and The Art of Ground Fighting. In my opinion, all of these texts are excellent. The layout of the books are logical and the plethora of photographs are clear.”
– Amazon.com (Canada)

  button1   button2