Dochang Journal Level 4 (Paperback)

Martial art books and videos most often fall into one of two categories. The first category are those books and tapes intended to showcase a specific art or a particular style of an art. Included in these works are the historical, cultural and philosophical influences that contributed to that art's development. Almost as common is a second category of martial art media including works attributed to or about a particular martial arts personality with a focus on the training, philosophies and experiences that produced that individual's unique approach.

In recent years, martial art in this country has matured, from a hobby of a select few and a cinematic novelty, to produce a small but growing number of "plain vanilla" works which speak to the needs of the student rather than the art or the instructor. Growing numbers of video tapes and books emphasize the similarities among martial arts rather than the differences. Their increasing popularity seems to center on the simple and practical way in which they help the student identify basic tenants and techniques without much of the cultural and political issues that can could the experience. Having discounted their allegiance to a particular art or instructor, however, these works must often be satisfied with such appellations as "book of self-defense", "guide to self-protection", or "combat training". Occasionally authors actually move full circle by characterizing their work as a "new" art, thus slipping into one of the aforementioned categories through a backdoor as it were.