This addition to the "Tell Me About Sports" series opens with an introduction to the origin of many of the martial arts in Asia, their different styles and schools, their appropriateness for all people of all ages, and their physical and psychological benefits. Illustrated with full-color stock photos, subsequent chapters provide details about the range of throws and blows in the grappling and striking martial arts, types of uniforms, specialized gear required for some styles, schools and teachers, and star practitioners and champions. Chapters dedicated to selected martial arts are included as well; these offer greater detail relating to judo, karate, tae kwon do, kickboxing, and kung fu. The competitive martial arts world is addressed in a chapter addressing several international competitions, as well as the status of judo and tae kwon do as Olympic sports. The discussion of weight groups in competitions yields the surprising description, illustrated with a photograph, of a female world champion who is less than five feet tall. Sidebars expand information about uniforms and how they can reflect grades or degrees in some of the martial arts, the scoring system in judo, conventions in Olympic tae kwon do, and the kung fu revival in China. Backmatter includes a list of websites and books with further information, a glossary, and an index. Other titles in the "Tell Me About Sports" series include Football, Soccer, Tennis, and Running. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami
