Reading List

Use this as a curated shelf, not a buying list. Start with the core item in each section, then add optional items only when that topic becomes interesting.

1. Shotokan Karate foundation

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Gichin Funakoshi - Karate-Do: My Way of Life	Best first karate philosophy/history book; autobiographical and readable. Blancke lists it in its foundation reading recommendations.
Core	Gichin Funakoshi - The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate	Pairs directly with the Niju Kun / principles section of the notebook.
Core	Gichin Funakoshi - The Essence of Karate	Useful for Shotokan mindset and fundamentals.
Optional	Hirokazu Kanazawa - Karate: My Life	Later reading from a major Shotokan figure.
Optional	Blancke Academy resources page	Central index for the school’s recommended reading, videos, websites, and links.

2. Kata and bunkai

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder - The Way of Kata	Best fit for “what might this kata movement mean?” notebook pages.
Core	Blancke Academy kata pages	Use for Shotokan kata names, order, embusen notes, and the kata index.
Optional	Gichin Funakoshi - Karate-Do Kyohan	More technical and historical; better after the basic kata vocabulary is familiar.
Optional	Iain Abernethy articles / books	Useful for pragmatic bunkai thinking; keep it as a secondary lens and check interpretations with the dojo.

3. Karate terminology, grading, and organisation

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Blancke Academy Karate Terms and Numbers	Main glossary source for Japanese counting, commands, and karate vocabulary.
Core	ISKF exam guidelines / rule material	Useful for understanding how kihon, kata, kumite, control, spirit, and etiquette are evaluated.
Optional	JKA history and Funakoshi pages	Useful for Shotokan history and organisation notes.
Optional	SKIF technical resources	Useful for alternate Shotokan organisation notes and technical manuals.

4. Judo

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Kodokan official technique list	Best reference for judo terminology and technique categories.
Core	IJF Judo Techniques website	Good visual reference for Gokyo no Waza and judo throwing vocabulary.
Core book	Jigoro Kano - Kodokan Judo	Best single book for judo history, principles, and classical structure.
Optional book	Toshiro Daigo - Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques	Deeper reference for throws if kuzushi and nage-waza become a major side interest.
Optional book	Neil Ohlenkamp - Judo Unleashed	More accessible beginner overview, often easier to browse than formal Kodokan material.

Notebook focus: kuzushi, tsukuri, kake; nage-waza; ashi-waza; pins; how judo explains balance and off-balancing.

5. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core book	Saulo Ribeiro - Jiu-Jitsu University	Strong first BJJ reference for positional thinking and belt-level structure.
Core book	Renzo Gracie, Royler Gracie, Kid Peligro, and John Danaher - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique	Good for BJJ’s underlying problem: defending against a bigger, stronger opponent and understanding how BJJ differs from judo.
Core reference	IBJJF Rule Book	Useful for sport BJJ vocabulary: points, advantages, penalties, positions, and illegal moves.
Optional	Helio Gracie - Gracie Jiu-Jitsu	More historical/self-defence oriented, useful for context.
Optional	Chris Haueter material / Combat Base concepts	Later conceptual BJJ, especially positional language and “think like a grappler” ideas.

Notebook focus: guard, mount, side control, back control, frames, escapes, sweeps, submissions, position before submission.

6. Primal movement / natural movement

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Erwan Le Corre - The Practice of Natural Movement	Broad reference for balancing, crawling, climbing, jumping, lifting, carrying, and ground transitions.
Core	MovNat articles / tutorials	Useful for vocabulary and movement categories; treat as conceptual reading, not a separate training program.
Optional	Kelly Starrett - Becoming a Supple Leopard	Mobility/position reference for joint positions, bracing, and movement quality.
Optional	Gray Cook - Movement	Screening/rehab-oriented framework for movement quality.

Notebook focus: squat, hinge, lunge, crawl, roll, balance, rotation, mobility vs flexibility, transitions from floor to standing.

7. Gymnastics / body control

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	USA Gymnastics - U100 Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruction	Official education resource for baseline expectations and safe, responsible instruction concepts.
Core book	Steven Low - Overcoming Gravity	Serious reference for gymnastics-style bodyweight strength theory.
Optional	Christopher Sommer - Building the Gymnastic Body	Useful for gymnastics strength concepts, though more training-oriented than theory.
Optional	USA Gymnastics education/course catalogue	Good for browsing official terminology and safety-oriented gymnastics education.

Notebook focus: hollow, arch, pike, tuck, straddle, alignment, body tension, centre of mass, base of support, landing mechanics.

8. Kickboxing / striking side knowledge

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core book	Jack Dempsey - Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense	Striking-theory classic for punching, stance, feinting, footwork, and aggressive defence.
Core book	Pat O’Keeffe - Kick Boxing: A Framework for Success	Directly kickboxing-specific; covers basics, timing, distance, power, speed, sparring, and review.
Core Muay Thai	Christoph Delp - Muay Thai Basics	Introduction to Thai boxing history, rules, equipment, stance, footwork, attacks, defence, and counters.
Optional Muay Thai	Erich Krauss, Glen Cordoza, and Tana Yingwitayakhun - Muay Thai Unleashed	More competition-oriented Muay Thai striking reference.
Optional MMA striking	Anderson Silva - The Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual: Striking	Useful for an MMA-flavoured striking comparison rather than pure kickboxing.

Notebook focus: guard, jab/cross/hook, checking kicks, combinations, rhythm, feints, pressure, exits, low kicks, continuous striking logic.

9. Ballet / Russian / Vaganova method

Use this as a side shelf for posture, alignment, rhythm, leg control, turnout awareness, foot articulation, precision, and presentation.

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Agrippina Vaganova - Basic Principles of Classical Ballet: Russian Ballet Technique	Essential Vaganova text. Use it for Russian ballet technique, posture, leg work, arm positions, turns, jumps, and class structure.
Core	Vera Kostrovitskaya - 100 Lessons in Classical Ballet	Structured class-by-class Vaganova-school reference. Best for seeing how material is sequenced pedagogically.
Core	Vera Kostrovitskaya and Alexei Pisarev - School of Classical Dance	Major Vaganova-school textbook; useful for a broad syllabus-style view.
Core practical	Gail Grant - Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet	Terminology reference for class, videos, and practical ballet notebook pages.
Core anatomy support	Jacqui Greene Haas - Dance Anatomy	Alignment, muscle use, safe range, turnout, jumps, and dance conditioning concepts.
Optional	Eric Franklin - Conditioning for Dance	Imagery, mobility, coordination, and body awareness for dancers.
Online reference	ABT Ballet Dictionary	Quick terminology reference for ballet vocabulary, including port de bras and common step names.
Online reference	Royal Academy of Dance adult beginner classes/resources	Useful beginner framing for adult ballet basics and class expectations.
Optional	Vaganova Academy: Agrippina Y. Vaganova	Useful historical context for Vaganova as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and creator of a globally influential teaching method.
Optional	Vaganova Academy official history	Useful for the historical page in the notebook and the institutional background of the Vaganova method.

Minimal ballet shelf:

11. Vaganova - Basic Principles of Classical Ballet
22. Kostrovitskaya - 100 Lessons in Classical Ballet
33. Grant - Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet

Notebook focus: posture, alignment, turnout awareness, knee tracking, foot articulation, port de bras, adagio, allegro, turns, rhythm, and kata presentation. Practical focus: safe setup, beginner barre order, centre basics, turns and spotting, small allegro, mobility, video review, and practice logs.

10. Swimming / aquatic movement

Swimming adds a movement environment the other branches do not: water. Use this side shelf for breathing under constraint, relaxation, horizontal body line, whole-body coordination, rhythm, and efficiency.

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	Terry Laughlin - Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier	Best first book if the focus is efficiency, relaxation, body position, and not fighting the water.
Core	Paul Newsome and Adam Young - Swim Smooth	Strong technical system for freestyle; useful for stroke types, common faults, breathing, rotation, and individual differences.
Core free reference	U.S. Masters Swimming Freestyle Guide	Free structured guide covering freestyle pull, kick, body position, breathing, drills, and sets.
Core rules/reference	World Aquatics Swimming Rules	Official reference for competitive swimming rules, strokes, starts, turns, and legality.
Optional	Ernest W. Maglischo - Swimming Fastest	Deep technical and scientific reference; more advanced and dense.
Optional	Sheila Taormina - Swim Speed Secrets	Freestyle propulsion and underwater pull mechanics.
Optional	Sheila Taormina - Swim Speed Strokes	All four strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly.
Optional	Blythe Lucero - The 100 Best Swimming Drills	Drill vocabulary and technique corrections.
Optional	Janet Evans - Total Swimming	Accessible general swimming technique and training overview.

Minimal swimming shelf:

11. Terry Laughlin - Total Immersion
22. Paul Newsome and Adam Young - Swim Smooth
33. U.S. Masters Swimming Freestyle Guide
44. World Aquatics Swimming Rules

Notebook focus: water confidence, safety, buoyancy, body position, breathing, freestyle/front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, starts, turns, streamlines, and swimming-karate movement connections.

11. Acrobatics / acro rock’n’roll

Acro rock’n’roll has fewer classic textbooks than ballet, karate, judo, or swimming, so use a mix of official rules, dance/acrobatic theory, and supporting movement books.

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core official	WRRC Rock’n’Roll Rules	Main official reference page for competitive acrobatic rock’n’roll rules, scoring, safety levels, acro-calculator, and competition documents.
Core official	WRRC Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll Safety Levels	Essential for understanding how acrobatic elements are restricted and progressed by safety level. Use the current version linked from the WRRC rules page.
Core official	WRRC Overall Rules of Competitions	Useful for competition organisation, definitions, and judging context.
Core official	WRRC competition/live results pages	Useful for watching actual event categories, formats, current competition names, and results.
Core book	Jacqui Greene Haas - Dance Anatomy	Useful for turnout, extension, jumps, core control, and safe movement in dance.
Core book	Eric Franklin - Conditioning for Dance	Strong bridge between dance technique, imagery, mobility, conditioning, and body awareness.
Supporting book	Emily Scherb - Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts	Not rock’n’roll-specific, but useful for shoulders, grip, hanging/support, and acrobatic safety concepts.
Supporting book	Steven Low - Overcoming Gravity	Useful for strength, shapes, body control, progressions, and joint preparation.
Supporting book	Vaganova - Basic Principles of Classical Ballet	Useful for line, posture, extension, leg control, and presentation.

Minimal acro rock’n’roll shelf:

11. WRRC Rock'n'Roll Rules
22. WRRC Acrobatic Rock'n'Roll Safety Levels
33. Jacqui Greene Haas - Dance Anatomy
44. Eric Franklin - Conditioning for Dance
55. Steven Low - Overcoming Gravity

Notebook focus: rhythm, basic step, musicality, partner roles, base/flyer trust, spotting, supervised progression, jumps, kicks, footwork, lifts, throws, acrobatic figures, landings, choreography, and presentation.

12. Cheerleading tumbling

Cheerleading tumbling has fewer universally accepted classic textbooks than gymnastics, ballet, or swimming. Treat official rules, glossary resources, coaching materials, and class notes as the core sources.

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core official	USA Cheer / ICU rules and glossary resources	Official vocabulary, rules, and safety context for cheerleading and tumbling progression awareness.
Core book	Tumbling With Intention: A Drill, Skill, and Theoretical Guidebook for Cheer Coaches	Cheer-coach-oriented tumbling resource for drills, skill theory, and progression language.
Core reference	Gymnastics/tumbling coach materials	Use for progressions, safety, body shapes, prerequisites, landings, and spotting vocabulary.
Supporting book	Steven Low - Overcoming Gravity	Strong general bodyweight/gymnastics framework.
Supporting book	Jacqui Greene Haas - Dance Anatomy	Useful for jumps, alignment, landings, and body mechanics.

Minimal cheer tumbling shelf:

11. USA Cheer / ICU rules and glossary resources
22. Tumbling With Intention
33. Gymnastics/tumbling coach materials

Notebook focus: progression awareness, safety, prerequisites, tumbling shapes, rolls, inversions, cartwheels, round-offs, walkovers, handsprings, saltos, twisting vocabulary, landings, and connected passes.

13. Yoga / breath-based movement

Use this shelf for breath, posture, mobility, flexibility, body awareness, balance, relaxation, attention, recovery, joint positions, and slow controlled transitions.

Priority	Resource	Why it belongs
Core	B.K.S. Iyengar - Light on Yoga	Classic reference for poses, alignment, sequencing, and traditional yoga vocabulary. Best single yoga reference book.
Core	Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews - Yoga Anatomy	Anatomy-based reference for understanding how poses affect breathing, joints, spine, hips, shoulders, and movement.
Core	Mark Stephens - Teaching Yoga	Useful even if not teaching; gives structured explanations of pose families, sequencing, breathing, and safety.
Core	T.K.V. Desikachar - The Heart of Yoga	Yoga philosophy, breath, adapting yoga to the individual, and practice as personal study.
Optional	B.K.S. Iyengar - Light on Pranayama	Deeper breathwork reference. Better after basic yoga breathing is familiar.
Optional	Ray Long - The Key Muscles of Yoga	Detailed anatomy illustrations for pose mechanics.
Optional	Bernie Clark - Your Body, Your Yoga	Anatomical variation, joint limits, and why poses look different on different bodies.
Optional	Patanjali - Yoga Sutras	Philosophy text. Best read slowly with commentary rather than as a movement manual.

Minimal yoga shelf:

11. Iyengar - Light on Yoga
22. Kaminoff and Matthews - Yoga Anatomy
33. Desikachar - The Heart of Yoga

Notebook focus: breath awareness, asana, pranayama, foundational poses, mobility, flexibility, balance, twists, folds, backbends, sun salutations, sequencing, rest, recovery, relaxation, and yoga-atlas connections.

Minimal shelf

Subject	One pick
Shotokan	Funakoshi - Karate-Do: My Way of Life
Karate principles	Funakoshi - The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate
Kata/bunkai	Kane and Wilder - The Way of Kata
Judo	Kano - Kodokan Judo
BJJ	Saulo Ribeiro - Jiu-Jitsu University
Kickboxing	Pat O’Keeffe - Kick Boxing: A Framework for Success
Boxing/striking mechanics	Dempsey - Championship Fighting
Primal movement	Le Corre - The Practice of Natural Movement
Gymnastics	Low - Overcoming Gravity
Ballet	Vaganova - Basic Principles of Classical Ballet
Swimming	Laughlin - Total Immersion
Acro rock’n’roll	WRRC Rock’n’Roll Rules
Cheer tumbling	USA Cheer / ICU resources + tumbling progression notes
Yoga	Iyengar - Light on Yoga

Library plan

These books should eventually be handled through the Lab library stack:

Export the reading list as Shelfmark wanted records.
Let Shelfmark choose from its configured sources.
Import completed ebook/PDF files into Calibre.
Create or generate a Papis movement library with metadata records and canonical Calibre-Web links.
Add Papis reference aliases back into this workspace so notebook pages can cite papis:movement:<ref> and render links to both research notes and Calibre copies.

Do not store ebook files in this workspace.

Henry Sheehy

Reading List

1. Shotokan Karate foundation

2. Kata and bunkai

3. Karate terminology, grading, and organisation

4. Judo

5. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

6. Primal movement / natural movement

7. Gymnastics / body control

8. Kickboxing / striking side knowledge

9. Ballet / Russian / Vaganova method

10. Swimming / aquatic movement

11. Acrobatics / acro rock’n’roll

12. Cheerleading tumbling

13. Yoga / breath-based movement

Suggested reading path

Minimal shelf

Library plan

1. Shotokan Karate foundation

2. Kata and bunkai

3. Karate terminology, grading, and organisation

4. Judo

5. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

6. Primal movement / natural movement

7. Gymnastics / body control

8. Kickboxing / striking side knowledge

9. Ballet / Russian / Vaganova method

10. Swimming / aquatic movement

11. Acrobatics / acro rock’n’roll

12. Cheerleading tumbling

13. Yoga / breath-based movement

Suggested reading path

Minimal shelf

Library plan

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