Best boxing books according to redditors

Cheers for the plug! Those ones are more about techniques for people to play around with in training probably not much use for learning more about the fight game as a whole, this is the one I wrote specifically about the principles of a fight

Also definitely check out Ringcraft which is the series I'm making at Vice.

Jack Slack has some eBooks

EDIT:
Here's one that Jack Slack wrote for a more general audience, available on Amazon
Finding the Art: Essays on the Principles, Tactics and Techniques Which Govern Combat Sports Kindle Edition

Yes you can make a sociological project out of martial arts. Loïc Wacquant's ethnography of boxing in Chicago's South Side comes to mind as an example of such a project.

Here is a literature review on the sociology of combat sports that may be a good starting point for your project. The authors of this review have a whole section on "body pedagogies" which seems very relevant to your interest in the intersection between education and martial arts.

You may also be interested in this collection of ethnographic research on martial arts.

Yes.

YouTube has several good channels for fight analysis:

https://www.youtube.com/user/LeeWylie1

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5v5S5DxGx6ozyOL6aNK7IQ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MHbPo9A_TcNH0fZ7ezARw

And there are plenty of good books out there to study:

https://www.amazon.com/Championship-Fighting-Explosive-Punching-Aggressive/dp/1501111485

https://www.amazon.com/Cus-DAmato-Mind-Secrets-Greatness/dp/1549840371

https://www.amazon.com/Joe-Louis-How-Box/dp/1581607156

For books, this is THE book for nage-no-kata. I recommend using this for specific techniques that you are having trouble with, as it is extremely extensive.

I recommend watching the world champions in nage-no-kata, and try to emulate them to the best of your ability. Most commissions that judge you, use the IJF NNK guideline to assess your kata, but that depends on the federation.

Before you start adding mistakes into your kata and waste time, start by emulating the best in the world (above video). Sure it won't look that nice in the end, but it's important to have a vision to go after. Another tool is to videotape yourself practicing, this serves two purposes; 1) it allows you to watch in slow-motion all of the stuff that goes wrong 2) you can go back and watch previous videos to see how much it is improving, this is a morale boost.

For specific techniques it's best to either upload a video of one of the demonstrations or ask specific questions. Nage-no-kata as a whole is a big topic, and difficult to cover in its entirety. I'll gladly help you on your way.

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere
http://www.amazon.com/Aikido-Dynamic-Sphere-Illustrated-Introduction/dp/0804832846

Probably the best single book that explores both the history and philosophy as well as techniques. The authors did an excellent job couching the peculiarities of aikido within a martial context with elements of budo. The illustrations are unique with vectors tracing the subtle directions of force. If you have martial arts experience, you might be able to understand them better than someone with no experience, and help you understand what's going on in videos.

But really all of this is just supplement to real training. No one can truly start with books or videos.

https://www.amazon.com/Aikido-Dynamic-Sphere-Illustrated-Introduction/dp/0804832846

Here is most of my library, broken down, with links and some thoughts on each.

Karate Specific

• The Bubishi by Patrick McCarty (Amazon) - I think this book needs to be in every library.
  
• Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate by Patrick McCarthy (Amazon) - One of the first books I purchased by McCarthy. Details older version of classic kata found in a lot of traditional styles.
  
• Karatedo by My Way of Life - Gichin Funakoshi (Amazon) - Great read! I really nice view at the life of Funakoshi.
  
• The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate by Gichin Funakoshi (Amazon) - Another great read. While I'm no longer a practitioner of Shotokan, I believe the teachings of Funakoshi should be tought to every karateka.
  
• Okinawan Karate : Teachers, styles and secret techniques by Mark Bishop (Amazon) - Great amount of historical content, and helped link a few things together for me.
  
• The Study of China Hand Techniques by Morinobu Itoman (Lulu.com) - The only known publication by Itoman, this book detains original Okinawan Te, how it was taught, practiced, and some history. This was one of my best finds.
  
• The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do by Shoshin Nagamine (Amazon) - Great details on Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu kata, and some nice historical content.
  
• The Way of Kata by Lawrence Kane & Kris Wilder (Amazon) - Fantastic book on diving deeper into kata to find the application of the techniques.
  
• Classic Kata of Shorinji Ryu: Okinawan Karate Forms of Richard 'Biggie' Kim by Leroy Rodrigues (Amazon) - Not quite accurate as to the title, this book details the versions of shorinji-ryu kata as if they were taught by a Japanese school. Still able to use, as long as you understand what stances and techniques have changed between Okinawa and Japan.
  
• Black Belt Karate by Jordan Roth (Amazon) - This was a gift from a friend. I have a First Edition hard cover. Shotokan specific, and has some nice details on the kata.
  
• Karate-do Kyohan: The Master Text by Gichin Funakoshi (Amazon) - Love this book, especially for the historical content.
  
• Kempo Karate-do by Tsuyoshi Chitose (Shindokanbooks.com) - The only known book from Chitose, highlights his history, his thoughts and ideas for practicing karate-do as a way of life, and contains steps for practicing Henshu-Ho. Chitose is the creator of the style I study. I have this book for obvious reasons. Your mileage may vary.
  
  Kobujutsu Specific
  
  
• Okinawan Weaponry: Hidden methods, ancient myths of Kobudo & Te by Mark Bishop (Amazon) - Really great detail into the history of some of the weapons and the people who taught them from Okinawa.
  
• Okinawan Kobudo Vol 1 & 2 (Lulu.com) - Fantastic books detailing the kihon and kata of Okinawan Kobudo. Anyone who takes Ryukyu Kobujutsu, and doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on the original texts by Motokatsu Inoue, this is the next best thing.
  
• Bo: Karate Weapon of Self-Defense by Fumio Demura (Amazon) - Purchased it for the historical content. Doesn't actually apply to anything in Ryukyu Kobujutsu, but still a decent read. I also have his Nunchaku and Tonfa books.
  
  Other Martial Arts
  
  
• Applied Tai Chi Chuan by Nigel Sutton (Amazon) - A great introduction to Cheng Style Tai Chi, detailing some of the fundamentals and philosophy behind the teachings.
  
• Tai Chi Handbook by Herman Kauz (Amazon) - More Cheng Style Tai Chi, but this one has more emphasis on teaching the shortened form (37 steps).
  
• Tai Chi Chuan: Classical Yang Style: The Complete Long Form and Qigong by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (Amazon) - Just received this for Chirstmas, and looking forward to diving in. Includes some history of Tai Chi Chuan, Yang style Tai Chi, philosophy, and has instruction on the complete long form (108 steps)
  
• The Text-book of Ju-Jutsu as Practiced in Japan by Sadakazu Uyenishi (Amazon) - I have a very old version of this book (1930ish). Picked it up for the historical content, but still a great read.
  
• Tao of Jeet Kun Do by Bruce Lee (Amazon) - Notes on technique, form, and philosophy from Bruce Lee. Another must read for every martial artist, regardless of discipline.
  
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide to Dominating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Combat by Alexandrew Paiva (Amazon) - Excellent step by step illustrations on performing the basic techniques in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Easy to understand and follow. Contains several tips on what to watch out for with each technique as well.
  
  Health and Anatomy
  
  
• The Anatomy of Martial Arts by Dr. Norman Link and Lily Chou (Amazon) - Decent book on the muscle groups used to perform specific techniques in martial arts. On it's own, not totally useful (but not useless), but with the next book, becomes gold!
  
• Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy by Bret Contraris (Amazon) - Brilliant book that details what muscles are use for what type of action, and gives examples on body weight exercises that pin-point those specific muscle groups. My best purchase of 2014, especially when paired with the previous book.
  
• Martial Mechanics by Phillip Starr (Amazon) - Slightly Chinese Martial Arts specific, but contains great material on how to strengthen stances and fine-tune technique for striking arts.
  
  EDIT: I can't believe I forgot this one...
  
  
• The Little Black Book of Violence by Lawrence Kane & Kris Wilder (Amazon) - Fantastic book about situational awareness, what happens during fights, and the aftermath. LOVED this book.
  

The best source on the nage no kata is this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Judo-Formal-Techniques-Complete-Kodokan/dp/080481676X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418230202&sr=8-1&keywords=otaki+draeger&pebp=1418230207714

For instructional videos you may want to look into Kodokan teaching videos like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S8I76aPW7s

or footage from kodokan kata seminars like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMPcL_LKo88

Not instructional, but this video is regarded one of the better demonstrations of the kata on the Internet (at least by the german judoforum):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7hDH_KHf9o

And here is a clip featureing 10th dan Yoshitsugo Yamashita doing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmOX5p5zmc0

Buy this book and study it: http://www.amazon.com/Judo-Formal-Techniques-Complete-Kodokan/dp/080481676X

I only had time for a quick view but first and foremost --- you guys just need more time to learn to work together better. 2 weeks is unreasonable expectation because part of the kata is learning how to move with your partner in everything and getting the mutual timing together. Kata is a fluid stylistic presentation not just a patchwork of techniques with some shuffling into position between the throws. Practice will get you there.

For example, one issue is one of you takes a very long time to straighten their gi after the first set...way too long so the first guy turns first. Not good (one trick people do is to snap their belt twice to tighten the knot and indicate they're ready...1, 2, turn-- cheesy but acceptable often). Also in general, many of your movements need fluidity. That is something you will get by practicing more.

The mat presence is sloppy (ex's- you make big clumsy steps not fluid smooth gliding steps, you are getting up with your left leg first and pushing off your knee, Uke is not giving enough for some techniques and giving too much for others - minor but makes it sloppy over all). Your bowing needs work. If you are the bearded guy, you barely bow to the judges. They may not seem like a big deal but could be off putting to some (your end bow was better). Match it all with Uke.

More specifics: the uki otoshi definitely needs some work so does the Harai (no kuzushi?!). The kata guruma can be cleaned up a bit. Uke needs to work on falling in the proper locations. Sorry to say but the Uchi mata was not good. I don't believe you should be lifting but pulling them around in tighter and tighter circles and flow into the throw.

Please check out the book I linked. Its very specific and will help out a ton. And I hope you have someone kata certified guiding you? Keep practicing --- you made a lot of progress in 2 weeks so imagine how nice it can be in 6 months. But take everything very seriously (from bowing, to the tiny kuzushi specific to each throw, to the specific way you both arise from the ground). Good luck!

Edit: typos and thank you for my first gold, kind Judoka.

I currently train MMA along with BJJ, and while I may be a grappling novice, I did used to box for a few years previously, which has helped me enormously. Two key things I would say are try to stay relaxed (easier said than done when someone is trying to punch you in the face, I know), particularly round your shoulders, and always keep your guard up. Keep doing those two things, and everything else will come with practice.

Also, I highly recommend this book to help with striking technique.

I've got a number of books I can suggest.

This one's a great history of the sport in the bare-knuckle era, 19th century sporting culture, and the transition to modern boxing.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Manly-Art-Bare-Knuckle-Fighting/dp/0801476089

Probably the best boxing novel ever written. I can't believe this isn't a movie.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Professional-W-c-Heinz/dp/0306810581

The book that got me into the sport when I sat down to read it at a Borders Books when I was 16. An awesome overview of the history of each weight class with over 400 photos and illustrations.
http://www.amazon.com/AN-Illustrated-History-Of-Boxing/dp/0806522011

An excellent anthology of fiction and newspaper articles.
http://www.amazon.com/At-Fights-American-Writers-Boxing/dp/1598532057

The guy spends a little too much time bashing other martial arts, but it's an excellent read about how boxing is useful in a street fight and old school bare knuckle techniques.
http://www.amazon.com/Championship-Streetfighting-Boxing-Martial-Art/dp/0873649346

A superb series of observations from a woman who has spent her life watching boxing. One of the more literary attempts at explaining the primal appeal of a boxing match.
http://www.amazon.com/On-Boxing-Joyce-Carol-Oates/dp/0060874503

I'm not home and don't have access to my library right now, but let me know if you want a few more. I'd say that any one of those is a great gift for a boxing enthusiast. /u/Choccybizzle is right, Four Kings is awesome, and /u/zombiezs suggestion for The Sweet Science is a good one as well. There's a lot of boxing books out there, but you know your friend so you'll know which of those will appeal to him the most.

Loic Wacquant, Body & Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer. Such a great example of deploying Pierre Bourdieu in ethnographic fieldwork book!

I've not read it yet, but as a fellow anxiety sufferer and (Thai) boxer, I've been eyeing this book up with interest. I read the intro on Amazon, which sounds good.

I own these three

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boxing-Mastery-Advanced-Technique-Strategies-ebook/dp/B003XVYYS2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boxers-Book-Conditioning-Drilling-Hatmaker-ebook/dp/B005Z4AP6K

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boxing-Like-Champs-Greatest-Fighters-ebook/dp/B01J4KUMZO

Absolutely crammed full of info and really easy to get into. I've had the first one for years and yet still find some wisdom in it i hadn't noticed before

This is one of the best books on Muay Thai I've ever found. Granted, I'm wicked biased here because it was written by my first trainer, Ajarn (Professor) Somboon. He told me it's the first English language book on Muay Thai, but I'd take that bit with a slight grain of salt as I've never really looked into it.

http://www.amazon.com/Muay-Thai-Sport-Somboon-Tapina-ebook/dp/B007WK9U6Q

A guy named Ed Latimore wrote a book about this, highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Caring-Other-People-Think-Super-ebook/dp/B06WD69VFX

Not a question, but a book recommendation for fighters in general. It's a pretty scientifically heavy book on training for explosive strength.
KO Power is a cheesy title, but it's the only book I've found that makes sense about strength training for fighters.

This bad boy?

Boxing (Naval Aviation Physical Training Manuals) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1581604572/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0ILVCb5PJ9VZV

This is the same as the Haislet book:

http://smile.amazon.com/Boxing-Aviation-Physical-Training-Manuals/dp/1581604572/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409676233&sr=8-1&keywords=boxing+naval

It's a step-by-step guide to nage no kata for both tori and uke. Very informative.

Edit: Book link
https://www.amazon.com/Judo-Formal-Techniques-Complete-Kodokan/dp/080481676X

Joe Louis' How to Box.

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Louis-How-Box/dp/1581607156

Some of the names and movements differ from organization to organization.

However, the book "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere" does a pretty good job, in my opinion. It's been a great reference and people from many styles have recommended it to me in the past, so that says something, I think.

Just pay attention to whatever your style says is the "correct" way to do something, because that varies. :P

I would give this a read. Came across a copy in my university library a few years back. The phrasing and writing style is a bit esoteric for my tastes, but if you're looking to get into Aikido for the long haul, soaking in the philosophy and lifestyle as well as the techniques, then I think it's worth having a look at.

To what I understand, Aikido will serve you quite well as you age and become less able to perform in more striking-centric disciplines.

I love Aikido, I'd choose it for sure. A good book on Aikido for you to read is "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere"

But if Judo was available I'd definitely look into that as well

Preview available in the link. Available on Amazon (No, I’m not clever enough to be the author)

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Algorithm-mathematical-formula-problem-ebook/dp/B00L1M0J3E

Here is the mobile version of your link

Championship Streetfighting: Boxing As A Martial Art https://www.amazon.com/dp/0873649346/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f-GVDbBBGYEXP

I like this one and have a copy myself.

Also, for a more scientific approach of the same concepts, him and Akins are basically just talking about the dynamics of jiu jitsu. This is a fantastic book that delves into the physics of Judo. It is surprisingly consistent with a lot of the things Rickson tries to teach at his seminars.

This.

Compound exercises are extremely important. Stick to Olympic lifts.

This book is THE BIBLE for strength training for Judo

Dirty boxing is more akin to the stuff Harry Greb was doing at the turn of the 20th century. i'm pretty sure Duran was actually trained by some super old guys whose roots were in those days.

Matt Linland actually wrote a book about how wrestlers can use dirty boxing in MMA if you're interested. Given that he's a Greco Roman wrestler, you can draw that dirty boxing revolves around less-than-legal tactics of clinching and holding inside.

damn I though it would be like 25 tops. https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Boxing-Mixed-Martial-Arts/dp/0981504442

if you are going to self study, also get this book: navy boxing.