John Donohue Books in Order

Drawing on anthropological research, Donohue studies Japanese martial traditions as practiced in the United States. He examines the structure and meaning of training, movement, dojo life, and the cultural ideas that shape martial practice.

Coedited with Peter Katopes and Daniel Rosenberg, this interdisciplinary collection examines the human condition in the modern age through social, cultural, and philosophical questions.

An anthropologist's look at why Asian martial arts took root in the United States. Donohue traces their Japanese background and examines how media, self-defense, community, and ideas of personal power reshaped them for American practitioners.

Using the Zen ox-herding images as a guide, Donohue considers martial arts training as a path for moral and personal development. It looks past fighting skills to questions of discipline, awareness, and daily conduct.

A hands-on introduction to kendo, Japan's way of the sword, covering equipment, terminology, technique, strategy, and the discipline's underlying ideas. Illustrations and a glossary help newcomers connect practice with tradition.

A killer calling himself Ronin targets leading martial artists across the United States. When Connor Burke's NYPD detective brother asks for help, Connor and his teacher Yamashita follow a trail rooted in old grievances and dangerous loyalties.

An anthology of historical, philosophical, and modern writing on the martial arts, selected and introduced by Donohue. The collection brings together Taoist, Confucian, Buddhist, practical, and fictional perspectives for readers looking beyond technique.

Connor Burke helps his NYPD detective brother interpret calligraphy left by a murdered Japanese businessman. The clue leads through competing martial traditions, Tibetan politics, and an isolated mountain retreat where the investigation turns personal.

When a renegade sensei trains a terrorist splinter group with ties to al-Qaeda, Connor Burke is drawn into an international hunt. With Yamashita at risk, the case carries from New York to the Philippines and tests old debts and rivalries.

Hired by a bestselling writer's daughter after his death is ruled accidental, Connor Burke travels into the desert outside Tucson. A cryptic manuscript, border violence, and rival smugglers turn the search for truth into a threat to everyone close to him.

Connor Burke agrees to discreetly find Chie Miyazaki, a missing young woman tied to Japan's imperial family, to protect his aging teacher. The search draws him into blackmail, family secrets, and a dangerous North Korean network.

Sharon Kao becomes the target of a secret cult linked to Chinese legends of jiangshi, the undead. As investigators revisit unsolved killings, she must confront old fears and discover why the cult has singled her out.

Oso Moreno, a former Army Ranger troubled by Mogadishu, works as an enforcer for a crime boss. When his conscience starts pushing back, he must navigate violence, loyalty, and a world that offers few clean exits.

Recovering from injuries and facing pressure over leadership of Yamashita's dojo, Connor Burke investigates the puzzling death of celebrity yoga teacher Winston Tambor. The case forces him to separate claims of mystical power from motives involving money, status, and control.