I just finished reading Me, Chi and Bruce Lee by Brian Preston. I really enjoyed this book and cant' recommend it enough. In principle, it's pretty straight forward, it's one of those books where the author describes his jounrey into some endeavour (in this case martial arts)....part jounrnal, part travelogue.
The book was well written, at times humorous and at other times thoughtful. Mr. Preston is, starts by describing how he is simply not a fighter...he describes all of his scrapes grwoign up in some detail and basically depicts himself as a passive, writer...not someone who would necessarily be attracted to martial arts. He then (at the urging of some of his fellow in the writing community) decides to write a book about his expereinces overthe cours eof a year trying ot gert a black belt. Along the way he gets to meet Royve Gracie at a BJJ seminar, travel to China to visit the Shaolin temple, and attend UFC 57.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it's not rom the perspective of an expert or master. Mr. Preston is about as regualr a guy as you can get. His expereinces, fears, struggles are those of the average person who steps into the Dojo/dojang/kwoon. As an older beginner, he struggles with flexibility, fitness, job/family/time constraints. I think this is a perspective that many of us avid MA junkies sometimes lose sight of.
His experiences in China (the Shaolin temple being run like a for-profit business? Where are the real CMA masters?) and in Vegas (watching Jeff Monson prepare for his match on the UFC 57 undercard) are educational and entertaining.
Seriously, check it out. It's a good read and well worth the $19.95 investment.
Peace,
Erik
The book was well written, at times humorous and at other times thoughtful. Mr. Preston is, starts by describing how he is simply not a fighter...he describes all of his scrapes grwoign up in some detail and basically depicts himself as a passive, writer...not someone who would necessarily be attracted to martial arts. He then (at the urging of some of his fellow in the writing community) decides to write a book about his expereinces overthe cours eof a year trying ot gert a black belt. Along the way he gets to meet Royve Gracie at a BJJ seminar, travel to China to visit the Shaolin temple, and attend UFC 57.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it's not rom the perspective of an expert or master. Mr. Preston is about as regualr a guy as you can get. His expereinces, fears, struggles are those of the average person who steps into the Dojo/dojang/kwoon. As an older beginner, he struggles with flexibility, fitness, job/family/time constraints. I think this is a perspective that many of us avid MA junkies sometimes lose sight of.
His experiences in China (the Shaolin temple being run like a for-profit business? Where are the real CMA masters?) and in Vegas (watching Jeff Monson prepare for his match on the UFC 57 undercard) are educational and entertaining.
Seriously, check it out. It's a good read and well worth the $19.95 investment.
Peace,
Erik
