The Way to Black Belt

Lawrence A. Kane, Kris Wilder

Description

Cut to the very core of what it means to be successful in the martial arts.

Earning a black belt can be the most rewarding experience of a lifetime, but getting there takes considerable planning. Whether your interests are in the classical styles of Asia or in today's Mixed Martial Arts, this book prepares you to meet every challenge. Whatever your age, whatever your gender, you will benefit from the wisdom of master martial artists around the globe, who share more than 300 years of combined training experience. Benefit from their guidance during your development into a first-class black belt.

The Wisdom of…

• Iain Abernethy


• Dan Anderson


• Loren Christensen


• Jeff Cooper


• Wim Demeere


• Aaron Fields


• Lawrence Kane


• Rory Miller


• Martina Sprague


• Phillip Starr


• Jeff Stevens


• Kris Wilder



...and many more.

Packed with actionable information, The Way to Black Belt will teach you how to set goals, find a good instructor, monitor your progress, overcome plateaus in your training, take advantage of learning opportunities, and work through the inevitable injuries that come with rigorous martial arts training.

Putting your skills to the test at each developmental stage of your training requires a certain mental 'clarity.' The authors examine what this means, how to find it, and how to make sure that when the time comes you are 100% prepared.

If you are serious about your martial arts training, The Way to Black Belt will arm you with the information you need to swiftly become a highly skilled, well-qualified black belt.

Sujets

• Ageing
• Teacher
• Martial arts
• Character
• Health
• Sifu
• Karaté
• Senior
• Master
• Black Belt
• Okinawa
• Spirit
• Do it yourself

Informations

• Publié par: YMAA Publication Center
• Date de parution: 01 mars 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781594391491
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 42 Mo

Extrait

Praise for The Way to Black Belt …
“Without mincing words The Way to Black Belt is simply one of the finest primers to the introduction of martial arts I have read. Amid a glut in the market of martial arts ‘how to’ and ‘training’ textbooks, authors Kane and Wilder have pulled the switch to illuminate a shining star; one most likely destined to become a classic.
The value in this unique book lies in the ability of the readers to instantly create a roadmap toward their own martial arts success. Because oftentimes the term ‘success’ is subjective and only relevant to the desires of the individual martial artists Kane and Wilder leave nothing to the imagination and offer numerous ‘golden nuggets’ of valuable tips and information applicable to every martial arts style and level.
The truth is that I have been searching for The Way to Black Belt my entire adult life. After experiencing a myriad of instructional hazards along the way wrought with everything from unethical instructors to martial arts ‘cults,’ attaining my first black belt (1 st dan ) was the culmination of a long journey begun with disappointment and discouragement. If The Way to Black Belt was available at that time I would have eagerly snapped it up.
After nearly ten years of training police officers in control and defensive tactics, and conducting many self-defense seminars for private persons and organizations I am always asked by participants what is the best way ‘to get started’ in martial arts training. Now I have a definitive answer, The Way to Black Belt !” — Jeffrey-Peter A.M. Hauck, J.D., Entrepreneur, Professional Consultant and Trainer, Former U.S. Army 82 nd Airborne Infantry Pathfinder, and 15 year retired Municipal Police Sergeant. Co-author of Ports and Happy Havens .
“I was impressed with both its content and depth. Kane and Wilder not only succeed in defining a functional path to attaining yudansha level they also effectively bring back meaning and lost value to this important journey. The once coveted black belt has seemingly lost its value during this generation of mail order ‘accreditation,’ internet instruction, and strip mall studios. Reading this work I was reminded of a quote by Indira Gandhi, ‘There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.’ Without question, Kane and Wilder are from Gandhi’s first group and I suspect their book will be an instant success. I am certain that this work will be a welcomed addition to the bookshelves of any teacher who places value upon an intelligent and sound delivery system. In fact, The Way to Black Belt is so good I wish I had written it myself.” — Patrick McCarthy, Hanshi 8 th dan black belt, International Ryukyu Karate-jutsu Research Society ( www.koryu-uchinadi.com ).
“I could have read this years ago when I first started training. This long overdue book is a must read for anyone who desires to embark on the journey toward martial art mastery, and a book I highly recommend to all serious martial artists.
Drawing from nearly seventy years of combined personal experience, fascinating research into learning, and contributions from world-class martial artists, Kane and Wilder provide a wealth of knowledge to help the reader set goals for training, find the right instructor, determine their learning style, understand important martial art concepts, and maximize their training.
As I read this book and took notes to incorporate Kane and Wilder’s advice into my own training and teaching, I couldn’t help but think how much faster I would have advanced and how much further along I’d be today if I’d have read this book and applied this knowledge at the beginning of my journey into martial arts years ago. Don’t wait! Read and apply the lessons in this book to your training immediately.” — Alain Burrese, J.D., former U.S. Army 2 nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School instructor and author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.
“This is one of those books where I find myself nodding at almost every sentence. Above all, Kane and Wilder have succeeded in setting down an all-important approach to training that will stand any martial artist in good stead. Make no mistake, the book is not offering a shortcut to the coveted black belt, but rather a clear guide to the correct path—not the easy way, not the hard way, but simply the right way to achieve success.
The Way to Black Belt is filled with sound advice, valuable insights, and inspiring examples and anecdotes from two lifetimes in the martial arts. Kane and Wilder make excellent mentors and their work will help martial artists of all levels to avoid mistakes, wrong-turns and dead-ends. The authors are not only highly-qualified instructors with real-world experience in security, they are educators of the highest order, offering valuable advice on ‘how to learn’ for maximum results.
There’s first-rate guidance on finding the right instructor and judging the ‘personality’ of a dojo —things to look for, and things to look out for—plus all the little things that make a big difference—how often to train, what to eat, how to cope with injuries. And unlike so many books that limit themselves to techniques and exercises, The Way to Black Belt covers important mental and psychological aspects of training too—setting goals, visualized-learning and overcoming self-imposed limits and barriers.
Kane and Wilder draw on sources as diverse as Musashi, Sun Tzu, Bruce Lee, and Von Clausewitz and include contributions from modern-day masters from Okinawa, the U.S., and Europe. There’s also an impressive list of Web-based resources where the reader can find a wealth of free information.
If you’re serious about your art, I strongly recommend you get your hands on a copy and follow the advice contained in this excellent book. The Way to Black Belt is an invaluable guide for any martial artist on the journey to black belt and beyond.” — Goran Powell, 4 th dan black belt and author of Waking Dragons.
“The authors tell the reader in the book’s Introduction they tried to create a book that included everything they would have wanted to know and ask when they were beginning their martial arts journey. They have done just that.
The book is broken down into eight general subject topics: self limitations, finding a good instructor, knowing how you learn, understanding strength versus skill, daily practice, understanding strategy to master tactics, working with injuries, and use of technology.
The organization is interesting. The reader is presented a textual collage of voices starting with an introduction written by a martial arts veteran, plus relevant quotes, discussion, student perspectives and personal histories. Also included are action plans, comments on what to look out for, chapter summaries plus additional educational material, history and insights—a lot to absorb.
It is as if the reader were sitting around talking with a group of senior students who advise him or her, talk about a wide range of subjects and give their different perspectives. This collective experience produces a sort of group mentoring that makes the student’s personal journey less lonely—he has heard how others proceeded along the same path ahead of him.
One chapter that I found particularly interesting focused on understanding the strategy of the art studied. In a comprehensive, way it analyzed how reactions in self-defense situations are simplified if the student is, first, well grounded in the strategy of the art, rather than particular tactics. The psychological foundation of this observation is discussed along with a method of decision making. This is then related to the strategies of different arts, such as the striking and grappling arts. The linkage between strategy and training and the relation between do and jitsu arts are also discussed.
If there is any fault in this work, it is that it is so detailed and inclusive that there is almost too much to digest. But then again, this is the type of work that a student can come back to, read and reread and use as a reference.
This book is thus much more than a simple guide to prospective black belt students. It is also a reference, a work chock full of history, explanations, insights, personal experience, psychological insights, reference material backed by suggesting reading, relevant Web sites and reference material.
While this book targets students who are studying to achieve their black belt, it at the same time illuminates a path far beyond this limited goal. But its discussion of strategy and tactics, the physiological and practical elements of combat and martial history make it a book of interest to martial artists on any level.” — Christopher Caile, 6 th dan , Founder & Editor of FightingArts.com .
“Every time I step onto the dojo floor I do so with a little hesitation. What business do I, a full-grown adult that never dreamed of putting on a gi and has never been notably athletic, have trying to learn something as complicated and physically demanding as karate? Reading this book will help anyone for whom the goal of a black belt seems nearly impossible to consider that maybe you’re wrong. That maybe if you just get yourself to class regularly, pay attention, work hard and persevere, that you can reach that goal. Not only do I feel inspired by the stories the book offers of others on the path—people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities—but I now have