$11.95
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0981935001
ISBN-13: 978-0981935003
Library of Congress PCN: 2008909902
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
Author: Kevin Brett
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0981935001
ISBN-13: 978-0981935003
Library of Congress PCN: 2008909902
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
Author: Kevin Brett
The Way of the Martial Artist
Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in Life!
Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in Life!
Preface
This book is for anyone who has a desire to achieve excellence in the pursuit a dream or some lofty goal. The techniques,
qualities and methods in this book will help you frame out the elements of your vision and understand the personal qualities
and character needed to achieve it. Even if you are not a martial artist, you can still learn and develop the qualities I speak of
when I talk about warriors achieving success. The same qualities that help warriors achieve success in their art and in life can
help you with any type of challenge or goal. The best part is that if you follow this guidebook to these essential qualities, studies
and techniques, you will also find along the way that success is about more than just you. Helping and serving others along the
way to achieving your own personal goals reflects a level of self-realization that many overlook in their quest for that often-elusive
thing called success.
Martial arts is simply one path toward achieving excellence and this book is a study in what makes a martial artist; what drives
one and how that experience equips one to take on new life goals and achieve virtually anything he might set his sights on. My
purpose in writing this book is to open doors for you as a fellow martial artist or simply someone who wants to understand
better how to develop a black belt mindset.
Many non-martial artists are always fascinated with how we are able to set and achieve a difficult goal such as earning black
belt rank. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of martial arts and understand how you can evolve, then this book will
give you that. While there are many cookie-cutter martial arts schools willing to take your money and hand you a black belt in
twelve to eighteen months along with a seriously false sense of accomplishment and self-confidence, a serious black belt can
and should take years to earn. Earning a black belt is a process of maturing in technique, strategy and character. When your
maturity and character have reached a higher level, then you may join the ranks of black belts and begin your real studies!
Suffice it to say, that journey requires that you have or develop some serious perseverance and make an equally serious
commitment to achieve that worthy goal of self-improvement.
So what’s the point? The point is that once you have climbed that mountain, you are ready for anything. I will teach you how to
understand techniques and training concepts and how to evolve and combine them into effective tactics and strategies. You will
learn how to approach an opponent in the ring or an assailant on the street with confidence that the techniques of your style of
martial arts will work when strategically applied. Even for non-martial arts endeavors, many of the concepts have great
applicability if you take time to consider their utility outside of the study of martial arts.
Most important is how you mature as a person. We often talk about maturity, character, principles and virtues as good things, but
do we really know what we’re talking about. This book provides those essential insights to help you understand what they are
and how to develop them. We all seek a type of inner-peace and harmony in our modern multi-tasking, internet-driven world. We
want to feel confident and calm under stress and we wonder if there is more to martial arts and the pursuit of human excellence
than simply working up a good sweat. We all wish to realize our potential in many endeavors in our life’s journey.
Through martial arts, your potential for human development is unlimited. It is in the endless, shapeless void of self-
improvement and enlightenment that the character of a martial artist is shaped and forged through the fires of our will. Begin
shapeless; strive to form your own shape; then lose that shape and return to shapelessness. Then you may assume any shape
you wish. This is how you will achieve goals. Success is about constantly sculpting and shaping yourself until reality matches
your dreams. This book is about the journey between those two points.
Many students spend years wondering when they will feel like they have acquired some greater understanding of this often
mysterious and misunderstood art. They wonder when they will feel like they have learned the secrets of the masters. In this
book, I have provided insights and perspective for many questions that all martial artists ask who seek to understand the
mystery and fascination of human development through martial arts. Maturing as a warrior and an honorable member of society
is a noble goal that will take a lifetime and even partial success will enhance your sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Even outside of the pursuit of martial arts, we often struggle to understand human character, emotion and the quest for self-
improvement. We all set goals. Some of us succeed. Becoming a black belt is an admirable and challenging mental and
physical goal. Much determination and perseverance is required and completing that journey only prepares you to begin the real
adventure and set ever-higher goals for yourself!
* * *
The topics I cover are not necessarily bound to particular techniques of punching or kicking. The following pages are concerned
with issues that are universal to all styles of martial arts. Beginning students must learn techniques, but they must also begin to
exercise their minds and begin to learn, understand and appreciate how to apply techniques, develop strategy and improve their
skill levels and their understanding of their art.
Many martial artists are attracted to the physical techniques of the martial arts and never evolve beyond that physical level to gain
much insight into effective strategies and honing their cognitive processes. The history, tradition and spiritual aspects of martial
arts and the martial psyche captivate many martial artists, but they fail to develop a mastery of the physical and technical aspects
of any system. Some martial artists are gifted, balanced and focused enough to develop good skill, good strategy and good
spirit.
This book provides practical insights and guidance that martial artists at any level can use to improve in all three essential
areas by beginning with understanding key terms and concepts and how they build upon each other. You should not study the
specifics of any given style of martial arts to the detriment of understanding how to think about and analyze your progress,
development and maturity as a martial artist. This book is a guide to help you progress in the study of your chosen style.
* * *
I have not developed strategies and concepts superior to or even on a par with the great masters. What I have attempted to do is
to capture and synthesize some of the insights gained in my own training and those imparted to me by my fellow martial artists.
From these I have put together what I consider some of the most important topics of strategy, training and personal
development to the student of martial arts who is interested in success. I view these principles as simple truths with universal
martial application.
I do not know all that I would like to about the topics in this book, simply that they require further study by all of us. As you begin or
continue your training, consider these topics and refine your understanding as you evolve into a martial artist. Keep notes on
your progress, discoveries and understanding and in those notes, you will find the seeds of deeper knowledge.
I have tried to keep many of the descriptions high-level so that the student will not get lost in the details. Some of the topics are
rather abstract and may require reading more than once and serious reflection. We are all students regardless of rank or years
of experience.
Read these passages often and consider them when you train, compete and defend yourself. Some of the passages and
thoughts may come across sounding rather Yoda-esque. Hey, it worked for Luke Skywalker! Really, the phraseology is often
quite simple, but the concepts are at the core of this art and the pursuit of excellence.
This work is simply my way of expressing what I have perceived to be the essence of martial arts and the spirit of being a martial
artist. Train hard and with good spirit, because you are the next generation of martial arts.
This book is for anyone who has a desire to achieve excellence in the pursuit a dream or some lofty goal. The techniques,
qualities and methods in this book will help you frame out the elements of your vision and understand the personal qualities
and character needed to achieve it. Even if you are not a martial artist, you can still learn and develop the qualities I speak of
when I talk about warriors achieving success. The same qualities that help warriors achieve success in their art and in life can
help you with any type of challenge or goal. The best part is that if you follow this guidebook to these essential qualities, studies
and techniques, you will also find along the way that success is about more than just you. Helping and serving others along the
way to achieving your own personal goals reflects a level of self-realization that many overlook in their quest for that often-elusive
thing called success.
Martial arts is simply one path toward achieving excellence and this book is a study in what makes a martial artist; what drives
one and how that experience equips one to take on new life goals and achieve virtually anything he might set his sights on. My
purpose in writing this book is to open doors for you as a fellow martial artist or simply someone who wants to understand
better how to develop a black belt mindset.
Many non-martial artists are always fascinated with how we are able to set and achieve a difficult goal such as earning black
belt rank. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of martial arts and understand how you can evolve, then this book will
give you that. While there are many cookie-cutter martial arts schools willing to take your money and hand you a black belt in
twelve to eighteen months along with a seriously false sense of accomplishment and self-confidence, a serious black belt can
and should take years to earn. Earning a black belt is a process of maturing in technique, strategy and character. When your
maturity and character have reached a higher level, then you may join the ranks of black belts and begin your real studies!
Suffice it to say, that journey requires that you have or develop some serious perseverance and make an equally serious
commitment to achieve that worthy goal of self-improvement.
So what’s the point? The point is that once you have climbed that mountain, you are ready for anything. I will teach you how to
understand techniques and training concepts and how to evolve and combine them into effective tactics and strategies. You will
learn how to approach an opponent in the ring or an assailant on the street with confidence that the techniques of your style of
martial arts will work when strategically applied. Even for non-martial arts endeavors, many of the concepts have great
applicability if you take time to consider their utility outside of the study of martial arts.
Most important is how you mature as a person. We often talk about maturity, character, principles and virtues as good things, but
do we really know what we’re talking about. This book provides those essential insights to help you understand what they are
and how to develop them. We all seek a type of inner-peace and harmony in our modern multi-tasking, internet-driven world. We
want to feel confident and calm under stress and we wonder if there is more to martial arts and the pursuit of human excellence
than simply working up a good sweat. We all wish to realize our potential in many endeavors in our life’s journey.
Through martial arts, your potential for human development is unlimited. It is in the endless, shapeless void of self-
improvement and enlightenment that the character of a martial artist is shaped and forged through the fires of our will. Begin
shapeless; strive to form your own shape; then lose that shape and return to shapelessness. Then you may assume any shape
you wish. This is how you will achieve goals. Success is about constantly sculpting and shaping yourself until reality matches
your dreams. This book is about the journey between those two points.
Many students spend years wondering when they will feel like they have acquired some greater understanding of this often
mysterious and misunderstood art. They wonder when they will feel like they have learned the secrets of the masters. In this
book, I have provided insights and perspective for many questions that all martial artists ask who seek to understand the
mystery and fascination of human development through martial arts. Maturing as a warrior and an honorable member of society
is a noble goal that will take a lifetime and even partial success will enhance your sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Even outside of the pursuit of martial arts, we often struggle to understand human character, emotion and the quest for self-
improvement. We all set goals. Some of us succeed. Becoming a black belt is an admirable and challenging mental and
physical goal. Much determination and perseverance is required and completing that journey only prepares you to begin the real
adventure and set ever-higher goals for yourself!
* * *
The topics I cover are not necessarily bound to particular techniques of punching or kicking. The following pages are concerned
with issues that are universal to all styles of martial arts. Beginning students must learn techniques, but they must also begin to
exercise their minds and begin to learn, understand and appreciate how to apply techniques, develop strategy and improve their
skill levels and their understanding of their art.
Many martial artists are attracted to the physical techniques of the martial arts and never evolve beyond that physical level to gain
much insight into effective strategies and honing their cognitive processes. The history, tradition and spiritual aspects of martial
arts and the martial psyche captivate many martial artists, but they fail to develop a mastery of the physical and technical aspects
of any system. Some martial artists are gifted, balanced and focused enough to develop good skill, good strategy and good
spirit.
This book provides practical insights and guidance that martial artists at any level can use to improve in all three essential
areas by beginning with understanding key terms and concepts and how they build upon each other. You should not study the
specifics of any given style of martial arts to the detriment of understanding how to think about and analyze your progress,
development and maturity as a martial artist. This book is a guide to help you progress in the study of your chosen style.
* * *
I have not developed strategies and concepts superior to or even on a par with the great masters. What I have attempted to do is
to capture and synthesize some of the insights gained in my own training and those imparted to me by my fellow martial artists.
From these I have put together what I consider some of the most important topics of strategy, training and personal
development to the student of martial arts who is interested in success. I view these principles as simple truths with universal
martial application.
I do not know all that I would like to about the topics in this book, simply that they require further study by all of us. As you begin or
continue your training, consider these topics and refine your understanding as you evolve into a martial artist. Keep notes on
your progress, discoveries and understanding and in those notes, you will find the seeds of deeper knowledge.
I have tried to keep many of the descriptions high-level so that the student will not get lost in the details. Some of the topics are
rather abstract and may require reading more than once and serious reflection. We are all students regardless of rank or years
of experience.
Read these passages often and consider them when you train, compete and defend yourself. Some of the passages and
thoughts may come across sounding rather Yoda-esque. Hey, it worked for Luke Skywalker! Really, the phraseology is often
quite simple, but the concepts are at the core of this art and the pursuit of excellence.
This work is simply my way of expressing what I have perceived to be the essence of martial arts and the spirit of being a martial
artist. Train hard and with good spirit, because you are the next generation of martial arts.
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