Me, Chi, and Bruce Lee: Adventures in Martial Arts from the Shaolin Temple to the Ultimate Fighting Championship | MMA Clothes

I hate to put down anyone's work, but I had to make an exception for this, as the author of this piece of trash has no problem putting down martial art legend, Bruce Lee. Brian Preston, the author, admits he has lacked any testicular fortitude all his life and decides to set about studying and writing about the martial arts to quell the demons of his past experiences with fighting. He sets the lofty goal of obtaining a black belt in Kung Fu in one year. Brian believes he will be enough of an authority to talk about the martial arts with some intelligence after one year's time of study, please! He finds the world renowned "Sifu Bob" in Canada. We never learn Sifu Bob's last name, or maybe it is revealed later in the book, but I stopped reading this book in disgust after page 74. Sifu Bob in his expert opinion says on page 23, "Bruce Lee as a teacher, husband, and a man was deeply flawed." We are all flawed Sifu Bob, how come we did not hear your flaws? Keeping reading from page 23 to hear Sifu Bob's galling critique of Bruce Lee's fighting, techniques, and moves. Brian laps up this expert advice like a hungry kitten at fresh bowl of milk. Brian, then, with his vast experience in the martial arts, opines on page 78, that Bruce Lee hype is based only on his movies visual aspect. Bruce Lee has zero impact with his words, his collected writing a "snooze." Brian, do you see anyone quoting Sifu Bob or Master Don? How many books have they sold? How many lives have your "masters" impacted? Sure, some, but not the multitude like Bruce Lee. Did they create their own system that thousands follow today? When they pass on will they have hundreds of people visiting their graves? Mr. Preston, in short, stick with writing about such important things such as "Global Marijuana Culture" your last book, because as a martial artist you have no voice or authority.

The perspective buyer would be advised to get the book at the library or wait for this to be in the bargain bin at your local bookstore. Dont pay more than 99 cents though. If you want a REAL martial art experience book read, "Angry White Pajamas" or "Iron and Silk." I would give this book zero stars but that is not an option on Amazon.

After years of running from danger, Brian Preston decides to learn to defend himself. He enrolls in a Kung Fu Academy. His plans to earn a black belt, or at least a blue belt, are derailed when he suffers rib and shoulder injuries - and his daughter Grace is born. While he heals he embarks on a series of trips to explore the history and various kinds of martial arts. His journeys take him from a quiet walk up a mountain in China to a seat at the rowdy Ultimate Fighting Championship. By the end of the book, Preston finds a form of martial arts that works for a so-called "spineless wuss" like him.
Preston writes in a readable style that alternates between a personal journal and a martial arts history lesson. I didn't know anything about martial arts when I started reading this, but neither did Preston when he began writing, so this book worked out well for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in martial arts, or anyone who enjoys reading adventure-type memoirs. My only wish was that it had a few photos!

To be perfectly frank, I hadn't really heard much of anything about this book and just happened upon it earlier today while browsing the martial arts section. It has kind of an intriguing title, so I decided to pick it up and browse through it. Minutes later I was hooked!

From the first mention of fighting in a Canadian Hockey team, to being an observer ringside at a UFC card, the author really captures his experiences and those of the people around him in a very real and quite often humorous light, even though I get the feeling that at times that wasn't his intent.

The author takes you on a rather fast paced journey from his childhood exploits playing hockey in Canada, to his journey of self-discovery through the martial art of Kung Fu and his deep meditative reflections upon the inner meaning of the Bruce Lee movies, and ending ringside at a UFC card.

I found this book to be very enjoyable and a great way to relax and laugh for a couple of hours.

Shawn Kovacichv
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.