Spirit of Shaolin

Rating:
Summary: Too shallow Grasshopper
Review: I found this book slightly misleading from the title but should have known considering books like this are a dime a dozen. This book starts off basically giving a low-down of Carradine's start with the Kung-Fu movies and TV series and then discusses some of his other films involving martial arts. From there it proceeds to give general lessons and personal musings on what kung fu is and encompasses. There are some historical mentionings like Bodidharma spreading the art to China from India, the significance of the Tao Te Ching, and a general history of Kung Fu. This book is by no means comprehensive and lacks that extra depth that is appealing for novices wanting to learn more about the art. I found the book to contain profound truth on many subjects but never really felt the message as most of it seemed like recycled cliches and stories you've heard a million times if you are familiar with the Eastern arts. One particular gripe I had about the book involves lack of accuracy. On page 92 Carradine writes, "The limitation of karate stems, at least in part, from its association with Japanese-style Buddhism, which ignores or forgets the Chinese Taoist principles and replaces them with specific, and generally radical, ideas peculiar to the Japanese culture, i.e. Zen. Much could be said about the subject of Zen, but we are interested here in kung fu, so best look elsewhere for that." This is simply not true. There is a large body of work out there related to and examining Zen Buddhism. In this work you'll find that it's common knowledge that Zen is a combination of Chinese Buddhism and Taoist principles. Thus the word in Chinese for the Japanese Zen is Chan. Furthermore, Japanese karate is not necessarily limiting. It's just an evolved development of the spread of martial arts from the mainland to an island. The same philosophical lessons and achievements to be gained in kung fu can also be gained in Japanese karate with the proper attitude and focus. Anyway, this book reads pretty quick and if you are interested in some light-philosophical reading that you shouldn't take too seriously you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, delve into the fascinating martial arts by reading other material.

Rating:
Summary: David Carradine's views on "Kung Fu" and martial arts
Review: I think this book is great if you're a fan of the show and David Carradine, but not if you're looking for martial arts info. Alot of his views in the end of the book about other styles of martial arts are totally inaccurate. He should have done more research if he wanted to mention them instead of just mentioning what he heard.

Rating:
Summary: This book has something that many martial art books don't
Review: It has authentic convictions that are expressed out of personal experience regarding many spiritual, motivational and practical matters. The content veers away from trying to express what is most commonly accepted through traditional teachings and instead offers an honest insight into the personal take on the full spectrum of the martial arts as a very human way of life.
I give David Carradine credit for placing personal truth with a greater priority than acceptance from others in his writings. I am a little critical myself of some of the comments made regarding some other styles and have found what I would guess to be some innacuracies. Maybe even a couple of differences of opinion on some material. But what is here is like listening to someone who is real, like a friend who is sharing what he is made of. There is a lot of perspective here that is surpisingly uncommon yet enlightening and precious.

The book is basically divided into three subgroupings.

Book One-The Stories: A biographical history of the author's experience in the martail arts.

Book Two-The Ancient Wisdom: A history and overview of Shaolin ways and David's take on what shined through to him.

Book Three-The Lessons: A practical breakdown of wisdom and advice on a variety of levels.

Like Bruce Lee has said... "All knowledge is ultimately self knowledge" and with this book a deeper knowledge of one's self can certainly be had as well as a deeper knowledge of David Carradine.

Rating:
Summary: an earnest attempt to open doors
Review: The original Kung Fu television show inspired me to begin studying martial arts: 24 years later I am still as fascinated by the martial arts as ever. David Carridine is no expert and much of his information on styles and systems is grossly inaccurate; overlook these flaws and what you find is a very interesting, heartfelt account of how the spirit of the martial arts affected, almost in spite of himself, a very intelligent but flawed man. Carradine no doubt ruffles the feathers of the Bruce Lee cultists who want to deify Lee, they should remember that Lee was a brilliant martial artist who deliberately chose to become a movie star. Carradines' advice seems very genuine and sincere. No, he is not a sensei, sifu, or master; he is simply a very complex man whose journey into the martial arts (a journey which seems to have not always been a pancea for his own demons) fundamentally changed him. Read this book not as a definite guide to Kung Fu, but rather as an exploration into personal change and growth.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Introduction to Shaolin Kung Fu
Review: this book is expressed suberbly the way and the spirit of the shaolin temple and their kung fu. as the name of this book,it is try to show and explain the true phylosophy of kung fu and the real meanning of kung fu,because it is actualy based on a dicipline (a way of life) wich a kung fu fighting is a part of the dicipline and not a brutal thing as most of the films usualy shows.this book will teach you what are the guidelines you should understand in order to understand the kung fu phylosophy,what kind of teacher is more suitable to you,and what to expect from the school,system,teacher,but most of all----discovering yourself through understanding of the true meannings of the shaolin kung fu spirit.it is not a technical book,but it is a much more fullfiling.this book is having a lot of sayings that are very much enlightning as the true phylosophy (and a practical one)of shaolin kung fu. there are also personal expiriences of david carradine in his film making and he shared his enlightning expiriences through his journy of life.i enjoyed,learned and growing through this book, thank you david-carradine,god bless you!. and to the readers i bless you all that you will enjoy,learn, and progress through this book,and into the life,because learning is a life time process!.superb book,i recommand it!