Best of the San Soo Journal Volume #1

Rating:
Summary: Connection
Review: For the years that I received the San Soo Journal published by Master Gatewood, and I would eagerly await every forthcoming issue. It is really a shame that a publication of its importance for this incredible fighting is no longer published.

The San Soo Journal is must read information for those who want insight into San Soo and an introduction to those other masters looking to make a contribution to the art and its preservation.

Master Gatewood has made a much larger contribution to this art form with the production of the journal and his writings than almost any of the trolls on the internet who have not trained in years.

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre of the San Soo Journal Volume # 1
Review: I subscribed to "The San Soo Journal" during its five year run. Overall, it was a good publication with many interesting articles. There are two main problems that I have with this book entitled the "Best of the San Soo Journal volume # 1."

The first problem is that during the five year publication of "The San Soo Journal" numerous guest (Master ranked & non-Master ranked) authors wrote insightful, informative, and extremely helpful articles. Master Ron Gatewood has included mostly his own articles, with very few articles written by guest authors. These guest articles are, for the most part, missing; and this detracts from the value that the reader would otherwise derive from this volume.

The second problem is that an article is included of a "human interest story" nature (or perhaps that would be a "canine interest story"?) about his beloved dog dying of old age. No one was interested in this piece of information the first time it was originally ran inside "The San Soo Journal," and certainly no one wants to read about it again. A dog passing away from old age is most certainly *NOT* a best article!

The book gives some interesting insight into the knowledge base of Master Ron Gatewood, and should be viewed as such. But numerous articles from the old San Soo Journal by other authors would have significantly increased the scope and depth of this book. Hopefully, Master Ron Gatewood will change his mind and produce future volumes with these many interesting and insightful articles from the many, many others that contributed articles to the San Soo Journal.

Rating:
Summary: Best of San Soo Journal Vol. #1
Review: Master Gatewood has done a tremendous job on this compilation. A must read for all San Soo fighters and those who have and interest into the workings of the ancient chinese self defense.