Legendary Masters of the Martial Arts - by Augustus John Roe (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

MARTIAL ARTS TRANSPORT US TO THE REALMS OF LEGENDS

Every day in dojos and training halls, fantastic stories of history's martial arts heroes are told. Tales of men and women who overpower wild beasts, walk unharmed through a barrage of swords, or single-handedly defeat scores of attackers--they all captivate our imagination and our sense of marvel.

Whether presented orally, on screen, or by written word, these legends remain a key element of our collective martial arts culture and naturally inspire wonder about where the facts end and the fiction begins.

No stories are more gripping than those surrounding the founders and great masters of modern-day martial arts.

This book looks at twelve of the greatest martial arts legends of all time, retelling their common historical lore, examining the known facts, suggesting possible reasons for their longevity, and discussing the key functions that these legends have served martial artists both historically and today.

Bodhidharma: A Zen Monk's Journey to the East

Zhang Sanfeng: The Founding of Internal Martial Arts

Morihei Ueshiba: The Quest for Ultimate Peace

Ng Mui & Yan Yongchun: The Dual Founders of Wing Chun

Nai Khanom Tom: The Hero of Ayutthaya Fights for Freedom

Choi Hong-Hi: Leading Korea from the Ashes of War

Miyamoto Musashi: A Swordsman Meets His Greatest Foe

Helio Gracie: Grapplers from the East and West Meet

Bruce Lee: Fighting for the Freedom to Teach Kung Fu

Bui Thi Xuan: The Swordswoman and the Tiger

Gogen Yamaguchi: Returning from the Gulag

Masutatsu Oyama: Taking on the Wild

"Vivid . . . profound . . . plausible . . . be inspired."

--Shotokan Karate Portal

Review Quotes

AWARDS

WINNER, Historical: Non-Fiction, Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2024)

"The stories are presented vividly before the "facts and function" section arrives to bring us back to reality. The tales range from profound stories of fighting wild animals to plausible ones of battling adversity. It should be noted that the author is not in the business of attacking or debunking, rather he is trying to determine the probability of these events. Contradictions, based on records and chronological events, arise for each story, and the interests of the people promoting these stories are taken into consideration (from the need of an ancient lineage, the boost of patriotic sentiment, the shaping of public opinion, and commercial reasons, among others).

Safe to say that there is much to decipher, and scepticism will arise despite the tempting stories that surround these masters. The author does not throw the baby out with the bathwater. He gives each aspect that is probably true its due, along with reasoning about what we should keep from the overall tale. It is recognised that not only one master creates a style but rather that many contribute to its development. The book is well referenced and each chapter succinct. You certainly get the feeling that you know the essence of each master's story. Furthermore, regardless of whether a story actually took place, insights into the arts themselves are well presented.

For example, the dualism and exploitation of the contrasted powers in Taijiquan is explained through the story of the snake and the crane. The flow is very good and can be appreciated by both the martial arts scholars and those seeking stories from the continent of Asia. The author has studied several of the martial arts described without trying to claim the role of authority. It is worth mentioning that he resides in Vietnam, which immerses him in Oriental culture."

--Andreas Louca, Sandan J.K.A. Shotokan Karate Portal Book Review

"Mr. Augustus John Roe, himself a dedicated, learned, and accomplished martial artist in his own right, offers this tribute to martial arts heroes and partakers of their legacies. For the martial artist, his straightforward retellings of the lives of obscure figures such as the Vietnamese swordswoman Bùi Thị Xuân and Thai pugilist Nai Khanom Tom, alongside more popular martial celebrities like Musashi and Bruce Lee, place these personalities' exploits in comparative context, which allows the reader to explore the nuances and diversity of martial arts storytelling―all the while intimating divergent prospective paths for the aspiring martial artist.

Furthermore, Mr. Roe's Legend-Facts-Functions structure makes the book especially suitable for the classroom as a sourcebook for storytelling that compels the learner to question the nature and meaning of history and mythmaking as well as investigate their own presumptions about the value of a good story."

-- Quảng Huyền, Dharma Master Quảng Huyền, PhD, senior lecturer of Vietnamese history and culture

"This book approaches a very interesting area of martial arts. Within the lives of these legends, we seem to find the same ascetic practices in one form or another, all constituted by training that helps each to reach a very high level of skills in their art or attainment of enlightenment.

With good style, the author depicts the stories of different masters, through different times and places in history. A must-read for any martial arts practitioner wanting to learn more about legendary masters from the past."

--Clement Martin, Head Instructor Kishinkai Vietnam

"This book examines various martial arts legends through the lens of four thematic topics as to their factuality and the lessons and value that could be derived from them for martial arts practitioners.

I especially enjoyed the segment about Bùi Thị Xuân in the Challenges section. The question arose in my mind as to whether her legend otherwise motivated the women fighters in the Viet Cong and Viet Minh. It is not common today to see women as frontline fighters beyond support roles, excepting possibly the Kurd YPJ. Bùi Thị Xuân was an early role model for women's liberation and reflected that woman do not need men to protect them.

I would certainly recommend this book to those interested in the lessons derived from these legendary masters of martial arts.

In my own case, the book's framework is now helping me with an ongoing examination of the legends and myths of a particular Asian martial art. I expect other readers may find this framework useful in their own examination of a martial art system."

-- Moe Gyo, fifty-year practitioner of Japanese and Southeast Asian Martial Arts, Krav Maga