Book: The Way to Black Belt - by Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder

Cut to the very core of what it means to be successful in the martial arts.

Earning a black belt can be the most rewarding experience of a lifetime, but getting there takes considerable planning. Whether your interests are in the classical styles of Asia or in today’s Mixed Martial Arts, this book prepares you to meet every challenge. Whatever your age, whatever your gender, you will benefit from the wisdom of master martial artists around the globe, who share more than 300 years of combined training experience. Benefit from their guidance during your development into a first-class black belt.

• Iain Abernethy
• Dan Anderson
• Loren Christensen
• Jeff Cooper
• Wim Demeere
• Aaron Fields
• Lawrence Kane
• Rory Miller
• Martina Sprague
• Phillip Starr
• Jeff Stevens
• Kris Wilder

...and many more.

Packed with actionable information, The Way to Black Belt will teach you how to set goals, find a good instructor, monitor your progress, overcome plateaus in your training, take advantage of learning opportunities, and work through the inevitable injuries that come with rigorous martial arts training.

Putting your skills to the test at each developmental stage of your training requires a certain mental ‘clarity.’ The authors examine what this means, how to find it, and how to make sure that when the time comes you are 100% prepared.

If you are serious about your martial arts training, The Way to Black Belt will arm you with the information you need to swiftly become a highly skilled, well-qualified black belt.

AUTHOR(S)

Lawrence Kane is the author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction, as well as co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt. He has also published numerous articles about teaching, martial arts, and countervailing force. Over the last 30 years he has studied and taught a wide variety of martial arts including Goju Ryu karate, kobudo, medieval weapons forms, and close-quarters combat (e.g., knife, gun). Working stadium security he has been involved in hundreds of armed and unarmed confrontations. Lawrence lives in Seattle, WA.

Kris Wilder began his martial arts training in 1976 in the art of Tae Kwon Do, he has earned black belt-level ranks in three arts: Tae Kwon Do (2nd Degree), Kodokan Judo (1st Degree) and Goju-Ryu Karate (4th Degree), which he teaches at the West Seattle Karate Academy.

REVIEWS

Testimonial Excerpts:

Patrick McCarthy, Hanshi 8th dan black belt, International Ryukyu Karate-jutsu Research Society.

“Kane and Wilder not only succeed in defining a functional path to attaining yudansha level they also effectively bring back meaning and lost value to this important journey. In fact, it is so good I wish I had written it myself.”

Alain Burrese, J.D., former US Army 2nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School instructor and author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.

“I couldn’t help but think how much faster I would have advanced and how much further along I’d be today if I’d have read this book and applied this knowledge at the beginning of my journey into martial arts years ago.”

Goran Powell, 4th dan black belt and author of Waking Dragons.

“Make no mistake, the book is not offering a short-cut to the coveted black belt, but rather a clear guide to the correct path—not the easy way, not the hard way, but simply the right way to achieve success.”

Christopher Caile, 6th dan black belt, Editor of FightingArts.com.

“While this book targets students who are studying to achieve their black belt, it at the same time illuminates a path far beyond this limited goal.”

Laura Weller, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for international recording artists The Green Pajamas.

“Reading this book will help anyone for whom the goal of a black belt seems nearly impossible to consider that maybe you’re wrong. Not only do I feel inspired, but I now have a ton of great ideas and advice on how to make the most of my training along the way.”

Steve Perry, 40-year martial artist and bestselling author of the Matador series and Net Force series books.

“Serious martial artists will benefit from having this book on their shelves, it is a terrific resource.”

Arthur Rosenfeld, martial arts instructor and author of The Cutting Season: A Martial Arts Thriller.

“This is the book I wish I’d had when I started out—the authors have forgotten more than most writers will ever know about making your training experience rich and meaningful.”