An American's Journey to the Shaolin Temple [Paperback]

Steve DeMasco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

The author shares the story of his ascension to 10th-degree Shaolin kempo black belt and his appointment as an honorary ambassador to China's legendary Shaolin Temple. Rare techniques of more than 350 photos accompany this must-have book for every Shaolin enthusiast.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Black Belt Communications (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897501411
• ISBN-13: 978-0897501415
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,951,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An honest opinion (read the whole thing), August 9, 2002

By 

"brisallen" - See all my reviews

This review is from: An American's Journey to the Shaolin Temple (Paperback)

I bought this book because I had read a bad opinion on amazon.com. I had read a previous article about Steve Demasco and his certification from the Abbott of the Shaolin temple. I was skeptical and I wanted to see for myself just how bad the book was.

The book lived up to my low expectations when I first saw it. It's a typical Ohara cookie-cutter book. The pictures are full body shots that are taken from a distance, which prevents you from seeing details, especially in the self-defense techniques, and the layout is unimaginative and predictable. I also found it hard to follow the "Iron Wire" form, which played such a pivotal role in his success at the temple.

But then I actually read the text. I was impressed with Mr. Demasco's sincerity. The little things that made him seem more real; like on the back cover where he lists his titles, there is a quote "These are titles I continue to earn." I particularly appreciated his retelling of his initial meeting with the Abbott of the Shaolin temple in ch.8. I was also struck by his honesty when he was reluctant to tell anyone about his certification. He was "certain that if this (certification) got out to martial artists, somehow they would find a way to discredit it."

I'm an experienced martial artist (I am not affiliated in any way with Mr. Demasco's system) with more than 15 years in the arts as well as a school owner. I have seen many fads in the arts and was skeptical of Mr. Demascos. But I found the book worth reading and even entertaining on a very human level. It's a story of his journey, successes, and mistakes. One that I think is easily relatable.

Although I would have appreciated some better technical pictures of his techniques, I feel it's a good addition to a martial artist's library. For it's human value, I gave it 4 stars.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and inspiring book from master DeMasco, December 29, 2004

By 

magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: An American's Journey to the Shaolin Temple (Paperback)

I am mainly a karate, kali/escrima, and chin na (which is also part of kung fu, especially styles like eagle claw, tiger claw, and praying mantis styles) student and teacher, but I really enjoyed this book, as I also study Hung Gar kung fu and tai chi and have been exposed to several other styles of kung fu in the past, such as 7-star praying mantis, wing chun, white crane, northern ching kung, and southern black tiger.

I'm no master of kung fu, just an enthusiastic and interested student who appreciates the historical as well as martial and technical importance of the Chinese arts and whose karate reflects their influence, as my karate is quite a bit more fluid and flowing than your typical karateist (although without sacrificing speed and power and focus, which is what I specialize in training advanced students and black belts on). Although I claim no great skill at kung fu, my kung fu teachers have said the way I'm applying the principles to my karate is very valid and the modifications I've made have their full approval and blessing (and, before anyone says anything, my fellow karate teachers usually like my karate too, and some of them are my students).

Before getting into my own comments about the book, I noted the previous very negative review, saying DeMasco doesn't do the stances properly and uses the wrong names, but I was already aware of most of those points, but the reviewer is technically correct although I must point out that since DeMasco is a direct student of Tak Wah Eng, who certainly knows what he's doing, I'm inclined to give DeMasco the benefit of the doubt in regard to his overall level of knowledge and skill. For example, when he was training at the school and the students were asked anyone knew and could demonstrate the iron wire form, only DeMasco stepped forward and was able to perform it.

My only concern is whether the monks are practicing real kung fu these days or wu su. Although wu su has become the national sport of China, it's not the same as kung fu. I understand that some styles, such as eagle claw, have basically died out on the mainland, and that the only instructors are either in Taiwan, or in the U.S., such as Lily Lau or Dr. Yang Jwing Ming. I have three video tapes of monks at the southern Songshan Shaolin monastery doing their forms, which confirmed this suspicion, as they are wu su, not kung fu. I don't recall which monastery DeMasco visited on his trip to China, perhaps it was the northern monastery, and things are better there.

But getting back to the book, part travelogue, part autobiography, and part martial arts manual, in this book master Stephen DeMasco gives the student some of the essence of his 30 years of experience and training in the martial arts and kung fu. DeMasco first regales the reader with stories of how he first became involved with kung fu (he was turned away at the door of the studio or kwoon for 5 years, but persisted and was finally allowed to train). The story of how he came to be invited to the shaolin temple to perform for the abbot is truly inspiring and a great tribute to the author. As a result, he is the only westerner ever to be fully certified as a master by the Shaolin temple.

Most the book is devoted to photos presenting the exercises, techniques, and forms from several kung fu styles, including some weapons work. These include praying mantis, black tiger, five animals, and Hung Gar. In addition there is a presentation of a single saber, double saber, and staff techniques, although the text doesn't say what style they're from.

Finally, DeMasco shows the very rare Hung Gar iron wire or iron thread form, which is hardly ever seen, and which represents the highest level of the internal training of the style, and is still not widely traught or known. Overall, an enjoyable book covering Demasco's distinguished and inspiring career along with a very nice presentatin of many techniques drawn from the favorite styles of master DeMasco.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Things aren't as they seem,, February 3, 2003

By 

Sam DeRenzis (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An American's Journey to the Shaolin Temple (Paperback)

Extremely fascinating to read.