Customer Reviews

Crouching Tiger: Taming the Warrior Within

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Christensen writes in a self-deprecating style, which allows the reader to feel at ease with his humor and anecdotalic stories. The stories are written in an attempt to help one achieve or discover their own "Warrior Spirit" which we all possess and may not even be aware of, or are unable to utilize.

The book is easy to read and it can be read in one evening. If the reader reflects on these anecdotal stories it may help them to better understand their own "Warrior Spirit", which is what I think was the author's intent. The stories in and of themself are enjoyable and somewhat enlightening, especially into the background and persona of Christensen.

This was an enjoyable book, yet my personal quest was better met by reading the book "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan. Although, I truly did enjoy reading "Crouching Tiger" my goal was better served by the purchase of Morgan's book.

I would recommend this book to all begining martial art students in an attempt to help them along their path. It would also be beneficial to the intermediate level as well as the black belt student who has yet, been able to discover their own "Warrior Spirit". I would like to recommend another book by Christensen, "Far Beyond Defensive Tactics" which is an excellent book on self-defense for police officers as well as all those interested in practical realistic self-defense.

Please, refer to my "Listmania" suggestions for other self-defense books.

Whenever I read a book from an author claiming to be a warrior, I automatically become very skeptical. All too often, the book turns out to be more a Hollywood fantasy than anything else. These authors tend to write of their exploits in an overly heroic manner, describing in detail how they overcame incredible adversity or got out of the most dangerous situations by using their tremendous skills. The only thing missing is a cape and an "S" on their chest.

Crouching Tiger: Taming the Warrior Within is not that kind of book. On the contrary, it is a refreshingly and honest one. It takes a look at all the different aspects of what makes a warrior. Yes, there are amazing stories. Tales of courage and success. But there are also chapters about fear, failure, mistakes and even revenge.

Warriors are human too and author Loren Christensen gives you the full range of emotions and experiences a warrior encounters. Not just the ones people like to hear about.

I literally read the book in one stretch and then re-read it the next day. It was hard to put down because I always wanted to know what was next. If you are a soldier, law enforcement officer or a martial artist, then you should definitely read this book. If you just want to know what a warrior's life really looks like, then look no further.

Loren Christensen is a master of that most ancient and still one of the most powerful of human learning tools: powerful story telling with a message. As a lifelong warrior in multiple roles, Christensen had ample opportunity to demonstrate his physical courage and prowess. Now he demonstrates his emotional courage in personal stories of searing honesty. This includes stories about the types of episodes that most of us want to forget and hope no one finds out about. Instead, he shares them with us so that we might learn some of the painful lessons he learned about the warrior role and spirit.

He also lets us share some his triumphs and role models the humility and gratitude we should all have about those all too rare but delicious moments in life.

This book is short, beautifully written, and easy to read. The lessons are profound. You won't learn physical tactics but something even more important: How critical it is to find, nurture, and tame your own warrior spirit. What does being a warrior mean to you? The mental, emotional, and spiritual answers are the foundation on which all else stands. Christensen's journey to find those very personal answers may help you on yours.

Crouching Tiger is another great book from Loren Christensen. In this one he explores his many experiences as a soldier, cop, martial artist, and father that have given him the opportunity to learn about his warrior spirit, which he says lies in each of us.

He tells of fights, killings, karate competition, police action and Vietnam. He concludes each story by musing on what he learned from the experience about himself, violence, his warrior spirit, and his relationship to it.

Happily I have never had his experiences, but I was able to relate by "seeing" my own in his. That has made me revisit some of mine, look at them differently, understand them better and not feel so badly about some of them.

This isn't an academic piece of fluff written by a professor who hasn't ventured beyond the campus. It was written by a guy who has 'been there,' and who helps us understand what each of us has inside: a warrior spirit. What he calls, a crouching tiger.

Loren Christensen tells his stories in a brilliant and naked way. Holding back few blows, and being as honest in his emotions a person can be, he takes you along on the ride that makes him who he is.

The stories are short but their length is in reverse proportion to their weight. The accounts range from a simple bulling of a kid, to the alleyways of Vietnam, and to peering into the blood splattered face of a psychotic murder. Easy to read, and as exciting as it is thought provoking, Crouching Tiger - I enjoyed it and also learned a little.

I injured my knee about a month ago. As a result of the one-two punch of coping with the daily pain and the set-back to my martial arts and weight-lifting routines, I started feeling discouraged. Searching for an antidote to feeling sorry for myself, I re-read Loren's Crouching Tiger and The Mental Edge. The collective message presented in these two books helped me to find and push my emotional re-set button and re-inspire the warrior within.

Thanks Loren!

In this book, Loren Christensen tells educational tales from his past. The tales are divided in seven categories, according to what kind of lesson they teach to the reader. For the most part the stories are funny and as always, it is a pleasure to read text written by Christensen.

The problem with this book is that you don't learn much from these stories (not anything an adult person should not know already). The lessons include wisdom like you shouldn't bully anyone, or that you can be proud of something you have accomplished, but you shouldn't be proud as a person. These statements hold true, but you should know them already, without reading this book.

I was expecting to find some practical advise on how to maintain and develop my warrior spirit (mental exercises and the like), instead I got a book filled with humorous stories. The book is fun to read, and as the stories are only 2-4 pages long for the most part, you can pick this book up, if you have five minutes to spare. But it is not what I expected it to be.

I loved this book. Whereas Zen in the martial Arts is about what the author learned from different instructors and then how he applied that to the rest of his life, Christensen in Crouching Tiger explains what he learned from his many violent encounters and how it helped him grow as a person.

Christensen was a cop, Vietnam veteran, and a karate competitor. As such, he has lived an incredible life. He shares his many experiences in this book, but he writes them in such a way that you are reminded of your own experiences and through his evaluation, you too grow as he did.

Christensen is brutally honest about what he did, just as each of us should be when we evaluate our experiences.

Highly recommended.

I got this book on a whim because I had heard about the author and the booked looked more like a good read than an instructional book. You kinda get both for the price of the one. It reads kinda like a book full of short stories and every one has a life lesson that any martial artist or even anyone for that matter can use. I will definantly check out books from this same artist. I gave this book 3 stars and not the most because it could have been longer. I was kinda sad to finish it.

I've been impressed with quite a few titles by Loren Christensen: the fighters fact book, solo training, fighting power. But this is old Loren sitting by the fire boring everybody with his stories about the olden days.