9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A student-eye view of solid martial arts instruction., December 2, 2006
This review is from: The Making of a Butterfly: Traditional Chinese Martial Arts As Taught by Master W. C. Chen (Paperback)
As a ShoDan-level assistant karate instructor, I'm always looking for good books to help me become a better teacher and practitioner. I've found martial arts-based memoirs to be particularly helpful and encouraging. I recently stumbled across "The Making of A Butterfly," and it was no exception.
Phillip Starr began his martial arts journey in the 1950s. His family moved a lot due to military service, so he studied at a couple of different clubs. In 1961, his parents finally settled into a more permanent living situation in McLean, Virginia. There, the author began looking for yet another dojo (they weren't easy to find back then). He finally found a karate school and resumed his training. However, Mr. Starr was fascinated by kung-fu, and so after more searching he discovered a Chinese Sifu (master) who taught out of his home.
Mr. Starr approached Sifu Chen and respectfully asked for instruction. After some initial rebuffs to test his resolve, he was taken on as Sifu Chen's only Caucasian student. Sifu Chen demanded much from his students, so the training sessions were often physically and mentally challenging. Despite some resentment from the other Asian students, Mr. Starr eventually earned their grudging respect. And more importantly, he became a surrogate son to Sifu Chen and his wife Mei. He often learned as much at their dinner table as he would during a typical class.
Mr. Starr writes well - the book is an easy and informative read. Each chapter encapsulates a principle learned from Sifu Chen, such as chi, discipline, and courtesy. Of course, these lessons were usually learned the hard way. Sifu Chen used many methods to impart both his knowledge and his character to the author. I found the inclusion of Mr. Starr's thought responses toward his teacher (denoted by italics) to be quite fascinating. It was easy to identify with his honest internal expressions of incredulity, or appreciate ah-ha! moments when a lesson hit home.
Unfortunately, Sifu Chen passed away in 1971 from a kidney ailment. But in 1982 Mr. Starr took what he learned from Sifu Chen and created another martial art called Yilichuan (One Principle Boxing), thereby continuing his teacher's legacy. "The Making of A Butterfly" lets us in on Sifu Chen's timeless martial arts principles, and provides insight into a good student's mentality. It's a recommended addition to every martial artist's library.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique perspective, April 25, 2006
This review is from: The Making of a Butterfly: Traditional Chinese Martial Arts As Taught by Master W. C. Chen (Paperback)
This book provides a unique perspective on the training of Phillip Starr that I have found in no other book on Martial Arts in 40 years of training and study. It talks to the heart of the old way of training both physically and mentally. This is an exceptional real life story of training and dedication of the student and teacher. It is the best book I have read on what it takes to be a master practitioner and teacher.
Rick Jacobsen
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent read!, June 6, 2006
This review is from: The Making of a Butterfly: Traditional Chinese Martial Arts As Taught by Master W. C. Chen (Paperback)
Sifu Starr has captured the experience of studying with an exceptional master and described his becoming one himself. This book is not the "nuts and bolts" technique oriented manual that too many bookshelves hold, but the personal insights, stories, and discoveries of an experienced martial artist as he masters the art. Sifu Starr writes in an engaging and descriptive manner that makes the book hard to put down. Yet, the chapters are written so that one can read a quick single chapter, or settle in for a couple hours and imagine the smell of incense and sweat. Starr also shows his humor and humility that is rarely expressed in popular masters-- his personal thoughts, doubts, and insights are counterpoints to the events he writes about. I have been a student/instructor of t'ai chi for about 40 years and this is one of the best books I have read. I have recommended it to all of my students, and hope that Sifu Starr will continue his writing career. I strongly recommend it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
