Customer Reviews

The Making of a Butterfly: Traditional Chinese Martial Arts As Taught by Master W. C. Chen

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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.

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

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.

Kung-Fu or Karate truth is truth and Sifu Phillip Starr shares the truths he learned at the feet of W.C. Chen. This is the kind of book that will get read and re-read as the years pass by and each time a new depth with emerge to the reader. No hero worship here just a wonderful tribute from student to teacher and we all benefit along the way.

Pete reminded me that it has been over 38 years we have know each other, and I stand corrected. On the third reading of the book I began to remember myself as one of Pete's students and how he taught us with the nearly same mannerisms of his teacher. I having no experience then in the arts, learned not only the physical rigors of the training but of the philosophical aspects as well. What age has taken from me, the knowledge still remains strong .

Now it has been almost 40 years later and I still can visualize the teachings, both mental, spirtual as well as physical. This book is valuable for the stylist as well as a parent wishing to know how to work with or understand their teenagers. The method and learning is the same nurturing Chen gave to Pete, and Pete sharing it with us.

I gave a copy of it to one of the people I work with and it is a copy in my classroom as well for my more difficult students to read as well.

This was an absolutely wonderful text. It really drives home what the martial arts teach. The stories are thought provoking, entertaining, humorous and motivational. Thanks Sifu Starr!

The book is a well written piece. The stories centered around the interaction between Chen and Sifu Starr are reminiscent of the insightful interaction that Sifu Starr shares with his current students. I highly recommend this book to the serious martial artist whether they practice kung-fu, karate, judo, etc. We all have one thing in common--we train in order to understand what it truly means to be virtuous.


Vincent Hardy

From a beginning student of TaiChi with experience in Wing Chun.
The book is educational and a very good source of inspiration. Many things are available for the reader to draw upon for dealings in every day life, and a must for any one seriously considering learning a martial art.
If you are thinking of taking lessons or searching for a school. These are the things to look for.
The writings contain a spirit you can feel.

I began my studies in YiLiQuan in 1982. Phillip Starr was (and is) my teacher. The conversations revealed in this book are very similar to conversations I had with Sifu Starr in the early to mid 1980s. During my course of study in YiLi (and it is still on-going), it never occurred to me that what Sifu Starr was saying was simply a passing on of information that he had learned from his teacher. Funny thing is, I now pass on similar teachings to my students and never take credit for the information...I can finally grasp the branch that leads into the past for, who knows how many generations...The information that Phillip Starr imparted to me was, in almost all ways, the same information that his teacher, Chen Wing Chou, imparted to him...and the information that Sifu Chen passsed on to Sifu Starr goes as far back as Master Tai's teacher, and his teacher before him, etc.
This book is a real jewel in the martial arts literature in that it teaches through a dialogue between teacher and student.
Something every martial arts student can understand and relate to. Moreover, this book can be enjoyed by the non-martial artist, too. The philosophical aspects of traditional training are brought out and those ideas can be employed in anyone's daily life...
This is not a "how to" book...but it will enhance anyone's training because the lessons are not specific to one particular style of martial art...enjoy.

Sifu Starr has written a book that reads as good as any Hollywood script, yet is absolutely real. The chapters outline a little Caucasian boy's growth to manhood under the classical tutelage of a Chinese Kung-Fu master who escaped communist China. A fascinating and very well written tome. When you are finished you will place this fine book next to Gichin Funakoshi's outstanding "Karate-Do: My Way of Life" in your collection. Highly recommended!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles