The Secret Art of Boabom: Awakening Inner Power Through Defense-Meditation from Ancient Tibet (Paperback)

by Asanaro (Author), Joice Buccarey (Translator), Benjamin B. Kelley (Translator)
Key Phrases: two short movements, foot hack, mechanical defense, Osseous Art, Basic Objectives, Defense Application (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
From the author of The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani comes the definitive guide to the ancient defense-meditation art of Boabom.

The success of The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani by Asanaro surprised many who wondered whether a little-known Tibetan movement system would be able to compete with yoga, Spinning classes, and tai chi. After several printings and thousands of Seamm Jasani converts, the secret is out. Seamm Jasani schools have cropped up across the country, thanks to the popularity of Asanaro's book, and more people than ever are discovering Seamm Jasani. For students eager to continue learning about ancient Tibetan body movement arts, or for anyone curious about cutting-edge strength and spiritual training, The Secret Art of Boabom is a must read.

A cross between martial arts and yoga, Boabom is an ancient system of relaxation, meditation, breathing, and defense originating in pre-Buddhist Tibet. The movements contained within the collective "Arts" of Boabom are designed to develop vitality and internal energy, as well as mind and body balance, which are achieved through movements of defense, self-healing, relaxation, and meditation. Boabom provides quick relief from stress, and improves focus and confidence, as well as physical condition and mental well-being.

The Secret Art of Boabom includes detailed descriptions and more than three hundred instructional drawings of Boabom movements, as well as information about its positive effects. But The Secret Art of Boabom is more than just a how-to book. Combining the thrill of adventure nonfiction, the depth of history, and the profundity of philosophy along with the practicality of a guidebook, Asanaro offers this companion to those eager to explore the secrets of ancient Tibet in order to improve their health and well-being.

About the Author
Asanaro has dedicated more than twenty years to the study and teaching of alternative arts and philosophy originating in pre- Buddhist Tibet, transmitted as thirty-three diverse sciences of relaxation, defense, meditation, and philosophy. He has taught around the world, offering courses and developing schools in South America, Europe, and the United States.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; illustrated edition edition (October 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585425214
• ISBN-13: 978-1585425211
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #180,677 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really good book-highly recommended., January 18, 2007

By	gio (nebraska, US) - See all my reviews

Picked this book after a friend of mine kept on incessantly talking about it. A few pages on it and I realized why he liked it so much: the book starts with a nice story that introduces one in the 'lost teachings of this Art' in a simple yet very straight-forward way.

I kept on reading. I started liking it more and more.

Then you have the second section, which explains and clears how to work with this book, how to follow the chart in time (a very useful chart, I must add!!!). A very concise section, that explained all I would have asked a teacher.

I continued reading, and started doing the exercises.

The exercises themselves are simple and easy to follow. Nothing I couldn't follow (I have to say that my friend didn't have any problems himself following them either). The drawings are very good, and even though the author says he drew all of them himself, they have that 'je ne sais quoi'... they go with the book!

The book finishes explaining how the Boabom Schools work and with a scientific study. Also, and I think the author did the same in his previous book, there are comments from real students, people like me and my friend that take the classes or read the book and continue doing the exercises. Real people.

I will not debate on whether these teachings are ten billion years old or a modern creation: they work, and that is what matters. They make me feel great, renewed and refreshed, and they clear my mind of the habitual problems I worry about: work, money, daily stress, bills, being a 'professional procrastinator' and... well... my daily life.

Very good book. Especially considering that it is a book that tries to teach exercises, breathing techniques and coordinations, which is already hard with a teacher in front of you. I have to add that the author managed to do it flawlessly!

Everyone should read it.

58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a student's perspective, December 5, 2006

By	Ryan Midura (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a student at the Boston School of Boabom, and have been studying the Boabom arts for a good while now under many teachers, including Asanaro himself. It's particularly interesting to me to look at this book as another method of expression for these teachings.

Perhaps most intriguing for me, as a student, is the "story" portion of the book, wherein a theoretical and philosophical underpinning for these arts is laid out in monologue and metaphor. Assertive and instructive without being preachy, this section is rich in meaning and provides much food for thought--for current students and newcomers alike.

The "technical" portion of the book lays out a sequence of basic movements from the beginnings of the art. Transmitting an art based on movement through the media of text and images is no mean feat; there's no substitute for teaching in the flesh. That said, I believe that Asanaro succeeds in conveying the essential elements of the movements with his thorough descriptions and detailed illustrations, expressing clearly the many details involved in each. The attention paid to common mistakes (and how to correct them) should be particularly useful for beginning students.

Boabom is an art that develops only over time, and is not for everyone. This book provides the newcomer with a glimpse of all the art has to offer. Some may find a resonance, and see here a hint of something both familiar and strange; others may find a curiosity, an old way carried carefully through the ages to the modern world. All will find something new, unique, and rewarding in equal measure to the energy invested in it.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book - motivating, exciting & full of energy!!!!, November 18, 2006

By	KB "K" - See all my reviews

This book is a wonderful continuation of Asanaro's previous book called "The Secret Art of Seamm-Jasani". The story line continues from his first book. The author uses a number of beautiful poems and the plot of the story is breathtaking. The Art described here (Boabom or Osseous Boabom) is quite different from Seamm-Jasani (Gentle Boabom). The second part of the book is completely devoted to thorough explanations of this Art (including incredible drawings!) on how to begin practice of Boabom on your own. It is very straightforward and easy to follow. At the end of the book, a scientific study is presented along with comments from real students.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, and especially to those who are looking to tone their body, have better balance, learn how to defend themselves, and also to those who are on the lookout for great new literature.