Walking the Path of a Sensei: [Paperback]

Eric P. Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2000

Everyone comes to a time when they meet someone who is more than just a Black Belt: Someone with ease and excellence in their Basics, Fighting and Katas. Someone who possesses calm confidence and rare wisdom. If it were only a matter of knowing technique, anyone could become that which is called a true Sensei. But it goes much deeper than that.

This book will teach you how to achieve the mental, physical and spiritual qualities of the Sensei so that you, too can walk this path.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eric Klein began his martial arts training in Isshinryu in 1974, just prior to his thirteenth birthday. He began teaching as a brown belt in 1979 and continued studying and teaching until "retiring" for personal reasons in 1984 as a San Dan, 3rd Degree Black Belt. At the time of his retirement, Eric had 40 first-place tournament wins in Kata (forms), Kumite (fighting) and weapons, as well as ten light-vs-heavyweight full-contact Black Belt wins. He has taught women's’ rape defense classes, hand-to-hand combat to the Armed Forces and self-defense for seniors on top of his regular classes. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1989, Eric discovered that there were no Isshinryu schools or classes in the greater Los Angeles area and gave up all hope of ever returning to it. In 1999, at age 37, Eric found an Isshinryu school in Palm Springs and had the honor of becoming the student of Sensei Arnold Sandubrae, Nana Dan, Hanchi ("Teacher of Masters"). Even though there was a fifteen year lapse in his studies, the spirit of Isshinryu and Karate itself never left his soul. He could no longer fight the urge to return, to learn and teach that which he felt blessed to learn and share a decade and-a-half earlier.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp; 1 edition (June 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738821373
• ISBN-13: 978-0738821375
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,227,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The One Good Teacher", March 15, 2001

By 

"bigsensei" (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking the Path of a Sensei: (Paperback)

What made me curious about this book wasn't the title as much as the subtitle--most people call anyone who teaches a Sensei--but this author used the words "those who came before us"--which told me that the book was going to look back to the past for its answers to questions of the present. That's what made me curious. What made me interested, which can't be seen online, is a photo of the author on the back cover of the book. With sai in hands, the photo was of the author striking with the weapon simultaneously with a kick below the sai strike. The form was perfect--straight lines in the techniques, bent knees, proper stance--but most important--a face that expressed intense focus, yet relaxed, emotionless and calm. Whether posed or candid, none of this is easy at the level of mastery displayed in the picture. THIS is what got me to read the book--to see the words of one who can obviously perform at the level of the book's title. And the book delivered just that.

This is a book about the realities of martial arts--from the obvious facets such as balance, focus and sparring, to the not so obvious truths about perfection, the mechanics of taking a step to the spiritual and mental control and focus necessary for proper execution of a punch--to sizing up our greatest opponent--ourself--the author is very frank, and yet, through his own experiences, shows us that what ever we seek to improve or however high our goals are, they are possible, if only we see the truth and work diligently and accordingly. As the author quotes Buddha: "To live a single day and hear a good teacher is better than to live a hundred years without knowing such teaching."

If Buddha had read "Walking the Path," he'd have said the same thing--that this one book IS that one good teacher.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Sensei is a True Master, February 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Walking the Path of a Sensei: (Paperback)

Sensei Klein is right: A true Sensei is not just a rank, but a person of great ability, insight and wisdom--able to perform with excellence, but also able to communicate his or her years of training in a way others can understand and apply to their own training. In a world where the title of "Master" is no longer revered because too many claim it too easily, Sensei Klein's book, without saying it, takes the reader back to the time of the Great Masters and talks about technique, mental and spiritual balance with the same eye to personal excellence that the forefathers of our Art talked to their students. Very few people of rank "get it," and Sensei Klein is one of those few--and like a "true Sensei" he breaks down the mental, physical and spiritual facets of Martial Arts excellence in an honest and easy to understand manner. Because he talks about the core Truths about Martial Arts excellence, this book is applicable to any student regardless of style. I was deeply impressed with "Walking the Path of a Sensei"--I bought this book because of the curious title--most books propagandize becoming a "great Master"--yet the author chose the more appropriate word of Sensei. Since one can be a Master without being a proficient Sensei, I was glad not only to see a book of this title, but one that lives up to what it says on the cover. In the non-commercial world, a "True Sensei" really is a "True Master"--and so is the author. And any True Student who desires excellence in their Art must read this book. Master J. Dominguez, Shichi Dan

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Martial Arts Book I've Read in Years, January 16, 2001

By 

Don, brown belt, Shotokan (Newark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking the Path of a Sensei: (Paperback)

I bought the book after reading the review, and reviews on other online bookstores sites. I've been in Karate for over five years, and recently earned my black belt. I've always loved Karate, but its always been a struggle--for balance, focus, coordination and a sense of that other "something" that makes some people make it look "easy." Sensei Klein's words, insights and exercises will help anyone of any rank be better than they ever thought they could be. He doesn't say its easy, but he does show you how and why its worthwhile to put forth the effort. I wish I'd had it sooner, because it would've made the journey to black belt less of a struggle. But I am grateful for getting it now, because when you get your black belt, the first questions is "what's next?" Sensei Klein's book tells you what's next, and how to get there as well. I'm thankful someone took the time to shine a light on the Path!