On the Warrior's Path, Second Edition: Philosophy, Fighting, and Martial Arts Mythology (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: western boxing, kodokan judo, freestyle wrestling, Bruce Lee, New York, High View Publications (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Bolelli’s humorous and at the same time profound prose makes On the Warrior’s Path one of those very rare books about martial arts that is masterfully written ... this is one of the most original books about martial arts published in the last decade.”
—Journal of Asian Martial Arts

“Daniele Bolelli has written both a poetic and pragmatic vision of what the martial arts can be.”
—Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Ph.D., author of In Search of the Warrior Spirit

Product Description

The urge to forge one’s character by fighting, in daily life as well as on the mat, appeals to something deep within us. More than a collection of fighting techniques, martial arts constitute a path to developing body, spirit, and awareness. On the Warrior’s Path connects the martial arts with this larger perspective, merging subtle philosophies with no-holds-barred competition, Nietzsche with Bruce Lee, radical Taoism and Buddhism with the Star Wars Trilogy, traditional martial arts with basketball and American Indian culture. At the center of all these phenomena is the warrior. Though this archetype seems to manifest contradictory values, author Daniele Bolelli describes the heart of this tension: how the training of martial technique leads to a renunciation of violence, and how overcoming fear leads to a unique freedom. Aimed at students at any level or tradition of martial arts but also accessible to the armchair warrior, On the Warrior’s Path brings fresh insights to why martial arts remains an enduring and widespread art and discipline. Two new chapters in this second edition focus on spirituality in the martial arts and the author’s personal journey in the field.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Blue Snake Books; 2 edition (July 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158394219X
• ISBN-13: 978-1583942192
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #150,954 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cutting-edge wit and down-to-earth style. A true gem., March 11, 2009

By	Paul Seaman (Charlottesville, VA (Afton Mountain on Skyline Drive)) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked up this book because of one passage I read while browsing in a bookstore. (Yes, I later BOUGHT the book--through Amazon...) "To be truly walking on the warrior's path, we have to bring our minds back to the time when we were not ashamed of our dreams; when reality had not yet frustrated our ambitions; when our desire was still too strong to be repressed, and our spirit refused to surrender in resignation; when we were not yet doctors, businessmen, or lawyers, but still wanted to be heroes, leaders, bodhisattvas. The first step on the way to being warriors is to get back in touch with our dreams." (p. 104)

Need I say more? The rest of the book is almost as good, written with obvious personal passion, knowledge of the subject (Asian martial arts, esp. Chinese kung fu), and a refreshing sense of humor. He has the unusual gift of being able to write philosophically without sounding pretentious or putting you to sleep. It's the kind of book that now has highlighting marks on almost every page. And as a curious aside, this guy was born in Italy, apparently not a native English speaker, though he writes better than most Americans, and he wrote this book in his early twenties!

A final cue: How can you not be impressed with a guy who quotes from both Frederich Nietzsche and Pearl Jam in the same subhead? And who counts Richard Strossi-Heckler among his close friends? Strossi is an aikido master and psychologist, and the author of "In Search of the Warrior Spirit: Teaching Awareness Discipines to the Green Berets"--one of my all-time favorite books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the First Edition , September 17, 2008

By	Frank H. "Frank H." (USA) - See all my reviews

This second edition of this modern classic on philosophy and martial arts is even better than the original, for it contains two great extra chapters in addition to all the old material. In an on-line interview, the author himself has stated that one of the new chapters (the last one) is his favorite among anything he has ever written.
One of the extra chapters is about the relationship between combat sports and traditional martial arts, and about the need to combine philosophy with action. As Bolelli puts it, "more sweat and less talk". This is a very enjoyable chapter, but it pales in comparison to the last one: an unlikely but beautiful essay about friendship, loneliness, the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, and the deeper emotional urges driving us toward martial arts. Here we can see Bolelli at his best. If you own the original edition, either get this or check it out at the library because the new material is worth it.

5.0 out of 5 stars a fantastic read, January 29, 2009

By	A. Lutens (NY, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

not just for martial artists. A book rich in history, philosophy, mythology and more importantly: Life. I could not put it down. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.