Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
What happens when a self-styled wuss sets out to earn a black belt? Why have Eastern martial arts become so popular worldwide? Is the Ultimate Fighting Championship a beautiful fusion of East-meets-West martial technique, or shameless commercialization? These questions and more find answers in Me, Chi, and Bruce Lee, a rollicking journey through the world of modern martial arts.
Author Brian Preston s trek takes him from a kung fu school in his hometown of Victoria, Canada, to the storied Shaolin Temple in China, back to Canada to meet Brazilian Jujitsu legend Royce Gracie, and on to Vegas and the thrills of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Along the way, Preston discovers a vast array of martial arts practices, theories, and controversies when he s not too busy getting a beat-down from a 60-year-old woman. Sprinkled with reflective detours into serious subjects like the nature of violence and the state of modern China, Me, Chi, and Bruce Lee expertly blends a lively travelogue, a droll riff on the innocent abroad theme, and an informative introduction to global martial arts."
About the Author
Brian Preston is a freelance journalist who lives with his family on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. He has written articles for a variety of Canadian publications, as well as Vogue, Details, and Rolling Stone. He has won numerous magazine awards in Canada and teaches media and communications at University Canada West. His first book, Pot Planet, is an odyssey into cannabis culture around the globe, and was called "gimlet-eyed and often hilarious" by The New Yorker.