Legends of the Martial Arts Masters Book

"Legends of the Martial Arts Masters" by Susan Lynn Peterson is a quiet breeze on a gorgeous day in the early Spring. Refreshing it brings hints, whispers, seeds of things to come. Susan Lynn Peterson collected a series of twenty-one legends. Each one concerned core ideals and deeper philosophies which are the "life blood" of true martial arts practice(s).

Though the tales and stories collected are clearly not "new" the collection of them in one place is somewhat uncommon. Richard Kim, Paul Reps, Susan Ribner, Peter Urban, John F. Gilby (aka Robert Smith), Pascal Fauliot, Peter Lewis, Shoshin Nagamine true all have written similar stories. But unlike Fauliot, Gilby (and others), Peterson does not interrupt these tales to comment upon the lessons offered. Such reflection is left to the reader, and the reader alone.

Deeper cultural context, a more thorough explanation of assorted ideas, terms used within such stories are often mandatory. Yet largely without them, Peterson's stories stand strongly on their own power, unbolstered. A paragraph at most is given, then the retelling of the legend begins anew. Peterson's style of writing does not hide behind foreign terminology. When used, a term or concept is weaved into the story and explained smoothly. Sadly this is a rare occurrence for too many contemporary martial authors.

One complaint, tales of female martial artists are too few. The 6th century poem and tales of "Mu-lan" and the Buddhist nun, Ng Mui's legendary creation of the Wing Chun art are the two stories commonly told. Peterson retells them as well. But far more should have been found! If a modern "legend" concerning Robert Trias's life was used surely others could have been located concerning modern/ancient female martial artists. Surely more than two stories exist.

Any tales of the Japanese "Onna bugeisha" (female warriors) could have been added easily. Legends of White Crane Boxing or any number of other chinese arts could have been explored for the addition of other legends of female practitioners.

However tales included in this book are of Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura , Sumo Wrestling, Robert Trias (Shurei-Ryu Karate), the Three Sons legend, Tsukahara Bokuden, Yasutsune "Ankoh" Itosu, the ballad of Mu-lan. Nai Khanom Tom (Muay Thai), Ng Mui (Wing Chun), Tamo (the Eighteen Hands), Miyamoto Musashi, Hisamori Takenouchi (Jujitsu), Gichen Funakoshi (Shotokan), Morihei Ueshiba (Aikido), Masutatsu Mas Oyama (Kyokushinkai), Chatan Yara, Gogen Yamaguchi (Japanese Gojuryu), Duk Ki Song (TaeKyon), Kyudo (Japanese Archery), and a final modern story extolling the virtue of persistence.

Such stories are told and varied in many books and publications. The inclusion of the final story "Fifty Thousand High Blocks" a modern story written by Peterson (?) is perhaps the weakest of the collection. Peterson seems to contend these legends are valuable not when they move us by the actions of its characters but instead when they drive us to reflect on our own greater capacities. If this is a fair assessment, the final story in her book just did not "reach" that bar. It was a fine story but just not excessively compelling to move a reader young or old.

Additional stories about Hwarang Do, Tang Soo Do, Krav Maga dozens of potential arts and their respective legends is an almost endless list. But others arts could surely have been added or substituted with impunity.

Peterson wrote a book with startling skill. Minor tweaks will make it superlative!