David Carradine, impelled by his kung fu Master to write about the true nature of the martial arts, gives us a candid account of his path toward enlightenment and his initiation into the mysteries of the spirit of Saholin. Sharing the knowledge gained form his Master Kam Yuen's thirty-five years of study and teaching in the art of kung fu and Carradine's own training and studies for the role of Kwai Chang Caine in the kung fu television series, he explores the true teachings and philosophy behind the art of kung fu and its relevance to the modern world.

Kung fu is an ancient fitness program through which humankind realizes its full potential through better understanding, learning to set higher limits and standards, transcending rigid and false values and achieving harmony with the laws of nature and the universe. The drills of Shaolin kung fu serve to put us in touch mentally with our physical selves, so that we no longer remain strangers to our own bodies.

Kung fu came into being in the 6th centruy A.D. when a wandering Hindu monk, Bodhidharma, travelling through Northern China, came to a Taoist monastery in the Shangshon mountains. There, Bodhidharma expanded the monks' knowledge about the Hindu prophet Buddha and developed eigthteen forms of ahrat-disciplined movements to be performed daily. These forms mingled with ancient Chinese survival systems to become the true beginnings of kungfu.

As the kung fu TV series became a smash hit, it created a martial arts explosion around the world. As David Carradine became a star, many others-most notabley Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris-helped shape a new genre. But the success of the series and the movies was not always reflected in success off stage. There were many obstacles, physical and emotional, in Carradine's Path toward his quest, yet he discovered that everything furthers. As each truth is revealed whether through meditation, through hardship or through discipline, the essence itself actually changes, remaining forever out of reach. Yet is is important to keep trying, and every piece of the puzzle clarifies some aspect of the mystery.

Through his twelve lessons and chapters on healing, nutrition, stance training, stretching, class, self-defense, meditation, and philsophy Carradine fulfills the goal set out for him and gives generously from the spirit of Shaolin.

David Carradine, son of the famed actor/director John Carradine, had his first great success on Broadway as Inca king Atahualpa Capac in The Royal Hunt of the Sun. However, it is for his role in the TV series kung fu that he is best known. Perhaps no one in the world was more prepared than he to assume the role of Kwai Chang Caine-his fascination with non-Western aligned philosophy mixed with his love of dance throughout his youth and his experiences while in the U.S. Army, makng him a 'lean and mean killer hoofer' spiritually seeking the One Thing without his realizing it. Yet everything he had done in life was in preparation for the role of Caine and for the start of his journey toward transcendence.

'Carradine shares not only his personal story, but also twelve lessons, including chapters on healing, nutrition, stance training, stretching, self-defense, meditation and philosophy-giving more in Spirit of Shaolin than is common in several books combined.'-Body Mind Spirit

'This book has a winning combination...entertaining and lively, anchored by the essence of Lao Tsu.'-NAPRA Journal

'To me kung fu is a metaphor-a way to examine the fabric of the universe with my fingertips.'-David Carradine

David Carradine's Spirit of Shaolin is about the philosophy behind the martial art of kung fu. Carradine relates his own transformation to kung fu devotee and provides insight and inspiration for those who want to follow. He discusses the wisdom of the ancient Chinese masters, the principles of Shaolin philosopy, and the inner meaning of the martial arts and its relevance to the modern world. Also included are his own twelve lessons, including notes on nutrition, stetching, and meditation.

David Carradine is best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the popular television series kung fu. It was through this series, n fact, that he became a follower of Shaolin philosophy and devoted practitioner of kung fu. David returns to TV in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, this time playing the grandson of Caine in modern-day Los Angeles.

Contents

The legend continues
The task
Credo
Book One The stories
The way of the dragon
Chosen
The corner stone
The flute
Changes in the way
The revolution
The writing on the wall
After the fall
The three trials
Deathsport
The fourth trial
Lone wolf
Sword and sorcery
David as the teacher
Grasshopper lives
The twelve lessons
Book Two The ancient wisdom
The essence
The history
The one thing
Spirituality
Style
Change
Self-defense
Chi
Meditation
The knowledge
Book Three The lessons
Why kung fu?
Kung fu as haling
Nutrition
Stretching
Stance training
The class
When you lose the way
Getting it back
Become who you want to be
Chien: The teacher
Kun: the healer
Chen: The warrior
Kan: the artisan
Ken: The sage
Sun: The musician
Li: The poet
Tui: The fool
Mastery
A word of caution
Gathering the power
Appendixes
Martial arts around the world
Filmography
Bibliography

I have 30 pages to go before I'm done reading this book and I'm thinking of not bothering to finish ...

I LOVE David Carradine! I love his writing style (and his acting) and his honesty ... he is seriously great!! The last quarter of the book, however, just doesn't interest me because I'm not going to train in Kung Fu and that's what the last quarter of the book is about.

The first three-quarters of the book are about his time filming Kung Fu and his experience with Kung Fu. It is AWESOME!! It's awesome from the stand point of learning about him, but it's also awesome in learning about yourself. Based on the way he writes and the way he presents things, you can learn from his experiences ... the way in which things just connected in his life, especially when he was focusing on developing himself within. If you've ever experienced that in your own life ... you understand and to see it explained by someone else who has experienced it.

I will keep this book solely because it's written by David Carradine... and maybe I'll read it again.

Adrianne ( )