Author: Preston, Brian

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? Sprinkled with reflective detours into serious subjects such as the nature of violence and the state of modern China, this book expertly blends a lively travelogue, a droll riff on the "innocent abroad" theme, and an informative introduction to the world of modern martial arts. 300 pp.