Beyond the Known

Master Tri was one of the kindest living beings that I've ever known...a true Master with timeless wisdom found in his words/sharings. He will always be greatly remembered and missed. I've done a painting in memory of him and all of the other Great Masters before him, that I've titled "Spirit of Shaolin" which can be seen at one of my online galleries at: DaelArt.com Dael

5 stars isnt enough. This is one of those rare books that you can read 1000 times and on the 1001st read you would still get more out of it. This book can easily be used as a pocket companion throughout your entire life to help you in more ways than i have room to write in a little review. Also, this book has really helped me to see more clearly as to what my purpose in life is. I hope it will do the same for you. Na Mo A Mi To Fo

This is an excellent glimpse into the internal portion of the martial arts. It is told through a story of a young master and his struggles much akin to our own, possessing egos and monkey minds. It is cleverly written to be much like the conundrums of Asian tales, but is obvious enough to be something most can relate to. I highly recommend this book to anyone who trains martial arts and wants to deepen their commitment to becoming a better person and martial artist.

I was fortunate to study under Master Tri Thong Dang for five years, and so I am biased in my review. His accomplishments as a martial artist were extensive and substantial. He held high rank and status in Tai Mantis Kung Fu, Aikido and Judo. He did not accept the title of "master," though he was, and true to his principles, he refused to elaborate his many achievements in and out of martial arts in order to sell books. Though he is no longer with us, what he left behind in Beyond the Known was more than words and stories eloquently put together, but lessons for life from his journey in the martial arts. Master Tri Dang would say "martial arts is life" and equated the life of a "true martial artist" to that of a monk or priest on a path of enlightenment. For Master Tri Dang, training hard and developing your techniques shows your dedication and responsibility, but techniques are only the clothing of the artist. What is important is the character of the artist, at the same time, your art should be effective and well practiced. To Master Tri Thong Dang, the martial and the art were not to be separated, and the ultimate goal of a martial artist is to develop oneself. If you are interested in these thoughts, these lessons, you will enjoy Beyond the Known.

My sensei had everyone in my dojo read Gichin Funakoshi's Karate-Do; My Way of Life, which spells out the principles of martial arts. This book follows the development of a martial arts master and his student, and while it doesn't spell out principles it shows them through parables. I think of it as a "companion" book to Funakoshi's, (which I think should be read first) even though the two authors did not collaborate. I found this book to be a good clarifier for personal motives and battles encountered in martial arts training and I think this is a very good choice for any martial artist. I will keep it in my collection and re-read it every few years. I also look forward to reading the sequel, "Towards the Unknown."