Hanshi Frank Grant is the consummate warrior. Nearly Hanshi's entire life has been spent as a warrior, from his first lessons in judo in the very early 1960's to his present rank of 10th Dan (which is often worn as a rose red belt) master of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do, and Chairman of the Board of the World Shorin-ryu Karate-do Federation (WSKF). Frank Grant has left an indelible mark on the path of traditional karate-do.
This book is not his book on technique, even though it contains his views on proper and correct execution of Matsubayashi form. The technical manual of Hanshi Grant that explains this style of Okinawan Karate-do and its natural movement is entitled "My Promise to the Master," written by Hanshi Frank Grant and Jeff Slutsky (2013). This book is of his philosophy on training and developing the best form of human each of his students can be. It is about how to unlock the ultimate potential found within each of us. It is a book on philosophy, written as an autobiography and a biography in one cover. It is a culmination of thousands of hours of training, hundreds of hours of discussions through interviews over coffee, and many, many hours of writing, editing and revising the text until this book took a life of its own. All of it is true. All of it is either in Hanshi Grant's own words (autobiography) or in anecdotal experiences of his students (biography) in reference to the discussions with Hanshi Grant. The books, "Black Elk Speaks, The Book of Five Rings, "and "New Model of the Universe," were models the authors referred to when constructing this book, a work of wisdom that reaches beyond the deck of the dojo to the hearts, minds and spirits of all humanity.
D. R. Pike is a long time student of Hanshi Frank Grant and has been under his tutelage for over 30 years. He is not only honored to have entered into this union with his master to create an important written manuscript for the serious martial artist, but also is excited to bring the intense martial art philosophy of this modern warrior to the mainstream audience, as the appeal of this book is universal. This book was seven years in the making, and often the authors would both be mutually exhausted after the recording sessions of their discussions. Many times, more often than not, Mr. Pike would retreat into silent meditative reflection to attempt to dissipate some of the Ki energy that was generated from these talks. Those talks still reverberate in his soul essence today. This book is dedicated to the love, guidance and life of Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine and the virtue he passed on through his teaching to Hanshi Frank Grant. It is an extension of his promise to his master to take the art of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do to the next step and beyond. The teachings of the masters of the old world come to life through the teachings of Hanshi Frank Grant. Through his efforts in explaining the natural laws of karate-do, we are walking in the footsteps of a master.
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