Working The Way: Martial Artists on Their Career Journeys
In war-torn Korea, sixteen-year-old Kyung-Ho Min lies about his age to fight in the war. Through benefactors, he leaves his homeland and travels across 1960s America teaching martial arts. At the height of anti-war protests and civil rights movements, Kyung-Ho — now Dr. Ken Min — builds his dream of a world-class educational institution uniting martial disciplines under one roof: The University of California Martial Arts Program at Berkeley.
A community memoir, Working the Way: Martial Artists on Their Career Journeys celebrates one man’s vision and generations of black belts who’ve taken their training to professional fields. It will inspire students, educators, professionals, martial artists, and anyone else finding their way.
The University of California Martial Arts Program (UCMAP), headquartered at the University of California Berkeley campus for more than a half century, is the only program in the United States to house six arts under its umbrella: Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Taiji, Wushu, and Yongmudo. Its ambassadorial approach also contributed to building martial arts on a global stage, including Taekwondo as an Olympic sport.
The diverse career paths of UCMAP students have been remarkable, from anthropology to mechanical engineering, journalism to optometry, Asian American studies to political science. Martial arts often serves as an athletic and mental outlet beyond the grueling demands of graduate research and field work. These essays reflect on how martial arts shaped their career journeys — as well as their cultural perspective, intellectual resilience and deep kinship.
Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1rIySua
exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing… [revealing the] deep connections from their martial arts experiences to other aspects of their lives.
Judge, 33rd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards
really nice wisdom in all the voices, with lifelong perspective
Judge, Writer’s Digest 13th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards submission
Other Nonfiction
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation [2 volumes]
Thomas A. Green (Anthology Editor) , Joseph R. Svinth (Anthology Editor)
From ABC-CLIO:
This book is the most comprehensive and authoritative reference ever published on the wide range of martial arts disciplines practiced in cultures around the world.
ABC-CLIO’s Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation is the most authoritative reference ever published on combat disciplines from around the world and across history. Coverage includes Shaolin monks, jousting knights, Roman gladiators, Westerner gunfighters, samurai warriors, and heavyweight boxers. These iconic figures and many more are featured in this title, as well as representatives of less well known but no less fascinating systems, all vividly characterized by expert contributors from around the world who are themselves martial arts practitioners.
Martial Arts of the World comprises 120 entries in two volumes. The first volume is organized geographically to explore the historic development of martial arts styles in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The second volume looks at martial arts thematically, with coverage of belief systems, modern martial arts competitions, and a wide range of such topics as folklore, women in martial arts, martial arts and the military, and martial arts and the media.
Available on Bloomsbury
Asia in the San Francisco Bay Area: A Cultural Travel Guide
From The Asia Society,
The Asia Society, America’s leading institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Asia, presents an innovative guide to experiencing the Asian cultures that enrich the San Francisco Bay Area. A leading team of experts in the areas of Asian art, film, food, religion, and nightlife has compiled the best of Asian culture in the Bay Area, from the hottest new trends to centuries-old traditions. This guide contains detailed listings of specialty shops, food stores, museums, restaurants, bars, and the lively festivals of Asia-relevant neighborhoods, including San Francisco’s Chinatown, Daly City’s “Little Manila,” and Fremont’s “Little Kabul.” With additional features on topics such as San Francisco’s new Asian Art Museum and the prominent Bay Area chefs impacting local Asian cuisine, Asia in the San Francisco Bay Area is a sophisticated and savvy sourcebook perfect for visitors and residents alike.
July 2004. Available on the Internet Archive