BOOK REVIEW: The Way of the Nunchaku, Vol. 1

03/09/04

By Master Shuny Bee, Self-published, $24.95

Grade B for enthusiasts; D for Others, as in "Don't get hurt."

Come on, man, remember how you were swinging around those nunchuks and, like, smashed them right into a lamp or your eye and your mom got real mad.

Remember? you keep them next to those ninja stars, underneath that box of M-80s. Ah, those carefree days of dirt bikes, comic books, Slurpees and AC/DC cassette tapes.

But enough goofing around. These are not toys. Master Bee teaches at U.S.West Coast Taekwondo, Milwaukie. He's done movie work in Bollywood and Hollywood, and he is serious about this stuff. "Learning martial arts is like searching the universe for truth. There is no end for both. "

His books begins with the synopsis of his journey from Nepal to Oregon and includes a history of the weapon. it's a handbook of forms, photos and techniques accompanied by Master Bee's philosophy and reflections on spirituality.

You can see Master Bee doing his thing at the U.S. Open National Taekwondo Championships, March 13, at the Oregon Convention Center.

Interested? Hunt down or fashion a pair of the "crossing sticks" to practice the exercise. Photos and design by Steve Pomerants appear to be clear and straight forward. No replacement for expert instruction, of course.

Honestly, books endorsed by Jean-Claude Van Damme don't make it up here that often. Good enough for Van Damme good enough for anyone.

-James K. Yu