by Antonnio Graceffo
This book release, written by my publisher, is about my new book, Warrior Odyssey (available at www.blackbeltmag.com/warrior_odyssey) which covers my first many years in Asia. Although the book is told from a martial arts perspective, I tried to include as much about the conflict in Burma as possible, to help bring attention and garner support for the people suffering at the hands of the military junta.
The book talks about the lives of internally displaced people, soldiers, and orphans, living in Shan State. It also contains information about Lai Tai, Shan Kung Fu, which was previously unknown outside of Shan State.
Anyone who hears about the situation inside of Burma will usually agree that it is horrible, and that it needs to be changed. The problem is getting people to listen. The film Rambo IV used violence, action, and Sylvester Stallone to get people to listen about Burma. Through an action movie, Sylvester Stallone was able to reach an audience who don’t normally read the international news, or know much about Burma.
My book has a similar aim. I am hoping that people will pick up the book because they are interested in martial arts or Asian culture in general, but when they reach the chapters about Burma, I hope they will learn about the injustices there, and that they will take action.
People know me from my youtube video series “Martial Arts Odyssey”, “Brooklyn Monk in Asia”, and “Shanland”. I have dedicated every single one of my videos to the people of Burma.
I hope that my book, Warrior Odyssey, will take people a step further toward taking action on the war in Burma.
As always, I ask, “Please say a prayer for the people of Shan State and all of the people of Burma.”
Antonio Graceffo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Read the Greatest Martial Arts Adventure Ever
Black Belt’s newest book illustrates how culture, communication and martial arts meet through author Antonio Graceffo’s decade-long adventures in Asia.
Valencia, Calif. (BLACK BELT) July 24, 2010—Warrior Odyssey: The Travels of a Martial Artist Through Asia captures one man’s ongoing and decade-long adventure across the Far East. After 9/11, Antonio Graceffo quits his financial job in New York to pursue his dream: to study kung fu at the legendary Shaolin Temple in China. The autobiography then traces his expedition through nine countries, which include Hong Kong, Cambodia, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Burma.
Beginning in Taiwan, Warrior Odyssey chronicles how the protagonist learns the Chinese language, kung fu and twe so, then journeys on to the Shaolin Temple in mainland China. From there, Graceffo embraces an even greater adventure, which is to study the martial arts and learn from the martial arts masters that represent the 10 locations he visits all over Asia.
During his time in Asia, Graceffo studies the following martial arts: kung fu, Western boxing, tai chi, modern arnis, kuk sool, escrima, muay Thai and military combatives, as well as rarer martial arts like muay Thai boran, krabi krabong, muay Thai Sangha, twe so, Khmer kickboxing, Khmer wrestling, bokator, taekkyon, ssireum wrestling, vovinam, muay Lao, kuntaw, thieu lam and lai tai. He also learns from well-known instructors like bokator grandmaster San Kim Sean, muay Thai Sangha master Pedro Villalobos and kuntaw master Frank Ayococh
No matter whether Graceffo is learning the almost extinct art of bokator in Cambodia, crossing into rebel camps in Burma or absorbing the knowledge of disciples of ancient wisdom in Taiwan, Warrior Odyssey is like no other quest written about before or since.
Warrior Odyssey: The Travels of a Martial Artist Through Asia
by Antonio Graceffo
$16.95 | Code 514
296 pgs. | B/W pictures
ISBN: 978-0-89750-190-3
www.blackbeltmag.com/warrior_odyssey
About the Author
Antonio Graceffo has been traveling, living and studying martial arts in Asia for the last decade. He is a monthly travel columnist for Black Belt and is a frequent call-in guest on regional radio talk shows in the United States. He has worked as a martial arts consultant for The History Channel and the Discovery Channel. He has studied martial arts for more than 20 years.
About Black Belt
Black Belt is the world’s leading martial arts magazine and is dedicated to the classical and the eclectic martial arts. First published in 1961, Black Belt features interviews with the world’s most prestigious martial artists and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles, as well as in-depth coverage of the latest techniques, weapons, self-defense systems, training regimens and industry trends. It also continues to publish instructional books and DVDs from a variety of disciplines, including jujutsu, mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, grappling, jeet kune do and more. For more on Black Belt and its line of books and DVDs, visit www.blackbeltmag.com.
Contact
Sarah Dzida
Book Editor
(661) 257-4066 ext. 1635
sdzida@aimmedia.com