I was fortunate to receive a draft manuscript of The Way To Black Belt before it was published, and I was thoroughly impressed with the guidance Kane and Wilder provide readers who wish to earn their black belt swiftly and efficiently. Now that I have seen the finished book with the accompanying photographs and layout, I am even more impressed. This is a book every beginning martial artist should read. Don't be fooled into thinking that Kane and Wilder take the approach of a belt factory in that you should be able to receive a black belt swiftly without putting in the time, sweat, and tears needed to earn a belt that means something, they don't. They give practical and timely advice for the person who wants to make martial arts their journey, knowing that a black belt is not the end, but that learning never ends. Because of this "learning never ends" philosophy, this book is equally beneficial for those that have already reached black belt level, but continue along their martial art journey. As an instructor, I found things in this book to not only help my personal growth, but to help me help those I teach as well.

Kane and Wilder took an interesting approach by introducing each chapter with and intro by an experienced black belt and then ending each chapter with a treatise from a senior student. The wisdom from these accomplished martial artists ads tremendously to the excellent advice Kane and Wilder present in each chapter. Additionally, the book provides many other resources that are included in the suggested reading and recommended web site portions of each chapter.

Chapters include such topics as not limiting yourself, finding a good instructor, knowing how you learn, understanding strength versus skill, practicing a little every day, understanding strategy to master tactics, knowing how to work through injuries and using technology. All of these chapters provide excellent advice for beginning martial artists through advanced. For instructors, knowing how you learn, but also how your students learn is extremely valuable. Anyone who has ever practiced a martial art for any length of time has most likely experienced some form of injury. For those of us who have been practicing many years, we’ve lost count. Kane and Wilder’s chapter on injuries has important guidance in treating injuries and most important preventing them in the first place.

I was impressed when I read the first draft, and I am now extremely impressed with the finished book. This is a book that I highly recommend for any martial artist. For the beginner, it will help you achieve results much faster. For the experienced martial artist or instructor, it will help you along your journey and provide guidance to become a better teacher. If you are serious about your martial arts training, read this book.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series.