"A sensei is more than a teacher, Kenichi. He is someone who has trodden the same path you now tread. Someone to guide you on every stage of your journey."
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Chojun by Goran Powell YMAA Publication Center
book review by John E. Roper
Fictionalized biographies of historical figures are not uncommon, and many booksellers and libraries have a wide selection to choose from. Most, however, deal with former presidents, world leaders, or those who have fostered social change. Others attempt to dramatize the lives of people from the Bible or other religious works. Few, though, take on the challenge of telling the story of innovators in the martial arts using fiction as a medium, and rarely with the level of literary quality that the author displays in his riveting tale of the life of Chojun Miyagi.
Powell's book chronicles the last twenty years of the famed Okinawan martial artist who established the Goju Ryu style of karate and paints a compelling portrait of a man completely dedicated to his art. Drawing on sources that include Miyagi's own writings, memoirs of his former students, and other documentation, Powell manages to retain much of the historical accuracy of events in Miyagi's life while using fictional interactions with both real and invented characters to show his personality. What emerges from this blend is an entertaining yet informative picture of one of the giants in martial arts history.
While the portrayal of Miyagi is excellent, what truly pushes this book beyond the average, biographical tale to a novel that rivals the best that modern literature has to offer is the coming-of-age storyline of his young student, Kenichi. Far from being a merely a tool to tell the tale of Miyagi, Kenichi emerges as a memorable character in his own right that the reader both likes and identifies with. Emotionally gripping and perfectly paced, Powell's excellent tribute to one of karate's most famous masters is not to be missed.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review