Waking Dragons

Thirty Man Kumite is one of karate's toughest tests. Kumite means fighting, so it means fighting a line-up of 30 people, one after the other, with no pause in between each fight. Each new fighter is fresh, and the person taking the test must move up the ranks fighting higher and higher grades, the strongest last. Few martial artists will ever experience this. This book is a true account of Goran Powell's Thirty Man Kumite – which was much harder than even he had imagined – and the lifetime of martial arts that led up to it. He explains what he learned at each stage and how he put it into practice for his ultimate test. The book touches on concepts such as chi, 'soft' techniques, Zen and the idea that 'it's all in the mind'. A story of personal development, self-knowledge, overcoming fear and spiritual growth.