Matthew Black studied psychology and criminal law after becoming a martial artist, but the joy he takes in the practice eclipses all other enthusiasms. In this book, he shares the wisdom he acquired whilst training. Drawing upon sources as disparate as Friedrich Nietzsche, the Buddha, Sitting Bull, and Chuck Norris, he seeks to construct a holistic model for living that incorporates both physical and spiritual disciplines. Black's teachings, which he states are rooted in ancient traditions, have the potential to reach lonely, disaffected young men who find themselves adrift in a society governed by profit and technology. "If there is one certainty to this life," Black writes, "it is that a fight is coming your way, and soon." He spends the next two hundred pages explaining how best to prepare for that fight.

The author is keen to stress that fights are won or lost before they take place, in the countless hours of study, exercise, and personal discipline necessary to make a skilled warrior. In the moment of action, we witness the fruit of all the previous years of training and self-denial. Fights are lost by the lazy and won by those who have put in the hours. No one can fake having worked when they didn't. "The mat," he writes, "doesn't lie."

Black's advice ranges from the mystical to the practical. He advocates "daily diligence" in developing virtuous habits, which have a way of transforming us over time into the sort of people we hope to become. Borrowing a page from Sun Tzu, he advocates exploiting an opponent's psychological weaknesses to keep them off-balance, and seeks to correct the false notion that muscle and strength alone can make a warrior victorious. Intelligence is a fighter's greatest asset, and the brain is their greatest muscle.

Equally laudable is the book's emphasis on character formation. The best martial artists are people of great character. Hoping to encourage the pursuit of spiritual wisdom in the reader, Black offers a number of principles for moral formation: keep company only with good people; abstain from alcohol, which inhibits self-control; develop a durable work ethic; be honest with yourself and others; honor your commitments; avoid letting anger goad you into making dumb mistakes; cultivate an attitude of humility that seeks constant improvement. There are moments when the book, in the best way, feels like a lecture by Alan Watts.

These moral instructions alone are enough to make the book an important read. And if there are moments when his advice veers towards the obvious ("Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"), what ultimately elevates the book into something unique is Black's personality: stern but caring, intolerant of nonsense, deeply invested in spiritually mentoring others. There's something endearingly old-fashioned about his presentation. He seems to have spent very little time online, which gives his words an additional layer of credibility. Even reluctant readers may find themselves charmed by his warmth, earnestness, and authenticity. His great strength is that he never comes across as someone trying to sell a product or push an agenda. He's genuine, and this makes him immensely lovable. And that, in turn, makes the book a joy to read.

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