Way of the Fight

An extremely insightful book. I brought it with me to my teaching job at the high school and so many students who weren’t necessarily readers expressed an avid interest. I made many connections with the book as a martial artist who had to fight from a young age. I wish I had 100's of copies to give to kids. Really. They would read it. Surprising in the vulnerability that GSP is willing to show in this book, about being bullied, losing fights, and struggling, but insightful and worthwhile because of this. This is very different from other MMA fighters’ autobiographies I have read, and of much more worth on many levels.GSP on Bruce Lee and the Importance of Mental and Physical Fluidity:“Bruce Lee is one of the greatest martial artists there ever was. He was the first to try and accomplish so many new things. He took the word ‘artist’ beyond the known boundaries of the word. Bruce, for example, was the first to train his muscles not for power but for functionality. He understood very early on that real physical power complements other skills that are more important, like strategy and technique. He believed that total fitness was the perfect combination of many things: flexibility, strength, and a strong respiratory system. He found that real strength was found in connective tissue—which holds muscles on the human frame—more than muscle size or muscle mass. In fact, Bruce Lee believed that bigger muscles could actually be bad for martial artists because they limit movement and fluidity. He saw that big muscles actually make people slower and reduce their mobility. For Bruce, everything had to be fluid.Fluidity made Bruce Lee who he is, and had a huge impact on my development too. It shows the human and philosophical side of the ultimate martial artist. Here’s something he said about being fluid:Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teacup, it becomes the teacup. That water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.I’ve learned that a thing is perfect only if it’s perfect for you. For me, that comes from being fluid, from being open to ideas and better ways of doing things. Think of Bruce and the water analogy: sometimes you can see through the water, and other times it clouds and you can’t see anything. Sometimes water can drill through the hardest surfaces, while other times it can just go around them. It can erode rock over thousands of years, or it can carry tiny pebbles away.In other words, water constantly changes shape and consistency, it’s essential to survive, and it chooses its own shape. Life is like that too. To control it, you have to master it and learn the source of its power and the nature of its course.I like to think I’m like water that adapts to its surroundings and eventually finds a way in. It’s certainly how I train, and how I’ve seen other great fighters evolve. “Georges St. Pierre “The Way Of the Fight”Georges St. Pierre’s reflections in relation to Bruce Lee may not be historically accurate, as warriors who fought in hand-to-hand combat over centuries uncounted extending into prehistory had little time for non-functional muscles, but the points he makes should be contemplated in relation to how we should train and the essential need for practical, functional strength, and fluidity—both mentally and physically.(Note: I reviewed this back in 2013. Anyone who follows MMA knows much has changed since then, and a new review and new book from GSP would deal much more, I think, with the pressures a fighter experiences over his career).

Great book but it had less entertainment value than expected and it came across more as a motivational/self help type book.

After a very successful career as a financial consultant ,at age 55, I was forced to retire due to ill health...so we moved from Johannesburg to a remote wilderness in the mountains of Swellendam,where we spend 3 years building Godswindow. At age 59,inspired by Bakkies Sensei,I started MA.?I could hardly manage one push up...?my body,mind and soul battled scarred from life in the fast laneThe 1st few years were a blurr,but I rapidly progressed to 3rd kyu,then we moved to Hermanus,and I drove over the mountain 3 times a week for private lessons ,whilst training everyday in my own Dojo ,The gatekeeper,and soon I progressed to 1stkyu brown belt ,and my 1st experience at a word Budosai in Okinawa July 2012.I returned,on fire,and for the next 12 months spend on average 3 to 4 hours training and repairing for the one unbelievable achievement and goal I was aiming for...TO QUALIFY AND EARN SHODAN,!Vin Sensei(7dan) Tersuis Sensei (5dan) and Bakkies Sensei(8dan) ,my mentors and private tutors, inspired and allowed me to glimpse the greatness and godlike abilities and talents hidden in what appeared to be ordinary men! ...and paved the way for me to discover a part of me I never dreamed existedMy Sensei confided in me," We noticed the rather old man move from white to yellow belt, and despite all expectations that he would give up,he simply kept going. Then,as a new brown belt,driving over the mountain for his 1st lesson,we decided to test him with a very hard class,thinking that this would scare him off for good,,,but he just kept on coming back? It was the hard work,determined,focused and enthusiastic attitude that made the difference,and finally in march 2013, some 40 months from starting that I achieved one of my greatest goals...my shodanNow ,as a new black belt,my MA education is beginning,and I found myself in my 1st competition,competing against seasoned black belts ,and not even daring to hope for any chance of any achievement,simply grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow....yet, I achieved a silver medal and earned not only my place in the team competing in the forthcoming South African championship,but far more important,I was accepted into the hallow ranks of black belts and attended my 1st international black belt Gashuku in Stellenbosch with Bakkies SenseiThis book has arrived at precisely the right time,and has reinforced my resolve to work even harder and smarter to grow in this awesome art. Old age is a bitch,and my greatest enemy,but we are not what we think we are....What we think,!we areThe power of a billion butterfly wings await to explode inside you...all it takes is awesome hard work and great teachers on whose giant shoulders you can stand....read this book ,and see how it's done

I've admired GSP for a long time, ever since he fought BJ Penn in their first bout in 2006. I knew this man was something special from the moment I saw him fight--a man who undoubtedly stood out from the rest of the elites due to the purity of his movements, poise, and control.What can I say about this man that hasn't already been said? He is the embodiment of hard work, discipline, integrity, sacrifice, love, loyalty, hope...essentially a prototype of what a hero stands for. That's not to say he doesn't have his faults, fears, and demons...because he does. This book dispels the myth that GSP is some sort of God-gifted athlete who was born to be the champ that he is today. Instead, it shares with you as to how and why he became one of the most feared fighters on the planet...through all the qualities that make humans great, and then some. The amount of pain he endures to be the best physically, mentally, and emotionally is extraordinary in every sense of the word...it's almost inhuman, but I digress.We all want to set the bar high so when we reach them, victory is all the sweeter. It can be argued that GSP, however, sets the bar to heights that no man has, or will, ever reach...but as readers we have the opportunity to move our bar higher after reading about men like 'Rush', so that's a huge bonus for us :)In short, this is a great book detailing the philosophy behind GSP, and all the heartaches one suffers in order to achieve greatness. Read it, and you won't regret it.PS: I also recommend Brian Stann's book, 'Heart for the Fight' if you are hoping to read an introspective look at some of the most absorbing and fascinating MMA athletes we have today.

This book is not quite what I expected as an autobiography. This is probably less about Georges' personal life then Brock Lesner put in his book  Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival . However the knowledge Georges tries to impart, from philosophy, to his beliefs, sacrifices and rewards is amazing. I read more like a self-help book then an autobiography.This is actually a creation manual of how the outsider Georges became one of the greatest marital arts fighters of his generation. He takes Bruce Lee and other philosophiser as his inspiration using philosophy (an idea) as a starting stone, the next step is GSP's interpretation (what he thing the person is trying to convey), then practical examples which he lives every day to achieve his goal. He gives a perfect example of Lee's fighting without fighting method is his job as a bouncer.Here is an example of GSP's though process. He strives for perfection. He knows it is impossible but, that just make him try harder to achieve it. He states as he is writing this book he wants it to be the best book in its category. Who would say that when they have very little to no writing experience, and English is not their first language? As I was writing this review Amazon printed a label the "No 1 martial arts book in the world". That is what GSP lives for setting goals people think are impossible and achieving them. Then seeking a higher goal for himself.The book really shines on the mental aspect of martial arts. I say martial arts instead of mixed martial arts (MMA), because of it being mixed MMA inherits the theories from the other Martial arts. What GSP has done is managed to group together the ideas that go together e.g. a boxing jab, with a Muay Thai stance, then karate "rush" to break distance for a wrestling takedown, then control pound or look for a submission. He call this "shootbox" (his amalgamated fighting style not the famous Brazilian gym) a style all his own. He sees "Shootbox" as the interface to all these different arts used in MMA.The negatives I found about the book are there is very little about other fighters and fights. I would have liked to have more of GSP's though on his own fights he does this a couple of times to point out how he jab paid off in the second Kos fight. This can be explained because GSP truly believed his fights are won in the week and months before the execution is done as his body has been taught to over the gruelling training camp. It would have been nice to hear his views about other fighters, and a fight from his perspective. Then again GSP does not remember his fights straight after them he need to watch them again, then he can recall it move for move. Also I would have like to hear GSP's side of the second Penn fight. Penn and a number of people blatantly accused him if cheating (greasing). I think this would have been a perfect forum for GPS to give his side but he does not even mention it.GSP is always training the training camps are really just him fine tuning his game plan for his specific opponent, more than a really physical change. A great book that will give, I think, and greater insight into GSP then any autobiography could ever do; extremely insightful look into Martial arts. This is GSP book and like martial arts GSP has taken over every aspect of Georges' life. Read it and you will understand what I mean. Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival

A fascinating autobiography about the greatest in the sport but also really motivational. It gives an insight to what it takes to build a champion.I loved to hear more about Georges life experiences and the perspective from his mentors, mom. I also enjoyed all the insights about training and strategic work throught his refinement process. I love how intelligent he is and how he knows how to use his creativity inside and outside the octagon.Martial artists can benefit a lot from it, but the knowledge extends to different aspects in life. It is never outdated. Georges shows how to program ourselves to greatness like a nice teacher that genuinely wants the students to succeed with him. Georges changes and moves me, helps me reorganize, face my fears, breathe, and hopefully I can shorten the path. He is my hero.I highly recommend to all GSP fans and to anyone that wants to find your best self. Georges is a generous man to share.

This does stand out as a book for a few reasons.He shares his view on life and martial arts, how he sees things and how his perceptions have changed, in any biography I feel these moments are priceless.1. He is an active martial artist - I don't mean actively competing but active that he fights and practices what he preaches so the info coming from a living world champion fighter is a very valuable source of info.2. He shows his thought patterns/ philosophies on martial arts explaining his stance and views also the views of his instructors/mentors which is also another angle of great insight to have, which is rear to see a martial artist have current/ former coaches explain their views on students,this book brings a great deal of understanding to the martial arts influence in his life has and the sacrifices one has to be prepared to make to progress. Extremely insightful moments describing coping strategies he has held during difficult periods.3. Explanations of training choices its great to see how this developed.The best parts for me in this book are his ideas on how to view life and its challenges.

J'ai acheté ce livre comme cadeau pour un ami. J'ai commencé à le lire et je n'ai pas pu m'empêcher d'arrêter. Je me suis achetée une copie pour moi. Vraiment belle lecture, empowering and real.

I loved GSP as a fighter before I read this book. But now I have an even greater respect for the man who is not only one of the greatest fighters of all time, but a martial artist to the truest sense of the word. His insight into what being a martial artist means, what it takes to becoming an MMA champion, and how to overcome challenges (like defeat) is inspirational. And whether you train a particular martial art, are an athlete, or simply someone that wants to succeed in attaining your life goals, GSP provides the reader with some deep and profound answers. His kind personality comes out in this book and his passion and sincerity are unquestionable. I read this book during a time in my life that has been a struggle and more than once he inspired me to not quit and use fear to help me get to my goals. I am positive others will find he same inspiration I did reading this.