"Be Water, My Friend" Book Review

Be Water, My Friend by Ken Mochizuki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a further extension on what I did with Corey Rosen Schwartz's The Three Ninja Pigs, I decided to connect Mochizuki's book as it delved further into Kung Fu and the greatest Sensei/Martial Artist that's walked this Earth: Bruce Lee. Yes, he's my childhood hero. But, what I liked about Mochizuki's book is that he discussed "Mo Shi Tung" as a child (read in the book what it means)...a hyper-active, jokster, who went from a trouble-maker to a world-wide icon, due to the discipline learned in Kung Fu. He expanded his learning even more by creating "Jeet Kune Do," and that's what I want to instill in my students as a librarian: Take what you've learned and own it so much that you can create your own enhanced version or style.

To me, and hopefully to my students, that's true originality. I'd argue you to find a better model than Bruce Lee: the philosopher, the master of martial arts and the one who married the woman he loved, regardless of race.

Additionally, Dom Lee's drawings/artist style can't be matched. His skill is about as deft as Bruce's 1 inch punch! It was a joy for me to find this book on the shelf in the library. It combines my greatest joys: Bruce Lee, Kung Fu, perseverance and becoming a self-made individual, regardless of stereotypes, circumstances and the like!

A job well done to Mochizuki and Lee!

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