Today I'd like to welcome author Chris Bradford. Chris' books Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior, Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword, and Young Samurai: The Way of the Dragon are in stores now. The next installment Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth is scheduled to be released in August of 2010.
Sometimes, The Sword Is Mightier Than The Pen — Chris Bradford
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”Joseph Addison (English Writer and Statesman, 1672-1719)
We all know how important reading is to a child’s development, but with all the immediate distractions in the modern world it can be difficult to engage young people in the activity of reading.
My answer is to ‘keep it real’ and show kids how books can live and breathe from the page! With the Young Samurai series, not only will they read a great action-adventure story, but they can experience Jack and Akiko’s world first hand by participating in martial arts, discussing & role-playing etiquette and language, designing their own kimono, eating sushi and even organising a Japanese festival! [See Teacher’s Guide below]
You see Young Samurai is more than a ‘clash of swords’ action-adventure story. For me, it’s a way of life.
Never is this more apparent than when I’m standing in front of a group of children wielding my samurai sword.
Certainly, the sword guarantees a young audience’s attention. Being a writer, teacher and black belt martial artist dispels many preconceptions an audience might have regarding the archetypal author. The combination of a reading and samurai sword display inspires them so even the most reluctant readers are picking up books as if their lives depended upon it!
I started martial arts aged 7 ¾ and over the years the sport has had a very positive influence. Not only has it taught me self-defense, it has built my self-confidence and developed life skills. Like my hero Jack Fletcher, my young readers can learn the ‘Way of the Warrior’ and come to understand bushido, the samurai code of conduct that promotes such values as respect, loyalty and courage.
By including a sword display in my author events, I reveal the reality behind the fiction, and not only engage regular readers and sports enthusiasts, but also film buffs and computer aficionados familiar with Bruce Lee, Manga comics and samurai video games.
My hope is that readers caught up in the spirit of Young Samurai will not only read the book, but try a martial art for themselves, so they too can live the story and learn bushido. But I don’t rely on my sword to keep their attention. It merely helps them focus! Once they’re reading, they’re hooked…
And the pen is again mightier than the sword!
Should you wish to see me in action on my US tour, please visit this site.
For a free downloadable Teachers’ Classroom Activities & Discussion Guide, please visit: www.youngsamurai.com
Chris Bradford is the author of the award-winning Young Samurai series, a tale of adventure, friendship and heroism that follows an English boy as he strives to become the first foreign samurai. (www.youngsamurai.com <http://www.youngsamurai.com >)
Chris is a black belt in martial arts and lives in a village in West Sussex, England, with his wife.
Books in series: The Way of the Warrior and The Way of the Sword
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Huge thanks to author Chris Bradford for stopping by! What a wonderful post! Thank you! My reviews of his books will be coming soon!