Tang Soo Tao: The Living Buddha in Martial Virtue

Biography Adult Education Spirituality Martial Arts Eastern Philosophy Sports Training Mindfulness & Meditation

Tang Soo Tao: The Living Buddha in Martial Virtue is a scarce 1981 Australian paperback that serious collectors of true martial-arts literature still hunt for on the secondary market. Written by veteran practitioner Robert Caputo, this 254-page textbook is the only English-language volume that fuses authentic Tang Soo Tao fighting science with the meditative disciplines of Shaolin, Tai Chi, Pa-Kua, Yoga and Zen. Forty-plus years after its small print-run, the book has become a cult reference on university adult-learning courses and is repeatedly cited in modern works on both combative biomechanics and Eastern spirituality.

Unlike generic “how-to” manuals, Caputo delivers a gripping biographical narrative: he retraces the journey of a modern Western student who apprentices under an enigmatic Korean master nick-named “the Living Buddha,” documenting every step—from rigorous physical conditioning and forms practice to the inner alchemical work that turns technique into virtue. Readers therefore get both a true story and a practical syllabus: detailed photo sequences of hyung, breaking drills, pressure-point applications and sitting-meditation protocols, all cross-referenced with Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist commentary. The result is a holistic training guide that satisfies hard-core martial artists while offering personal-development tools for yoga and mindfulness communities.

Collectors prize this edition for its rarity and durable construction. The copy offered here remains in good, fully readable condition—binding tight, pages unmarked, no dog-ears or tears. The only flaws are a small ownership sticker on the publication page and minor corner watermarking confined to the inside rear cover and facing blank leaf; text and imagery are unaffected. For adults or young adults seeking an out-of-print classic that bridges combative excellence and spiritual growth, Tang Soo Tao: The Living Buddha in Martial Virtue is a cornerstone text that seldom surfaces in the used-book marketplace.

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