NOBLE ECHOES is a book about the ethos and virtue that lie at the core of the Martial Arts and how to express them in Everyday Life.

There is much more to the martial arts than methods of interpersonal combat. Below the surface, there lies a vast ethical and moral dimension. This deeper aspect of martial arts constitutes an array of philosophical precepts that cumulate in a unique system of virtue. It is the merger of moral philosophy and the warrior ethos, revealed and expressed through martial arts practice. Known in the west as Budo or the Martial Way, it is a powerful and rewarding framework for ethics, virtue, and restraint.

We live in an age where the ideal of personal strength has become conflated with hot aggression and uncompromising dominance. The ethical systems of the Martial Way provide an important solution to this problem. True personal strength is expressed through righteousness, compassion, and restraint. The traditional martial arts provide the key avenue to unlocking this type of strength.

Within the book, author Gregory Shefler makes the case that the Martial Way is a vehicle for virtue and rectitude sorely needed in our modern world. It is a guide for martial artists, aspiring and experts alike, who seek to unlock this deeper dimension of the martial arts and how to apply it into their everyday lives.

NOBLE ECHOES covers an extensive list of topics regarding martial arts practice, the warrior ethos, and martial arts philosophy including:

• The historical evolution of martial arts from methods of combat into ways of living.

• The various ideologies and philosophies that influenced the development of the Martial Ways.

• How martial arts study has personal benefits far beyond self-defense.

• What skills and practices comprise a complete martial arts education?

• The pitfalls and benefits of martial arts systems, both modern and traditional.

• How meditative practice fits into martial arts and personal development.

• The precepts of warrior decorum and gravitas – and how to integrate them into yourself.

• Understanding the power of integrity and courtesy as expressed through the Martial Way.  

• The difference between authentic strength and insecure machismo.

This book is an invaluable reference for anyone who is looking for a deeper, more profound connection with the warrior spirit that lies within the martial arts.