Anthony Books

Emergency physician and martial arts practitioner Anthony L. Schmieg presents Watching Your Back: Chinese Martial Arts and Traditional Medicine, explores the symbiosis of traditional Chinese medicine and the martial arts. Chapters reflect on how the martial arts grew out of the need for survival, their history and intent, the distinction between martial and military disciplines, the influence of Daoism upon the evolution of an ancient system, and much more. Watching Your Back debunks common myths such as misinterpretations of the yin/yang dichotomy, and over-emphasis on the role of Shaolin temples in the genesis of Chinese martial arts (the Shaolin temples reflected Buddhist culture specifically and isolated their warrior-monks from Chinese society, and therefore could not be prototypical of Chinese martial arts). An articulate, well-thought-out philosophical treatise revealing the far-reaching depths of Chinese martial arts, reflecting meaningfully on their purpose and greatness in human history.

I found this to be, from the first paragraphs of the Preface, a delightful book. Dr. Schmieg does as he says and tells us the story his experiences with the "high" Chinese martial arts and his Sifu, Dr. Xia. As Dr. Schmieg points out in the Preface this is a "why" book not a "how to" Book. In my experience, "how to" books about the martial arts are a waste of time unless you are already experienced in one or more forms. "Why" books are much more interesting because they allow me to compare my own experience with that of others.

This is the intensely personal journey of one person with a traditional Chinese Sifu. Schmeig's explanation of the sifu-tuer relationship opened new horizions for me. This is not simply and explanation of an explanation of Daoism and martial arts, but rather the story of Dr. Schmeig's personal journey through the high chinese martial arts and Daoism.

Dr. Schmieg does place his personal story within the much larger context of the history of martial arts in Chinese, South East Asia and its more recent impacts in Europe and North America. However, the point of the book is to introduce the reader, martial artist or not, to the inside world of "high" Chinese martial arts through one lineage. While this is not a scholarly work intended to place Dr. Schmieg's lineage within some larger context, it is a wonderfully personal work.

I particularly enjoyed D. Schmieg's writing style and his frequent use of personal anecdote. I felt very much like I was in a conversation with Dr. Schmieg. This particular style allowed me to continuously compare my personal journey and experiences with Dr. Schmeig's in what I found to be a non-threatening manner. For all practitioners of martial arts this book is a necessary read.

I did find some of Dr. Schmieg's comments about Taijiquan and Qi to be incongruent with my personal experience. Someday I hope to have the opportunity to speak with him directly about this seeming incongruity.

Dr. Schmieg's attempts to put his personal experiences in the context of the history of Chinese martial arts are very well done. His grasp of the broad scope of Chinese history certainly matches my own and may be much better. There may be some readers who take exception to his debunking of some mythological aspects of the martial arts. That is only to be expected given his premise of the differences between high and low practitioners.

I feel compelled to note that this book will undoubtedly receive many adverse reviews. Dr. Schmieg's personal experience and the experience of Dr. Xia, which he reports, are certain to offend many traditional martial artists. That is a good part of the strength of this book. Again, given the premise of the high and low aspects of Chinese martial arts as explicated herein, it is inevitable that the book will receive adverse reviews from those who are unable to apprehend the message, for whatever reason.

I know of no other books that deal with this particular subject in this precise manner and I suspect that this makes book unique. However, in the realm of `Why " books I would include John Lash - "The Tai Chi Journey"; Margaret Schorre _ "How to grasp bird's tail, if you don't speak Chinese; Deng Ming Dao - "Chronicles of the Dao. In my opinion Dr. Schmieg's book is the equal of these books.

The book is well written and easily read by both martial artists and non-martial artists. To the best of my knowledge and experience the material is accurate.

The work is important because it provides a uniquely personal view of a particular lineage of Chinese martial arts that is little known outside of China.

The audience is anyone with a background or interest in martial arts or classical Chinese culture.

The writing style is very clear and the presentation was delightful. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion as I read.

Even though I've never been to New Rochelle, I loved it! I read the whole book in one day. I was blessed to grow up across the street from Tony, Jackie and their three sons. Tony and Jackie were like my second set of parents. I was always welcome in their home and there was always great conversation, hearty laughter and great food. In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I once ate twelve or Rosina's Pizza Frita at one sitting. It was fascinating learning about the struggles and joys of the immigrants from Southern Italy. Most importantly, it gave me great insight into one of the best men I have ever know, Tony D'Ermes!

This is Mr. D'Ermes first book about growing up Italian in West New Rochelle, New York in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's. With exacting recall and precise detail, D'Ermes paints exciting pictures of his childhood as a first generation American born to Immigrants from Southern Italy. Told with humor and compassion, he portrays their hopes and dreams alongside their everyday struggles to learn a new language, new customs, and their frequent painful experiences with housing, jobs and government regulations. The story is told from the viewpoint of the D'Ermes family, but it is easily an "everyman" story of typical immigrant families of the period.

With rich detail, D'Ermes illustrates how the first generation children -- American schooled and street smart -- frequently helped their parents by reading and interpreting official documents, acting as translators with city and school officials, and helping them avoid immigrant scams and rip-offs.

The book details the primary institutions used by the Italian community to acclimate to this new culture and society, focusing on the Catholic Church, the New Rochelle School System and the Feeney Park Boys Club and Library.

Many Italian immigrants brought with them superstitious customs from the peasant countryside that can only be described as the "occult." Mr. D'Ermes describes the application of these occult practices to treat all manner of illnesses and ailments. Although quaint today, D'Ermes describes the prevalent fear of cusrses that others might inflict on your family and the application of chants, incantations, potions and charms that warded them off.

Of course no book of this kind would be complete without a full discussion of the foods and recipes that were used in his house and in many Italian homes, including Christmas and Easter feasts when special "religious" foods were prepared.

Mr. D'Ermes concludes with the values he learned in West New Rochelle and in the Boys Club that have served him well for the past 60 years as a business and corporate executive.

You don't have to be Italian to thoroughly enjoy this delicious slice of New York history from the viewpoint of a boy growing up in West New Rochelle.

Tony is solid. Here he paints the big picture for all of life. This book draws some information from his other writings. This Kingdom Agenda is deep and a total new way of thinking. It is as usual with Tony, biblically correct.

If you are having problems in your life, then read this book. It covers a wide range of subjects. In fact I'm going to write Tony Evans and let him know what a impact that the book made in my family.