Advance praise for A Sudden Dawn . . .
“Inspirational, beautifully written, expertly researched, and highly recommended. I loved it!”
—Geoff Thompson, martial artist, British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award-winning filmmaker.
“I’ve read thousands of novels, hundreds of terrific tomes, yet A Sudden Dawn easily makes my top ten. It does not matter if you know of Bodhidharma, care about martial arts, or can even spell the word “Shaolin,” if you have any interest whatsoever in historical fiction you will be captivated by this extraordinary tale. It is as good as James Clavell’s Shogun, masterfully written, thoroughly enjoyable, and damnably hard to put down. I cannot recommend Powell’s book highly enough. It’s freaking brilliant!”
—Lawrence A. Kane, martial artist, best-selling author of The Little Black Book of Violence
“The story is an absolute delight to read and I was enthralled from our intrepid hero’s entry in to the first monastery and his subsequent journey and final arrival at the Shaolin temple.
Martial artists and Buddhists both will be captivated by this tale of the legendary Bodhidharma.”
—Nicholas P. Hughes, martial artist, bodyguard
“A Sudden Dawn is a wonderful piece of historical fiction. Mr. Powell has done his research making the characters experiences so real that you can feel the hot breath of battle on your neck and the cool of the temple’s damp hallways on your legs. Painting Bodhidharma’s journey from India to China, A Sudden Dawn is an experience you will enjoy; it is realistic, historically rich, and full of vital and genuine characters. A Sudden Dawn is what martial arts novels should be, engaging, matter-of-fact, and packed with beautiful storytelling.”
—Kris Wilder, martial artist, best-selling author The Way of Sanchin Kata
“Amazing, the book martial artists have been waiting 2,000 years for.”
—Chris Crudelli, author of Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves
“A Sudden Dawn opens like the petals of the sacred lotus. It is a visually stunning journey through time and through landscape, to capture one man’s journey towards enlightenment. The life of the Bodhidharma (Da Mo), is a fluid and fast paced read, not unlike the birth and practice of kung-fu itself.”
—Vincent Pratchett, martial artist, author The Warrior, the Witch, and the Wizard
“Goran Powell brings the legend of Da Mo and the Shaolin Temple to life in this sweeping epic tale that is exceptionally well-paced and engaging to the very end. A Sudden Dawn is an adventurous story that blends history, myth, and legend into a remarkable and enjoyable tale that is seamlessly woven into a fascinating and moving book.
“As a martial artist and someone who’s studied Asian ways for over 20 years, I found A Sudden Dawn to have just the right mix of martial arts action, history, romance, and philosophy to engage and entertain throughout the entire text. It is a gripping story that I didn’t want to finish. Powell’s interpretation of these legendary characters draws you into the story from the first page and takes you along for an incredible adventure spanning the Asian continent. It’s one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time.”
—Alain Burrese, J.D., former U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School instructor and author of Hard-Won Wisdom from the School of Hard Knocks, and the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On: Joint Lock Essentials series
“A marvelous modern interpretation of an ancient legend! Reading this book opens a gateway to the mythical origins of the martial arts. Goran Powell’s vivid writing style takes you through this gateway and fully immerses you in Bodhidharma’s world. A Sudden Dawn skillfully weaves fact and fiction to produce a powerhouse of a page turner!”
—Iain Abernethy, 5th dan karate (British Combat Association and Karate England) and best-selling author Bunkai-Jutsu: The Practical Application of Karate Kata
“A wonderful mixture of philosophy and fun, a great story I wish I had written myself!”
—Arthur Rosenfeld, martial artist, critically acclaimed author A Cure for Gravity
“A Sudden Dawn is an epic tale of superbly crafted characters that surges with action, intrigue and touching human relationships. I can’t remember the last novel that has taken hold of my mind like this one and has kept me up late at night turning pages. Although this is a book of historical fiction, it is so grand, so rich, and so memorable, that you want it to be true.”
—Loren W. Christensen, 8th dan black belt, best-selling author of 40 martial arts books including, Warriors, Defensive Tactics, On Combat, and Fighter’s Fact Book.
“Breathtaking! I read into the early hours of the morning of my karate grading because I couldn’t put this novel down! The saying goes that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of Goran Powell’s A Sudden Dawn, the stunning illustration is a perfect reflection of the imagery this book evokes. Inspiring, enlightening, funny and sad, this beautifully written story and its characters, will stay with you long after you turn the last page.”
—Karen van Wyk, author Sanchin— A Martial Arts Novel
“A Sudden Dawn is an entertaining and exciting blend of history and myth. In the martial arts and Zen Buddhism, the Indian monk Bodhidharma is afforded great respect and the traditional link to the fight art of Shaolin Temple Boxing is a story often told. Goran Powell has added flesh to the bare bones of the tale, and turned often idealized historical figures into human beings.”
—Harry Cook, author Precise History of Shotokan 2nd ed.
Also by Goran Powell…
Waking Dragons—A Martial Arts Autobiography
YMAA Publication Center, Inc.
Main Office
PO Box 480
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
1-800-669-8892 • www.ymaa.com • [email protected]
© 2010 by Goran Powell
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Editor: Leslie Takao
Cover Design: Axie Breen
Print ISBN-13: 978-1-59439-198-9
Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication
Powell,Goran,1965-
A sudden dawn: a martial arts novel / by Goran Powell. -- Boston, MA: YMAA Publication Center, c2010.
p. ; cm.
ISBN:978-1-59439-198-9
1. Bodhidharma,6th cent.--Fiction. 2. Buddhism--China--History--Fiction. 3. Hand-to-hand fighting,Oriental--History--Fiction. 4. Kung fu--History--Fiction. 5. Historical fiction. I. Title.
PS3616.O878 S83 2010 2010927414
813.6--dc22 1005
To my wife Charmaigne, without whom Bodhidharma would never have left India.
PROLOGUE
Pallava, South India, A.D. 507
The Lotus Sermon
As the sun set over the southern kingdom of Pallava, a vast crowd gathered in a park in Kanchipuram, the elegant state capital. People had come from all over the city. Many more had traveled from the ports and fishing villages of the palm-fringed coast. Some had even journeyed from the remote villages of the interior. They had all come for one reason—to hear the words of the renowned