Bryant holds a framed cover of his new book, Kobe 24. Photo: Guo Yingguang

By Jiang Yuxia

LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant stopped in Beijing for an event promoting his new book, Kobe 24 (China CITIC Press) during his China Tour 2010 which ended on Friday. Co-written by Doris Stockstill, the 253-page Chinese-language book released in June, illustrates his thoughts on the connections between martial arts and basketball, while offering Bryant's insight on and passion for the sport.

"It was important for me to put some of the ideas that I dedicate to my basketball career into the book, the philoso-phies I've learned, different preparations and techniques I use," said Bryant during the book signing held at the Grand Hyatt Beijing Hotel last Monday. Bryant's tour brought the shooting guard to six cities, where he took part in various charity and publicity events from July 26 to 30.

Bryant said he wanted to share his ideas with China because "every time I come here I see someone who is passionate and excited about basketball…I come here only once a year and I feel I should do so much more," he said, citing this as his motivation for publishing in China first. Currently the book is not available in English.

Bruce and B-ball

Bryant noted his approach to basketball has been shaped by Chinese influences. He first heard about the concept of Qi, often translated as "life force" or "energy flow," while in high school. He found later that Qi was a strong element in the martial arts of Bruce Lee, someone Bryant greatly admired while growing up as a kid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"It seems Bruce Lee has nothing to do with basketball. To me it has everything to do with basketball. There are a lot of similarities," he told his fans. Besides Lee's close attention to detail and control over his emotions, it was his philosophical approach to martial arts that captured his interest.

Bryant pointed out that Lee approached his opponents with no rigid set structure. While playing basketball, this "formlessness" is very difficult to guard and even more difficult to stop.

"By doing so, no one knows what you are going to do next, therefore, they don't know how to fight back. I've been working hard to infuse his principles of utility, agility, speed and efficiency to my own training," Bryant says in his book.

"I worked hard to imitate Bruce in many ways. Though he is best known as a martial arts master, he also studied theater and philosophy. To him, any form of knowledge can help us get to know ourselves."

Bryant also writes about his respect for Taijiquan, a form of Chinese martial arts deeply rooted in Taoism that focuses on the manipulation of Qi. Though its movements slow and seemingly delicate, it is actually an art that requires inner strength," says Bryant. "I wanted to know more about Taiji quan because it looks like martial arts, but it also resembles dance. It's very difficult because you need to utilize all you muscles and agility is crucial," he says.

Taijiquan has had a positive impact on his basketball career, explains Bryant. For instance, it helps him reduce both the physical and mental pressure during competition, aids in recovery from injuries and keep his joints nimble.

Happy dribblings

Besides sharing his principles and strategies for training and conditioning for basketball, the NBA star also shares his own reflections on the sport and his enduring love for it.

According to him, basketball is an activity of the body, mind and spirit. The spirit is the driving force, which determines a player's motivation and mentality. It pushes forward all other elements that motivate a player to do well in a game. In short, victory begins in the psychological realm.

Above all, Bryant explains that the happiness he derives from basketball is the most important element of being a successful player. Bryant quotes his father, former Philadephia 76ers player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, as someone who always taught him to play the game with joy.

"He told me that I should never let pressure or other people's expectations take away my passion for basketball. I think this is the best advice I could get," he writes.

"Basketball to me is a way of life. I've been playing basketball since I was two years old... and probably will still be playing when I am 80," Bryant said during the event.

"The things I've learned through basketball; leadership, teamwork, focus and hard work, all seem to carry over to other parts of your life…I absolutely love it."

Book tag Kobe 24, by Kobe Bryant and Doris Stockstill, 253 pp, China CITIC Press, 39 yuan ($5.76)