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About the Publication
On 10 December 1975, a devastating fire destroyed Sue King’s family home in Liverpool, taking the lives of her mother and four other loved ones. Sue survived, but the flames left scars far deeper than those on her body. What followed was a childhood marked by grief, bullying and the struggle to find her place in the world.
Then, at fifteen, she walked into a Ju-Jitsu class. What began as an attempt to defend herself became a lifelong passion, taking her from the dojos of Liverpool to international teaching, competitive martial arts and the study of Zen Buddhism.
In Beauty from the Ashes, Sue tells her extraordinary story with remarkable openness, confronting painful memories alongside the friendships, achievements and unexpected turns that shaped her life.
More than a martial arts memoir, this is a deeply personal account of loss, determination and finding purpose. Above all, it is about learning to live with the past without allowing it to define the future.
It’s crazy to wonder whether everything I have achieved so far was born from tragedy. You see, much of my life has been self-supported, whether through dealing with the aftermath of poor decisions or unrelenting ambition that no one could match.
Product Details
Publisher: The Ran Network
Publication date: 15 October 2026
Language: English
Print length: 212 pages
ISBN-13: 9798162440369
Item weight: ?? g
Dimensions: ?? cm
Part of series: The Master’s Casket
Table of Contents
Foreword by Dennis Martin
Introduction – Finding My Path
Chapter 1 – The Hero I Never Got to Know
Chapter 2 – Aftermath
Chapter 3 – The Unluckiest Man
Chapter 4 – The Path That Changed My Life
Chapter 5 – Reaching a Summit
Chapter 6 – Leaving Home
Chapter 7 – Expanding My Knowledge
Chapter 8 – Building on the Foundations—Competing and Coaching
Chapter 9 – Protect and Serve
Photo Album
Chapter 10 – Finding a Family
Chapter 11 – Escaping the Abyss
Chapter 12 – Finding Zen
Chapter 13 – Coming to America—Dharma Combat in the San Jacinto Mountains
Chapter 14 – Shukke Tokudo—‘Leaving Home’
Chapter 15 – Breaking Up
Chapter 16 – Stepping onto the World Stage
Epilogue – Realising Triumph
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Sue King is a British martial artist, instructor, author and ordained Zen Buddhist priest based in Liverpool. With over forty years of experience, she has studied traditional Ju-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai Boxing, Tai Chi, Aiki-Jitsu and Filipino martial arts.
Founder of Muga Mushin Ju-Jitsu Ryu and Team Mushin, Sue teaches internationally, sharing her knowledge of martial arts, self-protection and personal development.
She is also an accomplished writer whose work explores the connections between martial discipline, Zen philosophy and everyday life. Her books include The Warrior Monk Way, The Warrior Mindset and Wabi Sabi, all published by The Ran Network.
In Beauty from the Ashes, Sue turns her attention to her own extraordinary life, sharing a deeply personal story of tragedy, perseverance and transformation.
