Product Description

Following the success of his first book, The Shotokan Karate Handbook -- Beginner to Black Belt, the author felt there was a need for a manual to assist the more experienced student. Therefore, he has concentrated on more advanced techniques such as Kihon lppon Kumite, Jiyu lppon Kumite sets 6 and 7, and all the remaining Katas in Shotokan Karate. It is important that Karate Ka are aware that time, effort and practice are still the main factors in working towards perfecting not only one's skills but also one's inner mind and attitudes towards the art. This book is meant as a guide to Karate Ka -- it cannot take the place of your Sensei (teacher).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #184345 in Books
• Published on: 1997-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 284 pages

About the Author
Gursharan Sahota

Customer Reviews

Good but definitely need to know basics first
I bought one of Sahota's first books 'Beginner to Black Belt' and found it very useful and helpful to accompany my karate classes. The Advanced book is much the same. However, as the title suggests, this book is more for those who have been practicing karate and are familiar with the Japanese Language he uses to describe blocks and striking techniques. As the first, he has included photos for individual techniques in kata and kumite, however, it is sometimes a little difficult to judge correct direction of movement. However, it is appreciated that this is quite difficult to describe. Some of the instructions are not as descriptive as they could be, but you can get a good overview of how the techiques should be carried out and the proper stances to follow.

A good advanced shotokan karate book
I have both Mr. Sahota's books, Beginner to Black Belt which is excellent, and now his advanced. His advanced book gives you an insight into the more technically advanced kata's. He explains them well and the photographs are informative. Obviously, no book is going to replace your instructor and this book is there as an aid not a replacement for your instructor. This book is aimed at students who have been training for a couple of years. A very good buy.

The Best a Karate-ka can Get!!
I've been carrying Gursharan's books around in my bag now for the last ten years and swear by them. Of all the hundreds of book that I have about Shotokan karate, I always fall back and end up using Gursharan's two books for simplicity and ease of use.

Yes, there are other kata books on the market which may be better pictorially (e.g. Nakayama) but Gursharan's have everything you need as a quick reference guide in just two volumes. The content is very neatly and logically laid out. If you're already practising karate, Gursharan's books will be the perfect handy reference guide for you.

I agree mostly with the other positive reviews here too. As for different moves etc in one review, even though we're all learning Shotokan, you will naturally find slight variations from style to style and association to association. The art is hundreds of years old and has been passed down from a variety of different masters, each of whom have added to or taken away parts of the kata that they favoured or disliked the most.

If you can find an association that follows the traditional line of teaching that focuses more on kata & bunkai, as opposed to sport or competition, then you'll be on the right path. As Supreme Grand Master Funakoshi said - "Karate will take a life time". Karate is more importantly about perfection of character and less about kicking & punching etc.

As for teaching yourself karate from a book, you can't teach yourself just by looking at a few pictures, but if you're already attending classes, Gursharan's book (and videos) will help you revise, keep up or even get ahead of your class mates. The pictures and diagrams are quite adequate. No book could ever replace an instructor and teach you about the proper timing and kime that's involved in performing your kata.

These two volumes have stood the test of time, are as complete as they should be and very affordable, considering the amount of content that they offer. They contain all of the 27 kata from the Shotokan canon and all of the associated stances, kicks, blocks, & punches etc that you need to become a very competent karate-ka and much much more.

A word of warning!! - be very suspicious & sceptical of negative reviews where the writer has not had the courage of their convictions to leave their name.