Product Description

This introduction to karate teaches both the physical training and the mental philosophy necessary for karate mastery. The book also provides the complete history of karate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61439 in Books
• Published on: 1994-11
• Original language: Japanese
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 120 pages

Customer Reviews

Introductory Text
This book begins with history of te and a couple of masters. Of course in Funakoshi style there is no in depth details nor any dates. Ten no Kata is revisited, which is no longer practiced with frequency today. Funakoshi's books were the text book of karate in the early 1940's. Good for their time, but still a good addition to your library.

Offers little meaningful insight
This book has historical valuable in as far as it was written by G.F. the founder of Shotokan. However, it retains the staid explanations and tired dogmatisms that so often accompany Shotokan teaching. Shotokan is one of the martial arts that would benefit from a thorough review of its syllabus and pedagogy- the ends of perfection, kime, speed and power are worthy- the means however are often irrelevant. You will get little from this book that can't be gained from several lessons and 10 mins on the web. Generally dissappointing- like much of its peers.

Pretty Good
Myself being a student of Okinawa karatedo and this book being one by the great Funakoshi Gichin himself, I must give it a good rating, because it is a good book. His tales of his teachers are a very good read, and the chapter on Karate in Ryukyu tells people exactly what all these kyusho-jutsu people are telling us now: that there ARE "secret" movements in the kata! (Unfortunately, Funakoshi Sensei does not go into details). :)