Advanced Karate

The History of Karate by Morio Higaonna

Gojo ryu, one of the main styles of karate on Okinawa, has benefitted greatly from the expertise of Sensei Higaonna, the author of this well-reasearched book. He is a master technician of combat and also, in keeping with tradition, an accomplished man of letters. Thus he is a modern embodiment of the scholar/warrior that is held as the ideal in both Western and Asian cultures.

Concerning the text of his book, it is endorsed by a virtual "who's who" of Gojo ryu. He covers in great detail, in an engaging style, the various aspects of martial arts on Okinawa and the surrounding islands, including the Chinese influence. After this general background, he goes into much detail with the history of Gojo ryu's masters and influences. Some great photos add to Higaonna's gift of story-telling.

History (more)

Shotokan's Secrets: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins by Bruce D Clayton

Learn how the hard-style karate that became shotokan took shape in 19th century Okinawa as an embattled king with an unarmed force of bodyguards faced an armed invasion from overseas. In this new 328-page book, author Bruce D. Clayton, Ph.D., uses rare sketches, footnoted historical research, archival lithographs, period photographs and contemporary technique demonstrations to reveal shotokan’s deadly intent and propose modern practical applications of such knowledge. Achieve a new level of theoretical understanding and fighting ability by learning Shotokan’s Secret for yourself! His writing style allows us to read the book almost as a novel and yet at the same time the reader is aware that this genuinely may be the secrets...not the myth...of the origins of shotokan karate. Highly recommended to anyone who believes that karate is more than just moving up and down the dojo. Absolute must for your library...but keep an open mind as you read it..Bruce challenges almost everything!!!

Okinawan Karate - Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques by Mark Bishop

Interestingly this book starts with a useful insight into the failings of many schools of karate to cater for a more holistic approach in the tutelage of martial arts. Mark Bishop lived the martial arts life for 15 years on the Ryukyu Islands off Japan before returning to the UK in 1990. As a result he gained an extensive and expert knowledge in a cross section of oriental self- defence, meditative and manipulation techniques from Karate to Shiatsu. The book delivers a fascinating insight into the origins of karate as a necessary aid of self-defence in an era some five centuries ago when weapons were outlawed in an effort to stop feudalism. An important point that readers with a background in Shotokan karate may be unaware of is that of lineage. Using historical tables the book painstakingly tracks the progress from the earliest practising masters of various schools of karate that lead to the emergence of the unique Okinawan style.

A revised edition which includes historical tables and vital striking point charts, as well as information on the past and 20th century karate, kobudo and ti (or te) scene in Okinawa. From their roots in China, the historical development of each karate and kobudo system can be traced, via the teachers who formulated them, into the many fragmented styles practised today throughout the world, from Shotokan to Goju-ryu.

Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts 1

Patrick McCarthy is, at 7th dan, hanshi, the highest ranking Westerner in the Dai Nippon Butokukai, Japan’s elite traditional martial arts organization. A well-known historical researcher, instructor, and former tournament champion, McCarthy has written several books, including Tuttle’s best-selling (10,423 copies) Bible of Karate: Bubishi. His writing has appeared in The Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt, Karate International, Australasian Martial Arts, Fighting Arts International, and Budo Dojo.

Volume 1 comprises Taira Shinken's Ryukyu Kobudo Taikan: An Encyclopedia of Ancient Ryukyuan Martial Arts and McCarthy's commentary Taira Shinken: The Father of Modern Kobudo.

Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts 2

Featuring original writings by the founders of some of the world's most popular karate styles, this volume includes McCarthy's "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: The Mabuni Kenwa Story", the "Dai Nippon Butokukai" and "Karatedo: Development, Essence, Aims". This book will be of great interest to all those who wish to understand more about the art of karate. Included in this volume are a biography of Kenwa Mabuni (founder of shinto-ryu), a translation of Chojun Miyagi's (founder of goju-ryu) Karatedo Gaisetsu (outline of karate-do), a transcription of the 1936 meeting of the masters and a excellent article on the development, essence and aims of karate-do by Patrick McCarthy himself. For those who wish to understand their art in greater depth I strongly recommend buying a copy of this collection of previously untranslated material

Kumite (more)

Kata (more)

Bushi Jutsu by Darren Westwood and Andrew Paskin

Bushi-Jutsu, The Science of the Warrior bridges the gap between the Kata of old Okinawa, following the influence of the feudal Japanese militia and that which is taught in today's dojo as 'effective' self-defence. The distressing reality, for most Kata bunkai students, is that there is very little 'real' application in the world today, outside Japan. That which is taught as 'bunkai' tends to be Monkey See - Monkey Do - very few really understand the highly technical and effective nature of this 'secret' part of karate. This book doesn't just uncover the brutal nature of karate Kata application, it literally rips the shroud of secrecy from around it and cleaves the mystery from it. A pragmatic, gritty and realistic analysis of Kata bunkai.

Bunkai Jutsu by Iain Abernethy

Bunkai Jutsu is extremely well done. Iain Abernethy is one of the few authors who truly understands and is able to communicate that martial arts are at their core about combat. Kata is not dance practice nor is it aerobic training (though that may be a legitimate side benefit of performing it). It is the fundamental basis of a fighting art. Bunkai are the kata applications practitioners can use for real-life self-defense. Abernethy provides an easy to read approach to understanding and utilizing these applications.

If you know how to decipher them, all aspects of fighting can be found in kata, including kicking, striking, grappling, strangling, pressure point techniques, and throwing applications. The contents of this impressive tome include a brief history of Kata, a treatise on the nature of real fighting, Iain's rules of bunkai (how to figure out what the Kata is telling you), pre-emptive striking, entrance and exit techniques, ground fighting, the "true" use of blocks, the purpose of stances, kata-based sparring, and much more. This is all stuff you can use in real life combat. The section on vital points is illuminating.

Iain Abernethy holds a godan (5th degree black belt) in applied karate from the British Combat Association, one of the world's leading groups for close-quarter combat and practical martial arts. He is also a yodan (4th degree black belt) in Wado-Ryu karate (English Karate Governing Body), a member of the Combat Hall of Fame, and a former national level kata judge in the UK. He is the author of four books on applied karate: Bunkai-Jutsu: The Practical Application of Karate Kata, Throws for Strikers: The Forgotten Throws of Karate, Boxing, and Taekwondo, Karate's Grappling Methods, and Arm-Locks for All Styles.

General (more)

Beyond the Black Belt: Sectrets of Advanced Karate Ranks by Gary Purdue

Beyond Black Belt reveals why not all black belts are created equal. Using fascinating behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes, Gary Purdue exposes the secrets of advanced karate ranks in this must read for anyone interested in the martial arts.

This is a good book. No pictures, just a fascinating exploration into the phases in training that the various degrees of black belt go through physically and psycologically. You don't need to be a black belt to read it. I opened the book in the morning and didn't put it down until I'd finished reading it. There are a number of amusing tales and the author clearly has the ability to make them amusing.