Customer Reviews

Anything Goes: Practical Karate For The Streets

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Anything Goes is among the most comprehensive books on the subject of modern martial arts training. This book is primarily geared toward self-defense, and does not focus on traditional arts. Some of the dangers that the author points out are: "Tournament training", using flashy moves instead of effective ones, and practicing unrealistically. This book is as in-depth and descriptive as it gets. I have been teaching martial arts for many years, and this is the book that I recommend the most to my students. One additional note: The title is misleading.

I like this book, but it is geared towards people with martial arts experience who want to adapt classical and tournament techniques to the street. It is more conceptual than technical....how to change your targets to areas forbidden in competition and train more realistically.

The book assumes people already know the basics of hand and foot techniques, elbow and knee strikes. You wont find any actual techniques here, more tactical stuff.

People with no martial arts training would do better with a book that shows the real basics, such as Bruce Tegners Complete Book of Self Defence, or better yet, train in a classical style with a competent teacher at least long enough to perfect some kicks and punches.

That said, the book is a great read for experienced martial artists. Some good ideas to incorporate into training, a reality check for strict classists sport fighters, enlightening stories of real-life encounters, and good tips on awareness and fight prevention.

This is one of Mr. Christensen's older books,but in his unchanged genre of street practical self defense. As with all his published books & DVDs,his intent is not self aggrandizement,but a sincere desire to educate the average Joe/Jane to effectively protect one's self from street predators. Recommend highly.

The author of this book is well-known, having numerous books and videos published. This excellent book focuses on the use of basic karate technques for street self-defense. His experience in tag (tournament) karate, which the majority of formal karate schools emphasize, is the same as mine. He realized that real fights are different than competition karate. This book stresses the importance of karate training that is realistic and street combat oriented. In the introduction the author relates his experience in the army as a military police officer. He explained how the tag tournament style of karate he had been taking did not prepare him for the type of violence involved in a street confrontation. The eight chapters cover: Changing your thinking about karate tournament techniques, hand techniques, kicking, close-range techniques, sparring, vulnerable targets, using the environment and some thoughts about fitness and stances.

In conclusion, this is an excellent book for anyone taking karate who desires to learn the practical application of the techniques for street combat.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Shotokan Karate Self Defense Techniques: Practical Combat Karate for the street).