Customer Reviews

Best Karate, Vol.1: Comprehensive

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is well illustrated, and gives an excellent introduction into the different stances and strikes found in Karate. More importantly, it is probably the only book that illustrates the "flow" of the moves, instead of just showing the ends of the move. Overall, the book is great for a Karate-ka who want to refine certain things in Karate. Finally, the price that Amazon sells it at is really hard to beat! Ron Przygodzki

I studied from this book's spanish version. The precision with which Nakayama Sensei explained each technique is the closest thing to having a karate master teaching you the art. Even when nothing replaces the dojo experience, this series of books are the finest. Totally recommended

This series is without-a-doubt, hands down, simply the best series of books ever written on the Japanese martial art of Shotokan Karate. The format and layout for this series of books is exceptional and the only negative thing I could possibly allude to is more of a selfish comment in the fact that I would have liked to have seen each book in the series be even longer and filled with even more solid information.

These books are well written and easy to learn from, although some of them do require a bit of previous knowledge in Shotokan Karate in order to get the benefits from it, but this should be obvious, hence the sequential volumes.

This particular volume explains and demonstrates a lot of the basic techniques of Shotokan Karate. I highly recommend this and any of the books in the series without reservation.

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

I cannot sing enough praises to this series of books. Together with the title Dynamic Karate, they form a foundation upon which to advance your karate with rock solid kihon information.

I started to practice karate at the age of 16. After a long period of medical school and residency training during which practicing karate was out of the question, I got back to it at the age of 38. In my comeback I found out that the spirit of karate had changed. When I started, the emphasis was on learning good kihon and good kata, so that your kumite skills would have a strong foundation. It was also on the moral values of karate. Now, I feel that much of that is being lost and kumite and competition is all many karateka think of.

This series of books presents karate in the light of an era of change. Sensei Nakayama lived in a generation marked by the transition of the karate as taught by Funakoshi, who believed it was unsuitable for competition, to an era where competition, if not the single purpose, has become one of the main goals of karate practitioners.

When you read Funakoshi's books, it is easy to grasp how he viewed karate: a martial art meant to discipline ones body, improve ones health and lifespan, rein in ones violent impulses, and promote the sense of respect and politeness towards others, especially ones would be opponents. In summary, karate was to span a persons whole being and attitude, both inside the dojo as well as outside. Maybe especially outside.

Sensei Nakayama clearly inherited that way of thinking and added to it a scientific view of body mechanics and systematic organization of techniques and concepts. He also presents excerpts of famous tactical experts of the past, many of whom where not karateka, but swordsman or strategists as they were called. Those excerpts represent the concept that all martial arts are the same in terms of rational, only the methods and weapons vary. The need for strategy, for constant training and for the understanding of the spirit is of paramount importance.

While learning Karate-do from a book is impossible, complementing what we learn at our dojo with technical information provided by this series of books is certainly very desirable. I dare say it is desirable regardless of your karate style. I hail from Kenyu-Ryu karate, which tends to use karate stances that are higher. But still, I feel that 100% of the books still apply.

The Best Karate Series are the definitive books for learning the art of Shotokan karate. They have been around for many years and still none have surpassed their excellence. They are very helpful for the beginner and the advanced student alike. I have read them all and have found that each book in the series is excellent. Although you can't learn a martial art from a book alone, these books are an excellent supplement to your training and are very helpful in learning the finer points of the art of Shotokan. Each book in this series sets the standard for books on Shotokan training. There are simply none better, at least none better that I have found, and I read a lot of martial arts books. I highly recommend these books for anyone who is interested in improving their karate or who is interested in Shotokan. They are simply the best! Highly recommended. 5 Stars.

Bohdi Sanders, Shotokan Blackbelt and author of Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path

The entire "Best Karate" series by Master Nakayama are must have books for all Shotokan Karate students. . This is the first book in the series and is a must read by anyone who desires to learn the vital basic techniques of Shotokan karate. Basic blocks, punches, strikes and kicks are shown as well as how to flow from one technique to another. As anyone who has studied Shotokan karate knows, the basics are practiced in every training session.

This book in combination with actual training under an instructor, will make you better at karate. In conclusion, if you are serious about learning true Shotokan karate, you will want this book.

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

The other reviewers are spot-on with their praise. With a complex sport like karate, a student needs to have unambiguous instruction. Otherwise, the student risks learning the movements incorrectly. This series delivers informative instruction as clear as clear can be. The author carefully and brilliantly presented the material so that there is little room for doubt. Other karate books are good. This one is great. Other books can have you scratching your head, wondering what it is they're trying to say. After purchasing other books, I purchased this one as a supplement to explain what the others didn't. I realized that if I had purchased this one first, I wouldn't need another supplement.
Don't be fooled by the low price. This book and the rest of the series is worth many more times the price you'll pay, especially when you consider the time and energy that goes into learning the sport.
Buy this book. You'll see.