Customer Reviews

Best Karate, Vol.5: Heian, Tekki

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought three books out of the "Best Karate" series and the two books about katas are simply outstanding. I use another book which describes the movements in words but it's just too hard to figure it out for some of the tricky movements. The "Best Karate" series has photo series for all katas plus additional information about what people should take care of for the individual katas (for instance, stance changes for Heian Shodan). That way, it's really "easy" to learn a kata on your own, just from the book.

I have been practicing Shotokan karate for 10 years now. Even though I attend regular classes and seminars, as well as working out with very qualified karate-ka, I still find myself coming back to Master Nakayma's work in this very fine series of books. Of all the books on kata I have these books are superior.

The instruction is straight forward and to the point. Tips are given to avoid common mistakes. Under the many pictures illustrating the kata is a stance diagram and short concise sentences to describe each move.

Extremely well done by one of the finest karate masters.

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

You need this book and all the books in this series if you are a Shotokan Karate student.

Shotokan Karate is one of the most practiced styles of karate in the world, and this series of books by Sensei Nakayama will give you a fairly complete introduction to the style.

These books were designed and distributed before we had dvds, and they were designed to provide a reference of correct technique in a world without enough qualified Shotokan Instructors.

This volume provides the sequence and execution of six kata in correct form as taught by Sensei Nakayama before his untimely passing. The kata shown in this volume are the five Heian kata, and Tekki Shodan. They contain the core of Shotokan technique. This book will not teach you to how to perform these katas correctly; for that you need a qualified instructor. However, these volumes are an unmatched reference for Shotokan Karate students. This and all the other books in the series provide the best reference ever produced for the entire syllabus of Shotokan Karate.

If there is a downside to this volume, it's that the book is light on bunkai, or the application of the kata. And the applications that are shown are fairly superficial. On the other hand, the primary goal of this series was to provide a reference that Shotokan students all over the world could address as to sequence and form. And the series is completely successful in that endeavor.

As a Shodan myself, I found this book invaluable as I progressed through the levels. It is easy to understand and provides thorough detail for each kata. It helped me earn several AAU national championships.

This book is by far the best value as far as picture explanations of basic kata. Nakayama Sensei uses many pictures, which can get a bit confusing at times, but are very helpful for understanding detailed movements. At the end of each kata he presents a special section on the hardest part of each kata. Highlights include Heian nidan, Heian Yondan, and, Tekki Shodan. The photographs are clear and the ext is easy to read.

If you are a Shotokan karate instructor, you probably teach these katas day in and day out, so this book can be an invaluble reference. I teach several classes outside the dojo, so I just keep this book in my gym bag at all times. Students have a knack for asking questions you may not have considered. This book will insure that you have an answer that is correct.

Excellent reading for any karate student who wants to take it to the next level. My 14 year old son is a black belt in Shotokhan and really enjoys reading these books. For the value from Amazon and delivery time, you can't beat it.

The book is great. I plan on buying the whole set in time. I'm a 8th kyu yellow belt in Shotokan and this book has helped me greatly with my kata. The step by step instructions are great and it makes learning the a lot simpler, it's great being able to double check that you're in the right stance, aiming at the right spot, or doing a technique correctly when practicing on your own. I'm a collegiate competitor who started karate last fall, and all ready I'm beating entire teams of orange belts in competitions. After buying this book I've taken first in all my kata competitions (there's only been one, but still, I was the lowest rank =P). You won't regret buying this book, it's great.
ps: I can't wait to go to Master Camp this summer being a yellow belt that knows all the kata's a purple belt should have learned ;D

Nakayama Sensei's series of books have been a great addition to my twenty years of training in Shotokan. There are so many kata's in Shotokan it's easy to forget a single step that will stop you cold. This series of books explains each kata in numbered steps, each step broken down by a series of pictures showing how they should be performed including where the kiai's are. At the end of the step by step instructions are a series of pictures showing the application of the kata moves.

Nakayama founded the Japan Karate Association along with Gichin Funakoshi and was the head of JKA until his death in 1987.

It is extremely important to note that you cannot learn karate from a book. There are so many aspects to correct karate training you can easily develop bad habits. A qualified instructor can help you overcome those mistakes. But you will find the best instructors have a set of these books as well.