Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate [Mass Market Paperback]

Randall G. Hassell (Author), Edmond Otis (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: July 9, 2000

Interested in the Japanese martial art of karate, but just haven't gotten around to taking a class? The Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate follows up our other proven guides to martial arts. This is one of the most popular sports for young adults and grown-ups alike. This CIG has:
-- Lots of instructional photos to take the reader step by step through the process of learning karate.
-- Information on using karate for self-defense, fitness, and just plain kicking the blues away.
-- Practical advice on how to use karate to control anger and fear.
-- Blow-by-blow descriptions of the various black belt ranks and how to achieve them.
-- Information on karate schools -- where you can go to get the most "punch" for your dollar.
-- Answers on what to do if you feel you've mastered the sport and want to take it to the next level -- competing!
-- Background information on the history of karate in Japan, and how it became the popular sport it is today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Randall G. Hassell, seventh-degree black belt, is a first-generation American to pioneer Shotokan Karate and Chief Instructor of the American Shotokan Karate Alliance. He has written, edited, or contributed to 28 books on karate and more than 100 magazine articles.Edmond Otis, director of martial arts at Riverside and chairman of the American JKA Karate Association (AJKA), is a sixth-degree black belt and one of the permier American karate instructors of his generation.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1 edition (July 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028638328
• ISBN-13: 978-0028638324
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #338,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT ALL-AROUND KARATE PRIMER!, June 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate (Mass Market Paperback)

If you've ever been interested in learning about what karate is, why it is, what to do with it, or how it works, THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK YOU SHOULD PICK UP! Written by renowned karate historian Randall G. Hassell and Edmond Otis (a leading technical karate expert), this book is a very easy and FUN read that you'll refer back to for years to come. The authors have over 65 years of karate experience between them and it shows. No stone is left unturned, no punches are pulled (no pun intended!) and they don't talk down to you - every sentence compels you to read the next, and the next, and so on. Excellent photography and graphics help you visualize everything, from techniques to tying your belt, it's everything you need to get started in your karate training!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected, November 30, 2004

By 

L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is a holistic (though somewhat Shotokan-centric) basic primer on karate. The authors wax verbose at odd times and prattle off too many bad puns (e.g., "dressed to kill" re: uniforms) yet the information really is pretty good. It covers everything from finding a school to properly wearing the uniform to basic techniques (e.g., stances, punches, kicks). Succinctly covers topics such as ranking, terminology, weapon forms, self-defense, tournaments, and sparring as well. The illustrations are excellent yet the explanations are often too brief for those who would like to understand not only what, buy why. For example, the index on safety tips contains enough gems that it probably have been expanded into a whole chapter. The "Sensei Says" summaries and "Ouch" safety tips are colorful, well done, and facilitate absorption of essential knowledge. Overall I'd recommend this book for beginners and those considering karate training. If you've been doing this for a while it's probably too elementary.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Describes the Basics Clearly, September 24, 2001

By 

Carlos A. Aviado "cybermek" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate (Mass Market Paperback)

This book not only covers what karate's history and traditions are, but how the basics are performed, and how they should be performed. The book also describes JKA shotokan requirements for each level up to shodan black belt. This book is a must for every traditonal japanese karate-do practioner.