Dynamic Karate (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior) [Paperback]

Masatoshi Nakayama (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bushido--The Way of the Warrior | Publication Date: February 15, 1987

Most books on karate usually do not provide complete, detailed instructions and illustrations-the fundamentals plus the fine points-that readers hope for. This book fills the gaps left by others.

The late Master Masatoshi Nakayama, chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association, left this book as a testament. It reveals his great experience as a karate competitor and teacher, describing and illustrating in detail all the correct movements involved in the particular block, punch, or kick you want to perfect, as well as instructions--on combining blocking techniques with decisive counterattacks. Also included is a glossary of all Japanese karate terms and a guide to their pronunciation.

Because of the lightning speed of karate techniques, normal camera work often fails to record the action accurately. For this reason, many of the photo sequences found in Dynamic Karate were taken using a stroboscope with a flash time of 1/10,000 of a second, enabling you to follow each movement as it is actually performed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... the best karate book in existence." -- Mark Groenewold, Karatethejapaneseway.com

"Detailed ... the fundamentals plus the fine points." -- Journal of Physical Education

About the Author

MASATOSHI NAKAYAMA carried on the tradition of his teacher, Gichin Funakoshi, the Father of Modern Karate. Long professor and director of physical education at Takushoku University, his alma mater (1937), he was chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association from 1955 until his death in 1987, A ninth degree black belt and a familiar face at tournaments, he was among the first to send instructors overseas and to encourage the development of karate as a sport along scientific lines.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (February 15, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870117882
• ISBN-13: 978-0870117886
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #667,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must Have !, December 14, 1999

By 

Stephan Eberhard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dynamic Karate (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior) (Paperback)

This book includes detailed description of almost every Shotokan Hand and Foot techniques. The techniques are executed by Nakayama Sensei himself and by such great assistant as Kanazawa Sensei, Enoeda Sensei, Ochi Sensei ... So to be short, the very best JKA Karate specialists demonstrate all the techniques of Shotokan Karate-Do with great detail and explanations. One point : there's NO katas in this book, but what the helle, there arae a lot of other books dealing with them specifically (have a look at the Best Karate Series also by Nakayama Sensei). Get this book and you won't regret it, for the beginner, the advanaced student and also the instructor.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Training Resource For Any/All Karate Students, January 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dynamic Karate (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior) (Paperback)

This is an excellent reference material for anyone who studies karate.

It covers kicking, punching, striking, blocking, countering moves, and even some training methods. Every page is full of pictures which show the technique "frame by frame." Each technique is fully documented and tips and training methods are provided.

As always, this book is not a "Learn Karate in Ten Easy Steps," nor does it contain unrealistic self-defense techniques (i.e. "What to do if you're attacked in a bathroom from behind by a female wearing a dress while the moon is full.") It is simply an extremely in-depth yet easy to understand guide to the basic moves of karate.

The book is flexible, in that it does not pertain to one style of karate in particular, and is helpful to a student of any rank. I don't study Shotokan, and some of the names were different than the ones I use (Japanese names are given also), but I could easily identify the moves by the pictures.

Although we call them "basics", basics often require the most practice and proper technique. I highly recommend this book to any martial artist who wants to master the fundamentals of karate.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential manual, August 28, 2000

By 

magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Dynamic Karate (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior) (Paperback)

This book is now 35 years old and is still the best handbook you can get on Karate. Nakayama has excellent photos and detailed descriptions of all the techniques. This book and Oyama's "This is Karate" and "Advanced Karate" are the three greatest manuals ever written on the subject.

The book contains no forms, so it is all techniques. But that's okay, as learning the forms from a book is just about impossible, unless you've had a lot of previous training or already know them and just need to remind yourself about a forgotten move. Nakayama's other books have the Shotokan forms, if you want them, and Oyama's books contain most of the Kyokushin Kai Goju forms.